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Description
Princess Melodia stepped into the throne room, her heart pounding nervously, and came face to face with the source of her anxiety: King Darian and his son, Prince Alaric. The prince was tall and strong, but with a wildness that could not be tamed. His antics had already caused quite a stir throughout the kingdom, and Melodia intended to head that nonsense off. This important event could not be disrupted by any pranks!

Melodia was renowned for her eloquence. She had created trade arrangements with other kingdoms, and often welcome dignitaries herself. But this one prince was proving to be more difficult than any she had ever encountered before.

King Darian was a familiar face to Melodia—he had been a friend of her father's. She nervously approached the steps, where he and his entourage were assembled. Beside him stood a handsome prince who she assumed must be the mischievous royal. Although she wanted to run away, Melodia knew that she had to stand her ground. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward courageously.

"Your Majesty, it is a pleasure to meet you," she said humbly.

King Darian smiled, his eyes warm. "Thank you, Princess, I feel quite welcome," he said.

Prince Alaric stepped forward, his eyes smoldering with mischievous intent. Melodia held her breath, a flush creeping up her cheeks as she anticipated what was about to happen. But instead of the disdain or derision she expected, he slightly bowed his head in admiration.

"I must say, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," he murmured, a hint of a playful smile gracing his lips.

Melodia felt a wave of relief wash over her. Maybe this challenge wouldn't be as difficult as she had feared.

Melodia was determined to give her all. She approached him with a gentle, yet firm manner while explaining the rules of the castle. His blue eyes twinkled mischievously as she warned of the consequences should he break them. He seemed unafraid of her, boldly questioning her authority and disregarding any respect for the rules or for Melodia.

Finally, Melodia had had enough. In her frustration, she declared that he would not leave her sight. She would be his personal guard—keeping an eye on him at all times to make sure he stayed out of trouble. To her surprise, he agreed readily!

From then on, Prince Alaric followed Melodia everywhere she went. Whether it was the market or castle grounds, always by her side was the prince with a mischievous grin. He kept pushing the boundaries and testing her limits—always asking questions and making jokes without any regard for respect or restraint. Melodia reprimanded him every time, but it only seemed to lighten his mood further as if it was a game to him.

The night sky was already shrouded in darkness by the time Melodia set out to meet the greasy-haired merchant. His rank odor of alcohol threatened to overwhelm her as she slowly approached him, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized just how dangerous this situation could be. The man greeted her with a leer and grabbed onto her arm, saying, "Maybe I'll discount my goods if the princess here works hard enough for it. How about a kiss, eh?"

She felt frozen in fear as he pulled her closer, but then suddenly, Prince Alaric stepped from the shadows and pushed him back. The merchant fell back in his chair, surprised, as Alaric advanced on him.

"I suggest you accept Princess Melodia's terms," Alaric said brusquely. "After you apologize for your behavior."

The merchant nodded hastily in agreement, murmuring apologies before darting off into the night. Melodia exhaled a long breath of relief. "Thank you for helping me," she breathed, gathering up her papers.

Alaric glared after the retreating merchant. "Some men have no idea how to treat a princess."

"Oh, and you do?" She teased.

Alaric turned to her and one corner of his mouth quirked up in amusement. His eyes were so green, like jade polished smooth by the water. A jolt of desire went through her at his intent gaze. "I do," he answered quietly. Something about his intensity made her heart beat hard against her chest and she looked away, flushing

Alaric's gaze lingered on her as if he wanted to express more of his feelings, but all he did was take her arm and guide her back to the palace. She felt strangely perturbed by his lack of words, wanting him to say whatever it was he had to say. His touch was scorching and familiar, sending warmth through her veins. What is happening? It must be impossible—she couldn't possibly be falling for him!

They silently headed back to the castle, a heavy tension between them.

When they said goodnight, Alaric seemed to linger, and his smoldering gaze sent a thrill through her.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow?" She tried to joke.

He looked deeply into her eyes and she felt like he could see right through her. Then he lifted her hand, brushing his lips against it, sending sparks through her body. "Tomorrow," he said, then turned and walked away.

A million thoughts raced through Melodia's mind, and she struggled with the confusing emotions that were tugging at her heart. But one thing was for certain: tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.

