14/08/2026
👑 ROYAL STRUGGLE FOR LOVE ⚔️❤️
{ One kiss, One throne…}
Copyright © 2026
All rights reserved.
CHAPTERS 9🌸10
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ROYAL PALACE~VINNECIO ESTATE.
11 A.M.
The royal palace stood majestically in the heart of Lisbon, its enormous ivory walls decorated with intricate carvings and polished gold details.
At the entrance stood grand double doors crafted from rich mahogany, reinforced with gold and adorned with the royal crest. White Carrara marble covered the floor, reflecting the warm glow of golden wall lamps.
Inside the magnificent living room, a massive crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, its countless crystals sparkling beneath the morning light. Plush velvet sofas, antique walnut tables, golden ornaments, and enormous portraits of former kings and queens filled the room.
The last two portraits bore the faces of the ruling King, Richard Vinnecio, and the Queen, Marietta Vinnecio.
Richard stepped into the living room, his eyes darting around as he looked for someone. When he spotted the person, he ran across the room, his arms outstretched. “Holla, grandma!”
Charlotte looked up, her grey eyes glinting at the sight of the person running toward her. She adjusted herself in her seat, the delicate embellishments on her elegant gown catching the light perfectly.
She was a remarkably beautiful older woman—the King's mother and, for decades, a beloved figure in the nation. Even now, there was something graceful about her that made it easy to imagine how breathtaking she must have been in her youth.
"Oh, my baby," she murmured.
Richard immediately wrapped his arms around her.
Charlotte laughed softly and hugged him tightly before giving the back of his head a gentle smack. “You stayed away for two weeks. Why?"
"I'm sorry, Mama," Richard muttered, still refusing to let go.
Someone cleared his throat beside them.
Richard finally detached himself from Charlotte and straightened, bowing his head respectfully. “Greetings, Father. Greetings, Mother."
Marietta snickered. “So Grandma is the only person you missed? I'm jealous."
The queen folded her arms, trying—and failing—to maintain a serious expression.
Richard chuckled before dropping into the chair beside her. He rested his head against her shoulder, his eyes briefly meeting Aiden's across the room. As usual, the man stood several feet away, giving the royal family some privacy.
Richard smiled to himself and hugged his mother's arm. “I'm sorry, Mom. I had to deal with some issues."
Marietta nodded. "How is everything now? And where's Catherine?"
"She went on a date," Richard muttered, remembering the glimpse he'd caught of her driver leaving the estate earlier today.
Before Marietta could respond, he added, "Do you really think Adrian is the best person for Catherine? That man is a chronic cheat."
The King cleared his throat, his blue eyes moving between Richard and Marietta before settling on his son. “Stop saying that about your sister's partner."
Richard hummed. “I don't mean to hurt her, Father. But you know how he is. Even if he's your friend's son, that doesn't change who he is."
The King sighed but said nothing.
Then his expression softened. “I received your gifts, Richard. I particularly loved the purple robe."
"Really?" Richard's face brightened. He nodded thoughtfully, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. “I'm happy you liked it.”
King Richard laughed. He turned to Aiden who hadn't uttered a single word since they'd started talking. “Aiden?”
“Your Highness.” Aiden bowed, his fingers clasped tightly behind his back.
“I heard you were injured. How are you doing now?”
Aiden almost sighed. News sure does travel fast in this palace. He lowered his head, his voice loud enough for the King to hear. “I'm doing well, Your Majesty. Do not bother with something so small.”
“This boy!” Marietta huffed and chuckled. “Come here.”
Aiden raised his head, his eyes meeting the Queen's for a brief second, his reluctance so obvious. Marietta gave him a reassuring smile. “Come here, Aiden.”
He took a step, then another and when he got to the queen, he sat at her other side, his desire for distance speaking volumes.
Marietta ignored his hesitation and took his hands, her thumb gently rubbing the back his hand as though she were trying to reassure him. “Aiden, you're one of us, okay? You're Richard's brother and friend, and you're our son. I don't want you keeping secrets from us. Not from the King, not from me, and definitely not Charlotte.”
Charlotte giggled and leaned against the sofa. “So I'm a gossip? You're sure getting punished, Marietta.”
“I'm sorry, Charlotte.” Marietta laughed. She turned to Aiden who had already had tears in his eyes. Tears that seemed determined to betray him.
His attempt to hold them back failed, and the tears fell one by one from his eyes. Marietta smiled and wiped them with her thumb, her eyes darting to smiley Richard before meeting Aiden again. “You're loved, Aiden. Always remember this.”
