The Contract Prince

EPISODE ONE

THE OFFER

The air in the casting room was stale, filled with the scent of cheap coffee and desperation. Leo Carter leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his patience wearing thin. His latest audition had been another disaster—just a polite nod from the director before a half-hearted “We’ll be in touch.” He already knew what that meant.

“Maybe it’s time to quit,” Leo muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple.

The dingy waiting room was a far cry from the red carpets he once dreamed of. His reflection in the smudged mirror opposite him showed the same thing it had for the past five years—a man on the edge of giving up. His dark, wavy hair was slightly disheveled, his five o'clock shadow a little too noticeable. He adjusted the cuffs of his worn-out leather jacket, a relic from his first big break that never led anywhere.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden chime of his phone. He glanced at the unknown number flashing on the screen before answering with a weary sigh.

“Leo Carter speaking.”

“Mr. Carter,” a crisp, British-accented voice responded. “I have an offer that may interest you. Please meet me at the Grand Velandria Hotel, Suite 1402, in one hour.”

Leo frowned. “Who is this?”

“Someone who can change your life.” The call ended.

Leo stared at his phone. It had scam written all over it. But then again, what did he have to lose?

The Grand Velandria Hotel – An Offer He Can’t Refuse

The lobby of the Grand Velandria Hotel screamed wealth. Polished marble floors reflected the glow of an opulent chandelier, and the air smelled of expensive cologne and fresh roses. The concierge barely spared Leo a glance, which wasn’t surprising—his scuffed boots and casual jeans stuck out in a sea of designer suits.

The elevator ride to the fourteenth floor felt endless. When the doors finally opened, he found himself in a dimly lit hallway, the thick carpet swallowing the sound of his footsteps.

He knocked on the suite door. It opened almost immediately, revealing a tall, older man in a perfectly tailored black suit.

“Mr. Carter. You’re punctual.”

Leo raised a brow. “And you are?”

The man stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. “My name is Lord Marcus Sinclair. I represent the Velandrian royal family.”

Leo’s confusion deepened as he stepped inside. The suite was nothing short of extravagant—floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city skyline, expensive leather furniture sat untouched, and a crystal decanter of whiskey rested on the coffee table. But it wasn’t the luxury that unsettled him. It was the man sitting in the high-backed chair by the window.

Crown Prince Adrian Velandria.

Leo recognized him instantly—everyone did. The prince’s sharp, aristocratic features were as flawless as they appeared in tabloids, his silver-blue eyes colder than the steel cufflinks fastening his crisp navy suit. He sat with one leg crossed over the other, his posture perfect, his gaze assessing.

Leo whistled lowly. “Well, this just got interesting.”

Lord Marcus gestured toward the empty chair opposite Adrian. “Sit.”

Leo dropped into the seat, stretching his arms behind his head. “Alright, I’m here. What’s the job? Royal butler? Maybe a body double?” He smirked. “I do have a pretty decent profile.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “Do you ever take anything seriously?”

Leo met his gaze, unbothered. “Not unless it pays well.”

Lord Marcus cleared his throat. “You’re here because we have a proposition for you. His Royal Highness is currently in the midst of… an unfortunate public scandal.”

Leo leaned forward, intrigued. “Go on.”

“The media has been relentless, and we need to redirect the narrative,” Marcus continued smoothly. “Which is where you come in. For the next six months, you will play a role—one that requires absolute discretion and believability.”

Leo frowned. “And that role is?”

Adrian’s jaw tightened, his fingers tapping once against the armrest before stilling. “You will be my lover.”

Silence stretched between them. Leo blinked. Then, suddenly, he laughed. “Oh, you’re serious?”

Marcus didn’t even flinch. “Deadly.”

Leo ran a hand through his hair, trying to wrap his head around the absurdity of it all. “So let me get this straight. You, the Crown Prince, want me, a nobody actor, to pretend to be your boyfriend?”

“Yes.” Adrian’s voice was clipped, as if the words tasted bitter on his tongue.

Leo tilted his head. “Why me?”

Marcus handed him a folder. “You have the right background—enough fame to be believable, but not enough to cause complications. More importantly, you’re desperate enough to take the deal.”

Leo glanced at the papers inside. A contract. A very, very lucrative contract.

“And if I say no?”

Adrian’s gaze was unwavering. “Then we find someone else.”

There was no plea, no attempt to persuade him. Just cold, detached words.

Leo hated that it worked.

He exhaled slowly, setting the contract down. “Fine. I’m in.”

A flicker of something—relief?—passed through Adrian’s eyes, gone too quickly to confirm.

