Leonor is now the Queen of Spain. However, will she be loved by her people? Will her younger sister, Sofia, find her love? How's Leonor's journey to have an heir?
Leonor had been in a coma for a week. The blow to her head was really serious. Luckily, shortly after she fell, Leonor was found by one of the palace guards and immediately taken to the hospital. If not treated quickly, her life might have been lost.
With the Queen absent, Princess Sofia took over the royal duties as regent. Umberto as prince consort refused to be regent. He chose to be with his wife in the hospital 24 hours a day this week.
Suddenly his cellphone rang.
Gabrielle is calling.
Without thinking twice, Umberto rejected the call. Two minutes later a message came in.
Bonjour, Umberto. I know what happened to Leonor. All the media in France reported it. I am sorry for her.
Impatiently, Umberto typed a reply to the message.
Go to the hell, Gabrielle. Our relationship ends here. Don't contact me again.
After sending the message, Umberto blocked Gabrielle's contact. His emotions were overflowing. He threw the cellphone to the corner of the hospital room wall. Fuck , he thought.
Umberto looked at Leonor's bandaged head. The fear of losing his wife filled his mind. He could not live without her. Their twins were not even two years old. Which people would accept a one-year-old queen?
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Flashback
Umberto first met Gabrielle Arnault at a lunch hosted by the Spanish embassy in Paris a few months ago. Umberto's visit to Paris was a solo, without Leonor.
Gabrielle herself was one of the embassy staff. The woman of mixed French and Spanish blood wore a metallic blue dress that caught Umberto's attention.
With careful steps, Umberto approached the woman. "Bonjour, mademoiselle. (Hello, miss)." he said, offering his hand for a handshake.
"Your Royal Highness , there is no need to speak French, I speak Spanish and English." Gabrielle replied as she shook Umberto's hand and lowered her head.
"Muy bien (That's good then)."
"Does Your Royal Highness need something?" Gabrielle said.
"No, that's enough." Umberto's eyes did not leave Gabrielle.
Gabrielle looked nervous. She fixed her hair several times. Meanwhile, Umberto was still staring at her.
Gabrielle has olive skin typical of the Mediterranean, brown eyes and brown hair that is almost black. A stark contrast to Leonor's fair skin, blue eyes and blonde hair. But that's what made Umberto attracted to this woman.
At the end of the lunch, Umberto handed Gabrielle a piece of paper. A hotel address.
Umberto did not expect that woman to come to his hotel room door that night. At first, he was hesitant. On one hand, it had been a long time since he touched Leonor because they were busy with their children. The turmoil inside him wanted to be vented. But on the other hand, he did not want to hurt his wife's feelings.
After battling with his own mind, Umberto invited Gabrielle in.
To hell with it all. This will be just a one night stand.
He hugged her waist. Their lips met. Their feet walked towards the bed.
Every now and then Leonor's shadow appears, but Umberto reiterates to himself, THIS IS JUST A ONE NIGHT STAND.
But it turns out it wasn't just a one night stand . They met again on subsequent nights, either in Paris or other cities. Umberto did feel guilty towards Leonor, but he also wanted Gabrielle. Oh, Gabrielle.
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Gabrielle Arnault
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While his mind was wandering, Umberto did not notice that Sofia had come.
"Oh, it's you, Sofi. How are your events going?"
"Good, everything is handled."
"What about Luisa and Giovanna?"
"They're starting to ask where their Mama and Mama are. Come home, Umberto. They need their father," Sofia replied, patting Umberto's shoulder.
"No, I will wait for Leonor until she wakes up." Umberto's eyes continued to stare at his wife's body, hoping her eyes would open.
Sofia sighed and took a seat next to Umberto.
"Umberto, there's actually something I want to tell you. Leonor was acting strange the morning before she fell."
"What do you mean by strange?"
"She drank beer and smoked. You know she hasn't had a drink in a long time and she's never even smoked. It seems like she has a problem. Do you know what the problem is?" Sofia emphasized the last sentence.
Umberto was speechless. What problem? They never fought. Or maybe... Leonor... Knew... About... Gabrielle. Oh no way. He thought.
Sofia stared at Umberto for a long time waiting for an answer. But finally Umberto just said, "I don't know, Sofi."
But Sofia didn't believe it. Her eyes saw the broken cellphone in the corner of the hospital room wall. This was suspicious.
