ROYAL CONTEST

9 | CHAPTER NINE

CROWN PRINCE OWEN'S POV

"How often do you travel?" I found myself asking, breaking the comfortable silence. She looked at me with surprise, clearly not expecting the question.

"I thought you had decided to avoid me; you've been in your own world for a while now," she said, her tone light and teasing as she took a picture with her phone.

"Sorry about that, I didn't realize," I responded, a bit sheepishly.

"It's okay. I don't really travel much since I'm more of an indoors person. I have only travelled to two provinces back home. Maybe four or five times? I don't really remember," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia.

"What about other countries?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Never, and I never saw the need. I've always been comfortable with being in my home country, and even though I knew maybe I would travel outside it one day, I wasn't in a hurry. This is my first time leaving South Africa, and I think since I've left, I'll never leave again. This is just a one-time experience, and it is enough for me," she said, her words carrying a finality that surprised me.

"I've realized that you always talk about going home and not about winning the competition. You don't think you'll win, do you?" I asked, sensing a deeper story behind her words.

"Of course not, it never even crossed my mind. I don't mean to be rude, but I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for honouring my mother's wish and that my dad also wanted me to come. I'm not planning to settle down here; I have a life back home, and I was about to open my own restaurant before the letter came and ruined everything for me. So, to answer your question, I don't think I'll win this competition, and I don't want to," she explained, her voice steady and resolute.

Her honesty was refreshing, but it also filled me with a sense of sadness. The thought of her leaving, of this being just a fleeting chapter in her life, was something I wasn't ready to confront. "It sounds like you have a very clear sense of what you want," I said, trying to not give myself away. "But what if you do win? What if things change, and you find a reason to stay?"

She looked at me, her eyes reflecting amusement. "I don't think that's going to happen. I'm here to fulfil a promise, nothing more. Once it's done, I'll go back to my life. I've already made peace with that."

She made it sound like it wasn't a big deal. She made it sound so random, and she didn't even stop while she was talking; she kept walking, and I stood there frozen. Her words echoed in my mind, each syllable chipping away at the hopes I had built. What was I thinking?

Did I really think that she would be happy to be here and leave her family and her life back home? She doesn't seem interested in anything in the palace, not even in me. The realization hit me like a cold wave, washing over the warmth I had felt just moments before.

I know I don't owe her anything, but I just wish she could decide to focus on the competition and try her best to prove that she too is worthy of being the crown princess of Harrington Empire, if not for anything, just for me.

The thought lingered, a stubborn hope refusing to fade. I wanted her to see what I saw in her, the potential, the grace, the strength. I wanted her to see herself as a part of this world, as my equal and my partner.

I don't know what I was thinking when I thought this was going to be easy since I had already made up my mind about the person I wanted. This isn't going to be easy at all, far from it.

The path ahead seemed fraught with obstacles, each one a test of my resolve and patience. But I couldn't give up, not when I had finally found someone who made me feel alive, someone who made me dream of a future filled with love and companionship.

"I know this may be hard to believe, but you don't have any reason to doubt me. I have no interest in being a princess. I love the life I'm living, I'm free, and I don't have to think about disappointing anybody whenever I decide to do something," she said, her voice carrying a note of finality that cut through me like a knife.

Talk about adding salt to an already open wound. I didn't even realize she had stopped walking too. Here I am, thinking about how I can win her over, and she thinks I'm doubting her.

"Like you said, I don't have any reason to doubt you. You can rest assured, I believe you. I just had something in my mind," I replied softly, trying to ease the tension that had crept into our conversation.

"I thought that maybe you were thinking that I'm like Lady Ivy."

"Lady Ivy?" I echoed, my curiosity piqued by the sudden mention of someone who seemed to evoke such strong emotions in Alyssa.

"Yeah, you know, the whole 'I'm not interested in being a princess' and whatnot. She is making everyone believe that she isn't interested, but the look she gave me when you spoke to me the first day we met said otherwise.

"Even her eyes were saying the opposite when she told your mother that she wanted to go back to modelling instead of being here. I've seen girls like her, but I wasn't going to blow her cover in front of the Empress. I wanted to laugh at her, but I'm not that kind of person.

"I just don't understand how a girl could do something so low. She doesn't need to pretend; she is beautiful, and I know she can get anything she wants just by being herself," Alyssa explained, her voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and disbelief.

