The sleek Palace car pulled to a stop in front of a bustling beachside restaurant, the sound of waves crashing softly in the background. Miss Julia turned to us, her eyes bright with anticipation.
"So, here's what you're going to do," she said, voice brisk but encouraging. "I've already reserved a table under your names—Prince Hudson. You'll go in, order some food, and act like a proper couple. Prince Hudson, I want you to be a gentleman—catering to your date's needs. And Miss Margaret, just act natural. Show some shyness, but also enjoy the moment. Give me some sweet couple vibes," she added with a teasing smile.
Prince Hudson and I exchanged incredulous looks. We looked at her as if she'd gone mad.
Before we stepped out, Miss Julia leaned in slightly, her tone serious. "Oh, and one more thing—there will be paparazzi around. Be careful. No accidental scandals, okay?"
I nodded, feeling my stomach tighten. This wasn't just a fake date anymore; it was a public performance, under the eyes of the entire city—and maybe the world.
As the door swung open, I hesitated for a moment, gathering my composure. My heart was pounding. I wasn't sure what I was more nervous about—the awkwardness of pretending to be a couple or the fact that I was about to step into a spotlight I didn't belong in.
Prince Hudson stepped out first, offering a hand with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. I took a deep breath and followed, trying to keep my face from betraying how uncomfortable I felt.
Walking into the restaurant, I caught glimpses of cameras flashing from the corners of my eyes. The world was watching.
I glanced at Hudson, who seemed to be doing his best to look suave—though I could see the faint twitch in his jaw, betraying his discomfort.
As we approached the table, I whispered under my breath, "Let's just get this over with."
He looked at me, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, let's."
And so, we sat down, awkward but somehow trying to put on a brave face. I wondered how long this façade could last—how long I could keep pretending to be someone I wasn't, in a world that didn't feel like mine.
------
When our orders arrived, Prince Hudson looked around and stopped on my shoulder. I tried to turn around to check but he stopped me. "Don't turn. Someone's taking a photo."
He sighed and plastered the fakest smile I've ever seen.
"Let me cut the steak for you, Margaret," he said sweetly. That would've warmed my heart if this wasn't all fake. Instead, I tremble from disgust. He placed a steak on my plate.
I never dined in a high-end restaurant before so I just stared at the sprawl of utensils around my plate. Prince Hudson looked up as he was about to take his bite. He raised his eyebrows at me. I know he's about to laugh but he just bit his lip to stop himself.
"You need help?" he asked sarcastically.
Instead of embarrassment, I felt defensive. I raised my eyebrows at him and rolled my eyes.
Prince Hudson put down his fork and knife. "You could've asked."
"Whatever!"
He stood and walked around the table and stood behind me. He was so close that I could smell a musky smell from him. He leaned in and held both of my hands. As much as I was surprised by his action, his warm hands over mine, and his warmth behind calmed me in this very anxious moment. Everything was so alien to me. He guided my hand to pick up the right utensils then how to cut the steak in bite sizes.
"Thank you, but you could've just told me what to do. There's no need for this," I protested.
"Shut up, and smile," he ordered.
And in just a second, there were three flashes and few clicks in our vision.
He went back to his seat, and continued eating like nothing happened. As if he'd done this before and well-acquainted with the situation.
I, on the other hand, feel so anxious all of a sudden. I was known to be thick-faced but it seems that didn't work this time. I barely enjoyed the steak, the first time I had one in a fancy restaurant. My cheeks hurt from smiling even while chewing the meat.
Then, a burst of laugh erupted from Prince Hudson. "Why is your face like that? You look like being tortured."
"I am being tortured!" I said with tears welling in my eyes.
He continued laughing while picking up his napkin and leaned forward to wipe the side of my lips. He did it so gracefully that it barely registered to me.
"Stop laughing!" I scolded.
"No, this is too funny! I never thought I would enjoy our date," he retorted.
-----
When we went home yesterday, I was so tired that I slept through the night. I was still groggy when I met the King, Prince Hudson, and Miss Julia at the office the nest morning.
Miss Julia took out her tablet and started reading the news.
"Prince Hudson and the Raffle Winner Goes Public for the First Time... The New Royal Couple Enjoys a Private Lunch... Prince Hudson Smitten over the Raffle Winner... Love is in the Air for the Royal Lovebirds...Prince Hudson Finally Falls in Love? Prince Hudson became a new person overnight when he took our Raffle Winner for a lunch. He acted gentlemanlike throughout the date. He even taught our lovely winner how to cut her steak, wiped her lips, and even laughed throughout the time.... Good job both of you! You did very well. It seems both of you are well-received by the public."
The words on the tablet blurred together as Miss Julia continued scrolling through the headlines, but I barely registered them. My mind was still foggy from sleep, and the weight of the previous night's chaos lingered. I kept my gaze lowered, pretending to be unaffected, even as I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment.
Prince Hudson, however, leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. He took a slow sip of his coffee, eyes glinting with amusement. "364 days to go..." he murmured, voice light but laced with something unreadable.
The King cleared his throat, eyeing Hudson with a mix of exasperation and warning. "Yes, better behave, Hudson—for the rest of the days," he said firmly.
Hudson finally set his mug down and looked at me, a subtle glint of mischief in his eyes. "Well, Margaret," he said softly, "looks like the whole world now knows about us. No pressure, right?"
I clenched my fists under the table, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. "This is a nightmare," I muttered under my breath, voice barely a whisper.
Miss Julia looked up from her tablet, sensing the tension. "Don't worry," she said cheerfully. "It's all good publicity! The public loves a good royal romance. Besides, Hudson, you've never been this popular before!"