The Beginning of a Family

~…X…~

"You look wonderful, Rosabelle." Lucian smiled, looking down at the little red-headed child in front of her.

She wonders who would leave a child out in the forest alone. It breaks her heart just thinking about it, but now Rosabelle is safe and no harm will come to her as long as Lucian and the others are with her.

"Thank you, Miss Lucian." Rosabelle shyly said, her cheeks tinted red from all the eyes gazing down at her.

Hm, a white dress really does suit her. Makes her hair stood out from the rest of her features, Lucian thought. "Lucian is fine." She said and she reached her right hand out, ruffling Rosabelle hair. "Hm, cute."

Yeah, really cute. Prince Roberto thought, loving the scene in front of him. Now if only Lucian would smile like that to him then his day will be full of sunshine. It would be even better if she would smile only for him and no one else, but sadly, that little dream of his will not come true, knowing that she had other princes around her. Darn.

I have to admit, Lucian can be a good mother. I bet she'll love her child from the bottom of her heart. It would be even amazing if that child of hers is mi-wait! No! I cannot think like this! Prince Joshua scolded himself as he turned away from the two females in front of her. Yes, he had been thinking of having a family of his own at his age, and the female that he wants to have as his wife and to be forever with is none other than Lucian. The only thing that is getting in the way of having her is him not asking her out yet. Not only that, he knows the other five princes have eyes on her too. It sucks to have to fight over one woman. He can only hope that she would see his feelings for her someday.

And this is the reason why I want Lucian so badly. Prince Keith thought and smiled secretly as he stared at Lucian happily stroking Rosabelle's hair. Her smile, and her maturity is just so attractive that it makes him want to scream from the top of his, telling the world that he has a wonderful childhood friend.

I can't believe this. Prince Glenn frowned a bit. Why every gestures she does makes me crazy?! He doesn't want to admit it, but he has feelings for the young princess of Aracelis. Always had since when he was a kid, and he's pretty sure he wasn't the only one.

Prince Glenn's eyes moved to the side to see the other princes all gazing at Lucian and Rosabelle. He sworn he saw something more than just caring look in all their eyes. He frowned even more, knowing just how tough this fight with the other princes for one woman's heart is going to be. This is why he didn't want his feelings to grow for Lucian, because in the end, she'll only pick one of them and it might not even be him. It'll only break his heart so he would rather contain his feelings for Lucian as only friends, but he can't. He passed that stage of friendship for Lucian a long time ago.

Hm, Prince Wilfred's lips twitched upward, his blue eyes locked at Lucian's smiling face. Truly beautiful. She still has the same smile. The smile that I love so much. He wanted to walk behind her and just hug her all day long. He wants her to be in his arms, and loving her with all his heart. He was lucky today that he was able to spend a little more time with Lucian in her room. Every seconds is precious to him.

Ever since Lucian returned, he had made a promise to himself that he would spend as much time as he can with her. To make up for the time of not seeing each other for thirteen years. His eyes moved towards Rosabelle and the smile on his face grew. He was also glad to have found Rosabelle in the forest. Maybe he can use her to get closer to Lucian.

Two beautiful roses in the same room. I am truly a lucky man. Prince Edward thought, his eyes turning half-moon as he gazed at both Lucian and Rosabelle. It's not very often he encounters a person with red colored hair. But that one rose will go away someday. His purple eyes stopped at Rosabelle. He knows Rosabelle can't stay with Lucian and the others forever. They'll have to find a place for her to live in. He also hopes that Lucian doesn't get attached to the child. It'll make things more complicated when the time for them to say goodbye to Rosabelle, and he really doesn't want to see Lucian to cry on that day.

While the princes had their minds somewhere else, Aiden who was leaning on the wall next to the door with his arms over chest was watching them with an expressionless face. If he could only video them, he'll show the princes just how much they have fallen for Lucian. Aiden admits that he has feelings for Lucian too, but not strong as the princes. He still does have other things to worry about than trying to win Lucian's heart. Whatever happens in the future he'll go with it. Whether Lucian falls for one of the princes, his feelings for her won't change. He'll treat her like his own little sister and he'll throw away that little love away for her sake of happiness. Because her smile and happiness is all he needs even if he can only see them from the sideline. However, if she falls for him then he'll do everything he can in his power to love her to the fullest.

"Lucian." Aiden called out and started walking towards the princess and the child.

Lucian removed her hand away from Rosabelle's head and looked to the side where Aiden is. "Yes?"

"Are you doing anything else today?" Aiden asked and looked down at Rosabelle before giving her a tiny smile, and he sworn he saw her blush a bit.

"Not really." Lucian replied. She does still have other princess duties to do, but they're not as important, so she'll just finish them tomorrow. What she really wants is to spend more time with Rosabelle and get to know her more. If the child was going to stay with her then it's only right to know her background.

"Then, wanna come to the dining room? I'm sure Rose here would like to have something to eat." Aiden said, his eyes still locked at Rosabelle. "You're hungry, right?"

"If it's not a trouble for you, sir." Rosabelle quietly said, her big red eyes looking up at Aiden's dark blue ones. She had been feeling hungry for the past one hour, but she didn't want to tell anyone because she thinks that it was rude of her to ask, especially towards a royalty.

"…." Aiden raised his eyebrows up a bit, a bit surprised at how well-mannered the child is. "Hm." He softly chuckled before ruffling her hair. "I already like this kid." He said with a smile before suddenly picking Rosabelle up in the air. "She's better than other women I've met."

