ROYAL CONTEST

5| CHAPTER FIVE

CROWN PRINCE OWEN'S POV

"So tell me, what did you think of them? They are all beautiful, right?" Clara’s voice was light, almost teasing, but there was a genuine curiosity in her eyes. I knew she would ask that. It was the same question that had been swirling in my own mind since the moment I met the ladies. Beauty was evident, a surface trait easily acknowledged. But what did I really think of them?

I paused, searching for the right words to articulate my thoughts. "It's hard to read what's on their minds," I finally said, my voice tinged with frustration. "I couldn't even tell if what they were saying was the truth or not. It’s like they were telling the truth, or maybe they’re just really good at lying and pretending." There was a hollow feeling in my chest, a sense of unease that I couldn't shake. How was I supposed to discern sincerity from deceit?

Clara nodded thoughtfully, a small frown creasing her brow. "I guess you're right. I don't wish to be you at this moment. This is going to be very interesting, and I would be a fool to travel right now." Her attempt at humor did little to lift the weight from my shoulders. I managed a weak smile, appreciating her effort but feeling the dread settling in more deeply.

"There's nothing interesting about this. It's going to be a nightmare." The words slipped out before I could censor them, raw and unfiltered. The contest was officially starting tomorrow, and in two weeks, I would be announcing the ones who made it to the next round. The responsibility felt like a heavy cloak draped over me, stifling and relentless.

I couldn't help but wonder how they would perform. Earlier, when I met them, I saw desperation in some of their eyes, a burning desire to win this competition at any cost. It was unsettling, knowing that ambition could drive people to such lengths.

My mother had warned me about those kinds of girls, the ones who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals, even if it meant harming others or framing them. Her words echoed in my mind, a cautionary tale that I couldn’t ignore.

When she first told me that, my immediate thought was to install hidden cameras in the palace. It seemed like a practical solution to keep an eye on things, to ensure fairness and safety. But my father had been vehemently against it, citing privacy concerns and the legality of such actions. I knew he was right, but the urge to protect everyone involved was strong. The thought of making a wrong decision, of dismissing the wrong person from the contest, haunted me. It would be my biggest regret, a mistake I couldn’t afford to make.

"If you keep thinking about it, then it will definitely be a nightmare," Clara's voice cut through my thoughts, grounding me momentarily. Her eyes bore into mine, filled with an unyielding confidence that I struggled to share. "You are a prince, and I know there's nothing in this world that you can't do."

I sighed, the weight of her expectations pressing on my shoulders like a physical burden. "You know that's not true," I replied, my voice softer, almost pleading for understanding. "I may be a prince, but I'm also human like everybody else."

"Human?" Clara's laugh was a soft, melodious sound, but there was a hint of disbelief in it. "When did the dragon prince of Harrington Empire become a human?" Her words stung, not because they were meant to hurt, but because they touched on a truth I often tried to ignore.

"You know what I mean," I said, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "Even though I'm not completely human, I'm also like every human being."

"When will you start acknowledging the fact that there's nothing human about you?" Clara's voice softened, but her words were firm. "You do look human, but you have three animals living inside you."

I could feel the familiar stirrings within me, the latent power that lay just beneath the surface. "Not just ordinary animals for that matter," Clara continued, her eyes intense. "You are the most powerful young lycan of this empire, and your wolf is not ordinary either. I won't even start with your dragon."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with truth. I knew she was right. The wolf within me was a force to be reckoned with, wild and untamed, yet fiercely loyal. And my dragon... my dragon was a creature of legend, its power unrivaled.

"Even your mother's dragon isn't as powerful as yours," Clara added, her voice almost reverent. "If you ask me, there's nothing human about you and there never will be."

Of course, I knew all that. The strength of my lineage, the raw, elemental power that flowed through my veins—it was a part of me that I could never escape. But I also didn't like to put it out in the open.

The less people knew about the true extent of my abilities, the safer they were. My mother's dragon was indeed powerful and overprotective, but not like mine. Mine was a force of nature, an untamed tempest that could bring both salvation and destruction.

Being a hybrid, my mother possesses an innate calm that she must maintain at all costs. Her tranquility is not merely a personality trait but a necessity, for whenever someone fails to acknowledge her hybrid nature, both her wolf and dragon perceive it as a challenge.

