The courtyard buzzed with anticipation as servants rushed around to make sure the final details were placed. The royal garden carried the scent of freshly bloomed roses and lavender, but despite the liveliness around her, Elara felt a weight pressing against her chest.
She stood at the garden entrance, her emerald gown, She stood at the entrance of the gardens, dressed in a flowing emerald gown flowing in the soft breeze, and a delicate silver tiara on rested on her head gleaming under the fading sunlight.
Besides her was Romanus who went through the order of proceedings but her mind was still occupied on Milicent and Cedric's visit. Although short, their message was very clear: She was still at the mercy of kingdom politics.
She had told them Kieran was the perfect choice. Now, she had to prove it.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Blake is approaching." Romanus said, pulling her out of her thoughts.
She turned, watching as Kieran strode toward her, his assistant trailing behind. He was dressed in an impeccably tailored grey coat that complimented his sharp features. His posture was effortless. Yet, despite his polished appearance, there was something in his stride that remained distinctly unroyal.
Elara wasn't sure if that was a strength or a weakness.
"Am I late?" Kieran asked, stopping beside her.
"Surprisingly, no. You are right on time." she replied, arching a brow.
"You almost sound disappointed," he mused.
"Not at all." She refuted. "I was just preparing myself for what I would tell thr people in case you didn't show up."
Kieran smirked. "I wouldn't miss our first public spectacle together, Princess. I want to see how good you are at pretending."
Elara's fingers twitched, but she schooled her expression to be neutral. There would be no arguments today.
"This is not a performance," she corrected. "It is an expectation. The people must see us together, and they must believe in this arrangement."
"So, a performance with higher stakes," he concluded.
Elara sighed. There was no winning with him.
Before she could respond, Lady Seraphina approached, followed closely by Lord Whitmore, the etiquette instructor assigned to Kieran. According to Romanus's reports earlier, the elderly noble had been relentlessly trying to polish Kieran's behavior, with mixed results.
"Your Highness," Seraphina greeted before turning to Kieran with a slight bow. "Mr. Blake."
"Lady Seraphina," Kieran replied smoothly, though Elara could tell he was only barely restraining his amusement.
Lord Whitmore cleared his throat, adjusting the monocle on his nose before addressing Kieran.
"Do remember what we practiced, Mr. Blake. Your steps must remain measured. You are not a merchant walking through a marketplace, you are a future king walking among his people."
"Duly noted," Kieran said, though the glint in his eye told Elara he was going to do the exact opposite just to annoy the man.
She exhaled sharply. "Shall we begin?"
Seraphina nodded, motioning toward the palace gates. "The people have been waiting. You will walk through the central square, where merchants and nobles alike will witness your first public appearance together. You must remain close, speak kindly to those who approach, and most importantly"
"Present a united front,," Kieran finished.
"Precisely," Seraphina confirmed.
Kieran looked at Elara then, his smirk fading slightly. For a brief second, there was something unreadable in his expression, but before she could place it, he extended his arm.
"Shall we, Princess?"
Elara hesitated. She had done this a hundred times before with her father. But never with a husband-to-be. Never with someone whose presence felt both foreign and alarmingly natural at the same time. And yet, standing here now, Kieran's arm outstretched to her, she realized she had no choice but to take it.
Her fingers curled around his arm, his grip firm and steady. Their gazes met for a moment, hers filled with quiet resolve before she looked ahead.
"Let's do this."
Seraphina gave a satisfied nod before stepping aside, and together, they moved toward the palace gates. The moment the iron gates swung open, a wave of voices greeted them.
The square was alive with activity, merchants hawking their wares, families bustling through the streets, noblewomen whispering behind their fans.
And all of them turned to watch.
Elara lifted her chin, keeping her expression poised. She had done this a hundred times before with her father, but never with a husband-to-be at her side. For a brief moment, she felt the absence of her father beside her. He had walked these streets with her, stopping to greet his people with warmth, making them feel seen. It had always felt natural, effortless.
And now? She was walking with a man who did not belong to Bellmere.
Yet, to her surprise, Kieran was keeping pace with her perfectly. He did not rush, nor did he linger with the casual arrogance she feared.
If anything, he looked as though he belonged, which was a good sign. They walked for a while, overhearing the mumbles of curiosity flying around them. It seemed no one was willing to approach them, that is, until the first person came.
It was a young girl, no older than sixteen, stepped forward hesitantly, clutching a woven basket.
"Your Highness, it is a pleasure to meet you." she curtsied deeply before the both of them, her eyes shining with admiration. Elara nodded with a small smile.
Her gaze moved to Kieran and she asked nervously. "It is also a pleasure to meet you... Your Lordship?"
Kieran's grip on Elara's arm shifted slightly.
"Mr. Blake will suffice," he said, his voice carrying easily over the square.
Elara expected hesitation, perhaps even disapproval, but the girl only brightened.
"Then welcome to Bellmere, Mr. Blake," she said cheerily. "I hope you will take care of our princess."
Elara stiffened slightly at the words, but Kieran merely chuckled.
"That is my intention," he replied.
They moved forward, stopping every so often to acknowledge another greeting. Elara watched carefully, noting the way people reacted to him. There was hesitation, uncertainty then curiosity..... But no outright rejection.
He wasn't one of them yet, but he also wasn't an immediate enemy, either.
As they reached the center of the square, an elderly merchant approached, bowing low.
"Your Highness," he greeted. "It is an honor to see you well. And to see that you are not standing alone."
Elara smiled, though something about his words made her pulse quicken.
"The honor is mine," she replied.
The man's gaze flickered briefly to Kieran before he straightened.
"May I offer a word of wisdom?"
Elara nodded, though Kieran's grip on her arm subtly tensed.
"A union must be built on trust, not just necessity," the merchant said.
The meaning beneath his words was clear. Elara glanced at Kieran, expecting an arrogant retort. Instead, his grip on her arm shifted, his voice softer than she anticipated.
"Trust takes time," he said simply.
The merchant studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Then I wish you time, my lord."
With that, he stepped aside, allowing them to continue their walk. Elara's heart pounded as they made their way back toward the palace. She hadn't expected that. The walk had gone better than she thought. The hesitation. The warning. And Kieran answered without arrogance or challenge.
He had played his role well. Too well.
But before she could dwell on it further, Romanus stepped forward with a scroll.
"The people of Bellmere," his voice rang out, clear and steady. "Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for our kingdom. By royal decree, we formally announce the engagement between Her Royal Highness, Princess Elara of Bellmere, and Mr. Kieran Blake."
Mumurs of excitement and gasps of joy and shock spread through the gathered crowd. Elara inhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the words settle over her.
Kieran turned to her, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Well, Princess," he murmured, "no turning back now."
Elara looked at him, her expression unreadable then she looked away. They stepped past the palace gates, and the heavy gate were drawn closed behind them. As they walked in, he spoke again.
"What?" His voice was light, teasing. "Penny for your thoughts?"
Elara hesitated. A beat too long.
"Nothing," she murmured, slipping her arm free and moving inside.
As she walked through the palace halls, one thought refused to leave her mind. For the first time since this arrangement had begun… she wasn't sure if it was still pretense anymore.