Katherine's POV:

"Your highness, the prince informed us that he shall be here within an hour" I nodded "Thank you" Barry nodded and left the room.

Bloody hell, I lost track of time! I started a book saying that I'll read it for half an hour to let time pass, but I ended up reading for three whole hours.

I quickly went to my vanity table and started with my make-up. I put some pink eye shadow, some mascara, and finished the looked with pink lip balm. 

I left my hair in it's natural form since I have less than half an hour left, and headed to my wardrobe. 

I picked out a navy skirt with white straps that reached my knees, paired with a white shirt, and nude strappy sandal heels.

By the time I finished, I heard a knock on the door. I muttered a 'come in' and saw Barry enter the room for the second time this day "Your highness, the prince is waiting for you outside" I nodded and thanked him.

He's a tad early, but it's not a problem since I'm already done getting ready. I left the palace and headed to Nate's car. 

I'm nervous. I haven't seen him for over a week and I don't know how to react once I see him. Do I ignore him, stay mad at him, or start yelling once I see him?

Once Nate saw me, he got out of the car and went to the other side of it. He opened the passenger door with a wide smile and waited for me.

He looked really handsome wearing a light grey pantsuit paired with matching blazer and a dark grey shirt under it.

"You look great, as usual" he whispered huskily in my ears while smirking and pecked my cheek. He probably caught me checking him out. I muttered a shy 'Thank you' and got into the car making him chuckle at my shyness as he went to the other side of the car.

What's wrong with me, since when do I get shy like this?

Nate got into his seat and started the car. In no time, we got to Cartier.

"Stay in the car" I nodded even though I was confused. Nate got out of the car and opened the door for me extending his hand. Taking his hand in mine, I got out of the car.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled my closer to him. I used him as a shield to avoid all the press around us.

"Your highness, are you going to get married?"

"Why are you both at a jewelry store?"

"Are you here to buy your rings?"

They kept going on with the questions, but Nate and I didn't answer any of them. Once we got into the store, I tried to move away from Nate's hold but it was all no use. 

"Nate, let me go" I said starting to get angry.

"You do remember that we have to act like a loving couple" he whispered in my ears smirking "Let me go, the press can't come into the store" I gritted through my teeth

"The press might not be here, but the employees of the store will look at us. The moment we leave the store, the press is going to ask them questions about us" he said still smirking.

I sighed and nodded accepting the fact that I'm stuck in his arms. The problem isn't that I'm uncomfortable, it's quite the opposite actually. I'm afraid that I might get used to being in his arms, I even still feel tingles whenever he touches me. I bet he feels them too because every time we touch, he freezes for a couple of seconds then act as if nothing has happened.

"So what are we going to buy exactly?" I asked after snapping out of my thoughts 

"We're going to buy your engagement ring and our wedding bands. I was actually thinking we could separate and choose each other's rings. It would be fun, what do you think?" I smiled and nodded.

We both separated and started looking for rings. I decided to look for two rings, an engagement ring and a wedding band. Since he's getting me two rings then I should do the same. An hour later I was done, so I went back to Nate.

I found him talking, more like flirting, with one of the employees. She seemed to like it because she was bending a bit showing him some of her cleavage and talking seductively with him. For some reason, this whole scene bothered me.

"Am I interrupting something?" I asked innocently pretending that I didn't witness anything. Nate turned his attention to me ignoring the lady and smiled

"Are you done, because I am?" I nodded with a smile, clearly satisfied with the way he ignored that lady.

"So what did you get me, let me see the ring" I smirked as I extended my open palm to him 

"Give me your right hand" he looked at me confused but did as I said anyway

I took his offered hand and slipped the engagement ring that I got him. It was a white gold ring, that surprisingly fit him perfectly. I raised his hand and showed it to the flirty lady 

"What do you think, it suits my fiance doesn't it?" I asked innocently. She faked a smile nodding then left.

Nate smirked and put his hand around my shoulder bringing me closer to him "Isn't my fiancee jealous? No need to be jealous baby, I was just being polite with her. And no need to worry, I'm all yours" he whispered in my ears and I huffed even though I was glad deep down that he wasn't flirting with her. 

"Don't baby me and why would I be jealous or anything, you're not mine. Plus didn't you say that we need to act like 'a loving couple', so I'm just doing what you asked me to. If you flirt with the employees then the word would get to the press" now was my turn to smirk as his face fell but masked it immediately. Still I saw it and it was priceless, so I started laughing.

He faked cough with a serious face even though I can see he's trying hard not to smile "So what did you get me other than this ring?" he ask while pointing at his right hand.

