Royal Prince's Fated Love

Chapter Two

It was getting to seven in the evening when Prince Dan arrived at home only to find his parents waiting for him . They were in the process of taking their supper and King Ford invited him to have a seat opposite him .

" Well, it is unlike you to be out up to such late ," his father started . " I'm sure something urgent must have held you up ?"

" Nothing much . I almost ran over a certain girl and I had to take her to hospital ."

" I hope she is okay? How is she now ?"

" She didn't sustain any major injuries . She is recuperating well in hospital ."

" Thank heavens she is fine," said his mother . " And how was your lunch date with Princess Diana ?"

" Disastrous !" He wanted to scream out , but changed his mind and kept quiet for some time , groping for the right words . " It was just fine ," he lied .

" You don't seem enthusiastic about it , son ," his father observed . " Is everything fine between you two ?"

" Nothing is fine with this damn arrangement of yours !" He thought , but kept it to himself . " What do you think ?" He asked instead .

" I note that you are not feeling happy about it , and neither is she ," his mother started . " The poor girl just called crying that you walked out on her , in the company of her friends . Why on Earth should you do such a thing to a lady ?"

" If she had the audacity to call you about it , she should also have told you the reason ."

" What is so big about her remarks on the excess chilli on her food ?"

" It's not about the remarks , but what she did to the said food , or rather the waitress . It was totally unladylike ."

" But what you did is equally ungentlemanly . Every lady deserves some protection from her man . I mean , you could have stood with her instead of chiding her before her friends . I strongly suggest that you have the fortitude of calling her and apologize ."

" Only if I'm out of my mind ! Apologize for her pompous , demeaning attitude !"

" Listen , son . It won't cost you anything to apologise ,but it will definitely strain your relationship if you don't ," his father observed . " You have been together long enough for you to know her well ."

" Well, I will apologise , but she is not the kind of lady that I'm prepared to spend the rest of my life with . Honestly speaking ,her behaviour is choking me . I'm beginning to doubt the state of my sanity when I agreed to the engagement ."

" Stop your nonsense !" His mother admonished . " Diana is a lady of impeccable qualities . Marrying her would be the best thing to ever happen for our two families . Concentrate on the wedding which is exactly two weeks from now ."

" Two weeks ? Sometimes I can't help wondering why you are in such hurry to get us married . I have said it , and will say it again . I need more time to see if our feelings for each other are mutual . As it stands right now , I doubt my feelings for her , let alone thinking of her as a life partner ."

" Lest you forget , as the crown prince , time is not on your side . You need to have a wife as soon as possible . If not her , I will personally support you should you provide us with an alternative . I say this because I have the feeling that you are taking it to mean that we are imposing her on you . It is not my intention to do such a thing ," the King counseled .

" I don't see why we are even talking about this ," demurred the Queen . " We long decided that he will marry Princess Diana , and not just any other woman ."

" Time will tell , Mum ." Dan said as he stood up and headed to his room .

As sweet sleep stole him to slumberland , his thoughts were dwelling on the girl he had almost crushed . He recalled that in most cases ,he could have just called an ambulance and left , but in her case he had found himself feeling for her . He remembered how his heart had done a summersault when he had looked at her innocent face as he held her in his arms into the vehicle . She looked so fragile and worn out that he had empathized with her . There was something about her that was pulling him , wanting to protect her . For the first time , he had found himself praying for her recovery .Who was she ?

He got out of bed earlier than usual . He located his cellphone and dialed the doctor who was attending to her . He was informed that the girl was up and was doing quite fine . Relieved , he headed to the washrooms , showered and dressed ready to pay her a visit .

It was six in the morning as he walked from his room . He found his mother seated in the living room as he tried to sneak out .

" Good morning ,mum ," he greeted her . " I didn't expect to find you up this early ."

" I should ask you the same . Where are you headed to this early ?"

" I'm sorry I have to check on the lady that was involved in the accident . I mean ,my mind can't rest easy not knowing how she is doing ."

" What are you saying ? You did your best by taking her to hospital , and you are up this early to go and see her ? Doesn't she have relatives ? Do you even know her ?"

" No , I don't . Besides , I don't think it is necessary for me to know her in order to check on her progress from the suffering I caused her . Well , see you later ." He excused himself to avoid her prying questions .