The Royal Contract

"Thanks, everyone," Antonette announced to the crowd that gathered in the colossal ballroom where the reception was to take place.

She acknowledged all who participated in the wedding rehearsal, which was recently concluded. Although the actual wedding would take place at the cathedral a few kilometers from the palace.

"I'm glad that was over," Jacky said as she moved to join the couple in the front of the stage.

It was not an actual wedding ceremony but a slight staging of what to expect from the program. Antonette wanted everything to run smoothly according to her perfect plan.

"Yeah, I thought she would ask everyone to do it all over again." Marcus seconded Jacky's complaint.

He had enough of Antonette's voice commanding and noticing every mistake he made or someone else. It was just too much for one day, especially not for grown men and women such as him.

"You two, you should stop complaining since you both are the reason why we kept repeating the same thing over and over again." Dani shushed the two, who had been like two teenagers bickering at every turn.

Although she was glad that the entire ordeal was over, she could not help but pity the old woman for wanting perfection. She could not find fault for someone who worked hard to do her job.

"You should talk. If you did not keep on laughing, then Antonette would not be pissed off." Alex interjected, pointing out what happened earlier.

But she quickly defended herself before he pinned all the blame on her. "I would not have been giggling so much if you did not keep on pinching me on the side."

He was more to blame with the earlier incident if he had kept his hands to himself. Instead, he was like a child, out to play a game of 'catch me if you can' with Ms. Antonette.

Anyway, it was needless to say that the four of them had a part in the trouble that happened during the rehearsal. Overall, it still turned out fine, and nobody was left with a bruise or a headache at the end of the day.

"One more appointment, and then we are finally free," Dani said as if it was the brightest news she had received all day.

In all honesty, she wished this trial wedding was the real thing. She just could not wait any minute longer to be married to the perfect man beside her. Besides, she knew he felt the same way.

"Yes, so it is best we finish that early so that we can go on our last dinner date before we become a couple." He whispered in her ears, letting her feel the excitement in his breath as it tickled her skin just at the side of her neck.

He wanted to see the thrill in her eyes of the prospect of being alone again tonight. They had barely been together since last night, although they had slept together.

Then, when they were talking, or rather, teasing each other upon waking up, they were rudely interrupted by their friends, postponing what he had in his mind.

"Prince Alexander, and Ms. Hamilton, if you will proceed to the library, your private interview awaits for you." The woman from yesterday was assigned to take them to the other room.

Compared to yesterday, her aura was a bit brighter. She smiled at her for a change. Dani wondered if what she said to her had mended her view of her. She hoped. The last thing she needed was for the people to misunderstand her intentions.

"This is Miss Eida Harlowe of The Tribune. She is here, representing the press to conduct a personal interview about your relationship." The reporter offered her hand to the couple, which the two gladly shook.

"It is an honor to see you again, Prince Alexander, and a pleasure to meet you, Miss Daniella." She greeted them, offering her hand to the couple, which they gladly accepted and shook.

Pictures did not do these two specimens of a human being any justice according to her standard of beauty and elegance. They were picture-perfect, a match blessed by the gods.

"It is our pleasure to be interviewed by one of the best. I heard so much about your work and what you did last year." Alex stated as all of them settled on the chairs prepared for them.

Miss Harlowe sat on the lone chair at the other side while the couple settled on a settee opposite her. The cameras, lights, and microphones were turned on, the entire interview was set.

He had read her accomplishment at such a young age. She had worked hard personally with every case she handled, researching and verifying every story before releasing it to the world.

She had built a solid reputation in the journalism world based on the reports he had gathered. She did not do cheap rumors and scandals to create popularity which was rare in reporters today.

"Shall we get started?" Ms. Harlowe asked them politely, signaling her team that they could start recording.

She never felt more exhilarated than right now, doing a story about a royal love affair that had a making of a fairy tale story. However, she could not easily believe what she was seeing. 

Nothing could be this perfect unless they were both hiding something. It was not so farfetched when many high-profile marriages, similar to these, started with an arrangement between families.

"Sure." Both agreed, wanting to end the interview as soon as possible. They both knew they had nothing to hide, so there was no reason to fear.

They were more concerned with the dinner date waiting for them after this interview. And afterward, of course. All this preparation was not helping the couple with the anxiety to be together.

"Let me begin by asking how the two of you met and when." The reporter started rattling one question after another.

She wanted to ask the right questions and dig up the correct answers. But finding dirt was not easy to come by when they were prepared to answer all her questions in a heartbeat.

If she had to assess the interview so far, she would say that they were genuinely in love. Judging from the way they looked at each other and how they finished each other's sentences, they could not be faking it.

"How about past relationships? Do you have ex-lovers crying on the side? Regretting letting you go." She could not hold out the curiosity of learning her relationship with Nickolas Travis.

She wondered if his heartless action had something to do with Ms. Hamilton. Did she break his heart, making him play out his anger with other women? 

"Don't we all have a past? But luckily, we don't have skeletons hiding in our closets. If that is what you are asking." It was Alex who decided to answer the question.

He already expected that kind of question from the reporter. He actually was waiting for more. 

"You know me. I just have to ask." She jokingly blamed her natural curiosity. But she could not help it. She had to know more.

Or he was just honestly cruel, and Ms. Daniella was another victim who luckily got away. She might be another one of his conquests that realized the truth about him.

Although, she could see the appeal of the two together.. They were both the darling sweetheart of the press that the high society adored.