After the heated exchange with his father, Alaric watched as the woman was escorted back to her temporary chambers, her expression a mix of fury and bewilderment. Her protests still echoed in the hallway, and the Prince couldn’t help but smile. He knew he had pushed his luck by abducting her, but the spark she carried, her defiance—those were the very qualities he’d been searching for.

Leaning back on his sofa, Alaric rubbed his temples, deep in thought. He knew he couldn’t force her to stay, at least not without some form of incentive. He needed a proposal, an agreement that would convince her to remain by his side. It wasn’t just about avoiding the arranged marriage anymore; something about her made him feel at ease. She was refreshingly honest and unafraid to challenge him. With her around, the burden of his duties seemed lighter, his responsibilities less daunting.

Alaric found himself genuinely interested in someone beyond political advantage or duty for the first time in a while. He realized that if he was going to keep her here, it had to be on terms she could accept. He couldn’t rely solely on charm or his title. He needed a plan.

The following morning, Alaric entered the small sitting room where she had been kept, his smile more subdued than usual. She was sitting by the window, her expression stormy as she gazed out at the royal gardens, clearly plotting an escape.

“You again,” she remarked flatly as he stepped inside.

“Good morning to you too, my beloved” Alaric replied, sitting across from her. He leaned back, studying her face. “I’ve come to offer you a proposal.”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What kind of proposal? Are you finally letting me go?”

Alaric chuckled, shaking his head. “Not quite. I have something different in mind.”

She folded her arms across her chest, clearly unamused. “Unless it involves me walking out of this palace, I’m uninterested.”

“Just hear me out,” he insisted, his tone softer. “You’ve made it clear that you have no intention of becoming a princess or staying here against your will. I respect that. So, I’m offering you an agreement.”

“An agreement?” she echoed, clearly dubious.

“Yes,” Alaric said. He leaned forward, his green eyes earnest. “Stay by my side for a season—three months. During that time, you’ll be free to leave at any moment if you find it unbearable. But if you choose to stay until the end, I promise you a reward—your freedom, along with enough wealth to return home comfortably, without any obligations or strings attached.”

She raised an eyebrow, visibly considering his words. “And why would I agree to this?”

“Because I want you here,” Alaric admitted quietly. “There’s something about you—your presence, your spirit. You make me feel like myself again. With you here, I can focus on my duties without feeling trapped by them. You’re not like the others, and I don’t want to lose that.”

For a moment, she seemed taken aback by his sincerity. She studied his face, searching for any hint of a trick or deceit, but found none. “And what exactly do you expect from me during these three months?” she asked cautiously.

“I expect nothing,” he replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Just be yourself. Be honest with me, as you have been since the moment we met. Speak your mind, tell me when I’m being ridiculous. You’re not here to flatter me or follow my orders. You’re here because I want to see what could happen if we spent time together without the expectations of royalty.”

She leaned back, tapping her fingers against her armrest, clearly mulling it over. “And if I decide to leave after the three months are up?”

“Then you’re free to go,” Alaric said easily. “I won’t stop you.”

It was a bold offer, and he knew it. He was giving her the upper hand, a chance to leave after three months. But deep down, he had a feeling she wouldn’t. There was a curiosity in her eyes, a flicker of intrigue that mirrored his own.

“And if I stay?” she asked, her voice quieter now.

“If you stay,” he said, leaning closer, his smile returning, “then we’ll see what happens next. Maybe you’ll decide I’m not so insufferable after all and we'll live happily ever after.”

She huffed, though there was a glimmer of amusement in her gaze. “You’re certainly confident, aren’t you?”

“Confident or desperate?” Alaric teased lightly. “I suppose time will tell.”

She fell silent, looking out the window once more. For a moment, he thought she might refuse him outright. But then she turned back to him, her expression thoughtful.

"Three months,” she agreed, holding out her hand as if sealing a business deal. “Not a day longer.”

Alaric’s grin widened as he took her hand, giving it a firm shake. “Three months. I promise you won’t regret it.”

“We’ll see about that,” she muttered, pulling her hand back.

He stood, feeling lighter than he had in months. “I’ll have new quarters prepared for you—somewhere less like a prison cell.”

“How generous,” she replied dryly, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

As he turned to leave, Alaric paused at the door, glancing back at her. “One last thing,” he said. “What’s your name? If you won't tell, then you certainly like me calling you 'my beloved' for three months.”

She gave him a look that was both exasperated and amused. “You kidnapped me without even knowing my name? I thought you had the power to investigate me.”

He spread his hands in a helpless gesture. “I told you—I’m a creative problem-solver, not a stalker.”

She shook her head, clearly bemused. “It’s Erika, Erika Sterling.”

“Erika,” he repeated as if tasting the name for the first time. “I like it.”

“Good,” she replied with a roll of her eyes. “Because it’s the only name I’ve got.”

Alaric laughed, stepping out of the room. “Until tomorrow, then, my beloved Erika.”

As the door closed behind him, Erika let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She glanced back out at the gardens, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Three months, she thought. Three months with this maddening, arrogant Prince. For the first time since her abduction, she felt a flicker of excitement, a sense that maybe this wasn’t such a terrible twist of fate after all.