Stronger Than She Was: A Be My Princess x My Sweet Bodyguard Crossover

Chapter 9 - The Engagement

Kiri's POV

I ran from the terrace without so much as a glance back. I slipped through the ballroom and into the hallway, wanting desperately to get away from it all. That's when someone pulled me back by the waist. His arms ensnared me, trapping me, so I did what any logical person would do: I stomped on his foot.

"Ow!" A voice that wasn't Zain's said. "That was so unladylike." He let me go, and I turned to see Prince Joshua. Prince Roberto was right behind him.

"Sorry, I thought you were someone else." I curtsied. "You really shouldn't go around grabbing girls, your highness."

"That wasn't- I was just-" Joshua stutters.

"Where are you going?" Roberto interrupts Joshua.

"My room..." I hesitate. I'm not sure I want to talk to them right now. They're probably mad that I didn't tell them about my father.

"Kiri, there's something we need to tell you," Roberto says, stepping forward. "We knew about your father before the official announcement was made. In other words, we're not mad."

"How did you..." my voice trailed off. No one was supposed to know about my father.

"Not important." Joshua cut in.

Roberto stepped forward and offered his hand. "Dance with me?" I started to protest, but he took my hand and led me back into the ballroom. He brought me to the dance floor and pulled me closer by the waist.

"I saw you leave with Zain. What did he do?" Roberto's eyes met mine, sparkling with mischief.

"It was nothing." I'm not about to tell Roberto that I had a make out session with Zain that only ended because I don't have time to get involved with anyone.

"Did he hurt you?" His eyes widened in worry. I could only shake my head. "Then what happened?"

"I started to believe that I could be Cinderella, but that's a fairy tale. I'm my father's daughter; I need to focus on my country. I can't be involved with anyone." Especially not right now.

Roberto was uncharacteristically quiet as he continued to dance with me. He knows that I'm right, and I doubt he has any sort of comeback.

"Do you love him?" He finally whispers. I'm almost too shocked to respond. "If you do, stop thinking with your head." He twirled me one final time and pulled me close, ending the dance. "Follow your heart." He bowed and led me from the dance floor back to my father's side. "Goodnight, Kiki." He kissed my hand and bowed to my father before leaving.

I chewed on my lip for a moment before deciding to head back to my room. I saw Zain on the other side of the ballroom with Lord Michael, so I was able to slip out once again after bidding my father goodnight.

Once in my room, I changed into my pajamas and lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I'm irrevocably in love with Zain. Did I have the right to be? Could we even be together? Back on the terrace, what was he going to say? My head keeps spinning, and I don't know what to think.

I think back on all the times I've shared with Zain, and my heart starts pounding. I could leave without a word and cut him out of my life. But the ache I feel in my chest at the very thought of not having him in my life nearly kills me. I could confess that I love him. But he can't be with me; I'm just a kitchen girl and he's the head steward of Noble Michael. Sure, my father is the prime minister of San Lorenzo, but I doubt Zain could ever see me as anything other than a maid. I just...I just...I just need some sleep.

Slipping under the covers, I drift into a very uneasy sleep.

Zain's POV

The Next Day