To Marry The Prince

Chapter 12: Rules

"Good Afternoon, Lady Aliyah," a handsome man in his early thirties bowed down right in front of Aliyah. When he introduced himself, he said, "I am Carter Miller, a historian and a professor that specializes with the history of Aztariya. I am here to teach you every single thing you need to know about the kingdom. That includes the rules and regulations that the Royals need to follow by heart, and I hope that you will cooperate with me to have a better and meaningful discussion together."

"Ah- hi?" she waived her hand but Carter raised his brow and pulled her hand that she used to wave to position it into her initiating a handshake.

"You don't wave like that to people that you will work with. You have to greet everyone you met for the first time with a firm handshake," Carter held her hand. "Show me," he ordered.

Aliyah's eyes showed confusion and worry when she turned to ask Ira for affirmation. The attendant smiled at her with her two thumbs up. She even mouthed, "You got this!" to her.

So, Aliyah faked a smile and shook Carter's hand with force.

"Woah!" he reacted in such a way that made Aliyah's nose flare.

"Mali po?" she asked in her tiny apologetic voice.

"Hindi mo naman kailangan na alugin ang buong kaluluwa ng taong kakamayan mo, I bet you know how to shake hands. You must have done this a hundred times already!"

"Kaya lang po Sir Carter, nakakatakot. Hindi ko po alam kung paano ba makipag kamay ang mga Royalties? Takot po ako na magkamali Sir, puwede po ba na paki explain?"

The professor nodded, "It's the same as what you did, but it has to be a firm handshake," he said, offering his hand.

"Okay po."

"Like this, bend your elbow slightly... lifting and lowering your hand one or two times. Hindi katulad kanina na halos anim na beses yata ang ginawa mo. You have to do things elegantly. That's how people should view you as the Princess. Do you understand it now, Lady Aliyah?"

Sasagot sana si Aliyah sa professor kaya lang ay nakarinig siya ng mga yabag mula sa likuran niya. When she turned to look behind her, nakita na naman niya ang napakaguwapong mukha ng lalaking ayaw niyang makita. He glanced at her as she's still holding Carter's hand. He then glanced at the Professor who let go of Aliyah's hand and bowed down.

"Prince Kairo," bati nito.

Kaya lang, bago pa makatayo muli nang tuwid itong lalaki, inirapan na sila ni Prince Kairo at nagpatuloy na ito sa paglalakad patungo roon sa kanang hall.

"Nakita niyo po ba 'yon Sir Carter? Naturuan niyo na po ba ng manners 'yon? May teacher ba para sa gano'n?" she asked.

The man's eyes widened. Mukhang hindi niya inaasahan na tanungin siya nang ganoon ni Aliyah. Mabuti nalang at malakas na tumawa si Ira para pagtakpan siya.

"Nako Sir, huwag niyo na pong masyadong intindihin 'yong sinabi ni Lady Aliyah!" she stated. "Biruan lang po nilang dalawa 'yan ng Prinsipe, alam niyo naman po, ang mga kabataan talaga ngayon, iba na ang mga trip. Iba na ang mga sense of humor kumbaga, 'di ba po Lady Aliyah?"

Aliyah faked a smile and said, "O- oo naman. Ganoon lang po talaga kami," sabi niya pa sa lalaki. "Let's continue po? Ano pa po ba ang mga kailangan kong malaman? Ano po 'yong mga libro sa desk niyo? Ang dami po Sir, nabasa niyo na po lahat 'yan?" ibinaling niya ang atensyon sa makakapal na librong nasa lamesa nitong lalaki. Halos sampung libro na kung pagsasama- samahin, halos apat na dangkal ang kapal.

"Yes, I finished reading all of those. They are all great books," sagot sa kan'ya ng lalaki.

Napanganga siya dahil dito, "Diyos ko, kung ako siguro, aabutin ako ng five years per book," she whispered.

"I finished all of those in two months. It will be a lot faster if I had less classes to teach. But for you, it should be easy. Three days per week that are completely free, that's going to-"

"Huh?" pinigilan siya ni Aliyah sa pagsasalita. "Sandali lang naman Sir, anong ako?" she turned to Ira. "Ira! Babasahin ko 'to?" tanong niya.

The teacher nodded, "Yes, Lady Aliyah. Lahat ng mga ito ay ang mga libro na naglalaman ng mga impormasyon na makakatulong sa'yo. Hindi ka naman tatamarin sa mga 'yan dahil maganda ang pagkakasulat at talagang interesting ang mga points na na-tackle."

"Ha!" singhal ng dalaga. "Nagbibiruan ba tayo Sir? Paano? Mas marami pa 'yan kumpara sa mga scripts na nabasa ko sa buong buhay ko! Baka po kunin na ako ng liwanag pero hindi ko pa nagagawang makalahati ang isang libro. Mas makapal pa 'yan sa mukha ko, tignan mo man Ira!" she whined and stomped her feet while pouting. She bit her lips and closed her eyes forcefully. Pag dilat niya ay tinignan niyang muli ang makakapal na libro. "Hala nand'yan pa rin!" sabi niya habang napapadausdos na sa lamesa.

"With poise and class," simpleng sabi lang ng Professor at biglaan na napabalik sa pagtayo ng tuwid ni Aliyah.

"Oh my goodness," she covered her mouth so elegantly. "I am so sorry," she said.

Ira giggled from the distance as she watched how the woman changed up. Napakabilis niyang magbago, bumawi kaagad siya para hindi mapagbawalan nitong si Carter. Parang hindi na rin siya humihinga, dala na rin ng kaba at takot niya na makagawa pa ng kahit na anong mali. She just smiled and nodded.