By the look on her face, it was evident that she really hated what Ivy was doing. Her expression spoke volumes, a blend of empathy for Ivy's apparent insecurity and disdain for the deception.

It struck me how perceptive Alyssa was, not just about others but also about the dynamics at play within the competition and the palace. Lady Ivy's actions seemed to touch a nerve in her, perhaps reminding her of a world where appearances and facades held more sway than authenticity.

"You've only been around her for two minutes, and you were able to figure out everything about her?" I found myself asking, genuinely impressed by Alyssa's perceptiveness.

"It wasn't that difficult, to be honest. I've been around people who wear masks all my life, so it wasn't hard for me to spot another one," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "What I don't understand is why they do that. You won't believe that most of them already have everything they could ever wish for in their lives, but they want more."

I nodded in agreement, reflecting on my own experiences. "I know what you mean. I've seen it too, but I've never said anything because I know it's something even I won't be able to change, no matter how hard I try."

I used to be surrounded by those people too when I was in school, but I never entertained any of them because I knew they only wanted to be around me because of who I am, the crown prince. Only a few people came to me with sincere intentions, and those were the ones who didn't know the real me. I have seen how people behave around me once they learn that I'm a prince, and I hate it. Their attitudes shift, their motives become transparent, and their interactions turn into performances. It was a relief to find someone like Alyssa who seemed genuinely indifferent to my title, who spoke to me as if I were just another person.

As we approached the palace gates, the warmth of the setting sun casting long shadows behind us, Alyssa turned to me with a smile. "I guess I should thank you for taking me out of the palace today. Thank you so much, Your Highness. I don't think I would've seen the beauty of this town if it wasn't for you." We had spent hours wandering the town, exploring its hidden corners and sharing stories that had woven a new connection between us.

"You're welcome," I replied, feeling a surge of gratitude for her company. "I guess I should also thank you. I really enjoyed spending time with you, and I hope we can do this again. Maybe next week? I haven't walked around this town for a while now." And maybe, just maybe, I could get her to change her mind about leaving.

"Of course. I don't really have much to do in the palace anyway," she replied with a small smile, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. It was a relief to see her relaxed and at ease, especially after our earlier conversation about Lady Ivy and the competition.

As we walked through the palace gates, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. The day had turned out far better than I had anticipated. Alyssa's company had been refreshing, her insights enlightening, and her presence comforting. It was as if she had brought a piece of her world into mine, a world where honesty and simplicity reigned, and where titles and pretenses had no place.

I found myself hoping that our time together could continue and that the connection we had started to build could grow stronger. Despite her reservations about the competition and her longing for home, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something special between us, something worth fighting for.

I decided to accompany her to her rooms, the comfortable silence between us punctuated only by the soft sounds of our footsteps echoing through the grand corridors of the palace. The evening air was cool, a gentle breeze wafting in through the open windows and carrying with it the faint scent of blooming jasmine from the palace gardens.

Despite the serene atmosphere, my mind was anything but calm. I couldn't help but want to kiss her, not just a simple kiss but a kiss that would leave us both breathless and yearning for more. The thought startled me, an unexpected and intense desire that seemed to come out of nowhere.

I didn't even know where that urge came from because I had always been a gentleman. Being near Alyssa made me want to do things I had only imagined or heard about from others. Since becoming the crown prince of Harrington Empire, I had been bound by a myriad of rules and expectations, a rigid code of conduct that dictated my every interaction, especially with women.

Alyssa's presence was like a magnetic force, drawing me closer even as I struggled to maintain my composure. She walked beside me, her expression serene, completely unaware of the turmoil churning within me. I stole glances at her, admiring the way the soft light played on her features, casting delicate shadows that accentuated her natural beauty.

There was something effortlessly captivating about her, a quiet strength and grace that set her apart from anyone I had ever met. She moved with an ease and confidence that belied the intense emotions she had shared with me earlier, her honesty and vulnerability making her even more appealing.

As we neared her quarters, I found myself grappling with the intensity of my feelings. It was as if Alyssa had awakened something within me, a desire that had long been suppressed under the weight of my responsibilities and the expectations of my position.

I wanted to reach out, to touch her, to feel the warmth of her skin against mine, to lose myself in the softness of her lips. But I also knew that acting on those impulses could complicate things, especially given the delicate nature of our burgeoning relationship.