Against the grain, Arya Giordano is sent to Aldovia, by her editor, to cover the possible abdication of scandalous Prince Richard. However, what she finds out might not just change the prince's life, but her's forever too.
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Arya couldn't believe what was currently happening.
She was in the arm of the Prince of Aldovia, the future King who would be crowned tonight as the monarch of the country.
Whispers and glances in their direction were anything but inconspicuous. Some ladies even gave her the distasteful look.
"Pay them no mind," Richard whispered to her.
Arya nodded, and kept walking towards the growing music from the ballroom.
The prince knew and saw everything Arya was witnessing. All of the looks and whispers concerning the beautiful woman on his arm. He hadn't had the chance to speak to her at all due to how busy everyone in the palace was. Despite how their last conversation took a bad turn, he hoped to have another word with her.
"I, um, I wanted to apologize for how rude I was yesterday night... it was completely out of line."
Richard stopped momentarily to look at Arya, curiosity dancing in his features.
"I have to say, Miss Anderson, you never seize to surprise me."
"That I'm apologizing?" Arya raised an eyebrow.
"No, your timing!"
At that, she had to laugh. Her timing was always... off. Her apology at the cabin, unexpected. Her apology before enteringtc the grand ballroom, unexpected.
"I guess you can say, I sort of ruin the moment without thinking."
"I see it another way," Richard said continuing to guide her up more steps to reach the grand ballroom. All the while the music was becoming louder and they caught everyone's passing eyes.
"And which way is that?"
"You're true to your morals, before anything, you seem to get apologies or explanations out of the way before indulging in the fun parts."
Arya looked at him quizzically.
"You're an intelligent woman, Miss Anderson, I'm sure you know what I mean," the prince chuckled.
"If you say so, Your Royal Highness, or since you can read me so well, Edward!" Her smile giving away into a sly smirk.
Richard laughed, "give points to my intuition, thank you very much!"
They laughed. Together. Enjoying each other's company, forgetting their unpleasant night before.
It didn't matter to Richard that he hardly knew her, he only knew that he was comfortable with her. He didn't need to act as a prince should, always serious abiding by protocol. He was himself around her, and that's what mattered to him.
