I do not own any of the characters. Credit goes to Mattel.
Afterwards: Chapter 1.
Luciana was walking in the hallway, reading her book intently until suddenly she bumped into a man with dark blonde hair, her book fell to the ground with a loud thud. Luciana looked up at the man.
She started to apologize, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I was just..." She stopped halfway as she gazed into the kind dark blue eyes and realized who she was apologizing to. It was the handsome man from Rosella and Antonio's wedding. The man she had fallen in love with, just by looking into his eyes, he had only spoke to her once at the wedding, telling her that she looked lovely, and asking her to dance, and somehow just by dancing with him for a few minutes Luciana found out that they had a lot in common. Even if he didn't tell her, she could see it in his eyes. Sadly, he disappeared before the wedding was over, and never appeared again. Since then, Luciana had been desperately trying to take her mind of him... with no success.
"No... I'm sorry, I should've been watching where I was going. Wait a minute... you're her, the girl I danced with at the wedding. I've been trying to see you again for a while now." The man said, and then picked up her book, "Love conquers time? This a really good book. My favorite actually." The man said shyly, and gave it back to her. Luciana couldn't help, but smile; not only was it her favorite book as well, this man was quite kind.
"You remember me?" Luciana said, quietly. "And that's my favorite book too." The man's eyes seemed to light up with joy
"How could I not." The man whispered, "What do you like best about it?" The man asked.
"Well, I don't know. The book shows how powerful love is, how it's more powerful than fear and time, I like that." Luciana said, blushing deeply.
"I like that, too. I'm kind of a romantic. Don't know why, I just sort of am, I always dreamed of marrying someone I could actually love. Not someone my parents pick out for me." The man said. Luciana stopped walking, she was amazed. Not only did they share the same interests, they also had the same dream; to marry someone they love.
"Something wrong, Miss..." He stopped, realizing he did not know Luciana's name, "How could I have not asked for your name yet?" He asked himself. He was truly surprised, how could he not know the name of the girl he had fallen in love with?
"It's Luciana." Luciana said, shyly.
"Luciana? Beautiful, just like you. You deserve that name." The man said.
"Thank-you, and you are." She added the last part in a whisper.
"Alexander, nothing compared to Luciana, though." Alexander said.
"I think it's a fine name." Luciana said, and then blushed again. Alexander smiled at her. Luciana felt her heart skip a beat. Alexander took her hands, and the two looked into each others eyes.
"Thanks," Alexander said quietly, then his eyes looked at the clock behind them, "Oh no it's already three o'clock, I need to go."
"Go? Why?" Luciana asked.
"I'll tell you someday. For now, you have to wait. I'll come back soon." Alexander promises, and then lightly kissed her cheek. Luciana blushed, again.
"But where are you going?" Luciana asked, but by then Alexander had disappeared around the corner, Luciana continued in a whisper, "Will I ever see you again."
...
It had been three days since Luciana had seen Alexander again, and she was feeling a bit gloomy because of that. She looked through the window at the steady drizzle. She heard a knock at the door.
"Come in." She said. Rosella walked in, she was carrying a tray of sugar cookies(Luciana's favorite).
"Thought you might want some." Rosella said, putting the tray down, "Are you alright?"
"Yes. Of course I'm alright. Why wouldn't I be?" Luciana said.
"You must be in love." Ro said.
"What? I am not." Luciana said.
"That's what I said." Ro muttered. Luciana smiled as she remembered how desperately Ro had tried to convince them an herself that she wasn't in love with Antonio. It was sort of the same thing that she was doing except she was only trying to convince them, but it was sort of hopeless hiding it from Ro. She had learned how to read people's eyes and expressions almost as well as Luciana.
"Fine, I am in love." Luciana finally admitted, "But I don't know if he feels the same way."
"That's what I said. I was wrong." Ro said, "Tell me what happened."
"Well..." Luciana said.
"Come on." Ro said, "It can't hurt."
"Well, okay." Luciana said, and then started to tell the story. Ro listened to everything. That was one of the things Luciana liked about Ro, she always listened no matter what. When Luciana finished her story, Ro finally spoke.
"Well if he said he'd come back. I'm sure he will." Rosella comforted.
"I don't know." Luciana said, and looked out the window. Rosella decided the thing Luciana needed most was some time alone, and so she left. Leaving Luciana to look at the dark drizzle that was lit up from time to time by lightning, and think about the man she fell in love with, Alexander.
...
(Later that night)
Across from the castle, a mansion stood, proud an tall, yet cold and sad. Inside the mansion, was a small attic. The ceiling was low, and the walls had peeling paint, the floor looked like it could collapse at any minute. A small, narrow uncomfortable bed, and a small table with coloring pencils on it. On the bed a troubled Alexander lay awake. He couldn't sleep, the work has been twice as hard today because of the rain and the punishment he had gotten for being late and his back just wouldn't let him fall asleep. He had been day-dreaming, again about Luciana. He got out of his bed, and went to his desk. He brought out a flimsy paper that was the only thing he had to draw on. On it was an already skillfully drawn Luciana. He started to add some more detail to her eyes and hair. He smiled at his creation, it looked so much like her. He just wished he could see her one more time, but his greedy step-father wouldn't let him out of his sight, and had him under a tight schedule.
Unseen to Alexander's eyes and unheard by his ears, his step-father opened the door slowly, and silently. He glared at the boy, and then ripped the picture out of his hands.
"Hey!" Alexander yelled.
"Aw. Pretty girl isn't she. Pretty picture as well." His step-father teased, and then ripped the paper up angrily, "Now it's not."
"No!" Alexander yelled, and then got down on his knees to pick the ripped pieces of the picture.
"Looks like someone's in love. Who was that girl anyway?" Alexander's Step-father asked, and looked at the ripped pieces Alexander was trying to arrange, "Princess Luciana? You really thing you can win the heart of a princess? HA! Get back to work boy or you'll get an extra hour tomorrow." Alexander clenched his teeth, until his father was gone.
"He's such a jerk. Just has to say that Luciana won't fall in love with me. Well I already know that she wont fall in love with me! But I'm in love with her, and there's nothing he can do to change that." He blurted out. He breathed in deeply, and then looked at the black puppy beside him. He had adopted him a while ago when he found him on the streets. Sneaked him in more like, his step-father would never allow a dog in his 'beautiful' mansion.
"Sorry 'Night." Alexander said, "I can't help it. Can't he see I'm in love with her. What am I doing? I'm talking to an animal, I must be crazy." The dog barked.
"I wish I had the same power as that princess Rosella. Life would be so much easier." He said, and then went to sleep thinking about the same person, Luciana.
Forgive me if you don't like this. I'm sorry for any Grammar/spelling errors.