My mother can only keep them in check if she herself remains composed. It’s a delicate balance, a constant battle between her serene exterior and the tempestuous forces within. I’ve seen her eyes flicker with that inner struggle, the calm masking the raw power that lies just beneath the surface.

In contrast, though my lycan is undeniably powerful, it pales in comparison to my father’s. Perhaps it’s his status as the Emperor, a title that seems to magnify his inherent strength. His presence commands respect and awe, a living testament to the power that runs through our bloodline.

Most people have no idea about our true nature, and we prefer to keep it that way to maintain peace. They see my father as an emperor, and that façade has served us well, preserving a fragile tranquility.

Clara’s voice pulled me from my reverie, her words both a comfort and a source of agitation. "I know you're only interested in Alyssa, and I think everybody saw that," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "So you may find this whole thing unnecessary, but for the sake of peace, give all those ladies a fair chance to win your heart."

I bristled at her insinuation, even as I acknowledged the truth in it. Alyssa had captured my attention in a way none of the other contestants had. There was a raw, unpolished quality about her that drew me in, a stark contrast to the carefully cultivated poise of the others. "Who knows? Maybe at the end of the day, you will end up with someone else?" Clara continued. "She is beautiful, I give her that, but she doesn't have any qualities of a lady who is fit for royalty, and that alone is enough to not consider her for the second round."

Her words stung, not because they were harsh, but because they echoed my own doubts. I had seen Alyssa's potential, but I also saw the challenges she faced. "I'm not saying you should do that, though, because I will do everything I can to make sure that she adjusts. By the time I'm done with her, you won't be able to even recognize her."

Listening to Clara could be an exercise in frustration. She often spoke in circles, her thoughts weaving in and out of coherence. One moment, she was dismissing Alyssa, the next, she was promising to transform her into someone worthy of royalty. It was hard to keep up, and even harder to discern her true intentions.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair in exasperation. "Clara, you say one thing and then another. It’s hard to understand what you really mean," I said, my voice tinged with weariness.

Clara's expression softened, a rare moment of vulnerability crossing her features. "I think I'm just as confused as you are right now," she admitted.

"I have to wake up early tomorrow, so you must forgive me, I need to sleep early," I said, trying to mask my exhaustion with a polite smile.

"It's okay. I shouldn't be here at this time either. I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good night," Clara replied, her own fatigue showing through her usual cheerfulness.

"You too." I made my way to my chambers, relishing the thought of a few hours of undisturbed rest. But as I turned the corner, I saw a familiar figure standing outside my door—Lily. She was a family friend, her father having attended the same school as mine. Their long-standing relationship often brought her to the palace, but seeing her at this hour was unexpected.

"Is there anything you want me to help you with, Lady Lily?" I asked, suppressing a sigh.

"I'm so sorry, Your Highness. I didn't mean to come here at this time of night, but I need a small favor." Her voice was tentative, and I raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"A favor? Couldn't that favor wait until morning? Do you realize the time?" I asked, my patience wearing thin.

"I couldn't sleep. My father hasn't called me for two days, and I can't help but worry. My battery died, and I don't know where I put my charger. I recalled that your phone is the same brand as mine, and you are the closest person I could think of. I wanted to ask if you could be of help," she explained, her anxiety evident.

I couldn't help but question her motives. Why would she come all the way to my chambers for something as trivial as a charger? What did these girls take me for—a fool? "Lady Ivy has the exact same phone, and I'm sure she wouldn't mind lending you her charger for a few hours. Why didn't you go to her room? Most of the other ladies have the same brand. Why not go to them?"

"I'm really sorry, my prince. I didn't think it through. I also didn't know how they would react if I just came to their rooms at night," she said, her voice small and contrite.

"So now you realize that it is late?" I asked, incredulity creeping into my tone. "I just don't understand how you could muster the courage to come to the prince's chambers while you couldn't wake up your fellow contestants."

I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure. "I will lend you my charger, but I want to make something clear to you first. I know that your father is a friend to my father, but that doesn't give you the right to do as you wish in this palace. You are a contestant, just like all the other girls, and I will treat you equally regardless of your status or whatever.

"I don't appreciate you coming here in the middle of the night and finding excuses to be close to me. If you ever feel like you need a favor in the future, ask the other girls for help, and if they can't, ask your servants to come to me, Clara, or Justin. They were hired to assist you with your everyday needs, and you should allow them to do their job."

