The Royal Contract

Back in the ballroom, the remaining guests were leaving, including the newly engaged couple. Remaining in the hallway were the organizers and the staff, cleaning and packing up the place.

Alex guided Dani to their waiting car, both tired but ecstatic of the success of the night. He pulled her close to him, wanting to give her comfort by placing her in his embrace.

"I still don't get it. Why did you feel the need to propose?" She finally voiced out after a very long silence inside the car.

She stared at the beautiful ring in her hand. For him to give her something that belonged to his Nanna was an honor. She knew how much he loved and respected his Nanna's wishes.

The ring could only symbolize his eternal love for her. She suddenly felt a slight pressure from the way things were moving. She believed it would have been better if they had talked about marriage first.

Not that she was complaining that he finally wanted to marry her. Only a crazy woman would not want to be his wife. But the execution of marriage could have been done better.

"I love you so much. I want to give you everything I can to make you happy. I know materials things will never suffice, but I hoped that my grand gesture would be good enough." Alex explained to her.

He already guessed that not everything he did guarantee that she would agree with him. But he was always counting on the fact that he could always reason out with her, and she would be open-minded about it.

"But they already knew that we are already engaged." She rationalized with him. Did their family suspected anything about his sudden wish to propose again?

There was no need for another proposal. If it was just for show, then Dani felt it was unnecessary. Everybody already believed that they were getting married.

"I told them that our first proposal was a hasty decision, and I was not even able to give you a proper ring that you deserve." He held her hand and looked at the new ring on her finger.

It did fit her as if it belonged only to her. Alex could suddenly hear his Nanna talking about the girl destined to be his wife. He listened to her every tale, enjoyed every happy ending of a love affair.

But he still had a few doubts back then about meeting his soulmate. The only woman that he would love and share the rest of his life with, but now, Dani had proved him wrong to doubt his Nanna.

"Don't get me wrong. I love the ring. It is beautiful, and your Nanna must have loved it so much. But why are you giving it to me?" She needed some assurance that they were speaking the same language.

A slight miscommunication might lead to something else. This night had been one roller coaster of emotions for her. Still, many questions lingered in her mind about the way things turned out. 

But she was too tired to process them all, so she wished to prioritize them in the order of most relevant. As of now, the proposal and the wedding seemed to be at the forefront of her mind.

"Really?" He looked at her as if she was wearing a dunce hat. Well, from the way things were going, she might as well be. "Ok. For someone who had been the most intelligent in their class."

He paused and held her hand with his ring, kissing every single finger until he reached the ring finger. "You are very slow in picking up my intentions."

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to assume anything. We never talk about going through with the wedding. I know you love me, and I love you, but we still barely knew each other." She moved her hands and held his face in them. 

"I will marry you anytime and anywhere if that is what you want because my heart only wants you." She moved closer to him, shifting in her position until her face was in line with his.

"It is why I proposed again to you tonight because I am dissolving our agreement. I want to offer another contract. The one that involved a lifetime together of love and respect." Alex voiced out as her face lowered inches away from his.

"Then, I formally accept it." She smiled happily at him, finally understanding what the fuzz was all about. 

He made all this effort to show her how much he loved her. His intention all along had always been to marry her. Finally, her dreams were coming true all because she met a great man by accident.

That fateful night, she thought that her chance encounter with the stranger would remain a distant reality. An event in her life that would remain trapped in her dreams.

"Let just make sure that it is in the record that it was you who made the first move." He teased Dani once more before diving into her lips, taking what he believed was his.

He always felt that he should not pursue to look for her because it might only cause trouble. But fate seemed to think differently as their paths intertwined in some twisted fate.

But he never regretted one bit his decision to seek her help because he could feel it in his heart that she was the only one who could fit the role.

"I admit I made the first move, but it was you who pursued me." She finally retaliated when she finally had the chance to catch her breath.

"Fine. Can we call it a truce?" He stared at her face and through her eyes, loving what he saw in them. "Let us agree that love brought us together."

"Well, I guess I can compromise with that." She pulled him again in another kiss, but it was abruptly interrupted when the car stopped in his building. "Shall we continue the discussion upstairs?"

He suddenly stopped her in the lobby and abruptly pulled her in his arms to give her a solid, very thorough kiss.. Then, he carried her in his arms, bridal style, toward the elevators, continuing with his sudden show of affection.