Aiden hiccupped, and it made Marietta smile. That had always been his habit—hiccupping whenever he was about to cry. He did it again and Richard laughed. “Again, tell him to stop addressing me with that s**tty title. It's annoying.”
The man laughed, his tears getting in the way. Marietta hugged him close while the others started talking about Charlotte's birthday which was approaching and how they intended to celebrate it.
And as it went on, with laughter cutting through their talk every now and then, Aiden could only silently thank his late parents for leaving him in the care of such kind souls.
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CATHERINE’S MANSION~7 P.M.
Catherine's room was in total disorder—her clothes were all over the bed, her shoes were scattered in different corners of the room. Used tissues lay at the corner of the bed where her bedside table was, and she was on the bed, her hair sprawled all over the pillow, and her face buried in it.
She cried, and her pillow absorbed it like a good partner. She was thinking about what she saw this afternoon. It still seemed like a dream.
Adrian and Theresa? On the same bed?
They started seeing each other, way back in seventh grade. And just when she had started believing they would eventually get married and she was going to be with the man she loved, he decided to do this.
Catherine's tears fell even more, and her pillow took it even better than before. She hugged the pillow tight, her sobs increasing.
Someone knocked on the door and she knew it'd definitely be one of the maids. They've been knocking since she ran in, crying and begging her to open the door.
“Princess Catherine, please open the door, we beg you!”
It was the head-maid, Tina.
“Go away, Tina. I don't want to talk to anyone.”
Tina was quiet for some minutes, like she was asking someone to come and try to lure Catherine out of her room.
“Catherine?”
Catherine paused, the voice so familiar it made her forget to cry for a second. The call came again and she jumped up, her legs automatically taking her to the door.
As soon as she opened it, the person calling grabbed her close and hugged her right.
It was Richard.
“Rich…” Catherine cried hard, her fingers digging tight into his firm back, her tears rushing even harder, wetting his shirt. “You're here…”
“I'm here, sweetheart. Cry it out..”
So Catherine didn't hold back. Her cries grew louder, and she began gasping for air between sobs.
---
“So, he cheated on you with Theresa? The same Theresa I dated?”
Catherine took the tissue he had been pushing into her hands for the past ten minutes, unable to look him in the eye. She nodded. “Yes, Rich. It's the same Theresa. Uriel’s daughter.”
Richard's fists tightened. He swallowed, and swallowed again as the ugly reality dawned on him. He dated Theresa before he left for Israel and he had to cut ties with her because he caught her cheating on him with Stephano, his step-brother. It's funny how she hasn't changed, and she even decided to take his younger sister's man too.
“I thought Father banned Uriel from the estate?”
“Yes, he did. But his children remain here. Uriel was the one who sinned, and not his children.”
“You're supporting them?”
“Adrian decided to cheat on me, Rich. Theresa only let herself be used. You…”
“Catherine..” Richard cut in, his eyes softening as he met her sad ones. He took her hands and squeezed them fondly. “I'm very sorry, baby. I'm sorry this had to happen.”
Catherine gave him a sad smile and hugged him, her breaths calming as she snuck her face to the crook of his neck. “Thank you, Rich.”
“He's never coming near you, Catherine. It's a promise.”
Richard remembered what he told the King earlier today. Adrian will never change. It's like he took over from his rebellious and evil father, Uriel Aurélio.
He doesn't give a damn. The next time any of them try so much as touching his loved ones, he's going to wipe them off and make sure they're never remembered in Portugal’s history.
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THE NEXT DAY.
RICHARD'S MANSION~10 A.M.
“C’mon, tell me…”
Aiden shook his head as he grabbed his laptop, fingers dancing quickly over the keys. Richard snickered and grabbed the device from him, making Aiden sigh. “Richard…”
“Please, tell me. Did you check? Is she the one?”
Aiden chuckled, something very rare and it made Richard pause for a moment. He quickly sat beside him, the laptop still tight in his grip. “Tell me, please…”
“Richard, what do you think the King and Queen will say about me looking for a stranger for you?”
“She's not a stranger, Aiden.” Richard grumbled, his eyes beginning to take on a dreamy look. “Her name is Elena..”
“It doesn't mean she's not a stranger. She still is, and you only know her name.” Aiden murmured and tried to reach for the laptop again but Richard stood and turned towards the other side of the living room.
“If you don't tell me if you've seen her, you're not getting this.” Richard bit out. He doesn't want to order him, but then, he really needs to know. He has been thinking of Elena for days now, and he couldn't seem to get her out of his mind.
And now, this treacherous brother doesn't want to tell him whether the Elena at the Silver Quarters is actually the Elena he wants to meet.