"I got you this as well" I got out out the simple platinum ring that I choose and showed it to him. He smiled and kissed my cheek "I loved them both, thank you"

I nodded smiling and muttered a shy 'you're welcome'

"My turn. So what did you get me?" I asked excitedly and still smiling. He got out the ring and put it on my left hand to show it to me. I gasped, it was absolutely gorgeous.

 The wedding band was a white gold ring with small diamonds covering the entire ring.

He took it out of my hand while I was still daydreaming over it making my face snap to him in admiration. "It's stunning Nate, I love it" I jumped on him and hugged him tightly.

He hugged me back and caressed my hair "I'm glad you loved it baby" I ignored the baby comment even though butterflies were erupting in my stomach and broke the hug to look for the other ring.

"Where's the other ring, aren't you going to show it to me?" he shook his head 

"Nope"

I pouted as he returned it with a grin "Why not?"  

"You'll see it in the right time. Now, let's go give them the rings to adjust them and go eat together" I nodded

"Excuse me" the flirty lady turned to him and smiled while I rolled my eyes "Hand me a paper please" she did as he said

He wrote something on it then handed to her along with the rings "Write this on the engagement ring and this on the rest" I heard him tell her and she nodded.

He turned to me, took my hand, and walked us out of the store "What did you tell her?"

"I asked her to engrave our initials on the rings" I nodded even though I wasn't fully satisfied with his answer 

"Why didn't you give her your engagement ring" I pointed on the ring I made him wear

He smirked "You made me wear this to show others that I'm taken, so how am I going to do this if I don't have the ring? Plus I wouldn't want my girl to get jealous" I rolled my eyes but still blushed. I'm not used to blushing this much, but with Nate around, I seem to be doing it a lot. 

I heard him chuckle "I see you're not denying the jealous part nor the 'my girl' part, actually you're not denying anything I just said" he stated with a wide smile on his face, as if he just won the lottery.

I shrugged "What if I don't want to" I teased

"Good, because you are mine and I like this jealous side of you" he teased and left me shocked. He might have talked teasingly, but he looked as if he meant each and every word.

Nathaniel's POV:

I spent two days preparing for the date I told Kate about. While we were eating the day Kate and I bought the rings, I told her that we are going on a date in three days.  

I used publicity as an excuse to go on a date with her, but in all honestly I just wanted to spend some time with her. Still, I used this date as an excuse to propose to her. We might not be in love but we are still marrying each other either way, so she deserves an actual proposal instead of just putting the ring on her finger.

Everything is prepared now. I prepared the venue. I talked to the press and told them to be there if they want some official news. All I have left is to prepare the speech. I am even planning on confessing to her that I like her before proposing. I might not love her but liking her is the first step towards it. I feel like Kate is the one and I want to take these steps with her.

I never imagined myself wanting to have a future with anyone, but with Kate I can see one. We might not start like a normal couple but I feel like we can end like one. I can already see us getting to know each other and improving our relationship until we end up falling in love with each other.

We then rule the Island together and maybe in a few years, have a kid or two together. We raise them lovingly and have a happily ever after. Well maybe not happily ever after since it doesn't exist. We will have our ups and downs, but as long as we stick together and love each other, then the rest won't matter. 

The kids part though I'm not sure about, since I'm afraid my kids would end up like me. My childhood was messed up and my father never loved me or gave me the attention I wanted as a child, so I'm afraid I might end up like my father and my kids would be as miserable as I was.

"Your highness" Derek interrupted my thoughts "This came for you" he said handing me an envelope. I nodded and took it from him.

I opened the envelope and found a CD with no indications what-so-ever from who sent it "Do you know who sent it?" Derek shook his head.

I put the CD into my laptop and played it.

"King Benjamin and I talked, and sorted out of the differences we had. So now you are marrying Prince Nathaniel again. At the end of this week, you and the Prince are going out together to buy the rings. We need to hint to the press that the both of you are together, a while later we will confirm the news for them. Also, the wedding is at the end of the month" 

"Why are you not objecting, or did you fall in love with him?" 

"Me being quiet doesn't mean that I'm with your plans, I am just accepting things calmly since I have no other choice but to follow. And how can I fall for him when this whole thing is arranged. You need money and power so you created this arrangement, and now, I have no other choice but to go with it"

"Glad to know we're on the same page" 

So I was tricked after all, she is with me for the money so she could give it to her father. I can't believe I ever thought she was different and that I would have a future with her one day.

"Do you know who sent this envelope?" Derek shook his head 

"It came with a delivery guy so we have no details on who sent it, we only have the identity of the guy who delivered it" I nodded

"Leave me alone and tell everyone not to interrupt me for the rest of the day. I would like to be left alone" he agreed and excused himself leaving me alone to my thoughts.

I am going to marry you Princess Katherine and I'm going to make you regret ever thinking of using me. 

I am going to make your life a living hell, mark my words.

..............................