Description
Princess Melodia stepped into the throne room, her heart pounding nervously, and came face to face with the source of her anxiety: King Darian and his son, Prince Alaric. The prince was tall and strong, but with a wildness that could not be tamed. His antics had already caused quite a stir throughout the kingdom, and Melodia intended to head that nonsense off. This important event could not be disrupted by any pranks!

Melodia was renowned for her eloquence. She had created trade arrangements with other kingdoms, and often welcome dignitaries herself. But this one prince was proving to be more difficult than any she had ever encountered before.

King Darian was a familiar face to Melodia—he had been a friend of her father's. She nervously approached the steps, where he and his entourage were assembled. Beside him stood a handsome prince who she assumed must be the mischievous royal. Although she wanted to run away, Melodia knew that she had to stand her ground. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward courageously.

"Your Majesty, it is a pleasure to meet you," she said humbly.

King Darian smiled, his eyes warm. "Thank you, Princess, I feel quite welcome," he said.

Prince Alaric stepped forward, his eyes smoldering with mischievous intent. Melodia held her breath, a flush creeping up her cheeks as she anticipated what was about to happen. But instead of the disdain or derision she expected, he slightly bowed his head in admiration.

"I must say, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," he murmured, a hint of a playful smile gracing his lips.

Melodia felt a wave of relief wash over her. Maybe this challenge wouldn't be as difficult as she had feared.

Melodia was determined to give her all. She approached him with a gentle, yet firm manner while explaining the rules of the castle. His blue eyes twinkled mischievously as she warned of the consequences should he break them. He seemed unafraid of her, boldly questioning her authority and disregarding any respect for the rules or for Melodia.

Finally, Melodia had had enough. In her frustration, she declared that he would not leave her sight. She would be his personal guard—keeping an eye on him at all times to make sure he stayed out of trouble. To her surprise, he agreed readily!

From then on, Prince Alaric followed Melodia everywhere she went. Whether it was the market or castle grounds, always by her side was the prince with a mischievous grin. He kept pushing the boundaries and testing her limits—always asking questions and making jokes without any regard for respect or restraint. Melodia reprimanded him every time, but it only seemed to lighten his mood further as if it was a game to him.

The night sky was already shrouded in darkness by the time Melodia set out to meet the greasy-haired merchant. His rank odor of alcohol threatened to overwhelm her as she slowly approached him, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized just how dangerous this situation could be. The man greeted her with a leer and grabbed onto her arm, saying, "Maybe I'll discount my goods if the princess here works hard enough for it. How about a kiss, eh?"

She felt frozen in fear as he pulled her closer, but then suddenly, Prince Alaric stepped from the shadows and pushed him back. The merchant fell back in his chair, surprised, as Alaric advanced on him.

"I suggest you accept Princess Melodia's terms," Alaric said brusquely. "After you apologize for your behavior."

The merchant nodded hastily in agreement, murmuring apologies before darting off into the night. Melodia exhaled a long breath of relief. "Thank you for helping me," she breathed, gathering up her papers.

Alaric glared after the retreating merchant. "Some men have no idea how to treat a princess."

"Oh, and you do?" She teased.

Alaric turned to her and one corner of his mouth quirked up in amusement. His eyes were so green, like jade polished smooth by the water. A jolt of desire went through her at his intent gaze. "I do," he answered quietly. Something about his intensity made her heart beat hard against her chest and she looked away, flushing

Alaric's gaze lingered on her as if he wanted to express more of his feelings, but all he did was take her arm and guide her back to the palace. She felt strangely perturbed by his lack of words, wanting him to say whatever it was he had to say. His touch was scorching and familiar, sending warmth through her veins. What is happening? It must be impossible—she couldn't possibly be falling for him!

They silently headed back to the castle, a heavy tension between them.

When they said goodnight, Alaric seemed to linger, and his smoldering gaze sent a thrill through her.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow?" She tried to joke.

He looked deeply into her eyes and she felt like he could see right through her. Then he lifted her hand, brushing his lips against it, sending sparks through her body. "Tomorrow," he said, then turned and walked away.

A million thoughts raced through Melodia's mind, and she struggled with the confusing emotions that were tugging at her heart. But one thing was for certain: tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.