My Fiance In Disguise

Chapter 9

The maid announced, "Prince Devin is here... Lord Arthur."

Devin arrived with his personal guard, Sebastian, who was holding a small box of ring. He spoke playfully, settling himself into the seat between Kael and Zephyr. "You're all here..."

Ariana and Arthur stood up, bowing to pay their respects. "Prince Devin... What brings you here today? I thought you were busy."

"I came here to break off my engagement... Lord Arthur, Madame Ariana, I owe you a lot for raising me... But I don't want to marry your daughter. You just found your long lost daughter...but I already like someone else."

"We understand you, Your Highness," Arthur began, "and we..."

But before Duke Arthur could finish, Camellia came down the stairs, holding a painting.

"Mother... Father... Brother... I want to show you the painting I made while you were away."

Without looking at them, Camellia didn't notice Devin. Her gaze was fixed on the painting.

Devin could only look at her in awe, his eyes widening. He couldn't help but feel a curious pull towards her it has his savior.

"Grandma... Why are you here?" he asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and amusement.

His words caused everyone, including Camellia, to turn and stare at him. She glared at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of annoyance and confusion.

"What are you doing here? You chicken... Are you here to pester me again?" she asked, her tone laced with a hint of disdain.

"No... I'm not... actually," he stammered, a flush creeping up his neck.

Ariana, her mother, spoke with a warm smile, "You both know each other? Oh, well, what a coincidence... Jasmine here is my daughter... Dear, Prince Devin is here to cancel the engagement."

"Prince Devin? Who? So he's my fiancee? That chicken?" Celest exclaimed, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Madame, I didn't say I wanted to break off the engagement," Devin protested, his eyes flashing with a mixture of frustration and amusement.

Ariana stood there, a bemused smile playing on her lips.

Kael, with a smirk, chimed in, "But I remember it clearly... You said you were here to break off the engagement."

"I didn't say that. I just said I'll think about it... If I want the engagement or not," Devin countered, his voice tinged with a hint of defiance.

Then Zephyr, sipping his tea, spoke sarcastically, "What's the change of weather... Or you simply changed your mind upon seeing your 'fiancee'?"

Devin nudged him playfully. "Don't be like that... I'm not that kind of prince... I'm not like you."

Zephyr answered nonchalantly, "Wow... the perfect prince speaks himself."

Kael, trying to settle the escalating tension, said, "Can you both stop fighting in front of the child?"

Camellia, realizing she was being referred to, said with a playful pout, "Child? Who, me? Brother, I'm only two years younger than you three."

Devin teased her, "Yeah... My fiancee is already a grandma, remember..."

"Hey, my sister is still a baby for me," Kael retorted, defending his sister.

The Duke, attempting to regain control of the situation, said, "Okay... Okay... Enough with the argument... So Prince Devin, you decided not to break off the engagement?"

"Yes, that's right... Father," Devin said, his voice filled with a newfound determination.

In Camellia's mind, a whirlwind of thoughts swirled."father ? Yuck, what is this chicken talking about, As if I would really marry him, I already ran away from my engagement, and now I have an engagement with this chicken again ?"

Kael burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Did he just call my Dad... father?"

Zephyr settled his teacup and smirked at Devin. "He's out of his mind."

Camellia, feeling increasingly confused, sat between her parents. "Can someone explain this to me? Speaking in front of a clueless lady is not so cool."

Arthur put his hand on top of Camellia's. "Jasmine, my dear daughter... Actually... You are engaged to Prince Devin... The day you were taken by the demons, the King and Queen made an agreement with us that they would break off the engagement once PrinceDevin is the one who will decide," Arthur explained, his voice firm yet gentle.

Camellia was shocked. So, she had a fiancé again... and it was the chicken she had just met. A surge of frustration and disbelief washed over her.

Her mother, Ariana, spoke with a warm smile, "I think we better leave them alone for a while to talk."

Kael was about to protest, but his mother dragged him out of the room. Zephyr and Arthur followed, leaving Celest and Devin alone.

Camellia sat opposite Devin, her annoyance evident. "So, are you going to break off the engagement? That's the reason why you're here, right?" she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Devin smirked, enjoying the moment. "Well, unfortunately, I'm not. I will continue being engaged to you... Little grandma."

"You chicken... Just break off the engagement already," Camellia insisted, her frustration rising.

Devin stood up and walked away, but he looked back at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "That day won't come, my dear fiancee... Get up early tomorrow. I'll pick you up."

"Why would you pick me up?" Camellia called out, her voice laced with a hint of indignation.

thinking... what does this chicken want from me again... picking me up tomorrow... is he gonna make my life a nightmare not knowing it's already a nightmare.

But Devin pretended he didn't hear. He left the room, leaving Celest alone with a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.

She was engaged to a prince she barely knew, and he was determined to see this through. What a mess.

Her gaze fell on the painting she had been working on, the colors now seeming more vibrant, more alive. She picked up the brush and dipped it into the paint, a new purpose forming in her heart.

her mind full of thoughts

with the Residence now having double the security how could I ever come in and out to find the remaining servants that known the past about my parents disappearance... will m questions be answered? why did my parents abandoned me?