Felicity's P.O.V.
When I got to school, Penelope hadn't arrived yet, but a few other students were chatting near the lecture hall. I decided to head in and wait for her. As I walked in, I spotted Chris with some freshers. They were laughing loudly and definitely not doing any projects.
I quietly walked over to our usual seat and sat down, hoping Penelope would arrive soon. I avoided looking in Chris's direction. After everything that had happened the night before, I couldn't bring myself to face him.
I didn't know how to act around him. I didn't even know how I felt—confused? Flustered? Embarrassed? What would I even say? I didn't want it to be awkward. I sat at our usual spot, trying to keep my eyes on anything but him. But then, of course, he came over. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
"Hey, Fel. Don't tell me you didn't see me when you walked in," he said casually.
"Oh hey, Chris. Didn't see you there—hello, chap," I said, nudging his elbow and speaking way too high-pitched for my liking. I cringed instantly.
'What the hell was that? Seriously?'
"Yeah, right," he smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You didn't see me or you were avoiding me?"
"Ha! Me? Avoid you? Pfft. Am I crazy? Don't be silly, Chris," I said quickly, I tried to brush it off with a laugh.
"Hmm. Weird, squinting at me slightly. Anyway, Josh is here. Got to go," he said, stepping away.
"Oh, cool. See you around," I replied, waving awkwardly.
As soon as he turned his back, I buried my face in my palms.
'Oh my goodness. Are you kidding me? I scolded myself mentally. That was so lame. What is wrong with me?'
Thankfully, Penelope arrived a few minutes later, saving me from my spiraling thoughts.
"Thank goodness you're here," I said, exhaling in relief.
"I'm so sorry! I got stuck in traffic," she said as we hugged and sat down.
"You look rattled worried," she observed, tilting her head. "Is everything okay?" she asked.
"It's nothing," I replied quickly.
She raised an eyebrow but let it go. "Alright. Let's focus. What topic are we choosing—nature, love, or something else?"
"Let's go with love," I said quietly.
We wrote in silence, and just as we finished, the lecturer arrived and we submitted our work.
***********
Christopher's P.O.V.
We handed in our poem, and I sat back, but I couldn't focus. Even pretending to joke around with the freshers was exhausting.
Felicity's awkward hello was kind of adorable in a way—but also proof that everything between us had shifted.
Would we ever go back to what we had? Would she ever feel the same way for me?
Just as I sat down beside Josh, I was still thinking about her when my phone buzzed. I checked the message and instantly felt the weight settle in my chest.
Mother:
"Just a reminder, darling. Mia arrives in England on Monday. We're hosting a royal dinner that evening. Be on your best behavior. She's excited to see you."
I stared at the message for a long time, jaw tightening, not even sure what I felt. Dread? Frustrated? Anger?
Mia Harrison. The Duchess of Scotland. My childhood companion, now being groomed to be my future queen.
I hadn't seen her in years. She used to follow around barefoot in the palace gardens, chasing butterflies and making ridiculous daisy crowns. She was the girl I'd known since childhood, the one my parents always subtly hinted I would one day marry. Now, she was returning not as a friend, but as the person chosen to stand beside me. Not willingly, as if my life was some prewritten script.
Not when my heart belonged to someone else, Felicity. Sweet, awkward, hilarious, honest Felicity.
The girl who didn't know who I really was. Who treated me like a regular guy and not someone tied to a throne.
And the irony of it all? The very thing that drew me to her—her sincerity, her lack of pretense—was also what kept me from telling her the truth. She thought I was just Chris. Not Prince Christopher. Not the heir to a crown with expectations so heavy, I could barely breathe.
And the worst part? My own father had arranged this marriage. Mia, the engagement, the entire royal script—without my voice, my consent.
How was I supposed to sit through a royal dinner and smile at Mia when every fiber of my being wanted to be with Felicity? How was I going to pretend that my life wasn't being rewritten without my consent?
And I couldn't even tell Felicity the truth. Not yet. Not like this. Not with everything happening so fast. Not when it would break her. The bet. My name. The looming marriage. It would destroy whatever fragile beginning we had.
But love wasn't supposed to be a royal duty.
Love was meant to be real. And mine already was.
'You don't have a choice, I reminded myself grimly.
This is the crown's will'.
But the one thing I could do—must do—was be honest about how I felt.
I raked a hand through my hair. I needed to talk to her. To at least try to fix the tension between us. With resolve tightening in my chest, I stood and walked over to where Felicity and Penelope were sitting. My pulse was racing.
"Hey Fel, can I talk to you?" I asked.
She blinked in surprise. "Yeah, I'm listening. What is it?"
"I mean… alone, please," I said.
She glanced at Penelope, who just gave her a shrug. "Sure," Felicity replied, standing.
We stepped outside, into the quiet hallway. I could feel the tension radiating between us and yet it felt like now or never.
I took a breath. "I'm sorry."
She blinked, caught off guard. "For what?"
"For everything. For last night. For pushing you too hard. For saying things I probably should've waited to say. For not giving you enough time to process. I was reckless. You didn't do anything wrong." I replied.
She looked at me for a moment, her expression unreadable.
"I was just… surprised," she said. "It's not that I didn't care. I just… I didn't expect any of it."
"I understand," I said softly. "I just want you to know—I care about you, Fel. A lot. And if I seem distant or weird sometimes… it's not because of you. It's just… complicated."
There was a pause.
"Complicated how?" she asked gently.
I hesitated, the truth pressing against my chest like a dam threatening to break.
"I'll tell you. Just… not yet. Please trust me."
She nodded slowly. "Okay."
And in that quiet, honest moment, I realized something: I might not be able to control what the crown demanded of me—but here, with her, maybe I could still be the man I wanted to be.
Not a prince.
Just… hers.