Chapter 5%
All heads snapped toward the entrance.
A tall, striking man walked in–his very presence commanding silence. He wore a crisp black tailcoat, a golden collar with a white bow tie, and a flawless white shirt. Not a wrinkle in sight.
His hair was golden–blond, slightly wavy and naturally tousled. His eyes were a piercing, celestial green, like stars condensed into irises. An air of nobility radiated from him–so dignified that it made people lower their gazes without realizing.
Lorenzo quickly pushed through the crowd to the front, his face eager and obsequious.
“Your Highness, welcome to New York!” he gushed, stretching both hands forward.
“I’m Lorenzo Nichols. On behalf of our city’s business community, allow me to extend our warmest welcome.“}]
Prince Charles glanced at the outstretched hands and offered the briefest of handshakes, quickly pulling back. His face remained unreadable.
Lorenzo beamed as if he’d won the lottery, his voice rising in excitement. “Your Highness, we’ve prepared a gift in honor of your arrival. If it pleases you, perhaps after the banquet you could do us the honor of visiting my humble home?“>
Vanessa’s eyes sparkled with greed. She gazed at Charles like a starving woman eyeing a feast. Then, in a sweet and sultry voice, she introduced herself and boldly offered her “services.”
“Your Highness, since you’re new to New York, if there’s anything in your daily life you find difficult to adjust to, I’d be more than willing to assist. I could be your personal aide, attend to your needs, and make sure you feel right at home.”
Without a care for the crowd, she reached out, trying to loop her arm through his.
Prince Charles’s expression froze. His gaze turned glacial, sharp as blades. With one swift motion, he flung Vanessa’s hand off.”
He turned to the mayor beside him and spoke in icy tones. “Are all the women in your city this enthusiastic?“}
The mayor’s face turned crimson with embarrassment and opened his mouth to scold her–but just then, a crisp clinking sound echoed at their feet.
Both Charles and the mayor looked down.
A gold–inlaid emerald thumb ring had rolled to a stop at their shoes.
It had fallen from Vanessa’s hand–she had just stolen it from me and, in her stumble, dropped it for all to see.
Prince Charles stared at the jade–inlaid ring with a confused expression. He bent down to pick it up–and the moment he examined it closely, his face changed drastically.
In an instant, he grabbed Vanessa, who was still leaning coyly against Lorenzo, and clutched her by the throat.
“Where did you get this ring?” he demanded coldly.
Vanessa, still unaware of the danger she was in, blinked up at him with teary eyes, feigning innocence.}
“Your Highness… you’re scaring me… I’m really frightened…” she whimpered, reaching out to gently caress the prince’s hand.
But Charles’s emerald–green eyes darkened to a deep stormy hue. I recognized that look–it was the calm before his most terrifying rage.Any noble who had seen it before would be trembling by now.“]
Without warning, Charles yanked her up off the ground with one hand, holding her like she weighed nothing.
“Speak.”
