Three months later.....
Lexi moaned into Dravon's mouth as she rode him, her hips moving in frantic rhythm. His hands locked firmly around her waist, guiding her as he thrust up into her, deepening their kiss until she was gasping for air.
"Dravon—ahh, Dravon!" she cried, her nails raking his chest as her body tensed with burning release.
With a groan, he drove into her one final time, and together they collapsed into the silk sheets, trembling in the aftermath.
---
Lexi rolled onto her side, still panting, sweat clinging to her flushed skin. "Fuck… that was hot," she whispered with a weak laugh.
Dravon brushed her damp hair from her face, pressing a kiss to her temple. "We should probably get ready. The pilot won't wait forever."
Her smile faltered. The passion was over. Reality was here.
---
Dravon was not just her boyfriend. He was Prince Dravon of Florez, heir to one of the wealthiest and most powerful kingdoms in the world. And tonight, she was about to meet the Queen who held his future, and theirs, in her hands.
They had met three years ago at Westfield University, a secluded university tucked into the mountains of Zelsa. Back then, he was just a charming stranger with hazel eyes and a smile that made her stomach flip. She hadn't known he was royalty until much later. By then, she was already in love.
And now, the Queen had summoned him home. Not just for duty, but to assess Lexi. To decide whether she was fit to stand by his side as Crown Princess.
Lexi's stomach knotted at the thought. If Queen Lorelei rejected her, everything she and Dravon had built together could shatter.
---
They left behind Dravon's mansion in Zelsa, a sprawling three-story estate of white marble and obsidian glass, its twin fountains spilling crystal-clear water into pools lined with golden tiles. Chandeliers glittered in every hall, silk drapes hung from towering windows, and gardens bloomed with exotic flowers brought from across the world. It was more a palace than home, and yet even its grandeur felt small compared to what awaited in Florez.
As their car glided toward the airport, Lexi's fingers fidgeted in her lap. "Do you think she'll like me?" she asked softly.
Dravon's hand closed around hers, firm and warm. "Just remember what I told you. Smile. Curtsy. Don't meet her eyes too boldly. And, whatever she says, don't let her see she got to you."
His warning sent a chill through her. Not easily impressed, he had said. But his tone suggested something worse.
---
The royal jet awaited them, sleek and gleaming on the private runway. Palace-assigned attendants loaded their luggage swiftly, bowing each time they passed. The pilot stood at the bottom of the stairs, his voice carrying across the tarmac.
"In five minutes, we take off, Your Royal Highness."
Lexi followed Dravon up the steps, her heart pounding. This wasn't just a flight. This was a trial.
---
Eight hours later, as the jet descended, Lexi pressed her face to the window. Her breath caught.
The Kingdom of Florez unfolded beneath them like a dream. Endless fields of crimson, gold, and violet flowers painted the land in color. Rivers shimmered like glass, reflecting bridges carved of ivory stone. The capital city stretched out in orderly perfection, its streets spotless, its plazas blooming with gardens. It was beautiful. Pure. Untouched.
And soon, it would judge her.
---
As their car rolled through the capital, villagers lined the roads, waving banners and cheering. Children sang songs of welcome, their voices ringing in the evening air. Elders bowed deeply as the Crown Prince passed.
"They must really love you," Lexi whispered, watching the jubilation with wide eyes.
Dravon smiled faintly, waving through the window. "I've been gone a long time. My return was announced a few days ago. They're just happy their prince has come home." But his hand squeezed hers tighter than before, betraying his unease.
---
The palace loomed at last, a sprawling fortress of white stone and gilded towers that reached toward the sky. Its gates swung open to reveal vast courtyards bursting with flowers, statues of past monarchs lining the paths like silent guardians. The grandeur was overwhelming, every inch designed to inspire awe.
Waiting at the grand doors was the royal family.
King Julian, broad-shouldered and smiling warmly, clapped Dravon on the back. "My son, welcome home!"
"Thank you, Father," Dravon replied with genuine warmth.
Princess Anna, bright-eyed and eager, stepped forward. "Finally! It's so good to see you again."
And then, Queen Lorelei.
She was breathtaking, her beauty untouched by time, but her presence was commanding. Her eyes were sharp, assessing, cold. She cupped Dravon's face with gloved hands, her smile polished but unreadable. "Welcome back, son."
Lexi stood a step behind, her heart hammering. They hadn't even looked at her.
Until Dravon finally drew her forward. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Lexi, my girlfriend." His hand pressed gently to her waist.
Lexi curtsied, her smile trembling but polite. "It's a pleasure to meet you all."
King Julian returned her smile. "The pleasure is ours, Lexi."
Anna beamed. "It's so nice to finally meet you! I'm Anna."
But Queen Lorelei's gaze was icy. She studied Lexi from head to toe, her posture, her words, her very breath, and Lexi swore the Queen saw everything she was trying to hide.
"She's… lovely," the Queen murmured, but her tone dripped with disdain.
---
Dinner was held in the grand dining hall, chandeliers blazing above polished gold plates. Servants moved swiftly, their steps silent. Yet beneath the glittering perfection, tension thickened.
Lexi forced herself to eat gracefully, but every time she lifted her fork, she felt the Queen's eyes cutting into her.
Finally, when Lexi asked softly about the luggage, Queen Lorelei's lips curled.
"The royal servants will handle it," she said coolly. "Though they serve our family. Not… outsiders."
The words struck like a blade. Conversation at the table faltered.
King Julian cleared his throat, trying to soften the blow. "Come now, Lorelei, let's not be so harsh. Our guest is only asking."
But the Queen's gaze never left Lexi. Her voice, soft but merciless, carried across the hall.
"She is not our guest. She is simply Dravon's… distraction."
Lexi's stomach dropped. Tears stung her eyes, but she forced herself to sit straighter, smile plastered on her trembling lips.
Dravon's hand slid beneath the table, finding hers, gripping tight. He bent closer, his whisper fierce. "Stay strong. Don't give her the satisfaction."
Lexi nodded weakly, but her heart broke with every second of the Queen's stare.
And as dinner continued under the glittering chandeliers, one thought echoed in her mind:
She doesn't want me here.
And if the Queen had her way, Lexi would never become the Crown Princess of Florez.