The Playboy Prince and His Princess

Six

Dominic paced around his room, trying but failing, to let his nerves get the best of him. He was usually a calm and collected guy so it took a lot to rile him up to the point where he was basically wearing a hole into the floor.

There was a single knock on his door and before he could let the person in, the door opened and James walked in.

James took a look at his friend and rolled his eyes. “Dom, why are you so nervous?"

“I am not nervous", Dominic replied not sounding convincing at all.

James raised a brow at him. “Seriously though, you're just meeting her, it's not like you're getting married immediately. At least you made sure of that".

Dominic knew his friend was right but that did nothing to soothe his nerves.

After Derek had given him that suggestion a week ago, it had taken him a while but he had finally convinced his parents to allow him get to know the princess for a period of time first before they rushed into a marriage.

He was happy that they were at least able to see reason in that. He was actually beginning to get hopeful until they told him that he'd be meeting up with her a week from then.

He shouldn't have been surprised though, after all, the plan was for them to get married, they can't do that through zoom.

Still, that thought didn't stop the nerves from coming. He didn't even know why he was nervous. He was a charmer. The ladies had always loved him and he had never had any problem with them in the past.

It didn't make any sense to him why he was suddenly nervous about meeting someone his family had arranged for him to marry. He knew she wouldn't be different from other girls and that she'd fall as easily for his charms.

Yet, as much as he tried to tell himself that, it wasn't doing much to calm his nerves.

She was scheduled to arrive at Caldea today and of course, he had been instructed to look his best and act his nicest.

He had heard that she had also called for the three month period of time for them to get to know each other. That made him dislike her a little less because it meant she also didn't want to marry him.

That gave him hope that he would come out of this unscathed.

“Hello, earth to Dominic", James said, snapping his fingers in front of the prince's face.

That brought Dominic out of his thoughts and he blinked a couple of times to get his focus back on James.

“Relax Dom, you'll be fine. You're just meeting her. You've got this", James said, patting Dominic's shoulder.

“I know", he replied, sounding like he was trying to assure himself instead of his friend.

A while later, a guard came to inform him that the princess had arrived. By then, Dominic had taken a couple drinks and his nerves had simmered down. He wondered why he was even nervous in the first place.

He stood up and checked himself out in the mirror. He was dressed casually in dark jeans, a button up shirt, a jacket and a pair of sneakers.

He decided that he looked good and he went to greet her. He saw her talking to his parents.

She was backing him and he took that opportunity to check her out since they hadn't noticed him yet. She was short compared to him and a little bit on the curvy side.

She had mane of dark hair that she wore in a single braid. She definitely did not fit into his type of women at all.

His parents seemed to have noticed him just then because they gestured to him.

“Ah, he's here", his dad started. On cue, the princess turned and Dominic sucked in a breath at her.

She looked stunning. He realized that she had bangs and that she had a very beautiful face. She had on a pair of glasses so he couldn't determine her eye color but he could guess that they were brown.

He also noticed that she had freckles covering every layer of her skin and even though he had always found them unattractive in the past, he realized that her's suited her.

She made it work. She was definitely very beautiful and from the look on her face, she wasn't happy to be here.

For some weird reason, that stung even though he felt exactly the same way, that is, until he lay eyes on her. She definitely wasn't his type but she was prettier than any woman who was.

“Meet our son, Dominic", his dad introduced, “Dominic, Alexandra. Now we'll leave you two to talk".

His parents left then, both of them sporting cheeky smiles on their faces.

There was awkward silence in the room as neither of them said anything to each other.

Alexa snuck glances at the prince. It was no wonder he was able to charm all those girls. He was gorgeous.

He reminded her of a greek god. He was very tall, easily towering over her with dirty blonde hair and the greenest eyes she had ever seen.

“So Alexandra", he started.

“Alexa", she corrected, cutting him off, “just Alexa is fine".

He nodded with an amused smile on his face.

“How about I just call you Lex instead?" he asked.

Alexa shook her head. “Nah, I'd rather you call me Alexa".

Dominic nodded like he understood. “Lex it is then".

She glared at him and he thought it was adorable.

“You can call me Will".

She furrowed her brows in confusion. “Isn't your name Dominic?"

“Yeah but so is Will. Most people call me Will".

Alexa took a page from his book and nodded like she understood. “So Dominic it is then".

Dominic raised an eyebrow at her, then smirked. “Well played princess, well played".

