The Royal Contract

She probably thought this was still a dream as she finally opened her eyes. But instead of feeling irritated with the disturbance, she felt overwhelmed as she gasped in surprise.

Nobody had done anything like this for her before. It seemed her husband had gone to great lengths and the whole nine yards to surprise her yet again.

As if last night was not enough, here he was, topping it all again.

"Aren't you going to work today?" Camille asked as they shared their breakfast.

She was about to pour the maple syrup into her waffles, but he took it from her hand, doing it for her. She could not touch the fork as he fed her like a child.

She found it sweet that he would do this for her. He acted like she meant the world to him. But should she believe it? Should she hope that their marriage could be something more than an arrangement?

"No." He said definitively. "Not today. I plan to stay by your side. We will do anything you feel like doing. Just name it." Lance picked another piece of the waffle, feeding her again with a mouthful.

She was surprised by this noble gesture again from her darling husband. Of course, she had never expected anything like this from him.

Although she knew Lance was the real deal, the ideal husband any woman would be lucky enough to marry, she still believed it would be foolish to think he would fall for her.

She knew that he had a past. That the woman that he loved had done a number on him. She fooled him and broke his heart.

Then, he admitted to her that he could never give his heart to another. Therefore, could her heart dare hope she could change his mind and make his heart beat again?

"But you will just be wasting your time. I have nothing planned today but to sit around or maybe do some gardening." Camille placed her hand on his arms as if trying to convince him that he did not need to watch over her.

She knew he was only concerned about her due to yesterday's incident. He was still unconvinced that she was okay.

Although she would admit that she still felt slightly off, it was not the same as yesterday. Maybe if she continued to drink the medication prescribed to her yesterday by the doctor, she would finally feel better.

"Then, we will be wasting it together. I don't mind if I sit all day or get my hands dirty. I want to stay here with you." He insisted as they finished their meal in bed.

Still, she did not want him to feel obligated to care for her. She knew he was probably feeling guilty because he thought she was sick.

"But what about your work and your other responsibilities?" She reminded him, knowing he should not abandon his duties, especially now that he was about to become King.

She had been working hard to learn her responsibilities of becoming the next Queen of their land. And it was almost impossibly hard.

So, she could only assume that it would be double or even triple harder for him to manage his tasks as the future leader of their Kingdom.

"Let me worry about that. Besides, I am still just a man. I am allowed to take a break once in a while." He reasoned, which only made her feel bad for not even considering his feelings.

She never even thought he needed a break from the pressure on his shoulder. It could not be easy to carry all those expectations of those around them.

She guessed she could make up for it by making this a nice rest for him or at least a break from his routine. She was sure she could think of something fun for them to do that would not require them to leave the palace ground.

"I have nothing in mind yet. Maybe you have any suggestions." She asked him, believing their marriage was a partnership. So, both of them have a say in the relationship.

She could think of several things they could do, like play chess or scrabble. Or they could watch a movie. The palace had an incredible viewing room that could easily accommodate at least fifty people.

Or they could work on her flowers, just like she originally planned. But she never pictured her husband as a gardener, dirtying his fingers.

Nevertheless, she knew how talented he was, carrying so many skills under his belt. He was so unlike her. She could barely do much.

It was like when God showered all his blessings, she managed to dodge away from them. Nevertheless, she still believed she snatched a few minor ones.

"I am sure we can think of something. Besides, we have the whole day ahead of us." He said as he started putting away the empty plates and glasses.

"But now, you go ahead and shower while I make a few phone calls." Lance leaned down to touch her lips with his gentle ones. Before he stood up, carrying the tray toward the door.

"Okay," Camille cheerfully answered, beaming with happiness as she quickly stood and walked over to the bathroom.

Of course, she did not want to keep his Prince Charming waiting. She wanted to maximize their time together if he planned to stay the whole day.

She would never know when an opportunity like this would ever happen again. Once he became King, their time together might become limited.

He would have his schedule fully packed with his responsibilities to the throne, and she supposed it would be the same with her, judging from what she had seen so far.

"I will meet you downstairs." He shouted from the other room as she continued to enter the shower.

"I will just be a few minutes." She yelled back. Not a minute longer, she heard the door open and closed, leaving her with the water running as the only thing that filled the air.

She could not help but think how lucky she was to marry such an incredible man. She always thought she would end up with an old bald guy as a husband who would want nothing else from her but to use her.

Her father had conditioned her from an early age that she had an obligation to their family to marry whoever he chose. And disobeying him would be dishonoring her father and their entire family.

"Thanks, Dad." She never thought she would say that word to her manipulative and controlling father.

She never hated her father. Although, she did not agree with most of his crooked beliefs. Still, she could not disobey him. She had always been an obedient child. And she supposed she would never change.

But fortunately, his father had picked the right man as her husband. At least once in her life, she agreed with her father about marrying him.

It was not because he was a Prince or he would be King. It was because of his other traits. Those unique and outstanding characteristics she did not even know she liked in a man.

"I think I have fallen deeper and deeper in love with him." She spoke inside the bathroom, letting her voice bounce on the tiled walls while the water splashed all over her body.

She knew she already felt something for him at the start of their arranged relationship. Hearing about all those great things about her husband made her want to hope they could have a future together.

Of course, spending every day with him only intensified her feelings for him. Now, she believed she had fallen into the pit of love where there was no crawling back out.

"Princess Camille." Suddenly, her musing ended when she heard a familiar voice outside her door. "I am sorry to disturb you, but Prince Lance asked me to check on you."

She abruptly turned off the shower, wondering if she had zoned out and lost track of time. But judging from the texture of her skin, she had stayed long enough under the warm water.

"I am okay. I am just drying myself." She responded as she stepped out of the shower and grabbed her robe and a towel.

She quickly checked herself in the moist mirror, using her palm to slightly clear the fog. She looked fine. Maybe her skin had a slight tinged of red from the exposure to the warm water, but it would soon return to normal after her body cooled down.

"Do you need any help, Your Highness?" The young woman behind the door asked as she waited patiently for her.

Although it was customary for Royal family members to have a maiden who would serve them hand and foot, she never wanted it.

She could handle caring for herself without someone tailing and fussing over her. Besides, Lance did not like it either.

"No, I think I can manage on my own. Why don't you report to my husband and tell him I will be downstairs shortly." Camille placed a hand on the towel and started drying her hair.

Luckily, she had a nice curl that was easily manageable with a comb and a blow dryer. Then, she only needed a light touch of makeup.

And voila, she would be all set.

She already had a simple but stunning dress in mind. Therefore, fixing herself would not take much time. She would be the perfect Queen for her King.