The Cousins' Standoff

With anger slowly rising in him, Duke Kensington entered the pavilion. Upon hearing his footsteps, Prince Xavier turned his head and saw his cousin approaching. However, before Duke Kensington could utter a word, Prince Xavier shook his head and put a finger on his lips. 

"Shhh." He pointed to Lady Melissa while motioning Duke Kensington not to speak. 

Turning his gaze to Lady Melissa, it looked like the girl was sleeping soundly. Not wanting to disturb her as well, Duke Kensington motioned for Prince Xavier to step out of the pavilion. Prince Xavier sighed and stood up to follow Duke Kensington. They walked silently together for a few minutes before stopping. Turning to face the Prince, Duke Kensington finally asked what's been on his mind, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Unperturbed by the anger in Duke Kensington's voice, Prince Xavier retorted, "What do you think I'm doing?"

"You! Xavier, Melissa is my fiancée in case you haven't noticed. Doesn't it occur to you that what you're doing is utterly inappropriate?" Calming himself, Duke Kensington tried to knock sense into the Prince's head.

"Fiancée? Don't make me laugh! You're not married to her yet, she belongs to no one. Zachary, you don't even love Melissa, why would you want to marry her? Just because of William? Do you think that's fair to her?" Prince Xavier asked earnestly.

"That's none of your business! Are you saying you're in love with her?" Duke Kensington probed, asking the obvious.

"Yes, I am. I've been in love with her since I first met her." Although he had long known this fact, hearing it directly from the Prince didn't sit well with him. He needed to know the truth.

"Is she also in love with you?" Duke Kensington asked with his eyes closed. 

"She...she hasn't confessed to me yet." Prince Xavier admitted softly. 

Duke Kensington's eyes snapped open at this answer and cast an unbelieving look at the guy in front of him. Embarrassment was evident on the Prince's face.

"Are you fucking kidding me? So, you don't even know if she loves you or not?? You're unbelievable!" Duke Kensington said with a mocking tone in his voice. 

"Well, it doesn't matter. I know she does! She was about to confess before she suddenly disappeared for two years!" Prince Xavier countered, feeling aggrieved. 

"Hah! Probably your 'intense' love had actually scared her away! That's why she hid from you for two years. If not, she would not have injured herself the day she met you again." His cousin's reply was meant to torment him, and it angered the Prince.

"Bullshit! How about you? You think she truly wants to marry you?? Someone as cold as you only deserve a rock to be your wife!" Mocked the Prince.

"She's willing! She told William herself!" Duke Kensington immediately said. However, after he said that, he realized it was a mistake.

"William? Wait a minute, have you ever asked her yourself?? Did she ever said yes to you???" Upon hearing this, something dawned on Prince Xavier. 

"Well...not really. I haven't asked her." Duke Kensington's eyes were downcast and he touched his nose, feeling insecure. 

"Hah!!! Are you fucking kidding me! Let me guess, it was William who asked her to be his mother, and she said yes to that, didn't she??" Prince Xavier somewhat guessed what had actually transpired when his nephew's name was mentioned. 

They often said,' The Truth Hurts'. This moment was the perfect epitome to that. Duke Kensington's sour face revealed the truth without any need of spoken words. 

"Hahaha! You're deceiving yourself thinking she said yes to be your wife! For all I know, she's not interested at all! She's just taken by William Kensington, not Zachary Kensington. Wake up, Kensington, she'll never be yours." Prince Xavier seemed to rejoice in his cousin's predicament. 

"Back at you Xavier Frederick! She'll never be yours too!" Duke Kensington retorted, not wanting to lose to his annoying cousin. 

Both men were breathing hard after exhausting all their bullets against each other, ending their war of words. They stood there in silence, glaring at each other, digesting what had transpired, somehow feeling foolish at how they had behaved moments ago. 

"This clearly brings back memories. I feel like we were 12 again. Remember the puppy that was gifted to Mother?" Prince Xavier suddenly said, lamenting on a memory only known to both of them. 

"Yeah...from what I remembered, it died not long after that. Aunt Serina said it's due to 'excessive love'." Duke Kensington added.

On that note, both men fell silent. 

"I won't let her go, Xavier." Duke Kensington finally said, declaring his stance in this love affair. 

"Neither will I, Zachary." Not one to back down, Prince Xavier declared the same. 

"We should let her choose." After some thoughts, this seemed to be the best option. Ultimately, Lady Melissa should choose her own happiness. 

"The engagement shouldn't be in the way then, don't you agree? I can't have you declaring territory on her using that ridiculous notion." Although he agreed with Duke Kensington, the Prince wanted to clear the path. He's always been doubtful with the legitimacy of this so-called betrothal. Now, everything seemed clearer to him. 

"I will speak to her personally about it, don't worry. This matter should remain between you and I. No one should know. About the wedding, I will also talk to Aunt Serina about not rushing it. Satisfied?" Duke Kensington said authoritatively.

Glaring at him, Prince Xavier said, "Don't use that tone on me. You're only a few days older than me. Anyway, I'll carry her back to her room. You snatched her from me the last time, I still haven't forgiven you for that."

With that, Prince Xavier turned and walked hurriedly to the pavilion before Duke Kensington could say anything. When he reached her, Lady Melissa was still in a deep sleep and didn't even move when the Prince carried her in his arms. Looking at this, Duke Kensington could only sigh deeply while following them back to the main palace. He still couldn't believe he had somehow agreed to let his cousin woo the woman he's supposed to marry. If anyone knew of this, both of them would be a laughingstock of the society for sure. One was a brilliant and cold businessman, another was an aloof and intelligent prince. WHAT A JOKE THIS HAS BECOME. 

When they reached her room, Prince Xavier slowly put her down on the bed and covered her with the quilt. 

Glancing over at Duke Kensington, he seemed to be busy looking for something when the Prince realized the bouquet of white roses in his hand. Prince Xavier sneered and said, "Did you steal that from my garden?"

Looking down at what the Prince was staring at, Duke Kensington fiercely said, "They're from my own garden! Unbelievable!" 

On that note, he quickly put the bouquet of roses by the bed and stormed out of the room. He decided to go home and think thoroughly of this whole 'misfortune'. Meanwhile, the Prince laughed silently at his silly cousin. He caressed Lady Melissa's face and kissed her forehead before leaving her to rest.