Chapter 5
1375 Words
Aria's beauty had stunned poor Chad into silence. He tried to speak, but he felt himself staring like a love sick puppy.
Princess Aria's cheeks burnt at Chad's intense gaze and she found herself shuffling from one foot to another as her nerves grew. Even her herself had admired how handsome he is, dressed sharply in a suit and commanding the room with his presence.
His eyes were gentle and his aura emitted nothing but kindness and meekness, and suddenly all the 'what ifs' and 'maybes' from before vanished as if they weren't there. They stared at each other for an extended period of seconds, and Queen Sylvia gazed at them in delight at the already silent attraction.
Aria's father, King Andreas, who too saw the exchange, cleared his throat as he tried to hide his own delight. Moving forward, he gripped Chad's hand in a firm handshake, showing him the biggest smile he has ever seen. Chad's heart raced at the gesture. This is his king, after all, but he had to keep reminding himself that he was a prince now, and thus an exchange like this shouldn't seem foreign to him.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Prince Zadkiel. I trust your life here will be comfortable and delightful," the king greeted warmly, and Chad's own smile grew as he nodded.
"It is a pleasure to be in your audience, Your Majesty. Your family is beautiful." Chad gulped, quickly glancing at Joshua in questioning as he thought that wasn't an appropriate thing to say. But Joshua shot him a wink, telling him that he was doing good so far.
Queen Sylvia came forward too, and instead of a handshake like he anticipated, she engulfed Chad in a warm, almost motherly love. It reminded him of the hugs his dear mother used to grant him as a child.
A hint of guilt nudged his heart when she pulled away, as he hated that he was taking part in the deception of these people who were obviously ecstatic about his arrival. This should've been Zadkiel, not him.
"I'm quite delighted by your presence, my dear. I look forward to getting more acquainted with you," she said as she fell back in line with Andreas. Chad's throat knotted at the thought. They were going to know him, not the real prince. When Zadkiel returns, they will be strangers to him.
But it was too late to be thinking this way. So for the first time since morning, Chad erased every thought of the real Zadkiel and simply played along with his role. Hopefully, he could keep himself scarce so that they don’t grow attached to each other, when it will only last for a month.
Only a month. Thirty days left.
Soon, it was Aria's time to come face to face with Chad, and he felt his pulse quickening again when she smiled at him. It all seemed like the world had stopped around them, and every light in existence was focused on her.
She seemed like she was moving in slow motion as she held the sides of her dress, crossed her legs and curtsied politely to him. Aria gazed at him through her eyelashes, before rising to her feet again and Chad knew at that moment that this would've been the hardest challenge of them all.
In all his twenty-three years of living, he has met numerous women. Yet, none had evoked emotion so strong and sudden before. He has seen the most beautiful and elegant women across the world, and none has made him think the way Aria does.
"Prince Zadkiel," she mumbled in greeting as they met eyes again.
He should be punished for feeling this way towards another man's wife. But how can he not when she was this dazzling and looked at him that way?
"Princess Aria," he greeted softly, curling his arm around his back and bowing to her as she did. He watched as her smile only grew wider, and she tucked a tendril of her chestnut hair behind her ear before falling back in line.
Even after greeting her two sisters, Chad's eyes and mind would stay on Aria and hers on him.
It was a good sign to her parents. They were now certain that they hadn’t made a mistake with making the marriage arrangement. They couldn't have been happier. In a month, their eldest daughter would be wedded to a prince who evidently had character and honour, and who already adored Aria. They didn't wish for anything else.
They then proceeded to greet Joshua, and he explained that he would remain with the prince as his guard and friend. Joshua's acting skills were keen, Chad noticed. It made him wonder if he had done something like this before. Were Zadkiel and him always cooking up schemes like this?
It was surely a possibility.
What Chad also noticed was how Princess Tina's eyes stayed trained on Joshua. She seemed indifferent and even a tad annoyed but intrigued by him. Her reaction was obvious though. Chad only noticed because he could read people well. He didn’t know why her attitude toward Joshua was like this, but he didn’t give it much thought.
King Andreas then led Chad and Aria to a study, where he explained the terms of their courtship.
Chad acknowledged that the king's face and voice was a bit more stern in comparison to the greetings. He understood this much, since the princess' honor was very important. Even if they are to be married, she should be kept honoured until her wedding night.
Besides, Chad wouldn't dare dishonour another man's bride to be. Not in this life or the next.
"I trust you both understand?" King Andreas asked once he was done. They both offered a stern nod before quickly looking at each other.
Aria was definitely more excited than earlier today. Her doubts were completely vanished when she met him, and oddly her sister's proposition of the love that will bloom between her and the Prince didn’t seem far-fetched anymore.
She curled her lips inside her mouth to hide a smile that was threatening to form at the very thought. Maybe, just maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.
"There will be a ball tonight in honor of your arrival, Prince Zadkiel. For now, you may get comfortable with the palace." The king announced with a devious glint in his eyes as he turned to his daughter. "I'm sure Aria will be more than delighted to show you around."
But Chad's mind was far from what the king was trying to do. He was stunned in horror at what the king said first.
"A b-ball?"
"Why of course! There should be nothing less to celebrate your arrival, dear prince." But neither Joshua nor Zadkiel had mentioned anything about a ball!
He should've known. They were royals after all!
"Will Zad-I mean my parents be in attendance?" Chad asked nervously. Andreas laughed at his question, totally oblivious to Chad's real concern.
"You need not to worry. Your parents have assured us that they will give you space." The king winked, knowing quite well about Zadkeil's childhood, and assumed the prince would want freedom even from his parents.
In Andreas' mind, the prince wouldn't have wanted his parents at the ball, because he desired a breath of fresh air. Little did he know the length the real Zadkiel went for this 'fresh air'.
Chad breathed out in relief. Zadkiel's parents were probably the only persons who could blow his cover at this point. So if they happen to show up in the middle of the month, they are all doomed.
"Very well then," Chad laughed nervously. "Thank you, King Andreas."
The king nodded once as Chad turned towards Aria. "I think a tour would be quite nice." He smiled down at her, offering her his hand. Aria blushed furiously as she grasped it and led him from her father's chambers.
Chad tried to keep a rein on his nerves as the princess started showing him various rooms.
Joshua better be ready to give him dance lessons for tonight’s ball.
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