Chapter 5

Princess's POV

As I watched Prince and his little sister's excited chatter, my expression softened. For the first time, I saw a version of Prince I never thought existed—gentle and warm.

“ This can't be the same man who belittled me earlier? Is this who he is when his guard is down?” These thoughts ran through my mind, but his mother's voice brought me back to realization.

“ Prince, who is this beautiful lady with you?” she asked, her eyes on me. Everyone's attention went to Prince ready to get an answer from him.

He smiled lightly. “ Everyone, meet Princess. My fiancée,” he said calmly.

I smiled warmly. “It's a pleasure to meet you all,” I said, keeping my voice soft and confident.

“ A fiancée? Wow, moving fast, aren't we? Does she even realize what a mess she's stepping into?” James leaned back in his chair, smirking like he'd just told the funniest joke in the room.

Prince glared, his tone icy. “ James, it's not your place to question what you don't understand. Stay out of it.” Prince's voice was calm, but the way his eyes narrowed and his grip tightened on his fork showed he wasn't in the mood for games.

I gripped my napkin under the table, my nails digging into the fabric but my expression remained composed.

As we continued eating, his mother turned her gaze at me again. “ You carry yourself well, my dear. Graceful, poised—exactly what our family needs.” She smiled warmly.

“ That's kind of you to say. I'm honored to be welcomed so warmly” I replied, though I braced myself for the questions I knew would follow.

“ Marrying into the family isn't easy. It requires strength and certain…resilience. Do you think you're ready for that?” his mother asked.

With confidence, I answered. “ I wouldn't be here if I weren't. Strength has always been a part of who I am”

His mother nods approvingly, seemingly satisfied with the response.

James, noticing the approval, said, “ Careful, Mrs Blackson. You might be too quick to trust. Appearance can be deceiving”

Prince's mother sharply said, “And yet James, it's always your appearance that causes us concern”

Everyone at the table chuckles lightly but James stiffens, clearly irritated.

James then turned his gaze towards me. James’s suspicion was clear from the start, and I knew he'd be a thorn in my flesh.

“ So Princess, how did Prince propose? I'm dying to hear the romantic details”

“He surprised me at a secluded place overlooking the city. It was…unforgettable” I said smoothly.

“ Romantic huh? Secretive, sure. Sounds exactly like his style—always keeping people guessing” James drummed his fingers on the table, his grin widening like he was enjoying every second of being a nuisance.

He then looked at Prince. “ It's funny, isn't it? You've been avoiding relationships for years and now you're suddenly engaged. Convenient timing, don't you think?”

“ Not everything revolves around timing, James. Some things just happened” Prince said sharply.

Tension rises as James' words hang in the air.

“ I understand this might seem sudden, but love doesn't always follow script. What matters is that we're happy”

James said, smirking. “ Happiness? With him? Impressive acting. I'll give you that”

“ Grandpa, don't you think it's strange how perfect this all seems? Feels like a show to me,” He asked their grandpa, who had been quiet all along.

“ James, a man learns when to be quiet. It's a lesson I've been waiting for you to grasp. Princess carries herself with grace, something this family needs more of. You're just like your father, too stubborn” Grandpa Blackson said sharply, his words silencing James.

After a few minutes to finish our food, James then broke the silence again.

“Grandpa, please allow me to ask her one more question,” he said, meeting his grandpa's gaze, but Grandpa didn't mind him.

James leaned forward knowing that his Grandpa would not answer him. He smirked. “ So Princess, if you don't mind me asking, how exactly did Prince win your heart? Was it his charming personality or his icy stare?”

I met his gaze, smiling calmly “ It was his determination. He knows what he wants and goes after it. I admire that”

“ Determination? That's one way to put it. Prince has always been good at…making things happen whether people like it or not” he mockingly chuckled.

“ That's enough James,” the loud voice of Prince scared me. “ We're here to enjoy dinner not to entertain your insecurity”

“ Oh, relax, cousin. I'm just making conversation” he kept on mocking.

“ James there's a difference between conversation and stirring up trouble. You'd do well to learn” Grandpa said firmly.

“ Funny how you are so invested in my life, James. Maybe if you put the same effort on your own, you wouldn't always be the second best.” Prince didn't look up as he spoke, his tone sharp and dismissive; he didn't care if James exploded or not.

James slammed his hand on the table, his face red. “ Go ahead Grandpa, play favorites. I'll prove to everyone I can run this family”

He pointed a finger at Prince. “ And you! Enjoy your victory while it lasts. You'll slip eventually” he then stormed out of the dining room.

I exhaled quietly, relieved that, at long last, he was gone.

Dinner ended quietly, with everyone caught up in their thoughts. As the dishes were cleared, Prince looked at me and gave a small nod towards the hallway. I followed him eager to escape the tension at the table at the moment.

There were a few minutes of silence before Prince broke it. He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall.

“ You surprised me. Most people would have cracked under pressure. My family isn't easy”

“ Well, thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll add ‘survived dinner with your family’ to my list of accomplishments,” I said sarcastically.

He stepped closer, his tone softening. “My mother rarely approves of anyone, and James…well, he tried to scare everyone off. But you didn't even flinch”

“ I've been worse. Your family is nothing compared to what I've handled” I said as our eyes met each other, my voice calm.

“And why is James acting all against you?” I asked curiously.

“ He wants what's rightfully mine because his dad didn't leave him a better company”

Prince was mid-sentence when I heard the sounds of footsteps nearby. I turned just as James stepped out of the shadows, his smirk already in place like he had been waiting to pounce.

“ I thought he had gone home,” I thought as he put his hand around my neck.

“ You should ask him about his history, Princess. After all, secrets have a way of catching up to people—sooner or later” he said, grinning slyly.

Prince looked at James, his voice cold. “ James, you're pushing it”

“ What? She's your fiancée. She deserves to know about your…history” he mocked and left our presence.

By the time Prince's mother insisted we stay the night, I was too tired to argue. I followed Prince up the stairs, my mind still replaying the events of the evening. When we reached the room, I realized with a sinking feeling that we'd be sharing it.

I slept on the bed feeling very exhausted but a painful tap startled me. “ Hey, you sleep on the couch while I sleep on the bed. This is my family house, not yours,” he coldly said, and I stood up quietly to sleep on the couch at the far left of the bed.

I lay on the couch staring at the ceiling, my thoughts racing. James' warnings, Prince's family, even Prince himself— I couldn't shake any of it.

Dinner had been a test — a tense and exhausting test. But as I lay awake, I wondered why I cared so much about passing it. This is just a deal, isn't it?