Lord Marcus smiled, satisfied. “Excellent. Welcome to the royal family, Mr. Carter.”

Leo smirked, leaning back. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

—

The Game Begins

Leo wasn’t sure what he expected when he agreed to become Crown Prince Adrian Velandria’s fake lover, but the first few days in the opulent world of royalty were far more disorienting than he’d anticipated.

The following morning, Leo stood in front of a full-length mirror, fidgeting with the pristine suit tailored for him by the royal stylists. His reflection was almost unrecognizable. The rich, navy fabric hugged his lean form perfectly, the crisp white shirt underneath made his skin look a little paler than usual, and the polished shoes gleamed like mirrors. His hair was combed back in a manner that screamed sophistication rather than the usual messy waves he was used to.

He adjusted the collar one more time before letting out a frustrated sigh. “This doesn’t feel like me,” he muttered.

A knock at the door startled him.

“Mr. Carter,” a voice called from outside, “His Royal Highness requests your presence in the royal gardens.”

Leo looked at the door before making his way to it. The moment he opened it, he was greeted by a tall man in a perfectly pressed suit, holding a clipboard. “Please follow me, sir.”

Leo followed the man through the corridors of the palace, each turn more extravagant than the last. Marble statues, intricate tapestries, and chandeliers that could have paid his rent for a year all decorated the royal palace. He couldn’t help but feel like a fish out of water.

When they reached the royal gardens, Leo could hear the faint sound of classical music drifting through the air, the scent of jasmine mingling with fresh morning dew. It was a scene ripped straight from a fairy tale, and Leo couldn’t decide if he was supposed to feel privileged or trapped.

Standing by a fountain, Crown Prince Adrian waited with his hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored coat. His expression was unreadable, as usual. The soft morning light caught his silver-blue eyes, making them seem even colder than usual.

“Prince Adrian,” Leo greeted, trying to mask the nervousness he felt, but failing miserably. He was still getting used to the idea of standing in front of royalty, let alone being in a relationship with one, even if it was fake.

Adrian glanced up at him, the corners of his lips twitching ever so slightly in acknowledgment. “Mr. Carter, I trust you’re adjusting well to your new role?”

Leo shifted his weight, trying to appear nonchalant. “Sure, if by ‘adjusting’ you mean having a panic attack every other hour. But, I’ll survive.”

Adrian’s gaze sharpened, though his voice remained impassive. “You should take this more seriously. The media has been informed of our... arrangement. The sooner we establish a routine, the better.”

Leo bit back a grin. Routine? For a fake relationship? This was going to be ridiculous. But he didn’t say that. Instead, he nodded. “I’m ready. What’s the first move?”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if assessing him for the first time. “We begin with a public appearance at the gala tonight. You will accompany me as my partner. It’s important that you look... convincing.”

Leo c****d an eyebrow. “A gala? A royal one, I assume?”

Adrian’s lips parted in the smallest of smiles, a look so fleeting that Leo almost thought he imagined it. “Yes. It’s a charity event, and I expect you to behave accordingly.”

Leo crossed his arms. “I’m an actor, Prince. Not a trained royal consort.”

“You’ll do fine,” Adrian said, the faintest hint of something almost like amusement in his voice. “Just follow my lead.”

Leo wasn’t so sure. The prince’s stoic nature was almost a challenge in itself—he wasn’t sure if Adrian even knew how to feel, let alone play along in a fake relationship. But the idea of attending a royal gala, mingling with the upper echelons of society, and basking in the attention, was tempting. Maybe he could use this as a way to kickstart his career. After all, this was what he had wanted—an escape from his struggles. He just hadn’t expected it to come in the form of being Adrian’s arm candy.

“Fine,” Leo relented, “but I’m going to need a crash course in royal behavior. I don’t exactly have a ‘partner at a gala’ manual lying around.”

Adrian’s gaze was steady, his face unreadable. “I’ll give you the essentials. Follow me and you’ll be fine. But I expect you to remember one thing.”

Leo raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“Don’t make a spectacle of yourself.”

Leo chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, I’ll try not to do that. But I make no promises.”

Adrian’s lips thinned into a hard line, but Leo couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes softened for the briefest moment.

“Well, we’ll see,” Adrian said, turning toward the palace. “Tonight, be ready to play your part.”

Leo stared at his back, his mind swirling. He was about to dive deeper into a world that wasn’t his, a world where every step was carefully measured and every word scrutinized. But what he hadn’t anticipated was how much he was beginning to wonder what it would take to crack the stone-cold prince’s exterior.