Erika felt the cold dread seep into her bones as she was ushered through the palace hallways by the maids, each of them chirping excitedly about the royal fitting. She had barely processed the whirlwind of events that had led her to this point, let alone the thought of a wedding dress. The very idea made her stomach turn.

“Please, Your Highness, let us do this quickly. You need to look your best for the wedding, after all,” one of the maids cooed, leading her into a room adorned with luxurious fabrics and mirrors that seemed to stretch on forever.

Erika’s eyes darted to the beautiful silks hanging on every wall, each more elaborate than the last. She was already feeling overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the palace, but now the weight of this—the wedding dress fitting—was bearing down on her. She wasn’t even officially engaged, and yet here she was, being forced into a dress like she had no say in the matter.

“This is moving too fast,” she muttered under her breath, more to herself than anyone else. “I haven’t agreed to any of this. Why am I getting fitted for a wedding dress? I don’t even know if I want to marry him. What do my parents think? Are they really okay with this madness?”

Her thoughts spiraled as the maids continued their work. They fluttered about her, measuring and discussing fabrics in tones that felt both too high-pitched and too fast for her still-panicked mind to grasp. Her breath quickened as they slipped the first layers of silk over her body, the fabric feeling heavier than it should.

“This is ridiculous. This is insane,” Erika muttered again, panic rising in her chest.

“Don’t worry, milady,” one of the maids said, tying the ribbons of the gown with ease. “You will be the most beautiful bride this kingdom has ever seen!”

“Is it even necessary? I haven’t said yes yet. I don’t want to be married to a stranger,” she protested, her voice rising in frustration.

“Oh, but you’re so lucky to be chosen by His Highness!” the maid giggled, clearly unbothered by her distress. “The crown prince, the future king! This will be the talk of the century, and it’s a great honor, don’t you think?”

Erika rolled her eyes. A great honor? She could hardly think about anything beyond the fact that she was about to be married off to a man she barely knew, and now they were dressing her up as if she were already the princess.

Before she could voice more of her concerns, the door to the fitting room burst open with a loud bang.

“Is this how we treat royal guests? By locking them away in these chambers without even a simple warning?” Alaric's voice boomed, his playful tone cutting through the tension in the room.

Erika whipped around to see the prince standing in the doorway, his usual easy grin spread across his face. Her eyes widened in shock, and before she could stop herself, she blurted, “What do you think you’re doing?! I haven’t even said yes to marriage! You can’t just drag me into this!”

Alaric raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her outburst. He walked toward her, his eyes scanning her from head to toe, his gaze slow and deliberate. The maids, who had been busy arranging the dress, froze in place at his sudden entrance.

“Well, well, well,” he said, stopping a few steps from her, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Seems I’ve caught you in the middle of a fitting, but you’re already a bit more than just a fitting, aren’t you?”

Erika crossed her arms, trying to regain some sense of control. “What do you mean by that?”

“You’re...” Alaric began, leaning in closer to inspect her, his eyes still scanning her with an intensity that made her heart beat faster. He leaned a bit closer, just enough that his warm breath brushed her ear. “... breathtaking. And this dress? It suits you. It looks... incredible.”

Erika stiffened, her face flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. “Stop it,” she hissed, stepping back, but her cheeks betrayed her as they turned an angry shade of red.

Alaric’s grin widened, clearly enjoying the effect he had on her. He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, I’ll stop. But you really shouldn’t look so flustered. It’s quite charming.” He winked at her, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.

“Charming?” she repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Is that how you charm your true love? By barging in on her while she’s half-dressed?”

“I’m just getting a glimpse of the beauty I’m supposed to marry,” he teased, his tone light but sincere. He placed a hand over his heart dramatically. “It’s not my fault you’re distracting, Lady Erika.”

Erika rolled her eyes, a mixture of frustration and reluctant amusement in her gaze. “I’m not your Lady Erika yet. Don’t forget that.”

“Don’t worry,” he said, his smile turning soft but with that playful edge still present. “I’m not forgetting. You’re a woman who knows how to make an impression.”

Her heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth to say something sharp, but the words caught in her throat. She wasn’t sure if she should be angry or... flattered.

Alaric continued, clearly noticing the shift in her expression. “Look, if it helps... I am sorry for rushing things. But I do think we’re well-suited, even if you’re not convinced yet. Maybe... just maybe, you’ll start seeing it too.”

Erika couldn’t help but sigh, running a hand through her hair in exasperation. “You make everything sound so... simple. But this isn’t simple. You don’t get to decide things for me, Your Majesty.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better,” he said, moving closer as if the entire room hadn’t been watching them, “I’m not deciding everything for you. But I am deciding that you look incredibly stunning and that you’re going to be the most beautiful bride in the kingdom. That, my dear Erika, is already a fact.”

Her face flushed again, and this time, she didn’t even try to hide the warmth creeping up her neck. “You’re impossible,” she muttered, though a small part of her was touched by his sincerity.

“I prefer ‘charming,’ but I’ll take ‘impossible’ if it suits you better,” he teased, his grin widening.

Before she could respond, the maids gently ushered her back toward the fitting area. But this time, Erika couldn’t help but wonder—was Alaric’s confidence just him being charming, or was there something more to his words? Something deeper? She wasn’t sure, but one thing was certain: the game between them was just beginning. Will she stay after three months or her decision to leave after the duration will remain unwavering?