Without waiting for her response, I turned on my heel and went into my room. I retrieved my charger, handed it to her, and closed the door immediately. My heart pounded with a mix of frustration and relief. This was exactly the kind of behavior my mother had warned me about—girls trying to use any opportunity to get closer to me, to gain favor.

I knew I had been harsh with Lily, but it was necessary. I couldn't allow her to think that her actions were acceptable. I might not have spent much time around women, but I certainly wasn’t naive. I recognized when boundaries were being crossed, and Lily had crossed a significant one tonight. My mother had warned me about this: these girls would do anything to secure a spot in each round of the contest. It seemed she was right.

Sleep felt elusive as my mind replayed the evening's events. I needed to clear my head. Perhaps a shower would help. I made my way to the bathroom, letting the warm water wash away the tension. When I returned to my room, exhaustion finally claimed me, and I drifted into a deep sleep.

A commotion outside jolted me awake. The noise was impossible to ignore, despite my best efforts. It seemed these ladies had a talent for waking even the most determined sleeper. With a sigh, I got out of bed, threw on something presentable, and made my way to the source of the disturbance. As soon as the ladies saw me, they fell silent.

"Good morning, Your Highness," they chorused, a mix of embarrassment and respect in their voices.

"Why are you making noise this early? Shouldn't you be in your rooms?" I asked, struggling to keep my irritation in check.

One of the girls stepped forward, wringing her hands nervously. "We didn't mean to disturb your sleep, Your Highness, and we do apologize. Someone decided to wake us up looking for her charger, which she claims was stolen last night."

"Stolen? Who has the nerve to steal something here?" I asked, genuinely surprised. Theft in the palace was unthinkable.

"I couldn't find my charger, and I knew it had to be one of the ladies who took it. I had to search their rooms before they started doing funny business," Lily explained, her tone defensive.

"That is invading their privacy, and you could be expelled from this competition for that reason. If someone really stole your charger, the palace staff would find it for you. You shouldn't go around accusing others of theft without proof, and what you did is not how a lady should behave," I said, my voice firm.

At that moment, another girl emerged from the shadows, her expression calm but serious. "Good morning, Your Highness. Good morning, ladies. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I wanted to say that your charger is with me, Lily. I asked to borrow it last night since I forgot mine at home."

So, Lily had given her charger to Ivy and then forgotten about it. Now she was accusing others. I suppressed a sigh of frustration. This was going to be a long day. "See? I told you that you must have given your charger to someone, but you were so adamant that one of us stole it."

"I forgot about it. Surely you're not going to hold that against me. I will be more careful next time," Lily said, her attempt at an apology falling flat.

"Lady Lily, you were wrong, and you should apologize. You should apologize to the others for insinuating that they are thieves," I said, my patience waning.

She looked at me, shocked. "My prince, I just did."

"I've been alive for twenty-five years, and I have never learned that what you just did is an apology. Forgive my language, but I don't know what the f**k that was."

She glanced at the others, then muttered an apology under her breath. With my enhanced hearing, I barely caught it, and I doubted the others had.

"You can be louder than that. Your voice was loud enough to wake me up, so I'm sure these ladies would appreciate it if you could use the same volume you used earlier."

"I'm sorry, I won't do it again. Forgive me, ladies," Lily repeated, louder this time. It was clear her ego was bruised, but she needed to learn this lesson. Her actions had been petty and disruptive.

"Why didn't you wake up Ivy if you forgot that your charger was with her? You knew the truth but chose to create trouble early in the morning," I added, unable to hide my frustration.

"You can go back to whatever you were doing, ladies, and thank you, Lady Ivy, for solving this matter before it turned into a huge mess," I said, turning to Ivy with a grateful nod.

"You don't need to thank me, Your Highness. I was just doing what's right. I couldn't stay in my room knowing what was happening outside," Ivy replied, her voice calm and composed.

"That's very thoughtful of you. You can also go back to your room," I said, appreciating her straightforwardness.

"Thank you, Your Highness. Have a wonderful day."

"Thank you," I replied, watching as the group dispersed. I returned to my room, knowing that the day ahead would be filled with challenges. It was still early, but I couldn't go back to bed. I had too much to do, and I doubted I could fall asleep again even if I tried.

Women! They were a mystery I wasn't sure I'd ever fully understand.