"Thank you for picking me up Bryan, do you have any update about the black rider?" Aila asked Bryan who looked so serious while driving.
"Not yet, but we are doing our best princess, we already have some suspects, but we want to be sure before doing some drastic measures."
"Why are you so serious? Did something happen to you? Aila's suspicion was growing, but she dared not voice it out.
"Your boyfriend, he is making our operations harder to execute; with the PDA earlier, you might be up for scrutiny before your coronation."
Aila looked down and took a deep breath; "I know, I'm sorry."
When they arrived at the mansion, Aila went straight to her room and plunged into her bed.
"knock..Knock" she got up immediately to see who was at the door.
"Mom? You're here."
Aila did not expect her mother to return home today, her eyes glistened with tears and held her in a tight embrace.
"How could I not go home? I've heard of the black rider who's lingering around you"
Her mom sighed deeply worrying about her princess's safety.
"Bryan told me, he sends you to school and picks you up, but why do you have to make it hard for him when you ride the bus?"
"Mom it's okay, we're taking the necessary precautions" Aila was trying to make her argument valid.
"I wanted to send you to Switzerland to study but you refused, you can study there incognito like in here, I gave in with your desire to study here. But now you are still refusing my simple request; for you to take our cars wherever you go; heck I don't even mind if you drive your own car."
Her mother sulked and looked devastated by Aila's hard-headedness
"Mom, please let this one slide.."
Aila used her ultimate weapon; her cuteness to weaken her mother's defenses as she bats her eyes.
"Haay dear, I only want what's best for you."
Her mother hugged her and just like that she escaped her wrath.
"By the way, I also heard about this guy you're seeing ... Mind if you tell me?"
Aila was thinking of a smart way to answer her mom, who is also good in interrogating.
"Mom, it's not like you don't know ... I know you already had him investigated."
Her mother laughed and kissed her on the forehead.
"Silly girl, what I meant was why are you sad, you should be happy when you're dating; what I see in you now, well my dear princess you look burdened."
Her mother said directly, the words she could not tell her mom herself.
"Mom." she hugged his mother and cried, like a little girl cuddling to her mom.
"If you are not happy with your relationship with him, it will not be healthy for you my dear."
"Mom isn't it true that sometimes, you should endure hardships when you love someone?" Aila was still trying to protect Yhuan from her mother's eyes.
"Yes that is true, making mistakes is part of growing up; you just have to distinguish if they are really mistakes or his choice there is a thin line in that and it is critical."
"I'll keep that in mind mom."
"Your identity, does he know?" Her mom wanted to make sure that her boyfriend is not targeting her just because she is a princess.
"No mom, I haven't told him yet, I'm not sure if he deserves to know the truth yet."
Aila's confession to her mother was more of an admission to herself that she indeed does not fully trust Yhuan.
"It's okay my dear, I trust your judgment, I wish you nothing more, but the bliss you deserve." Her mom hugged her tighter.
"Do you want to go shopping or eat out with your friend? I think you need a break sweetheart."
"Good Idea mom, I'll call Reese and hang out"
"Go, have fun. I shall go back to the castle with your Dad."
Aila called Reese, her only friend whom she trusted with her identity.
She picked up Reese in her home and they went straight to the viewpoint. They were both looking at the breath taking view and holding coffee.
"How are you and Yhuan?"
"We are good" There was a smile on Aila's lips but the sadness was obvious in her eyes. Aila's answer was short and deceptive; Reese is someone who can see thru her soul so answers like this are futile.
"What's the problem?" Reese insisted on asking.
"He's very insecure with himself, so even though I love him, I can't tell him who I really am, it might deflate his ego further"
Aila finally let go of the thoughts that were eating her.
"Hmm, insecure of himself or your relationship?"
"Maybe both, I mean he always thinks that every guy I meet has different intentions towards me."
"Well Aila, I can assure you that more often than not, the men you meet? They really have different intentions towards you... hahaha"
Reese eased their conversation with a harsh truth
"Reese, you're not helping me here." Aila raised an eyebrow at Reese and sneered.
"It's true friend, but it is never your fault, so that's his mistake and if you get to the point where you need to be revealed to the world, the more people that are more handsome, rich, and powerful will come into your life and he can't fight them all. "
It was as if the sky had fallen on Aila in the realization that she only has two years before her coronation.
"Huuhh...What to do?"
Aila grabbed her head and leaned on Reese's shoulder.
"You need to give him the assurance that he is the only one"
"Speaking of him being the only one, do you know that there is already an arranged marriage for me?"
Reese was surprised by Aila's revelation, "that is such an important information you failed to tell me!"
Aila forced a smile, it was bitter; her eyes were shimmering with tears impending to flow down her cheeks.
"What is your plan?" Reese hugged her while patting her back.
"I plan on refusing the marriage when the time comes. Not for Yhuan, but for me, I believe that marriage is something for me and my future husband to decide, not our families."