The Contract Prince

EPISODE TWO

The Royal Gala

The evening of the royal gala arrived faster than Leo anticipated, and as the hours ticked by, the sense of unease gnawed at him. He had dressed meticulously, his suit a perfect fit, but there was something about it that made him feel more like a prop than a participant in the evening’s events.

The palace was alive with activity. Servants hurried through the halls, making last-minute preparations, while royal guests in their glittering gowns and impeccable tuxedos floated by in a haze of opulence. Leo’s eyes darted nervously from one person to another. Every face seemed to belong to someone important—someone with a name he’d heard on the news or read about in tabloids.

In the grand ballroom, the chandeliers hung like crystal constellations, casting a soft, golden glow over the sea of faces. It was overwhelming. For a moment, Leo almost felt as though he were an actor on the set of an elaborate period drama, waiting for his cue to step into character.

Then, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Adrian.

Be ready. I’ll come for you soon.

Leo read the message twice before shoving his phone back into his pocket. It wasn’t the first time Adrian had sent a cryptic message. In fact, Adrian had been distant and professional ever since their initial meeting. Leo didn’t know what to expect, and frankly, he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

A soft knock at the door startled him.

“Mr. Carter?” the voice from the other side of the door called. It was the same servant who had escorted him earlier. “His Royal Highness is ready for your entrance.”

Leo stood up, taking a deep breath to steady himself. No turning back now, he thought. He straightened his shoulders, smoothed down the fabric of his jacket, and opened the door.

Adrian stood there, already dressed in a black tuxedo that seemed to have been designed specifically to make heads turn. The prince was every bit the image of regal perfection—his silver-blue eyes gleaming with something unreadable, his posture unwavering as he took in Leo’s appearance.

“Well, you clean up well,” Leo remarked, his voice betraying just a hint of nervousness.

Adrian’s lips twitched but he didn’t respond. Instead, he nodded toward the ballroom. “Follow my lead.”

Leo swallowed hard. This was it. The moment they entered the ballroom, the media cameras would be flashing, the whispers would start, and every royal eye in the room would be on them. He had to be convincing, had to act the part of the doting lover—no matter how out of place it felt.

As they made their way through the grand doors, the attention was instantaneous. The room seemed to hush, as if a switch had been flipped, and the murmurs began almost immediately.

“There they are,” someone whispered in awe. “The Crown Prince’s lover.”

The sight of them together—a royal prince and a man who looked more like a street actor than a lover—seemed to stun the crowd, but they recovered quickly, and Leo was almost certain he saw more than one envious glance cast his way.

He kept his face neutral, though his heart raced. Act cool. Act calm, he reminded himself.

Adrian’s arm slipped around his waist in an elegant, practiced gesture. Leo felt the press of his body against Adrian’s side, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Adrian was keeping a certain distance, emotionally and physically. He didn’t lean into Leo, didn’t smile at him as lovers might. His gaze remained distant, calculating, scanning the room as if he were completely indifferent to the spectacle unfolding before him.

Leo tried to ignore the tension, focusing instead on the task at hand. He matched Adrian’s pace, walking alongside him with perfect synchronization. His gaze swept the room, taking in the grandeur of the event. Expensive gowns shimmered under the chandelier light, and the soft clinking of glasses filled the air as guests murmured about the newest addition to the royal family.

“This is so surreal,” Leo murmured under his breath.

Adrian’s voice, low and controlled, cut through the noise. “Focus.”

Leo nodded. Right. Focus. This wasn’t about him. This wasn’t about his dreams of escaping his acting failures. This was about making a statement—about playing the role of the prince’s lover convincingly, about shifting the narrative.

They made their way to a prominent corner of the room, where a large group of influential figures had gathered. Leo’s pulse quickened as he was introduced to some of the most powerful individuals in the kingdom—business tycoons, foreign dignitaries, and influential members of the royal court. Their gazes were sharp, appraising, as if trying to decipher the truth of their relationship in a single glance.

Adrian’s hand was still at the small of Leo’s back, guiding him through the crowd. But his touch wasn’t warm. It was more of a command. Leo couldn’t shake the feeling that Adrian was playing a game of his own—a game that didn’t involve him at all.

“We should mingle,” Adrian said, his tone devoid of any emotion. “Keep them talking. Keep them interested.”

Leo raised an eyebrow. “And what if I don’t feel like mingling?”

Adrian’s gaze flicked to him, cold and unreadable. “Then you’ll learn quickly that disinterest at a royal gala isn’t an option.”

Leo gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to snap back. Instead, he plastered on a smile. “Understood, Your Highness.”

They moved through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with people Leo could hardly keep track of. It wasn’t long before the first photographer appeared, snapping photos of them together—Adrian looking every inch the aloof prince, and Leo doing his best to appear composed, despite feeling like a fish out of water.

The night stretched on, and with every passing hour, the pressure of maintaining the act wore on Leo. He was becoming more aware of the distance between himself and Adrian—aware that the prince didn’t seem to care whether or not he was enjoying himself.

Yet, as the evening wore on and they made their way to the center of the ballroom, Leo caught a glimpse of something unexpected—something more than indifference in Adrian’s eyes. It was a flicker of... vulnerability?

But before he could analyze it further, Adrian's hand tightened on his waist, pulling him closer as the music shifted into a waltz. It was their moment—time to perform, to sell the fantasy. Leo found himself swept into the prince’s arms, and despite the coldness in Adrian’s eyes, his grip was firm.

And just like that, Leo realized the game was only beginning.