ROYAL CONTEST

34

CROWN PRINCE OWEN'S POV

"I guess I should just save my energy about trying to get you to choose Alyssa since you're already doing a good job by yourself."

"What are you talking about mother?" I tried to avoid eye contact with her. I didn't even realise she was in the living room when I came otherwise I would've chosen another entrance.

"Don't try to play smart with me. I know you went out with her, so don't try to deny it. You left the palace six hours ago and everyone knows you were with her.

"I didn't think you were going to make it clear to everyone who your heart wants this early. Alyssa is a beautiful girl and unlike most girls in there, she is real, everything about her is real."

Of course, I also know that but what my mom doesn't know is that the girl in question is not interested. She isn't planning to stay here.

"And it is your responsibility to make her stay. She isn't going to stay here if she doesn't have a reason to. You have to give her a reason to stay because if you don't, she will leave and she will never look back."

Huh? I didn't tell her anything.

"Don't look at me like that. You forget that you always leave your mind link open when you're worried about something. Now, tell me, what's wrong?"

"Nothing much."

"You're worried about Alyssa leaving? You have complete control over that and since you're my son, I know you will make her stay. I don't doubt that even for a second.

"If things were different, you would just choose her against her will and think about making her fall in love with you later but that's not how things work in this empire and you know that very well."

I have always hated how other kingdoms do things but now I wish mine was also like theirs because I would've chosen Alyssa first and thought about love later.

"She didn't even notice how her words hurt me earlier. She really wanted to make it clear to me that she wasn't interested in me. Even my wolf was affected and that doesn't happen often."

"What do you mean?"

"My wolf took an interest in her the first time I saw her, not just him, even my lycan and my dragon want her as much as I do. They've never reacted this way with any girl before and today she completely broke them.

"I know we don't have any rights over her but somehow, we want her to at least consider staying here and accepting us. Is that too much for her?"

My wolf is always indifferent to worldly affairs, not to talk of romantic affairs and I know for him to take a liking to Alyssa means a lot and she broke him.

I don't even know why she won't even pretend as if she likes it here. I mean this empire is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in my life and I'm not saying that because it is my empire.

I've travelled a lot in my life and even though I've seen so many places, most of them are not as beautiful as this empire.

"I can understand how you feel. Alyssa is different from all the other girls here and all the other girls you've seen in your life and the fact that she grew up in another country makes her even more different.

"As a woman myself, I can understand her. She doesn't want to change herself just to be a princess."

"I didn't say I want her to change mother, I want her the way that she is. I know she is not a princess material, her behaviour is different from what a princess should be behaving like but I'm not complaining.

"I feel like it would make things fun on the contrary and that will make everyone in this empire look forward to seeing her every day."

"Then tell that to her, she doesn't know all that and if you tell her, she will know and who knows, she might even consider staying here and becoming your princess."

I did tell her what I thought about people who want to change the way they are because of the crown princess' throne but I didn't know it was not enough.

Looking at it now, I made a mistake. I should've told her directly that I don't want her to change who she is just because of me.

"Look, I know this is going to be difficult but that is if you allow it to be. As long as you're honest with her, she will see through you and then understand the kind of person you are and if she doesn't, it will be clear that she doesn't feel the same way."

I am not sure how she feels about me but I am certain about what I feel for her and it is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.

I have never paid attention to girls before because I knew what would happen if I fell in love before the royal competition.

Even though my parents love me so much and always wish me happiness and the best this world has to offer, I know they would never change the traditions of our empire just for me.

I don't know what would've happened though if I met Alyssa before the competition because I know I wouldn't have been able to control myself if I did meet her.

She doesn't smile often but when she smiles, I feel like her smile is the brightest thing I've ever seen. It gives me peace of mind.

"I want you to know that your father and I are behind you. The winner of this competition will be solely decided by you. Have a good night, I won't be joining you guys at dinner today."

She left before I could ask her where she was going. I decided to get ready for dinner too before I arrive late again.

I don't want to give my cousin a reason to fight again this evening and since I know him, I know he will try to find every possible reason to start a fight with me.

