My arrogant ROYAL.

Chapter nine.

Prince Melus's POV.

I felt like a complete fool, yet strangely disconnected from everything around me. Despite the fact that I had done nothing wrong, his mere presence and the assumption he'd made had left me feeling numb. And despite the confusion and hurt, my body had responded differently when he'd been with me—I'd felt a spark, a sudden surge of electricity that left me feeling breathless. But that brief moment of connection had quickly faded, leaving behind only a tangled mess of emotions.

The thought of his slight frame and the desire to touch and explore it left me feeling conflicted. It was as if my body was drawn to his, like an undeniable pull that I couldn't shake. But despite the intensity of those feelings, I knew it was important to take things slow. Rushing into things would only complicate an already tangled situation. I had to remember that emotions were a delicate thing, and treading carefully was the only way forward.

The dynamic between us had shifted, and I couldn't ignore the change. For the first time in a long while, I found myself questioning my own desires and actions. My mind kept tugging at me, insisting that something was different, something I couldn't quite pinpoint.

As I hovered over the maid, ready to indulge our mutual desires, I suddenly felt unable to move forward. The thought of Simon, that small servant boy, invaded my mind, clouding my judgment and pulling me in a new direction. It was as if my whole world had been turned upside down, and I couldn't help but wonder what this new feeling meant for me.

As I grappled with these newfound feelings and questions, I found myself at a loss. My hands instinctively rose to cover my face, my mind racing as I tried to think of ways to get him to understand. But in the midst of this turmoil, a thought emerged—why did I feel the need to explain myself to him? It was a confusing and unsettling realization, one that left me questioning the very foundation of our relationship.

Until now, I hadn't given much thought to his opinions or feelings. For me, it had all been nothing more than a trivial game. But suddenly, the situation felt far more complex. As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door, snapping me back to reality. I straightened my clothing and called out for them to enter, my voice echoing loudly through the room.

To my dismay, it was not the maid I had been with earlier, but her presence still sent an unsettling chill through me. Bowing respectfully, she delivered her message: "Your father summons you. He says your wife-to-be is here." Before I could respond, she disappeared as quickly as she had come, the doors shutting with a resounding thud. In that moment, I felt as if the walls were closing in around me, the weight of my impending marriage pressing down upon me like a heavy burden.

And just like that, everything became a bit more complicated. The world felt like a Rubik's Cube I couldn't quite solve, and every twist and turn seemed to make things worse, not better. I didn't know what to do.I still felt lost. Adrift in the vast ocean of life, without a compass or a chart to guide me. My thoughts were muddled, like a river after a storm, and I felt more helpless than ever.

As my feet carried me down the palace's polished corridors, curiosity was my only guide. Here I was, about to meet the woman I was to marry, and I couldn't help but think this was all happening too fast. But I knew, deep down, that it was my own doing. In a moment of weakness, I'd told my father to find me a wife, never expecting him to actually succeed. And now, here I was, about to face the consequences of my own words.

My footsteps echoed off the walls as I descended the palace's grand staircase, each step bringing me closer to the moment of truth. My stomach churned like a tempest-tossed sea, my heart pounded like a war drum. The closer I got to the woman who would be my bride, the more uncertain I became. Could I really marry a woman I'd never met? Could I make her happy, knowing how I felt? The thoughts swirled in my head, tangling into knots as I rounded the final bend and came face-to-face with my future.