NIEL'S POV

"Ali, are you mad at me?"

"No."

"Then why are you not talking to me?"

"I'm nervous."

"About what?"

"This."

"A ring? Is this for me?"

"Mm."

"Why are you giving me a ring?"

"I'm asking you to be my wife."

"Huh? Ali are nuts?"

"Why? Because we are still kids?"

"Yes."

"I'm not asking you to marry me right away. That will be against the palace rules. But I want you to be mine."

"You want me to your fianceé?"

"Mm. Will you accept it?"

"What if when we grow up and you find someone then you love him or her more than me."

"That's not gonna happen."

"How sure are you?"

"1000%."

"Then, this one is mine."

I wipe my tears and reach the ring on the necklace I am wearing.

I have this since I remember it. I thought it was a gift from my parents since I have it in my neck the moment I woke up in the hospital. I never remove it from my neck unless of course I need to take a shower.

I smile and hold tight on it. It's my engagement ring. Funny that I was engaged to Max since we are child. Funny to know that I tries to got away to him, where in  from the start I am his.

"Crying again? The twin will kill me for sure if they will see you like this." I look at Max who is wearing his sleepwear. He is holding a tray with food.

"I don't know why I'm crying to he honest." I wipe my tears and wait for Max to put the tray in front of me.

He looked at me, confused of what I said.

"I remember everything , Ali." His eyes got big of what I said. "Funny thing is, I don't know how it happened."

He looked away. "I did it." He said in a low voice.

"What did you do?"

"I asked the doctor last night to inject the prototype of the antidote we create. I test it to you to see the effect. Never thought that it will cure you right away."

"Say that again, Max." I said in a very serious word. "You made me a test subject?"

"Don't get it wrong." He hold my hand and squeeze it gently. "You are the only one who got the poison. You took it for me. That is why you lost your memory."

I remember that night. I was in the palace. My father is with the king and I'm with Max and Yin, his cousin and also a prince. Then a revolt happened. Rebels entered the palace and create a chaos. Palace guard make sure that we are safe but, something happened.

Someone from the rebels play dead. And when he got a chance, he stand up and swing his sword to Max. I shield my body and took the blow. The next thing happened, I woke up in the hospital with Nath beside me.

"Fine, I understand it." I said. I get his point. He can only test it to me and no one else.

"If you are wondering why you are still alive despite the fact that the sword has a poison, I still don't know the answer. Maybe your body is clean with the poison already and you just lost your memory. The antidote that we are making is somehow cure your amnesia."

"Stop explaining. I don't care about it anymore." I said. What is the use of it if I already gained my memory. He already made his point and I understand it.

"You're mad." Max said, looking at me with his puppy eyes, like Reigh when she know that I am mad or  not in the mood at all.

"Do you expect me to be happy of what you did?" I glared to him. "What if it did not cure me? What if nothing happened? I'll be your test subject all the time since I'm the only one who survive in that poisonoooouss..... night."

Realization hit me. "Where is my dad? My real family?"

"They are all dead. Prime minister  Criston took also the blow for my father and died. Your family was also slaughtered that night. In all who they killed, you are the only one who survived." Max answered.

"Then, how did I ended up as Nath twin? How did Nath became a girl?"

Nath family was once our slave, if I remember it correctly. And Nath is not a girl, he is a man and he was once my companion and my playmate.

"When father know that you made it, he decided to hide you. Cardinal family is the only option and the one that my father trusted the most. Gregorio Cardinal was once my father personal assistant. No one will suspect if you hide in their family. As you know, slaves are the forgotten one."

"Father planned everything. He asked Gregorio's help who agree immediately when he knew who needs his help. They both planned to mad some change and that involve Kurt Nathan who also agree to play as Nathalie Solia Cardinal, your twin. They registered you under their family. They made some changes in your name. From Mark Johniel to Johniel Marcus. From Sarris to Cardinal, and my father took care of the rest."

I cried silently. I'm the only survivor in my family. The only family I have is the Cardinals. They sacrifice everything for me especially Nath.

"I put them in danger. I mean Nathan's family." I said between my sob.

"No, your not. People believed that you are already dead. Since no one really know how you looked like, aside from the royal family, it became easy and safe."

I just nodded my head and continue crying. It's true. No one know my real face. I was hidden in the house like a lady. I don't go out unless father took me to the palace to play with the royal children. I can only see outside from the window of the car or if I climb the tree behind my room.

"Is my family buried properly?" I asked again while my eyes is in my nails.

"Yes. My father personally took care of everything."

"Thank you."

I heard him let out a deep sigh. He sit beside me and hug me. "As much as I don't want you to remember everything in the past, I know you want to remember them all.  You will not come with me comfortably. You left me because you are afraid, because you don't remember anything. I took all the risk so that you can remember your past. By that, you can stay by my side without hesitation."

"What if revolt happened again? What if they will not accept the twin? What if they will not accept me?"

"Revolt is not something I can promise will not happen. There are still people out there who is not satisfied of the royal family and my reign. What I can only promise is the safety of our children. If people don't accept them, they can leave my kingdom, same if they can't accept you."

"I'm a man Max. Who will accept a man as your queen?"

"They can leave. I don't need them anyway. All I need is you and the twin."

Suddenly, I pushed him away when I remember something.

"You already have a queen." I said. I don't if I' mad because of it. All I know is it made me irate.

"He is in front of me." Max proudly said.

"You know what I mean Max. Two years ago, a news spread as fast as the wind that you already had a queen. People are waiting until now for you to introduce her in the public."

"Ahh. That one is you. The twin was already three that time, that's why I did it."

"Okay." I simply answered.

"But, Megan is in the palace. She is one of my consort."

"As expected. Actually I thought she is the queen."

Mas laugh lowly and hugged me again. "Not gonna happened. That spot is already yours and no one can take it from you unless I abdicate the throne."

I did not answer anymore. I just settled myself on Max arm. Whatever I said will not matter anymore. Max decision is firm and I can't swayed it at all.