---
Chapter 19
The living room was unusually quiet after Ryan finished explaining the existence of the system.
Mia was still sitting on the couch, staring at the ceiling as if she hoped the entire conversation had been some strange dream.
Rachel sat beside her with her arms crossed, clearly still processing everything Ryan had just revealed.
Ryan's parents were exchanging confused looks.
Helen Thermopolis looked like she had completely run out of emotions for the day.
Only Queen Clarisse seemed calm.
She was watching Ryan carefully, her sharp royal instincts analyzing every word he had spoken.
Finally Mia spoke.
"Okay," she said slowly, "so let me get this straight."
She sat up and pointed at Ryan.
"My grandmother is the Queen of Genovia."
Clarisse nodded slightly.
"I'm apparently the princess of a country I didn't even know existed."
Clarisse nodded again.
"And now my boyfriend just told us he has some kind of… multiverse travel system."
Ryan gave a small awkward smile.
"Basically… yes."
Mia leaned back again.
"I really need stronger coffee."
Rachel burst out laughing.
Even Helen couldn't help smiling slightly.
But Ryan raised a finger.
"There's… one more thing."
Everyone groaned.
Mia covered her face.
"Please don't."
Ryan rubbed the back of his neck.
"The system has a condition to fully activate."
Queen Clarisse leaned slightly forward.
"And what would that condition be?"
Ryan hesitated.
"…Marriage."
The room froze.
Rachel blinked.
"Marriage?"
Ryan nodded slowly.
"The system says it will activate when I marry the people connected to it."
Rachel narrowed her eyes.
"And those people would be…?"
Ryan sighed.
"…You and Mia."
Silence.
Then Chandler suddenly burst into laughter so loudly he nearly fell off his chair.
Raj choked on his drink trying not to laugh.
Mia's face turned completely red.
Rachel grabbed a pillow and threw it at Ryan.
"You can't just casually drop something like that!"
Ryan raised his hands defensively.
"I didn't write the system rules!"
Ryan's father rubbed his forehead.
"I'm not even sure which part of this conversation I should react to first."
Helen muttered softly.
"I thought today couldn't get stranger."
Even Queen Clarisse allowed herself a small smile.
"Well," she said calmly, "that is certainly an… unconventional destiny."
The teasing continued for several minutes.
Chandler refused to stop laughing.
Raj kept whispering jokes under his breath.
Mia looked like she wanted to disappear into the couch.
Rachel eventually calmed down and sighed.
"Well," she said, "at least the system has good taste."
Ryan blinked.
Rachel smirked.
"You could have done worse."
---
But life did not pause for long.
Queen Clarisse had a kingdom to prepare.
And Mia had a future to learn.
The very next day, Clarisse officially began Mia's royal training.
Every afternoon Mia had lessons.
Lessons about diplomacy.
Genovian history.
Royal etiquette.
Public speaking.
State leadership.
At first Mia struggled with everything.
Balancing books on her head while walking across the room.
Learning how to greet ambassadors.
Practicing royal posture.
Rachel and Ryan often sat nearby watching the lessons.
Sometimes Rachel tried to help.
Sometimes she simply laughed when Mia got frustrated.
One afternoon Mia nearly threw the etiquette book across the room.
"This is impossible!"
Clarisse simply raised an eyebrow.
"Princesses do not throw books."
Mia groaned.
Ryan whispered to Rachel.
"I give her two more days before she declares war on Genovia."
Rachel giggled.
Despite the struggles, Mia slowly improved.
She was intelligent and determined.
And with Ryan and Rachel supporting her, she began gaining confidence.
---
Unfortunately, the world outside the house was not as peaceful.
News about Mia's royal identity leaked faster than anyone expected.
Within days the entire school knew.
The next morning the hallways were chaos.
Students whispered everywhere.
"Did you hear?"
"Mia's a princess!"
"Ryan's engaged to her!"
Suddenly Mia became the center of attention.
Students surrounded her in the hallways.
Some wanted pictures.
Others wanted to talk.
Several boys suddenly decided Mia was the most interesting girl in school.
Ryan noticed immediately.
One boy tried flirting with Mia near her locker.
Ryan simply stood beside her.
The boy quickly changed his mind.
Raj whispered to Chandler.
"Competition level: impossible."
Chandler nodded.
"Yeah, I'm not even trying."
But the attention didn't stop.
Reporters occasionally appeared near the school entrance.
Teachers struggled to control the situation.
Ryan realized something needed to change.
---
A week later he made a decision.
Ryan purchased a large mansion in San Francisco.
The property sat on a quiet hill overlooking the bay, far away from busy streets and reporters.
The mansion itself was enormous.
Three floors tall with modern glass architecture and elegant stone design.
The entrance opened into a massive marble hall with a grand staircase leading to the upper floors.
Large windows allowed sunlight to fill the entire house.
The mansion included:
• A massive private garden with fountains and walking paths
• An indoor swimming pool and spa area
• A fully equipped gym and training room
• A large library filled with books and research materials
• A private movie theater with twenty luxury seats
• A massive gaming room filled with Nova Tech prototypes
• Multiple guest suites for visitors
• Underground parking for more than ten vehicles
• A professional security system with surveillance and guards
The property was designed to provide both luxury and privacy.
When Ryan first invited Rachel and Mia's families to move in, both families were shocked.
At first they refused.
It felt too extravagant.
But Ryan calmly explained his reasoning.
The mansion would provide privacy.
Security.
And a place where everyone could stay together safely.
After several discussions, both families eventually agreed.
Queen Clarisse visited the mansion personally before approving the decision.
When she walked through the halls, she paused several times, clearly impressed.
"You continue to surprise me, young man," she said.
Ryan smiled.
"I try."
---
Life inside the mansion quickly became lively.
Every morning Ryan, Rachel and Mia left for school together.
A security vehicle followed them discreetly.
At school they stayed close together.
After classes they returned to the mansion.
Raj and Chandler quickly became regular visitors.
Sometimes they studied together.
Sometimes they played games in the mansion's gaming room.
Other nights they watched movies in the private theater.
Despite everything happening around them, those moments felt normal.
Peaceful.
Ryan often sat quietly watching Rachel and Mia laugh together.
Those moments reminded him why he had built everything he had.
---
Two months passed like this.
Then one important day finally arrived.
October 20, 2000.
Queen Clarisse organized a formal royal banquet.
The event took place in a luxurious hotel ballroom decorated with Genovian royal colors.
Diplomats.
Business leaders.
Nobility from Genovia.
Important guests from several countries attended.
When Mia entered the hall wearing a formal gown, the room fell silent.
She looked completely different from the shy girl Ryan had first met.
Confident.
Elegant.
Royal.
Queen Clarisse stepped forward.
"Ladies and gentlemen," she announced.
"Today I proudly present Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, the rightful heir to the throne of Genovia."
Applause filled the hall.
Then Clarisse continued.
"And today I also announce the engagement of Princess Amelia to Ryan Giri."
Another wave of applause echoed through the room.
Ryan stepped forward beside Mia.
He gently held her hand.
Mia squeezed his hand nervously.
Rachel stood nearby watching quietly.
Royal traditions prevented her name from being announced publicly.
But the truth was already known among the people who mattered.
Ryan loved both of them.
And both of them knew it.
The night continued with celebration.
Music.
Conversations.
Diplomatic greetings.
But Ryan's mind remained calm.
Because he knew something important.
The moment the system had been waiting for was approaching.
Marriage.
And when that moment finally came…
The multiverse would open.