"So you have to take all of these book and enjoy them-"

"Enjoy!" the outburst of her emotions overwhelmed her that moment but again, she handled it by pretend laughing. "Sabi ko nga po, enjoy. Mag e- enjoy talaga ako rito sa mga ito! Hindi ko pa nga nasisimulan, pero feeling ko talaga napaka- wow! Magbabago ang buhay ko rito Sir Carter! Ramdam ko na eh, oh, nararamdaman ko na sa dugo ko! Talagang, gigil na gigil na akong mag basa, pansin mo ba Ira?"

"Ha? Ah! Oo nga Lady Aliyah! Parang hindi ka na nga makapaghintay na mag basa, I feel your passion, it's overflowing! Wow! Sisiw lang 'yan kay Lady Aliyah, Sir Carter! Baka nga matapos niya pa yan ng isang buwan lang."

"Should I add more books for you to read then?"

"'Wag!" sigaw ni Aliyah. "He-he, 'wag na po Sir Carter. Gusto ko po muna sanang tapusin ang lahat ng ito. Alam niyo na, mas iintindihin ko muna kung ano ang mga narito-uhm, para hindi mag halo- halo ang mga storya na binabasa ko."

Professor Carter shook his head, "Story? Oh! These are not novels. Non- novel books that are essential for you to read."

Umasim ang mukha ni Aliyah, "Great!" she whispered. "I love those! Not boring at all, I love it so much. I am so excited!"

"Also, we will have discussions that will start tomorrow. This day is more of an introduction and just to inform you what will happen with the next sessions. And also, you have to know all about the rules of what a royal should be."

"Huh?" umiling si Aliyah na para bang ginigising ang kan'yang sarili. "Ano po ang mga 'yon?"

The professor signaled her to sit, "I will state the most basic ones." Ang laki ng ngiti sa mga labi niya habang itong babae na naghihintay sa harapan niya ay malapin na mag panic. Wala siyang kahit na anong hawak ngayon na magagamit para makapagsulat. So, she pulled out her phone to take notes.

"Can I record this? I want to remember everything, para sigurado ako at hindi ko makakaligtaan ang kahit na anong impormasyon na sabihin niyo sa akin."

"That's so smart," puri sa kan'ya ng lalaki. "I allow you to do that, Lady Aliyah. And I would like to commend you for asking me for permission first before doing it. It's very considerate of you, that's something to be proud of."

"Of course," Aliyah nodded. "It's something that I wished people asked me for. Alam niyo na, isa sa mga hindi ko nakukuha ay ang gan'yan na mga katanungan, and I miss it. Sana bago ako tutukan ng mga camera at bago ako I-record nang walang humpay ay tanungin muna nila ako."

Everything got quiet all of a sudden. Hindi sinasadya ni Aliyah na mapabigat ang hangin sa paligid nila.

"I am very sorry to hear that," he whispered. Ira also looked at her with so much sadness in her eyes. Hearing this concern from her biggest idol must be heartbreaking for her.

"It's fine," Aliyah softly said. "Hindi na siguro talaga magbabago 'yon. It's something that comes together with fame."

"And now it's gonna get a lot crazier for you, I hope you are ready face it all."

Aliyah listened to that and she said, "I am ready." She sounded very determined and sure with what she's diving into. "Please Professor, help me to be a suitable Princess for this Kingdom. I don't know if I can do this perfectly, but I will do my best to live up to the expectations. Kahit na hindi ako maging kasing galing ni Queen Olivia, susubukan ko pa rin para makaya ko na maging malapit sa kung sino siya."

"You are a celebrity," they all snapped their necks to follow that cold, emotionless voice. "Everything will turn to flames once you become the Princess of Aztariya. You won't even have the chance to be an Idol anymore. You will devote your life to the kingdom, to being a Princess. You will wake up every morning to serve the people and live without any flaws. Do you think that's all worth it? You think you can handle that when a simple trivial matter like that bothers you?"

Napa angat ng kilay si Aliyah habang tinititigan si Prince Kairo, "I'll struggle. I bet I would lose my mind a bunch of times too. Maybe one day I fail to do a decent job, but I'm sure that I'll keep trying." Huminga siya nang malalim habang pinipilit na mapanatili ang kalmado niyang mukha. Ayaw niyang iparamdam kay Prince Kairo na nananalo siya sa ganito.

"And let me tell you Prince Kairo, I am someone that does what I want to do. I follow with whatever I agreed on. Tumutupad ako sa usapan, ginagawa ko ang dapat kong gawin at hindi ako sumisira sa mga pangako. Kaya kung ganitong sinabi ko na gagawin ko ang lahat, asahan niyo na gagawin ko ang lahat para lang matapos ko ang parte ko. Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan, hindi rin ako narito para lang sa titulo, hindi ako nakikipaglaro. I will do my best, I promise that."

Prince Kairo turned to look at the professor, "Tell her about promises," he ordered.

Carter respectfully nodded and stated, "Anyone in the Royal family should stay away from making promises. Wala po sa pamilya ng mga Raven ang sumisira ng mga pangako. Everything should be sealed with a written agreement and should be signed by both parties. That is what's written under the rules."

Aliyah's face turned pale, "So you're saying me that Royals should never promise anything?" tanong niya sa guro.

"If they mean it, then it should be a written promise, yes," he answered.

Aliyah sighed and looked back to Prince Kairo. Mahigpit na nakakuyom ang kamay niya, para bang gusto niyang sumuntok para ilabas ang kan' yang galit ngunit hindi niya maaaring gawin.

"I see," she said in a love voice. Her eyes are directly looking up at Prince Kairo's. "Royals don't just say a promise. Because it means that they didn't mean it."

She gave the Prince a forced smirk as her eyes started to feel a bit warm, "It makes sense," she said. "I get it now."