Erika sat stiffly on a plush velvet chair in a lavish royal chamber, glaring at the Prince with arms crossed. Her brown eyes flared with fury, and her lips were pressed into a tight, unforgiving line. She had just been dragged across the kingdom for something she never asked for, and the Prince dared to sit there with a smug grin. She was summoned after she attacked the guard and was trying to escape. She was caught and sent back to the Prince. Now, she's in his study and is waiting for the Prince to reprimand her after their agreement yesterday.

The ever-so charismatic Prince Alaric, lounging on a nearby couch, was completely at ease. His princely attire—well-tailored yet comfortably unbuttoned—gave him the air of someone who had just woken from a nap, not someone who had just kidnapped a woman and disrupted her entire life. He looked at her with that same, mischievous glint in his green eyes, as if this whole situation were some game to him.

“So, my beloved Princess,” Alaric said, the word “Princess” dripping with sarcasm. “I must say, you’ve been quite the... unexpected guest in my castle. I thought we had an agreement that we need three months to get to know each other before you could leave.”

“I’m not your guest, Your Highness,” Erika snapped, still seething. “I’m your prisoner if I’m being honest. And I didn't promise that I'll not attempt to escape if I'm given a chance.”

“Ah, yes. Semantics. But I prefer to think of you as... an unintended guest. There’s no need for the hostility, is there?” Alaric leaned forward, his voice teasing, a devilish smile spreading. "I can hardly blame you, though. If someone told me I'd be whisked away to a palace, I'd probably protest and plan to escape too."

“You’re unbelievable.” Erika threw her hands up in frustration. “I don’t know if I should scream, cry, or laugh at the absurdity of it all!”

Alaric chuckled, leaning back again and lazily draping an arm across the back of the couch. “Laughing is a fine choice. It's a little less... dramatic. I think you’d look stunning if you laughed.”

“Stunning? Dramatic?” Erika’s voice cracked, her face going crimson. “You’re unbelievable! How dare you make fun of me after you’ve dragged me across half the kingdom!”

“Hey,” he said, sitting up with a sudden seriousness, though his smile never fully left. “I’m not making fun of you. I’m just saying—being kidnapped isn’t the worst thing that could happen to you. You might just find this whole adventure a bit charming, once you get to know me better.”

Erika blinked. “Charming?” she repeated, incredulous. “You think I’ll find being kidnapped charming?”

“Look at me.” Alaric spread his arms wide, his grin turning playful again. “Do I look like someone who would ruin your life? I’m Prince Alaric, the most charming, handsome, and humble royal you’ll ever meet.”

Erika rolled her eyes. “Humble? Please, Your Highness, the only thing humble about you is your lack of self-awareness.”

“That’s just part of my charm,” he said, with mock innocence. “But I’m curious—if you were to hypothetically consider marrying a spoiled brat like me, what would it take to win you over? Jewelry? Romantic dates? Serenade you in public?”

She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes, a playful spark igniting in her. “For starters? Stop kidnapping innocent women and maybe—just maybe—try not to make a joke out of everything. It’s exhausting.”

“Ouch.” Alaric clutched his chest as if wounded, but his grin never faltered. “You wound me, my beloved Erika. What can I say? I’ll try to be serious for you.”

“Well, good luck with that,” Erika shot back, crossing her arms. “I’m certain that I'm not marrying you. And I’m certainly not some prize to be won.”

“Fair enough.” Alaric shrugged casually, but there was something different in his eyes now. “But I think you might change your mind. Trust me, my beloved Erika—there’s more to me than meets the eye.”

“Oh, I’m sure there is, Your Majesty.” She smirked. “Like what? A desire for kidnapping people?”

“No.” He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a softer tone. “I have a desire to make a really bad first impression. But I’m also very good at making things right once I decide something’s worth fighting for.”

She raised an eyebrow. “So, what—now you’re going to fight for me?”

He grinned. “Not yet. I’m still getting to know you.” His gaze softened just a bit. “But if I did, I think you’d be surprised at how good I am at winning people over.”

Erika shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to ignore the flutter of something she couldn’t quite place in her chest. She was angry, frustrated, and still terrified of what her future held in this palace—but there was something about this insufferable prince that made her heart race. Maybe it was his unshakable confidence or the absurdity of the situation, but something told her this wasn’t going to be the end of their strange encounter.

Alaric leaned back again, clearly pleased with himself. “Don’t worry. In three months, you’ll learn to love the royal treatment. Or, at the very least, my company.”

“I highly doubt that, Your Highness,” Erika muttered, rolling her eyes.

Alaric just winked. “I’ll be here when you change your mind.”