Alexa smiled then gave a small curtsey. “I try".

They were plunged into awkward silence again after that.

They both hated it but neither of them knew what to say. What would you say to a person that you were supposed to marry but didn't want to?

“Would you like a tour of the palace?" he asked just so the silence could be broken.

“Uh sure", she replied.

“This way", he said leading her out.

He showed her the spa, the gym, the library, he didn't miss how her eyes lit up when they were in the library and he found it amusing that she was a book nerd.

When he was done with the inside of the palace, he lead her outside to the royal stables where his brother, Derek, was petting a horse.

Derek looked surprised to see them here. “Lex, this is my brother Derek, Derek this is princess Alexa", Dominic introduced.

Derek blushed a little as he shook hands with the princess. “It's nice to meet you", his brother stuttered out.

Dominic raised an eyebrow at that. Derek wasn't a stutterer or a blusher so what was going on. He saw the princess giggle.

“It's nice to meet you too Prince Derek", she said with a polite smile.

“Oh just Derek is fine", his brother said.

The horse that Derek was petting neighed and that drew their attention. “He's beautiful", Lex said going to look at him. She raised her hand as if to stroke his mane but stopped before she touched it.

“May I?" she asked Derek. Derek nodded. “His name is Blazer. I've had him since I was sixteen".

Derek and Alexa started a small conversation on horses then and Dominic started to get annoyed especially since he wasn't included in the conversation.

“Okay I hate to break this up but I still have to finish the rest of the tour and Daphne is going to kill me if she doesn't meet her soon so we've got to go", he said.

“Well it was nice meeting you princess. I guess I'll see you around", Derek said.

“It was nice seeing you too", she replied.

Alexa and Dominic left the stables after that. “Your brother, he seems nice", she said.

“Wait till you meet my sister", he mumbled.

When they were done with the tour, he took her to Daphne's room.

He knocked. “Daphne, it's me I have someone I'd like you to meet".

“Coming", Daphne said as she unlocked the door moments after.

“Daphne, I'd like you to meet princess Alexandra", he introduced, “Lex, this is my baby sister Daphne".

“I'm hardly a baby Dominic", Daphne said raising a brow at her brother before turning her attention to the princess.

She gave a small curtsey that Alexa returned. “It is a pleasure to meet you", she said.

“Likewise", Alexa replied.

Daphne invited them into her room and they spent a small amount of time talking. Daphne was fascinated with the princess.

She thought she was so cool and so pretty and a small part of her wished things would work out between Dominic and Alexa so she'd gain her as a sister. Although, she'd never tell her brother that though.

Later that night, after dinner, Dominic and Alexa had once again been left alone.

Dominic was wondering when it would be a good time to mention the arrangement.

He didn't want to seem rude but he also wanted to get it over and done with.

“We should talk", Alexa said with a serious expression on her face.

“About what?" Dominic asked even though he had an idea what it was about.

“About this arranged marriage thing", she said like it was obvious.

“I don't want to get married yet", she continued, “and definitely not to you and I know you feel the same way".

For some weird reason, her saying that stung and he didn't even know why because she was absolutely right. He didn't want to get married yet either.

He concluded that it was his ego that had been bruised. He wasn't used to being rejected before. In fact, he had never been rejected.

And even though he didn't want her, it still stung a little bit that she felt the same. He decided to collect himself before his mood would show on his face.

“Yeah you're right. Marriage is definitely not on my radar right now and no offense Lex but even if it was you're definitely not the kinda girl I pictured myself with. I'm more into blondes", he said, slipping a cocky smile on his face.

Alexa raised an eyebrow at him. “Well it's a good thing because you're definitely not my type either".

The smile on his face dropped as soon as she said that. He had never ever not met anyone who hadn't fallen flat on their face for him.

“Oh really?" he asked simply.

“Yeah. I don't do spoiled, arrogant and cocky playboys".

She had on a confident smile as she said that. “Besides, I have a boyfriend so I'm just waiting for the three months to pass so we can get on with our lives".

Dominic didn't know why but she made him angry. He felt exactly the same way so why was it pissing him off that she thought he wasn't her type.

It wasn't like she lied. Everything she said about him was true but he still didn't like it.

At that moment, Dominic accepted the challenge. He was going to make the princess eat her words about him. He was going to make her fall so hard for him, she wouldn't be able to get back up.

He was confident he could make her, after all, he had never lost a challenge yet.