Aiden sighed. He remembered the maiden from the other day, the one who brought him medication for his arm. He didn't actually drink the herbal mixture because he definitely couldn't trust some random person, let alone a maid from the quarters.
But the medication helped.
If Richard knows a maid gave him medication for his injury, he'd tease him about it until they're old. And he's not ready for it.
His eyes met Richard's and he snickered. “Well, whatever. You're the prince and you can handle any scandal.”
“Yes, I can.” Richard beamed and quickly sat beside Aiden, eyes filled with anticipation.
“Tell me, Aiden. Is she the one?”
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THE PALACE~4 P.M.
Some of the maids from the Silver Quarters were at the waiting hall in the palace. Tera, Elena, Gigi, and Laura were amongst the twenty workers that were chosen to come to the palace this morning.
Elena gripped the apron she wore as she waited to find out what would happen next. Gigi nudged her arm. “Are you excited?”
“Excited for what?” Elena bit out, her eyes darting to the entrance where three stern-looking guards stood, their attire indicating that they worked only in the palace and were not assigned to work outside its walls. “It looks like we were called here for something not good!”
“Elena!” Laura cautioned and turned her head to see if anyone heard her. “Stop saying that. The house mistress briefed us this morning, remember?”
“We were not properly informed on what we were coming here to do, Aunt.” Elena murmured. For some reason, this didn't seem right.
“It's the Queen mother's birthday in a week. That might be the reason why we're here.” Tera suddenly said, her eyes staring straight ahead.
Gigi hugged her arm, her eyes meeting Elena's. “You see? Stop getting scared for nothing.”
Elena wanted to ask Tera how she knew that but the workers suddenly started murmuring, cutting what she wanted to say. They were all looking at the lady who just walked into the hall and Elena couldn't help but stare too.
Is that the princess?
---
Catherine walked up the staircase to the platform at the front of the hall in a silk evening gown, its delicate gold embroidery catching the light of the chandelier above. Her subtle makeup accentuated her features, making it difficult to tell she had cried the previous day.
Two guards remained very close to her, their expressions were the same as that of the guards Elena noticed the other time. Typical royal family.
Catherine's blue eyes scanned the workers who stood in an orderly line inside the grand hall. She smiled politely before addressing them.
"Good afternoon, everyone."
"Good afternoon, Your Highness," they chorused. Some of the ladies began whispering but the new house mistress, Kehlani, sent them a stern look. The ladies giggled and turned their attention back to the princess.
"I know you're probably wondering why you've been called here," she began. "In exactly one week, we will be celebrating the birthday of the Queen Mother, and the palace will be receiving guests from across the kingdom. We want everything to be perfect, and each of you will be playing an important role in making that happen."
She paused, allowing her gaze to travel across the group.
"While you're here, there are a few things I need you to understand. First, you must listen to the house mistress and follow her instructions. She is responsible for coordinating your work, so please do not disregard her orders or create unnecessary difficulties."
The workers nodded attentively. Kehlani’s face remained blank, void of any expression.
"Secondly, treat one another with respect. You may come from different backgrounds, but you're all here for the same purpose. Work together, help one another, and don't allow disagreements to affect what you're here to accomplish."
Her expression softened.
"A palace may look beautiful from the outside, but it takes the hands of many people to keep it that way. So, I expect cooperation, discipline, and unity from every one of you."
She smiled. "Welcome to the palace. I hope we can make the Queen Mother's birthday a celebration she will never forget."
A quiet murmur of agreement passed through the workers.
“Excuse me, Princess Catherine.” Henrietta called from where she and her group had been standing all along. Catherine waved, urging her to speak.
“Are we going to stay at the palace till then?”
Catherine smiled. “Yes, young lady. You're not going back to the quarters until the celebration is over.”
Henrietta bowed slightly and giggled at her girls.
The princess, accompanied by the guard beside her, stepped away from the platform and left the hall, leaving them to begin their new duties.
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UNKNOWN~MIDNIGHT.
A feminine figure, clothed in a dark cloak with a cap, approached the bushes at the far end of the palace, a place where people barely visit. She carried a large box and looked back many times to make sure no one was following.
Two armed men suddenly came out from the other end of the area, their faces partially concealed with only their eyes, noses, and mouths exposed. One of them stretched his hand, his eyes studying the woman beneath the hood. “Hand it over.”
She handed him the box, and as they turned to leave, her voice stopped them. “Tell him he has to start immediately. We can't wait any longer.”
The men didn't respond. They turned and moved swiftly away from the place, leaving the cloaked woman.
As she raised her head, the street lights illuminated her face as her lips curled into a sinister smirk.
“I'm coming, Richard.”
To Be Continued.
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