ROYAL CONTEST

15| CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ALYSSA'S POV

I don't know what is wrong with me. It has been a week since Owen kissed me that day but I just can't stop thinking about that kiss and him altogether.

It's not like it was the first time that he kissed me but it felt different from the others. When I try to think of other things, my hand will find its way to my lips and then I will think of him again.

I never thought being in love with someone would feel like this. The feeling is different from anything that I have ever felt in my whole life.

Even though I do love the feeling, I am also scared because now I know there is no way I'm gonna be okay with leaving this place and going back home.

I have never been that kind of woman who would give up someone she loves for someone else because she believes he will be happy with them. I don't think I will start now.

The only thing I am concerned with right now is that this is a competition and I am not the only girl who wants him. There are nineteen other girls and I have to compete with all of them.

It's not like I didn't know that sometimes you have to fight for the person you are in love with, but I don't think they meant that. My situation is different. I don't have to fight with only one woman, but a bunch of them and almost every one of them is willing to fight too.

I have never imagined myself in this kind of situation. Never in a million times would I have thought I will one day have to fight for a guy and that too, a crown prince of a very big empire.

"You look like you could use a friend right now. What's wrong?" I didn't even notice Amber entering my room.

"Good morning." I didn't know what else to say.

"Good morning to you too. What happened?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" I knew who she was talking about but I decided to play dumb.

"Him?"

"Don't try that with me, Alyssa. I am not a child and before you say anything, I have been in love before."

"Before? What about now?"

"You know what I mean. I just wanted to tell you that I know what it's like. To be in love for the first time in your life because I have experienced it. You are in love with him and you know better than to deny it. It is written all over you."

If Amber can notice that, it means that Owen has and maybe everyone else. I thought I was hiding it.

"Don't worry, you don't look like this all the time. I guess now it is because you are in your room and you can be yourself in your room." OK, that's a relief.

"I can't help myself. You know, I have been thinking about going back home since I came here because I knew Owen wouldn't force me to marry him if I didn't love him.

"Like you said before, I never thought about what would happen if I ended up falling for him. It never crossed my mind and now I am so deeply in love with him.

"What have I gotten myself into?" I am not a fool. I know that people always suffer pain and heartbreak when feelings and emotions are involved.

"People fall in love, Alyssa and you can't choose who to fall in love with. I know that Owen is a prince, which means falling in love with him is a risk, but you didn't exactly have a choice in the matter.

"You came here because his family decided he needed a wife. It isn't your fault that he started noticing you. No one will blame you for catching feelings.

"Do you remember what we were told when we first came here? What did the empress say about her future daughter-in-law?"

I remember it like it was yesterday.

"She said that the next crown princess of Harrington Empire must be in love with the crown prince as much as the crown prince is in love with her."

"Exactly! All these things that we do every day are just tests. What is really important is how you feel about the prince and how the prince feels about you and from what I have seen, he is very much interested in you. All of you!

"I have seen the way he looks at you. It isn't exactly how my boyfriend looks at me but I know that look. If it makes you feel better, the way he looks at you is like nothing I've ever seen.

"He burns for you and as your new best friend, I am going to help you win this competition. As long as I am still here, I will do everything I can. We will stick together and I will make sure that no other girl will surpass you in everything you do."

I didn't know how to respond to that. One of the reasons is because I knew she meant every word which made me want to cry and the other reason was that I didn't expect all that from her.

When I came here, even though I knew I wasn't interested in becoming the crown princess, I knew if I had to win, I had to do it all by myself. I had to trust my own capabilities.

I wasn't counting on anybody but me and to have Amber say all those things to me, I didn't exactly know what to do other than just cry my eyes out.

"Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me." I just felt like hugging her at that moment but before I could do it, she took the first move.

"Stop crying, you're going to make me cry too. I'm a big baby." We ended up crying in each other's arms until Emily joined us.

