The CEO's Royal Princess

Chapter 1

ROYAL PALACE OF ALHAMBRA, SPAIN

IT'S ALL SET. My things are packed and ready for my trip to the Philippines. I spoke with the King and Queen earlier, and they have approved my vacation.

As nervous as I was, I had to go through with my plans. They only gave me eight months to prepare for my wedding. They have arranged my marriage to some prince I have never met. I saw his picture once, and honestly, he is not my type. I have always been a good daughter and why I have to marry the man they picked is beyond me.

I want to go away and think. If I don't meet anyone who can change my mind before my vacation is over, I will have no choice but to marry Hector. He is a good-looking man and looks pretty tall in his picture. 

He could have been okay if it wasn't for his angelic face. His looks threw me off. I could just imagine how I would look like the she-devil if we stand side by side. I mean, you know, me with my two horns and a tail. Ugh!

I've been trying not to lose my confidence with the plan I came up with my personal maid, Charissa. We have been working on it for a whole month now, trying to memorize each other's information to the very bit.

"Princess, are you sure about this?" asked Charissa while looking at me worriedly.

"Don't call me that. Someone might hear you," I replied while gesturing a finger next to my lips. Quickly, I then gaze to my bedroom door, looking past the Renaissance pieces of furniture, before looking back at her. I couldn't sound more serious when I continued, "Remember that you are the princess now,"

Charissa is wearing my silk nightdress while standing next to me. It's good that she doesn't mind wearing someone else's clothes because if she isn't, then I would have to shop for an entire wardrobe for her. I can afford it, but I don't want to throw away my clothes. As much as possible, I want to keep things the way they are while I'm out.

We're trying to speak in her native language at the moment. We usually do this when we are alone in my bedroom. We have to make sure that no one can hear us since our plan is currently top-secret. As a princess, it is an asset for me if I can speak multiple languages. 

Learning Tagalog is easy since a lot of its words are similar to Spanish. Not to mention I have the gab, Charissa is from Dumaguete. Although they know how to speak Cebuano, most people in there talk in Tagalog and English. That's a relief. That means I wouldn't feel so alienated when I get here. 

"Sorry, I'm just worried. What if I get caught?"

Charissa's scrunched face made me laugh. The truth is, I am actually feeling the same as she does. What if her family finds out that I am not the real Charissa? 

"Just remember everything we practiced, and you will be just fine. If you need to review, just get the copy in the safe. You know the combination. It's my personal, and no one knows about it but us. Also, there's a phone in your parents' house just in case you need to reach me."

"Do you think they won't notice our voice?" She smirked. "Anyway, buy a new sim card once you get there and send me a text message right away, so I know you are safe. Please be careful and don't dress so..."

"So what?"

"Expensively," she finished off her first sentence with a nod. "They might kidnap you and ask for—"

"You worry too much. I will be okay. I'm a big girl."

I checked everything I need to take with me. It's not a lot. Just a few pairs of t-shirt, jeans, shorts, sweaters, and of course, pairs of shoes—lots of shoes, I mean. I can always buy new clothes when I get there. Also, Charissa and I talk about my expenses. She will be wiring the money to me if I get short. I can't bring a large amount with me anyway.

"Kidnap? Jeez! How many detective shows did you watch last night?" I snorted. "They won't abduct me. What are they going to do with ten thousand pesos? It's not even enough to pay for their travel fare. Before they even get this money, I already used it to buy food. Besides, the flight from Manila to Dumaguete only takes about an hour or so. It's going to be quick, so don't worry too much. I will be fine."

I already booked my domestic flight online, so everything is set. That was when I felt Charissa's hand touched mine. "Charlotte, please be careful. It's your first time in the Philippines. I haven't been home for so long, so I don't know what it's like now. Ten years is a long time. If anything goes wrong, please call me, and I will explain everything to my parents." 

Charissa looked like she was about to cry. I tapped her hand a couple of times and whispered, "Don't worry. Just remember what we practiced. Stand up straight, don't slouch, don't smile, and if you talk to anyone, look at them straight in the eye."

"That's like telling me not to breathe!"

We burst out laughing. Charissa is such a funny woman. She's still single at thirty-one, and all she does is work. Sometimes, I wonder if she got heartbroken.

"Charissa, I hope you know that you are one of my most favorite people in the world. If you didn't come into my life, my teenage years wouldn't be as fun. You were only twenty-one when you arrived in Spain. If they didn't know that you're three years older than me, you could pass as my twin," I said to her.

"Not only that, but we also have—"

"Ssh! Someone might hear you. You don't want them to snooping around."

"Okay. Just be observant of your surroundings, especially the people around you," I heard her sigh.

"You keep saying the same thing."

She rolled her eyes. "I am just trying to look after you. I am older than you. I am your Ate." 

By the way, 'Ate' is what you call an older sister. In contrast, 'Kuya' is for an older brother.

"Yes, I know."

"What are the names of my parents and siblings?" Charissa shot a pop quiz which I answered confidently. "Your parents are Maria and Julio. Your siblings are Julian and Abigail."

"Who's my long-time crush?"

"The actor or the real person?"

Her mouth parted. "They are both real persons!"

I chuckled. "I'm kidding. You're too serious, so I thought about pulling your leg. Anyway, your super crush is James Reid, and the other one is Jacob Ausejo, also known as the ghost!"

Charissa squinted her eyes. "Ghost? Really?"

I laughed. "Hey, didn't you say back in high school that he ignored you? Like he just walks by and never acknowledged you? So he's more like a spirit, a ghost! Wait, were you in love with him? Maybe it's not just a simple crush! Oh my gosh, you love him!"

She shook her head. "No. I am not in love with him. I just admire him. He's very good-looking and tagged not only as a campus crush back then but the whole town."

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "That good looking, huh? Well, I still think my favorite actor Jacob is the most handsome man on Earth!"

"And he doesn't even know you exist. Besides, aren't you meant to be with Hector?" she said while chuckling.

I smirked. "Don't remind me."

"I'm just curious about how he looks now. Come to think of it. He looks a little like your favorite actor. It's just that back then, he was a little skinny and also had braces. He's got wavy dark brown hair." Her eyes looked dreamy while trying to remember him. "Take a picture of him for me when you get a chance, okay? I want to see how he looks like now."

"We can always look for him on the internet, you know?"

"Nah, it's edited. I want something you took."

"Okay, I will try my best. But how do you take a picture of a ghost—aw!"

She gently slapped my upper arm. We've been like this when it's just the two of us—more like sisters and never a princess versus a servant. I never mind it because it's something that makes me feel normal. Like I don't belong to the Royal family. I have always wondered what it's like to live like a commoner — and I am going to experience that several hours from now. Call me crazy but I feel excited. 

"You and ghost. Be careful because you might just fall for the ghost. Just make an offering or something like what the Chinese do, if ever. I saw it once in a documentary. They offer those little oranges—"

"Tangerines."

"Yes, that might be the one, or it could be clementine too!"

"Okay, whatever. I will just take a photo of him. And if Jacob doesn't turn up in it, then I guess it's bad luck."

We shared a laugh afterward and hugged each other. Before I left the room, Charissa said something. "Sticky rice."

"Huh?"

"Sticky rice. That's his favorite."

I nodded even though I didn't get what it was for. I love sticky rice too, but I need to watch my weight. It tastes so good, but it can make you gain weight like crazy in a snap. So anyway, here I go. I am off to Dumaguete for a new adventure. Wish me luck!