"Excuse me?" Lucian raised her right eyebrow up. She hopes she's not one of those women.

"Except for you, silly." Aiden quickly smiled and pinched Lucian on the cheek. "You're still the best."

"Hm." Lucian smiled before softly punching Aiden on the arm. "I hope you're right about that."

"I wouldn't lie. Now, come on. The chef had already prepared everyone's lunches." Aiden looked back at the princes, only to see them still in their own little world. "Are you guys coming?" He asked but none of the princes answered him.

"What's wrong with them?" Lucian asked, finally looking at the six princes. They look weird to her.

"Dunno." Aiden said. "Let's just leave them all here." He held Rosabelle with one arm and grabbed Lucian's hand with the other hand.

"Wha." Lucian looked down at her hand with Aiden. "Ai-"

"I made strawberry shortcake this morning." Aiden said. "We can eat it after lunch." He smiled seductively, causing Lucian's heart to skip a beat. "I'll even give you my strawberries if you want."

"I like strawberries." Rosabelle said with a smile on her face. The last time she had a taste of strawberry was a long time ago and she would do anything to have a taste of the fruit again.

"Then I'll buy tons of strawberries for you and Lucian." Aiden said as he moved his hand and Lucian's back and forth in the air, trying to show it to the princes so they can get out of their little world. "I have an idea!" He said out loud. "Let's play family! I'll be the dad, Rosabelle is my kid and Lucian is the mother and my wife! Let's go you two." Aiden dragged Lucian towards the door, but before he could even step out to the hallway, a hand that doesn't belong to Lucian had grabbed the back of his collar.

"Hold it, you."

Aiden casually turned his head back over his shoulder to see Prince Keith and the rest of the princes all looking at him. "Finally snapped out of your little worlds, huh?" He grinned. "Took you guys long enough."

"What do you mean play 'family'?" Prince Keith asked. "No one is playing family."

"You wanna be the uncle?" Aiden asked, ignoring the daggers being thrown at him by Prince Keith, Prince Glenn, and Prince Joshua.

"Wha! Hell no!" Prince Keith shouted.

"Hey!" Lucian glared at Price Keith. "Watch your mouth, Keith! There's a kid here!"

"S-sorry."

"Why are you holding Lucian's hand?" Prince Wilfred asked, his eyes glued to the two hands stuck together. He wants to hold Lucian's hands too, and Aiden is the only one who could easily hold her hand without being embarrass.

"I'm going to the dining room." Aiden replied slowly. "And Lucian tends to get lost in this place." He wasn't kidding when he said Lucian tends to get lost in the palace. He thought she had already figured her way in the palace, but sadly, no. She still ends up calling him just to find her lost in huge palace.

"I do not!" Lucian shouted, her cheeks are in a color of red.

"Yes, you do."

"Do not!"

"Then I'll hold Lucian's hand!" Prince Roberto raised his right hand up in the air. "Since you're holding little Rosabelle, I'll take Lucian." He smiled like a little kid about to get his first toy. "I'm sure it must be a bit of a pain holding her with just one arm. I just want to help you." He started walking towards Lucian with his arm reaching out to her.

"No, you're not going to hold Lucian's hand." Prince Joshua said with narrowed eyes as he grabbed a hold of Prince Roberto by his collar. "You're staying with us."

"But I'm only trying to help Aiden!"

"You. Are. Staying. With. Us." Prince Joshua said in between his teeth, his eyes narrowed into a slit. There is no way he was going to let Prince Roberto hold hands with Lucian. There's just no way.

"Enough of this." Lucian sighed.

"You guys go ahead and fight who gets to hold Lucian." Aiden said in a monotone before letting go of Lucian's hand. "Rosabelle and I are leaving now." He turned back forward and walked down the hallway, not even bothering to look back at the group of prince and Lucian. He'll have to take note in holding Lucian's hand more often so he could piss the princes off. It's an entertainment for him.

"Okay you guys." Lucian once again before turning her head to the prince. "All of you will walk forward and I'll be walking behind you all. I don't want any fighting."

"Yes, ma'am." All six princes replied with Prince Edward the only one smiling. He loves it when Lucian takes in charge of a situation.

All six princes started walking out of the changing room with Lucian waiting for them out in the hallway. Prince Keith was grumbling about something that only he could hear and Prince Joshua still had his hold onto Prince Roberto who was trying to get out of his tight grip.

Lucian pulled the door closed before walking behind the group of princes. She noticed Prince Glenn slowing down from the group and was now walking beside her with his hands inside his jeans pocket.

"Sorry about this." Prince Glenn quietly said as he looked to the side, towards the glass windows revealing the back of the palace.

"There's nothing for you to apologize, Glenn." Lucian said, her eyes gazing up ahead.

"Still, the princes and I have been acting like a bunch of little kids. Except for Prince Edward."

"Hm." Lucian softly laughed and looked up at Prince Glenn. "I've noticed that." The two were getting further away from the group as they talked to one another.

"Do you want to know why?"

"I already know." Lucian replied and smiled. "I've known it for the past few months now. I'll have to apologize. I'm not ready for a romantic relationship. I guess you can say I'm a bit scared."

"I see. But when you are ready, will you give the princes and I a chance to date you? Of course we won't force you and we will allow you to choose whoever you want to go out with. No matter who you choose, just know that I'll always be your friend."

"Thank you, Glenn."

"Hm."

~...X…~