I don't even know why he does that. It's not like he would suddenly become a crown prince overnight since he is not even the second in line for the throne.

As an only child, I automatically became the crown prince and my nephew the second in line for the throne. Even though Clara and I are not biological siblings, we are still siblings because my parents raised her as their own.

I know that if it wasn't for the imperial rules, she would be the crown princess because she is a few months older than me and I know my parents would've officially adopted her.

"Your Highness, dinner will be served in ten minutes." I nodded my head to show that I got the message from the maidservant.

Once I was done getting ready, I made my way to the dining hall. I don't know if I will ever get used to eating meals with more than twenty people every single night.

All the girls were already seated when I came in and I don't know if it is by luck or what but Alyssa was in the seat beside mine.

When they saw me, they quickly rose from their seats to greet me.

"I told you guys that you don't need to formally greet me every time when you see me. We are going to be spending a lot of time together during the duration of this competition and I'm afraid you will end up getting tired from all the formalities. Have a seat."

"Thank you, Your Highness." They all said in unison as if they have practised it before coming to the dining hall.

Not a while later, my father came with my aunt, Clara and Justin. They greeted them first and then I did the same.

My father always says that every single word that comes from a crown prince's mouth is important and that is one of the reasons why I always speak first or after others so that my words would carry weight.

"Jason, I haven't seen you in months and when you come back you don't even come to greet your aunt. Silly boy, you have made me come here instead."

I sometimes forget how my aunt can be.

"Visiting the first princess of Harrington empire is a great deal, even I, the crown prince have to make arrangements and make an appointment.

"I get tired just thinking about all that and by the time I have decided to visit, I realise that I can always see my aunt some other time. My apologies, Your Highness."

She just laughed at me and sat down. Before we could begin eating, the little champion joined us.

"Scott Jnr the first imperial grandson greets His Majesty, the First Princess, the Crown Prince, mother, the Fifth Prince and all our royal guests."

I saw some of the ladies smiling at him, including Alyssa. Junior is the pride of the family and as the first imperial grandson and the second in line for the throne, he is pampered a lot.

As a habit, he went to his mother first before he came to sit next to me. All throughout dinner, he kept stealing glances at Alyssa.

ALYSSA'S POV

I have always loved being around kids even though I'm not good with them but meeting the young prince made me re-questioning my decision to go back home because I wanted to spend more time with him.

He kept looking at me and I made sure that I smiled at him every time that he looked at me. He seemed to be enjoying that and I saw her mother look at me and then at her son several times.

After dinner, I was going back to my room when someone suddenly tugged my skirt. Something told me it was him before I even turned around to check.

"If I didn't know any better I would think that you have a crush on me." I smiled at him as soon as our eyes met. He didn't say anything for a while, he just looked at me like he was observing something.

"Why are looking at me like that? I didn't do anything wrong did I?" That seemed to draw his attention back.

"You are beautiful." For a boy his age, he is pretty straightforward and frank which proves his braveness. He really is a prince.

"Thank you, Your Highness. Why are you following me?"

"You are going to be my aunt very soon, I think it is okay for me to get to know you." His aunt? Who said I was going to be his aunt?

"Junior, behave." I didn't need to look for the source because I already knew.

"Your Highness." I was leaving when he suddenly grabbed my hand. I didn't even have time to react because he caught me off-guard.

I don't even know when the little boy left, I just realised that he was no longer there. It was just us, close to each other than you can imagine.

There was something about him that I didn't realise before, something that drew me to him in a very impossible way for someone you just met in a few minutes.

"Your-" I couldn't finish the question I wanted to ask him because he suddenly pinned me to a wall and crashed his lips with mine.

I was so frozen, I couldn't even do anything and it frustrated me. This was supposed to be a great experience but because I was shocked, I ruined it.

I ruined my very first kiss. When he realised I wasn't responding, he stopped and searched my eyes, for what? I don't know.

His eyes were golden for a moment before they changed back and that was supposed to scare me but it didn't, I kissed him instead. This time I was the one taking the initiative.