The Royal Contract

"Disguise? What for?" She asked as excitement coursed through her, fixing her hair underneath the baseball cap. "And whose car is this?" She asked, adjusting her seat as they entered the busy street.

She had nothing against the car. It was something she would drive since she was not into fancy ones. However, she could not picture Alex driving a vehicle like this.

She looked at him and found herself amused with the way he concealed his identity. Just like her, he wore almost a similar outfit to her. The baseball hat did look nice on him. He looked younger as his features soften in his casual appearance.

In her opinion, he would always look dashing whatever he was wearing. She was doubtful if they would not stand out in a crowd with her boyfriend, looking so yummy in his tightfitting shirt. 

"I thought that maybe we could explore the city like an ordinary couple. Without the paparazzi or anyone recognizing us." He told her as he carefully maneuvered around the cars. "And this is my car, by the way. She has been with me since my college days."

"Oh, and your car is a she. And does she have a name?" She was curious as they finally stop in the building traffic. 

She liked that he felt comfortable telling her about his past. Maybe if they kept sharing things more about each other, they might eventually transcend to the next level of their relationship. 

She knew that if he kept doing what he had been doing since they met again, she was not far from getting too deep. He already did manage to break down many of her walls. But still, marriage was something that she was not sure of yet. But then again, it was never part of their deal.

"I just called her babe back then." He admitted, in his defense, they did share a lot of memories back when he was still in college.

Maybe it was not the usual car he drove now, but it was his favorite. Besides, it was still running and maintained to be in top condition.

In fairness, she found it adorable that he cared so deeply about his car. "Ok, fine. So that is your fetish. Now, I know." She tapped the dashboard with care. "I hope you don't mind sharing your man with me." 

"Real funny." Both of them ended up laughing. "But I am sure that you also had yours when you were young." He asked her, curious as to what she was hiding under that perfection.

To him, she was almost perfect. So far, he had not seen any flaw that he did not like about her. It would seem that everything she did fascinate him. He could not get enough of her.

"Oh yeah, I remember naming my doll, Alexis. What a coincidence. I think she looked like you." She could not stop kidding around. But Alexis was indeed her doll when she was young. Although she barely remembered what it looked like, it was such a long time ago. "Anyway, where are we going?"

"I enjoyed doing this back when I was in college. I thought it would be nice to do it again together." He told her, remembering the times that he enjoyed exploring this new city and his newfound freedom.

He recalled when his father suggested that he studied abroad as an exchange student, he immediately grabbed the opportunity. He wanted to experience life outside of their country. Away from all his obligation, even if, for a short time.

But as soon as he landed in this part of the world, he fell in love with it. He could almost see his dreams coming true by staying in this foreign land, in comparison, to going back to his hometown.

"Did you enjoy your college here?" She asked, wondering what it was like for a prince in a foreign land.

She remembered that the first years of college life for her were a blast. Partying and enjoying life with her friends, like Cassie and Nick, she felt a certain kind of freedom. But things change after their betrayal. She quickly had to grow up and turned her life around.

Pursuing her career in the law was the best thing she ever did. She managed to put her life into perspective and gave it a purpose. She had learned to cope with the pain they caused her and moved on.

"I did. For the first time, I was free to be myself. Do the things that I wanted to do without servants to provide everything I needed. I learned to fend for myself." He enjoyed every minute of his college days, especially when he had friends like Marcus and David. Evan joined their group a bit later, but he still contributed a lot in his past.

They talked more about what kind of life they had during their younger years. She learned that Alex was more adventurous than her, joining many activities. While she was stuck in her textbooks, burning her eyelids studying the law.

He finally parked on the side of the busy street, barely finding an open spot. She looked around the crowded street and wondered what he had planned for her. She had seen this place a few times that she had passed this place but never did stop to look closely.

"Come on. We'll explore the city on foot." He knew that Dani had the stamina for a stroll since she loved to run. She was not going to faint if they checked several sights just by walking. "Are you up for a little adventure?" He challenged her.

He quickly moved to her side of the door and opened her door, like the gentleman he was. He knew that Dani was a very independent woman, but he still liked to show her extra special treatment.

"I'm all for it." She told him as she grabbed his hand and let him guide her to their destination.

She was surprised at the plan he had come up with, she was not expecting it, but she appreciated it. He did take note of her request not to be dined and wined in a fancy restaurant. Now, he was trying to be very creative, and she liked that.

"Good. Be ready to be entertained." He announced as they walked among the people that crowded the streets. 

It was almost dark, but the busy streets were only starting to be alive as locals in suits, office attire, casual clothes, uniforms, and the tourists together in the mix hassled around them.

Suddenly, she remembered something as they leisurely walked along the sidewalks as if they were just one of the ordinary folks. "Don't you have bodyguards following us around?" She whispered near to his ears when she stopped him in front of one of the store windows. She did not notice the black SUV or the cars his men usually used when following them around.

"I still have two following us around, but you would never notice them." He told her. 

The rest of the team stayed to act as a diversion for whoever might be plotting against him. But it would not stop him from continuing living his life the way he wanted it. 

Now that they considered him as King, his father warned him to be extra cautious.