Princess Leonor : Viva la Reina! (English Version)

2. The Faith

After a long flight, Sofia went straight to her sister's room. Leonor had just come home from the hospital for a cyst surgery. She still had to rest in bed for a few days.

"Hola, hermana. How's the surgery?I brought you a keffiyeh from Palestine. Beautiful, isn't it?" Sofia snarled and smiled as she spoke.

"Just put it there, Sofi. The surgery went smoothly, but I still need to rest. Can you cover for me next week? Only two events. Then ask Mercedes for more details," said Leonor, who was still unable to move freely due to her stomach surgery.

"No problem, Leonor. Oh, I am excited to have a nephew or a niece soon." Sofia replied, still smiling.

Sofia's demeanor struck Leonor as strange.

"Why are you always smiling?"

"Hmmm... Actually I met someone." Sofia responded with a smile that she could not hide.

"What?? Tell me, Sofi. Tell me his name. Where is he from?" Leonor was so shocked, she almost got up from her position if it weren't for the pain of her surgical wound.

"His name is Ahmad. He is from Palestine."

"What?? Don't tell me that he... He's a Muslim?"

"Yes, it's obvious from his name that he's a Muslim. He's also a widower with no children. But that doesn't matter, Leo. Mama used to be a divorcee with no children and even didn't believe in God. But in the end, she was able to marry Papa. Even Umberto used to be Orthodox, not Catholic."

"That's different. Much different. Mama was born Catholic and baptized in a Catholic church. Umberto converted from Orthodoxy to Catholicism prior to marrying me. But at least Orthodoxy and Catholicism share a belief in the Lord Jesus. Is your Ahmad considering converting to Catholicism?

"I don't know, Leo." Sofia no longer smiled.

"Could it be that you got scammed? Could it be that he is just using you to move to Spain instead of staying in his home country? You have only known each other for three days. That's impossible."

"I don't know." Sofia's expression was now confused.

"What other people care about is the identity, other people will not care about what we really believe. Even if Ahmad converted to Catholicism, he would still be considered an 'outsider'. You are an adult, Sofia. You should understand the consequences. Moreover, as long as I do not have children, you are my heir." Leonor attempted to advise her sister rationally.

Sofia's heart was pierced by Leonor's final sentence.

"No. I'm just a spare. My fate depends on your children, who haven't even born yet. I have to give up my happiness and freedom for something that haven't even existed or happened."

Sofia ran outside without closing the door.

Leonor was surprised. She did not expect her words to offend her sister. She looked at the keffiyeh from her sister.

"What should I do?" she said.

____________

Two months had passed since the sisters' quarrel. The two sisters had reconciled.

"So, no news from him, Sofi?" Leonor tried to bring up the sensitive topic while walking in the palace garden with her sister. It was autumn season.

"No. Maybe you are right, and he is just a scammer."

"That means he's not serious."

"Yes, I was very stupid. How could I have thought that love at first sight existed?"