Chapter 27 – "He's Mine!"
Night had draped its velvet cloak across the royal capital, but inside the grand palace, tension simmered beneath the glittering chandeliers.
Andrew sat motionless at the edge of his overly plush royal bed, stiff as a statue. Every instinct told him to jump out the window, but the high walls and royal guards below made that plan a short one—with a splat ending.
Behind him, the youngest princess, Aria, paced back and forth, arms crossed and an unmistakable pout on her lips.
"You fell asleep last night," she said, tone icy. "Do you know what that means for me?"
Andrew avoided eye contact. "I was tired. War kind of drains a man."
"Tired?" she marched toward him. "I'm supposed to become queen! You know how it works—the first daughter to marry becomes queen, and her husband becomes king. I can't let my sister get ahead of me just because you're… shy!"
Andrew stepped back, raising his hands in defense. "Listen, it's not about being shy, it's about not getting stabbed by my girlfriend's sword. There's a huge difference."
He was now fully pressed against the wall, trying not to panic as the determined princess leaned closer.
Aria smirked. "Don't worry. Once we're married, you won't even remember her name."
Andrew muttered, "That's the problem… I never forgot it."
Bang!!!!!
The door slammed open.
"ANDREW!!"
A voice, powerful enough to shake the room, pierced the air.
Caroline stormed in, sword drawn, blue eyes blazing with fury. Behind her were Emma, Sofia, Liz, and Mario—whose face clearly said this is about to get real.
Caroline's eyes locked onto the scene: Andrew pinned to the wall by a half-dressed princess with dangerous intentions.
"HE. IS. MINE."
The room froze.
Aria blinked, stunned. "Excuse me? You barge into the royal palace and say that?!"
"Damn right I do," Caroline snarled, stepping forward, every syllable dripping with venom. "Touch him again and you'll lose a hand, Your Highness."
Andrew, still stuck to the wall, whispered to Mario, "I thought war was terrifying. I was wrong."
Mario whispered back, "Told you not to get a royal girlfriend…"
Aria stomped toward Caroline, chin high. "You dare challenge a princess of the realm? I'm the king's daughter! He chose Andrew for me."
Caroline crossed her arms. "Then your king chose wrong."
The tension cracked like lightning. Sparks of mana flickered in the air between the two women.
Before either could make a move, another voice thundered through the hallway:
"WHAT is the meaning of this chaos?!"
All heads turned.
There stood the King, adorned in royal robes, flanked by guards, staring down the intruders—and his furious daughter.
Andrew sighed, slumping to the floor.
"Well," he muttered. "Now I'm definitely going to die."