Having some time alone

"my Prince, your father requests your presence," one of Prince Eric's guards told him, bowing low.

"he gave you any reason," Prince Eric inquired

"I wasn't given any my Prince," the guard told him, as Prince Eric put on his shirt to follow the guard.

They arrived at his father's chamber, the guards in front bowed to him before opening the door, revealing his father who wore a loose shirt and pant sitting reluctantly on his bed.

"greeting father," Prince Eric greeted bowing his head low

"come and take a seat beside me," his father told him pointing out a seat that was near a table beside his bed.

"Is there any problem father?"

"there's nothing to worry about I just wanted to ask your bride, do you love her?"

"No father, I can't just start loving her like that, why did you ask?" Eric chuckled, finding his father's question ridiculous.

"After hearing how you defended her and interrogate someone because of her, I and your mother were happy that you're starting to love her,"

"Come on dad, I only did that because I don't want people to think that they can bully her, she is going to be the future Queen of Baneria and she shouldn't be considered weak by anyone," Prince Eric explained to his father, who was nodding his head seeming to get what his son was explaining,

"I'm so happy to have a son who thinks like the king he is going to be, but I also have to correct you about something, just like you, I and your mother's marriage were also arranged, we didn't love each other at first but along the way we somehow realize we were nothing without each other and that helped us to accept and love each other, I hope you get what I'm trying to say," his father questioned him to know if he was listening to what he was saying.

"I understand your point but for now I can only respect her as my future queen and wife, but for love, I will leave that for later," he told his dad who was starring at him with half-lidded eyes, finding his son's answer very childish.

"well I haven't seen or heard you two chatting together, and you can't respect someone you don't know well, how about having a nice private talk with her, you don't have to make it romantic, just get to know her better before we take her back home," the father advised him, after a long period of silence between the two.

"But we are going back tomorrow," Prince Eric told him.

"then you should do It this night," the father urged him giving him a stern look.

"But da..,"

"no excuse, do it today," the father instructed him before telling Eric to leave his room, Prince Eric groaned out of frustration when he was outside his father's room, wishing the was a way he could tell his father No, before heading to Zara's room.

He opened her door to see her and her mom, it was then it dawn on him that he should have knocked on the door.

"I'm so sorry, I forgot to knock...,"

"It's okay, I was about to leave before you came in," the mother told me, kissing her on the forehead, she smiled at me before walking out of the room.

...

I and Prince Eric were standing in front of my balcony since we both found it uncomfortable to stay inside my room.

We have been standing like this for about thirty minutes now and still haven't said anything to each other.

"Thanks for today," I started first, feeling the need to show gratitude after how he stood up for me in the dining room, I can't help but see him in a different picture, as a courageous, strong man ready to defend his people than before when I thought he was just a nerd with privilege.

"It's nothing, I only did it because I wouldn't want anyone bullying what belongs to me in front of me,"

'belongs to you,' I can't help but blushed when he said the last part, I used my hands to cover my cheeks so he won't see how red they were from what he said, the smile on my face was uncontrollable

"I'm sure you know this marriage is not based on love is just to keep the peace between both of our Kingdoms," he asked me focusing his gaze on me.

"of course, I know what this marriage means, you don't have to tell me twice

" Okay, because I don't want you to expect too much from me," he's such a killjoy, just when I was starting to like him,

"no problem I promise not to ask or expect much from you,"

"I'm sorry you have to go through this situation it's just that I considered you to be a better choice than your sisters,"

"it's alright I know how my sisters can behave sometimes I also know it was hard for you to make a choice," I chuckled

"Thanks for understanding, you don't have to worry much, I promise to treat you well," he told me giving me a gentle smile.

"so..., is that the only reason you came to see me," I inquired curiously, finding it rude that he only came to tell me the reason for our marriage.

"no..., my dad wanted me to talk to you before we move to Baneria,"

"Ok...," I shrugged my shoulders, giving him an understanding smile.

"Well, I have to head back to my room now see you some other time you Zara,"

"Okay have a nice night," I heave a big sigh when he left the room, falling on top of my bed, I can't stop thinking about what my mom said.

"'I'm I doing the right thing, or being stupid,' I asked myself taking a deep breath before drifting to sleep.

....

Prince Eric was heading back to his room when the guards standing outside his room told him that Beatrice was inside his room.

"why will you allow her to get into my room," he yelled at his guards

"she said she will kill herself if we didn't let her in," one of the guards told him.

'she so insane,' he said to himself, trying to control his anger before walking into his room, he found Beatrice seating on his bed, her eyes were swollen and red from crying too much, and she was sniffing badly.

"What's wrong with you why will you be using your life to threaten people," Prince Eric scolded her, pushing her away when she came closer to him.

"Because I want to be the future queen of Baneria, I don't want to be a duchess or be known as the wife of a wealthy man, I want to be more than that, and is only you that can give me that," she told him trying to unzip her dress which made prince Eric shocked wondering why she was so mannerless and shameless

"Look I don't know what you think I can give you...,"

"I want to be a queen and it's only you that can make me one who knows when another Kingdom is going to visit to marry another princess of Endoria,"

"who taught you how to become this greedy for power," prince Eric was more surprised about her reasons

"you don't even know Zara that well but you are ready to make her a queen she's not even good enough for you," she said trying to remove her dress, prince Eric stopped her before she could do so.

"Guards...," he called.

"take her to her room," he ordered when they came inside.

"my Prince, you should choose me...," she yelled as the Guards started dragging her away.