**RYLE**Standing behind Alastair, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settle in the pit of my stomach. The man before me was not the Alastair I had come to know over the past few days. He had been different, almost unrecognizable, in a way that had given me a glimmer of hope for change. But now, that hope seemed to be slipping away, replaced by a growing concern.I watched as he furiously tossed files from his desk into the trash one by one, his face contorted in irritation with each document he discarded. It was as if he had returned to his old self, the ruthless prince who had no qualms about firing employees at the slightest inconvenience. Even his super-fast decisions regarding the detainees, which had momentarily slowed down, were now back with a vengeance. His temper had been escalating for the past three days, and it was reaching an unbearable level.A soft sigh escaped my lips, though I knew it would go unnoticed amid the chaos of flying papers. I had been standing here

ChelseaOutside the room, I couldn't help but wear a sad expression as I looked at Ms. Beth. She had confided in me about my brother's will just yesterday, a plea for help that Alastair had coldly declined to consider. My hopes had soared when Kai went inside to talk with him, believing that perhaps Alastair had finally taken notice of the situation. However, it was clear now that he had known all alon yet refused to cooperate.“How can a man be so mean?” I lamented, clenching my teeth and fists as if I were ready to confront him. In just a few days, Ms. Beth had carved a deeper place in my heart. She was an incredible person who cared about everyone, not just the prince she served.A soft chuckle escaped Ms. Beth's lips, a rare occurrence that drew my attention. “He surely has his reasons. Let's forget about that. However, you did well, Chelsea.” She reached out and held my hand, giving it a proud shake.I was confused by her words. "I did well?" I repeated, my expression shifting fro

AlastairThe moment I stumbled upon a servant giving away one of my favorite attires, I knew something was amiss. To catch the culprits red-handed, I decided to enter the closet from the secret door in my bedroom – a door only I could open. Little did I expect to find Chelsea there, of all people. My blood simmered as I witnessed the sight before me – she had torn apart the clothes I intended to wear for tomorrow's event. And to add insult to injury, she had the audacity to distribute my favorite garments.Chelsea stood there, frozen, as I Chelsea stood there, frozen like a deer caught in headlights, as I raised a sly brow, waiting for an explanation. She swallowed hard, her gaze darting around the room as my eyes slowly swept over the closets, then the ruined fabrics, and finally landed on her face. There was a frantic rhythm to her heartbeat, audible to me in the charged silence that hung in the air.“Cutting the shoelaces would be enough to ruin it,” I remarked, taking a step closer

ChelseaI froze there, my body tense with a mixture of desire and apprehension. His voice sent shivers down my spine, his words echoing in my mind.Sea! It was just a nickname, but in this moment, with the way he spoke it, it ignited something within me. Something I couldn't quite ignore, no matter how hard I tried.His question hung in the air, a weighty anticipation building between us. Did I want my narcissus? The thought alone sent a flurry of sensations through my body, an undeniable longing that clashed with my better judgement. I couldn't deny the electricity that crackled between us, even as I fought to suppress it.But I couldn't let him see the effect he had on me. And so, I mustered up every ounce of defiance and shouted, "Hell no!" I needed to distance myself from this man, from these forbidden desires that clawed at the edges of my consciousness. It was wrong, I knew that, yet it felt undeniably right.The prince seemed undeterred by my outburst, his eyes boring into mine

AlastairAs I stepped closer, the first thing Chelsea did was step back from me, her eyes darting around to ensure no one had heard the nickname I had just called her. Finding no one engaged in our conversation and the garden filled with workers diligently shaping the trees, she heaved a relieved sigh. It seemed that she was willing to risk her entire life but not get close to me.My jaw clenched. "Did you tell Rossi... well, Rossi is the woman who stayed in the guest house yesterday. The one I once...""Fucked," Chelsea completed my sentence, her face contorted with bitterness.I blinked, taken aback by Chelsea's bluntness. She was a peculiar woman, to say the least. Her sudden transformation into a badass astounded, confounded, and at the same time, provoked me. I had a feeling that Rossi Clooney would be provoked in an entirely different manner. Rossi, the head of the royal event management team, rarely stayed at the palace since her father was a top businessman with a grand estate.