I would have stumbled down the grand staircase if it weren't for Caelum, who kept me steady. I held tightly onto his elbows, trying so hard not to trip on my dress."You're doing well," Caelum softly reassured me halfway down the stairs.Why are the stairs so damn long?Instead of answering, or even nodding, I kept my eyes forward, making sure I'm not stepping on my dress or skipping a step. It felt like an eternity, and I can definitely feel all eyes on me, but I dared not look. I focused on the stairs and on Caelum beside me.Finally, we reached the landing and I finally looked at Caelum."Thank you," I whispered, gratefully smiling at him.For a moment, he seemed taken aback, and I don't know why. Then he shifted a bit and cleared his throat before saying "you're welcome.""Ladies and gentlemen, His Royal Highness, Prince Christopher Caelum Asher Renault-Lee, and Lady Vivienne Skye Harper," a deep voice echoed throughout the ballroom through the speakers that were smartly hidden.I

We sat in silence for a while, just admiring the city lights from afar and the twinkling stars in the night sky above us."How's your first official royal event?" Caelum asked me, breaking the silence."Decent, I guess. But my feet are killing me.""Well, you've been dancing an awful lot. You're popular," he smiles at me."They're all just curious about the commoner who got lucky and was catapulted to a gilded life," I told him. "The dance floor was just a way to corner me and interrogate me. And it's not even like someone interviewing someone interesting…or maybe a movie star. No. It was like they were interrogating a suspect in a murder spree."Caelum reached out and held my hand. Again. And my breath hitched."I really am sorry for all of these," he said, and he looked so sad for me. But also maybe for him, too. Because he'd been in the eye of the storm his whole life."Caelum, please stop saying you're sorry. You didn't bring me into this. The app did. So, it's not really your fau

"I've only been in the palace for less than a month, and I've moved three times already," I said to no one in particular as I entered my new room.The Mansion bedroom was already luxurious. The first palace bedroom I stayed at before the engagement party? Even more so. And just when I thought it couldn't get any more opulent, lo and behold, I'm standing in the grandest bedroom I have ever seen.In fact, everything about the "inner palace" is grander, with more plush carpeting, gold trims, polished marble floors, high ceilings with massive gold and crystal chandeliers and artwork that are worth millions, proudly on display. Not to mention the technology in this place. The security systems are so much more advanced and intelligent than that of the "outer" part of the palace."Just wait until you marry the prince, my lady," Genevieve chimed in as walked me throughout the room and its extensive bathroom and dressing room. "I'm assuming you'll have to move into his room. Or maybe you'll bo

Waking up next to Caelum is something I haven't prepared myself for. I kind of forgot that he was in my room, in my bed. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw him, still sleeping peacefully, lying on his stomach.I pulled back, shocked to see him beside me. What's even more surprising is that he's half naked.I looked under the duvet to make sure I had my PJs on–I have. Then, the early hours of the morning came back to me. The nightmare. The panic attack. And Caelum stayed for the night to make sure the panic didn't return.I sit up and rub my face. It's too early in the morning and my heart is already beating so fast. Seeing Caelum is one thing. Seeing him early in the morning, in my bed, is another thing.But seeing him in my bed? Half naked? No wonder, I'm worked up."Oh, hey. Good morning," Caelum groaned, and his morning voice was deep and gruffy…something inside me just wanted to leap out."Hey, good morning," I replied, trying to keep my voice even, turning my face towards him but

I was tired, but restless. It's still a little early, at least by my standards, so I had a nice hot soak on the massive tub.It was nice to draw my own bath, which I haven't done since I moved to the Palace. I would always try to run it, but as soon as I get to the bathroom, it's already done, complete with rose oils and petals and bath salts.But I have to say, this bathroom is intimidating. It's definitely smaller than the Palace bathrooms–still so much bigger than the normal ones at home–but this one also had that glass wall. I've been assured by Caelum earlier that the glass walls can only see out, not in. But it's still weird to drop my robe and climb onto the tub, naked, when it's conveniently facing the wall.Still, once you get over the initial paranoia that someone might be controlling a drone to look into the bathroom, or someone from the town has a telescope to see into the Palazzo, it's quite nice looking outside while soaking.I can see the outline of the trees now, as we