Lady Emily is always quiet so it is really hard to guess what's on her mind. She doesn't really smile often and she spends most of her time by herself.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you guys. I just came for advice." She sat next to me and by the way she was looking at me, it was pretty clear that I was the one she wanted to talk to.

"What kind of advice?" I didn't really know what to make of that situation. I mean, we have never really talked since we came here and it's been like two weeks now.

"Everyone knows that you're a chef and if I'm being honest, I really loved the food you made for us. Today I will be making dinner for everybody and I am worried that I will mess it up.

"Everyone has been really making good food but yours was awesome and I really want to do my best, even if it is half as what you did."

"You want a recipe or...?"

"Not really. I guess I don't really know what I want but I feel like if you can help me somehow then I might not mess up. Cooking is not really my strongest point. If you think a recipe can help then you can help me with a recipe."

"I don't know, Emily. I feel like if I gave you a recipe, we might need to work on it and you know we are not allowed to do that. What I can say though is that you can make whatever you are good at.

"I don't think the royal family is looking for a 5-star Michelin chef's best dish. They want to taste what we can make and I think you should do that.

"I think what matters less is how it tastes and what matters more is how much effort you've put into it. Do your thing and I am positive you're going to impress them."

I may be a chef but I am not going to lie, even though the taste of the food matters, I think the effort and love you put into making it matters even more.

"Thank you so much. I will go and see what I can do with the ingredients." She hugged me, which was unexpected and left.

"She's always quiet." I was surprised to hear that from Amber.

"I know, right?"

CROWN PRINCE OWEN'S POV

"How are things going with you and Alyssa? I hope my leaving that night gave you a chance to talk." What the f**k?! I literally did not think that my sister left after the party just to give us space.

"Don't act so surprised, I thought it was pretty obvious. Why did you think I left?"

I actually thought she was hurt because we kept talking about her late husband. I meant it when I said she doesn't like talking about him and I think it's because she still can not handle that he is no more, even after all these years.

"Owen, I am a big girl, you know. I can handle a little conversation about Scott."

"How did you know that's what I was thinking?"

"I'm your sister, I know you and I know you think I'm fragile or anything but I am not. I know that Scott is never coming back and it hurts but I think it would hurt more if I knew he had a choice.

"He didn't break my heart, he loved me and I know he still does, wherever he is but I also know he wants me to be happy and raise our son well.

"I can't do that if I keep thinking about him every second."

She's right. To me, she has always been fragile and sensitive. I never looked at her situation like what she just said. I always want to see a smile on her face and as a result, I always prevent Scott's name from coming out of my mouth when I'm around her.

"When I left that night, I wanted you to get some time alone with Alyssa. I saw how you were looking at her throughout the entire party and I saw the way she was looking at you too.

"I wanted you to have some time alone and get to know each other better. I know I kinda told you to give everyone the same attention when they got here and not focus on Alyssa but I now know that you have feelings for her as much as she has feelings for you.

"I want you to be happy and it's every big sister's dream to see her younger brother happy. I want you to be happy and I know you will be happy with her."

"You're only older than me by two months."

"Doesn't matter. I'm still older than you." I know I will never win that one. Even if she was older by just a few minutes, she would still do it because that's just how my sister is.

"That's not important though and you know it too. What is important right now is that you need to take what I told you seriously. I don't want you to live with regrets.

"I know how it is to fall in love for the first time in your life, I was there once and you know it. He broke my heart but I am glad I didn't miss that chance because if I didn't date him, I would regret it.

"I don't want that for you. I know you can fall in love more than once but we don't know if that will ever happen to you again. I guess what I'm saying is that you must take this opportunity. It doesn't come around very often."

I can't believe this is happening. I've always known that Clara has got my back, anytime, but I didn't know what it felt like to have a family that is so supportive of me and ready to support me for the rest of my life with whoever I choose to be with.

"Thank you, sis. You have no idea what that means to me."

I wanted to hug her but Clara will always be Clara.

"Don't be so emotional. Let's get to the dining hall. We have dinner to attend."