The Royal Contract

Love, what did she know about it?

Her profession was everything to her.

Was she in love with Lance?

Eida had worked hard to reach where she was in her career now.

“What was wrong with me?” She whispered to herself.

She had no idea.

.....

She slammed her body on her couch, relaxing her head on the backrest as she looked at the ceiling, staring blankly above her. It had been a long day for her at the office. Her body was not tired, but her mind was.

Suddenly, she felt lonely. A feeling that she had hated since her parents died. An emotion she had buried in the deepest portion of her heart, swearing not to feel again.

She had managed just fine in her young single life. Even coped with what Nick had done to her. But since she found herself lying on that floor, staring into the eyes of that prince, her world had changed drastically.

“Why did you have to pursue him?” She shook her head, regretting putting herself in this situation.

She opened her television, putting it on a movie, but her eyes were not interested in watching it. Then, she pressed the channel switch, scanning the other networks that would pick her interest.

But still, nothing.

Until finally, she settled with a newscaster, reporting about the weather. It was better than listening to anything else. Finally, even if she did not understand half of what he said, she felt calmer.

Then, her doorknob started twisting and turning.

She was not expecting anyone as a company tonight, not even him. But he was the only one who would come to her door and open it without knocking.

But was she ready to face him after what happened since he left her? Did she need to tell him that his father had come over to her apartment and office?

Should she tell him that his father was willing to do anything to stop her from seeing him? Still, she did not feel like they were already at that level for him to fight for her.

She was not delusional that she was the girl he was looking for. Maybe now, he was amused with her. But when it came down to choosing between his title and her, she doubted he would give his position up.

“Hey, I was calling you all day. What happened to you?” Lance moved closer to her, standing before her with his eyes knitted in question.

She only looked at him but did not answer, still confused about what to do with him. But she kept pretending that she was interested in the news.

“Nothing.” She finally muttered under her breath when he would not move out of her sight. “There were just some issues that I had to deal with at the office today.” She was not lying about that.

She moved to the other side of the couch, away from him, unblocking the view of the screen. But he quickly grabbed the remote from her hands, turning off the television.

Then, he was on her face again.

“Is that really all?” He stood before her, looking unconvinced as he threw the remote on the other part of the couch.

She was not acting normal, so she could not blame him if he was suspicious. But how could she hide what she felt when it was churning inside her, making her close her eyes, to force herself to forget it.

“No.” She could not lie to him. It was against her moral fiber to tell him that everything was ok when... “It is not.” Opening her eyes again to gaze at him.

Now, his face was confused like her. His eyes focused on her face as if he was trying to read her thoughts, but how could he know what truly happened if she would not tell him.

“So, what is the problem?” He finally knelt before her, letting his fingers rest on her knees as he gazed at her more closely, convincing her to tell him.

She thought it would be easy to decide when he was finally standing close to her. But as she looked into his eyes, it was not. Had she really fallen in love with him? Was this what love felt like?

Her heart twisted in her guts as she recalled her earlier conversation with her boss and the Count. She thought it would be easy to give him up for her career.

“How much do you like me?” She believed she could not decide without knowing how he felt about her.

How could she risk everything for someone who might not feel the same way? Although she was unsure if this was love, she would still fight for it if he had the same feelings for her too.

“What kind of question is that?” His lips turned into a smile as if he found her question silly.

But she was dead serious, and she needed an honest answer from him.

“Just answer it.” Putting her hands on his face. And then she let her palms touch his cheeks, forcing his eyes to focus on her.

“I like you very much.” His lips uttered in his sweet baritone voice. If he would sing to her now, she knew she would love the sound of his voice. But was that answer enough.

But he did answer her question.

She wondered if she could ask him what was going through her head. But how would she know the answer if he did not know the question?

“Is it enough for you to give up your crown and your family?” She knew that was a loaded question. Not an easy answer to make.

Compared to what she was willing to give up, his stake was monumental. She knew that but still, to her, hers was her entire life.

“Where are these questions coming from?” His puzzled looked covered his face, but he seemed to be taken aback by her question as he suddenly stood up.

He slightly turned to his side as if thinking before he returned his attention to her. “Did something happen? What is it that you are not telling me?”

She quickly looked down on the floor, avoiding looking at him. Then, she closed her eyes, wanting her mind to process her situation.

She did not want to judge him. But somehow, not responding to her question seemed to be the answer she had been looking for. As if clarity came to her in a tidal wave of emotions.

“I think we had played around long enough. Hurt people that we should not have. I think it is time that we end all of this.” She finally made her decision.

It was not just for her, but she believed it was for them.

She could not ask him to give up his heritage just because she felt the itch for him. She was not even sure if she loved him. But this was for the better.

But it did not feel right.

Why did her heart hurt to say those words? Because she was a big fat liar.