THE PRINCE I WAS NEVER MEANT TO LOVE

THE ARRIVAL

A few days had passed since my father walked out of my room and told me that my husband-to-be would be coming to take me away.

Since then, the entire castle had been consumed by preparations.

Everywhere I went, someone was rushing around with something in their hands. Servants were cleaning rooms that had probably never looked dirty in the first place. Guards had doubled around the palace grounds, and members of the royal household were constantly moving between rooms, giving instructions and making sure everything was ready.

The reason for all of it was simple.

The Valmont royal family was coming.

And apparently, because I was the reason they were coming, everyone had decided that preparing me was just as important as preparing the castle.

For the past few days, I had been dragged from one tailor to another. Dresses had been brought out, adjusted, rejected, and replaced. Some were too plain. Others were apparently not formal enough. One was rejected because the color was considered inappropriate for my first meeting with the family I was supposed to marry into.

I had stopped arguing after the third tailor.

At this point, I simply stood there while people moved around me, measuring my waist, adjusting sleeves, fixing hems, and discussing fabrics as though my opinion barely mattered.

All that mattered was the fact that my father said he wanted me to look perfect on that day. He surprisingly cared a lot about how I looked after claiming this marriage was my late mom’s idea.

Eventually, they settled on a dress.

It was beautiful.

I couldn’t deny that.

But every time I looked at it, all I could think about was why I needed it in the first place.

I wasn’t getting dressed for a celebration.

I was getting dressed to meet the family that was coming to take me away.

That morning, my hair had been styled, my clothes had been prepared, and I had been reminded more times than I could count that I needed to behave properly when the Valmont family arrived.

Smile.

Be polite.

Stand straight.

Don’t embarrass the family.

Nobody had asked me how I felt.

Nobody needed to.

They already knew.

I spent most of the morning sitting by my bedroom window, staring outside while the castle continued moving around me.

I had barely spoken to anyone in days.

I leaned against the window and looked across the palace grounds.

The afternoon had been strangely quiet.

Then I heard shouting.

I lifted my head.

Another voice followed, then several more.

Footsteps echoed somewhere below.

Doors opened and closed.

People began moving quickly through the courtyard.

I sat up.

Something was happening.

I moved closer to the window and looked down.

The castle had suddenly come alive.

Servants were hurrying toward the main entrance. Guards were taking their positions along the driveway. Members of the royal household were gathering near the front steps, all dressed in their finest clothes.

My heart began beating faster.

It could only mean one thing.

They had arrived.

I stood immediately.

For a moment, I simply stared at the road leading toward the castle.

Then I saw the first car.

A black luxury sedan appeared at the far end of the driveway, moving slowly toward the palace.

Another followed.

Then another.

And another.

My eyes widened as the procession continued.

There were cars everywhere, moving in a long line toward the castle. Security vehicles surrounded them, followed by more luxury cars carrying members of the Valmont household and their attendants.

The sight made my stomach twist.

I pressed my fingers against the window as the procession came closer.

The cars moved slowly across the palace grounds, their dark bodies reflecting the afternoon light. Guards stood on either side of the driveway as they passed, watching carefully while the entire castle seemed to hold its breath.

Down below, I spotted my father.

He stood at the center of the welcoming party, dressed formally beside my stepmother. Several senior members of the royal household stood behind them, along with ministers, council members, and palace officials who had clearly been waiting for this exact moment.

Everyone looked prepared.

Everyone except me.

I remained by the window, watching as the first cars approached the entrance.

The procession began to slow.

One car stopped.

Then another.

Then another.

Within moments, the entire line had come to a halt in front of the castle.

My father stepped forward.

My stepmother stood beside him, smiling.

The royal council gathered behind them.

I was still standing by the window, trying to process what I had just seen. The Valmont royal family was actually here. The family of the man I was supposed to marry had arrived, and suddenly everything felt real.

A knock sounded at my door.

Before I could answer, it opened, and several attendants walked in. They immediately began moving around the room, checking my dress and making sure everything was in place.

I didn’t need to ask why they were there.

They had come to take me downstairs.

My heart began pounding as I glanced toward the window one last time. The cars were still parked outside, and my father was waiting at the entrance with the welcoming party.

So this was really happening.

In a few moments, I would finally meet the man I was supposed to marry.

It took everything in me not to cry.

I wiped the tears from my cheeks and took a slow breath, forcing myself to steady my expression. I straightened my dress, lifted my chin, and looked at myself one last time in the mirror.

The maids reapplied my makeup and made sure everything was in place before gesturing towards the door, signaling I was ready to head downstairs.

There was nothing else I could do.

I opened the door and stepped into the hallway, leaving my room behind as I headed downstairs to face whatever was waiting for me.