11. Christian
“Prince Christian!”
Smiling, I wave at the cameras all while guiding Cataleya through the crowd. She keeps a smile on her face, but I can feel the tension in her hand as she squeezes my forearm.
Once we’re far enough away from the cameras, her shoulders slump slightly and she lets out a deep exhale.
“Sorry about that,” I say. We walk along a stone path that hugs along the edge of the water. In the distance, I see the faint silhouette of the yacht I commissioned for the occasion. “The night’s not over yet, though.”
“Seriously?” she asks, fidgeting with her earrings. “What else do you have planned?”
“You’ll see. The paparazzi are here for a show, so we’ll give them a show.”
Cataleya sucks in a deep breath, then she nods. At that, I’m grateful. To leave everything behind in New York to join my hand in marriage is a big undertaking for her. I understand that.
And maybe if it weren’t for Mariana’s deteriorating health, she wouldn’t be here at all.
“Shall we?” I pick up the pace, hoping that we won’t get overwhelmed by the paparazzi as we board the yacht. “Be careful with your dress while you get on. You wouldn’t want to get it dirty.”
“The… Christian, what did you…” She furrows her eyebrows, but as I continue leading her to the yacht, the realization soon dawns upon her face. Then she laughs incredulously. “Oh, you’re crazier than I thought. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Crazy? Or just savvy?” I perk a brow, a teasing glint to my words. “Sometimes, luxurious displays of wealth are exactly what the people need to get excited about an event.”
Cataleya follows me onto the yacht. I hold onto her hands, and she clutches onto me for dear life as she makes her way onto the boat, which sways with our added presence. Her stiff posture and worried expression sparks a bit of pity from me, so I guide her to a small dining area on the yacht where a charcuterie board and a bottle of champagne awaits us.
She smears a glob of paté onto a cracker and sticks it into her mouth. Her hand covers her lips. “You’ve really thought this one out, haven’t you?”
“I’ve had a long time to plan this. And to be fair, I’m not the only brain behind this whole spectacle. I’ve got a team of royal planners back at the palace who have a keen vision for these sorts of things.”
I may or may not have consulted the opinions of my brothers, as well. Alex and Bella’s love story inspired me to create this grand display of affection, though it’s a shame that there’s no actual love behind our actions.
Sometimes, I wish I could experience a genuine sort of love like theirs. Or like Caesar and Vivienne’s. Ishmael and Liza’s. Cedrick and Ellie’s. Instead, I’m stuck in a betrothal with a woman who is only here because her dying mother wants to see her on the throne.
Enough with the pity. No future King of Solvaria should think in such a pathetic way.
Clearing my throat, I place my hand on the curve of her elbow and guide her to a more open position on the yacht’s deck. The paparazzi still linger near the pier, hoping for a good shot. The headlines that will run tomorrow are sure to put all of Solvaria at a standstill.
“You’ve got a pretty smile, so make sure it’s on full display,” I advise. My voice seems icy, but it’s because I understand that what we’re doing is purely business. “People will ask questions if you look miserable.”
“I’m not miserable, I’m—”
“And don’t argue,” I interject with a smile. “I know that you’re good at that, but you can’t do it tonight.”
Cataleya runs her tongue across her teeth before smiling wide. I can see how strained it is, but that hardly matters. Reaching into my pocket, I find the small velvet box that holds the 24 carat diamond engagement ring that belongs on Cataleya’s finger.
Swallowing hard, I lower myself down to one knee and present her with the ring. Her hazel eyes widen and for a moment, she seems clueless of what to do next. Surely, she’s seen a fair share of proposals before. You’re not surprised to look like you’re watching a massacre.
“Smile,” I gently remind. My eyes flicker toward the ring before back up to hers. “Let’s make our parents happy, yeah?”
At that, Cataleya finally perks up. She smiles and nods happily as I guide the engagement ring onto her left ring finger. In my peripheral vision, the excited shouts and bright camera flickers bring me a deep sense of relief.
Thank God that’s over with.
The Kingdom will know of my engagement with Cataleya by tomorrow morning. My father will be ecstatic. Her parents doubly so. And maybe, in time, Cataleya and I will learn to tolerate each other a little more. For the sake of our individual sanities, I sure hope so.
Cataleya wraps her arms around me, which slightly catches me off guard. Yet, it’s a good idea, I must admit.
“Thanks for getting this yacht as a buffer,” she whispers, resting her chin against my shoulder. Tonight, she smells of sweet vanilla. “If you proposed to me in the middle of Vanecourt Square, I would have lost my mind.”
“My bodyguards would have hated my guts if I tried something like that. Though, it does sound ambitious.”
“Don’t get any ideas,” she warns playfully, patting my back a few times with her hand. “Getting swarmed by crowds of people isn’t something I signed up for.”
“It won’t happen on my watch. Don’t worry.” For some reason, I tighten my hold around her. The cameras are still capturing this moment from afar. I close my eyes and let out a deep breath. “Thank you for agreeing to this, by the way. Breaking the betrothal would have been disastrous.”
“For you and me both.” Cataleya laughs gently. Electricity courses along my skin at the mere sound, enough to make me pause for a moment. “Tell me something, Christian. Do you think we’ll be able to pull this off?”
The images of Cataleya leading me around New York City and then yelling at me for ‘stealing’ her food are fresh in my mind. “I’m sure we will. For the sake of Solvaria, it’s crucial we present a united front.”
Cataleya stays quiet for a few seconds. She pulls away slightly to look me in the eyes. In the moonlight, her eyes shine like stars. “Even with the history we’ve had?”
I shake my head. “You shouldn’t obsess over the past. What’s done is done. We have a chance to create a great future for Solvaria together. And besides…” My eyes inadvertently trail down to her lips. “It’s only for a year.”
“Right.” Cataleya nods. “Just for a year.”
“We should probably make this moment seem a little more genuine.”
She raises a brow. “So what do you propose?”
Perhaps it’s the wine we had at the restaurant that is making me act this bold.
“Can I kiss you?”
Cataleya never tears her eyes away from mine. It’s an impressive feat. Part of the reason why I was so adamant about marrying her is because I knew I wouldn’t be able to find another woman who is as tenacious as her. Someone who gets the job done, no matter the circumstances.
In that regard, she’s somewhat like me.
“Great idea,” she whispers softly, sounding akin to a passing breeze.
As she leans in, she closes her eyes. Her lips meet mine gently, almost afraid at first. There’s a stiffness to our movements because of our unfamiliarity, but the paparazzi are currently losing their minds, so I imagine we’re doing a good job.
Make it more believable.
I don’t know what possesses me to trail my hands along her face, but I do. I hold her close and intensify the kiss. A small gasp escapes her lips, but she doesn’t pull away. Instead, she melts into my body, matching my intense movements with some of her own.
It’s riveting how natural she makes this feel. It’s as if we’ve been lovers forever, knowing exactly what to do to make the other swoon.
This is all a ruse, of course, but this is starting to make me wonder just how good things could be if only we fell in love for real.