The Royal Contract

Lunch had been fantastic as they shared it inside their room. Afterward, Antonette finally showed up in their room carrying her list of things to do. This time, she was not taking no for an answer.

One by one, the guests were starting to arrive. Each guest would stay at different designated locations. Some within the palace, while the others at nearby hotels.

"Have you heard from Jacky?" She told her from their last conversation last night of her arrival today. Alex had already arranged her transportation, so it was just a matter of time before she saw her best friend.

"She and Marcus just landed at the airport. They are probably on their way to the palace." Alex informed her as if there was nothing wrong with that statement.

When he heard about the problem with the driver, he asked Marcus to arrange for someone else to pick Jacky, but instead, he volunteered to do it himself.

He did warn his friend about his plan. He was afraid that it might backfire on him and end up worsening his situation. But he could understand what he was going through, so all he could do was support him.

"Are you saying that they were on the same flight? Are you insane? Now, I won't hear the end of it from Jacky." She was already expecting Jacky's endless complaint about having Marcus on the same flight as hers.

She could already see her friend's face as she walked into the room together with Marcus right behind her. War would be easier to handle than a pissed Jacky.

"Easy. I think Marcus and Jacky had reached a cease-fire agreement for the remainder of the wedding." Alex reassured her fiance that she had nothing to worry about. 

After talking to Marcus briefly when they landed, he informed him that they were trying to be amicable. At least for the sake of their respective friends.

"Easy? Are you sure you know what you are talking about? We are talking about Jacky and Marcus here." She did remember how Jacky wanted to put Marcus' head on the spike.

After what he did to her, she had never been the same again. She could tell that her friend tried her best to be civil when they ended up in the same room. But the two of them alone, she was not too sure.

"I assure you that they are working out their difference as of the moment." Alex could only hope that he was speaking the truth.

Although, Marcus guaranteed that he was behaving appropriately. He could not help but be wary that he might say or do something to trigger an adverse reaction from Jacky.

"I just hope you speak the truth," Dani whispered to him as they continued to proceed to their next meeting. 

Antonette led them to the west wing of the palace. It was where some of the offices were located. It was the part of the palace that Alex never particularly liked because it symbolized the responsibility he had turned his back on.

"Explain to me again why do we need to discuss a prenuptial agreement." She still could not wrap her mind around the idea of signing another contract that would determine the fate of their future relationship.

She completely trusted him. She believed there was no need for a pre-signed agreement. She did not require a paper to tell them how to live their lives as a married couple.

"Because it is for your own good. It would protect you from any eventuality." Alex stated as if what he said was a fact.

He did agree to it when the idea was presented to him. He was marrying Dani because of her and not what she represented or her possessions.

At the moment, he would admit that her value was significantly enormous compared to him. He was just a mere son of a Duke, but she was the daughter of a king, figuratively speaking.

"If my father had put you up to do this, I will tell you now that I will never sign it." She warned him as alarming bells started ringing in her ears.

She could already guess the mastermind of this crappy arrangement. Her father had his fingerprints spread all over this. She understood his reason, but she still did not agree.

"Your father only meant well. You could not blame him for protecting you from all possible threats. He already learned that lesson when Nick tried to use you." Alex explained to her, hoping that she would keep an open mind.

She stopped in her tracks, not wanting to participate in this meeting. She was right as Alex confirmed her father's participation in this arrangement.

"But you are not Nick. You have no ulterior motives for marrying me except because you love me. Am I right?" She could understand the need for prenup for other couples, but not for them.

She might possess more assets because of what she would inherit from her father. But Alex was already the one safeguarding it for her and her future family.

The way she saw it, he was already handling her fortune for her even before she even married him. He was running the company that was supposed to be her responsibility.

The matrimonial ceremony was just a formality, but they were practically married as far as she was concerned. For her, all that she possessed would be Alex, and the same applied to him.

"But your father is also correct. We don't know what the future might bring. Let me protect you now by letting us make an arrangement where we both could agree upon." Alex smiled at her, trying to be convincing.

He knew what he had agreed on when he suggested this to Ethan. It was the only way Ethan would sign off his business to him and retire from his position.

He had to assure him that he was not after his company and money. He only wanted to help him, not because he aimed for his position. He did what he had to do because he loved Dani.

He would protect her with his life, even sacrificing his own future for her. She was and would always be all he needed to survive and nothing else.

"Ok. I will hear what you have to say, but I can tell you at this very moment. We don't need to do this. I don't want to sign it." She stated as she continued to walk with him until they had reached the outer doors.

For once, she was thankful to Antonette, who did not interfere in their argument earlier. But now, she was not keeping her silence as she objected to this contract.

"That is all I am asking for." But he was hoping that she would see it from his point of view. "It would not hurt if you look at it and even sign it with me. I truly agreed with Ethan that this is important."

All he asked was that she opened her mind to the possibility that them signing a contract would not change anything.. It was just a piece of paper that did not represent what they felt for each other.