I look at my reflection for the hundredth time. I check my hair and make up. Is it too simple?

Mom peeks into my room. "Ready?"

"I guess." I mutter.

"Don't worry. You're looking beautiful." She says, pulling me into a hug.

"Thank you." I say, smiling.

"Besides, you're young. You have plenty of room to make mistakes." She tells me.

"No I don't. I've already messed up our lives too much." I say.

"That's not your fault." She says.

"To some extent, yes it is." I say.

"Whatever." She says and leaves.

I sigh and turn back to the mirror. I chose a white silk blouse and a black skirt. I'm wearing flats because I can't risk making a fool out of myself by falling in front of him. Make up isn't really my thing but I applied a slight layer of mascara and some lip gloss just to complete the look.

I'm forced to tear my eyes away from the mirror when mom comes back announcing the driver's arrival.

"I don't think I can do this." I confess.

"Answer one question. Do you want to do this or not?" She asks, with her hands on her hips.

"I want to but I don't think I can." I wring my hands to give myself something to do.

She tilts her head to one side and looks at me. "You're so nervous about a date. What'll happen to you on your wedding day?"

"What?!" I scream.

"If all goes well then that day will arrive won't it?"

This is the first time I've looked at it this way. If we get married then I'll be a princess and since William's the next in line when he becomes king, I'll be the queen.

I shake myself to get rid of the thought.

"Right now I'm going to tackle this date first." I say to no one in particular.

"Good luck!" Mom kisses my forehead and literally pushes me towards the door.

I take a deep breath and open the door. A driver, the one who drove me to the party at the company is waiting next to a Mercedes.

I get in and we drive off. The entire ride I feel funny inside. I know that it's just a date. But the idea of a date with the prince is what makes me worry. I've been near him. We've even kissed!

But still I can't get over the uneasiness.

Soon we pull up in front of the palace's entrance. I take a deep breath and step out of the door, held open by...it's the same guard who I asked for help on the day of my interview as a housemaid.

"Mr. James?" I ask to make sure.

He nods his head and smiles at me. "It's good to see you again."

"You too, sir."

With this I ascend the stairs and walk in only to stop short in my tracks.

William's coming down the stairs and is not wearing a suite or a uniform. He's wearing a simple checked dress shirt with pants. And God! He's so cute!

"Hi!" He says walking over to me.

"Hey." I reply still lost.

"Are you okay?" He asks.

I at once snap out of it. "Yes. I'm fine."

"Good. For a moment I thought that my presence was too...mesmerizing." He says. I punch his arms and he makes a big show of how bad it hurt. We both end up laughing.

"Well, what did you have in store?" I ask once I sober down.

"Right! We'll be having dinner and then I have something to show you." He tells me.

"Great!" I say.

He takes hold of my hand and starts leading the way. I thought that we'd go to the dinning room where I once set the table but instead he starts climbing stairs.

I'm grateful that I didn't wear heels.

He slides open a glass door to reveal the perfect venue for a date. The doors open onto a balcony from where the city lights can be seen. But the noise can't reach us. In the center is a table set with loads of dishes.

"Do you like it?" He asks.

"It's amazing." I manage to say.

"I don't know about you but I'm starving." He announces.

I smile at his childishness and sit on the chair which he pulls out for me. I help myself to some grilled fish and vegetables.

"I never really got to apologize." He says after eating in silence for some time.

"For what?" I ask, confused.

"For putting you in the position you are in." He says.

"What do you mean?" I'm even more confused now.

"It must have been my mother's choice-" I cut in. "Stop! Don't ruin this, okay? Our parents chose what they did. It's none of our fault. Theirs, maybe. But not ours."

He was about to take the blame for what happened to our parents.

He sighs and says. "I know but still."

I take hold of his hand. "Don't ever think that. Don't work yourself over something which doesn't even matter anymore."

He squeezes my hand. "Just forget that I even said that because it was too awkward anyways."

I smile at this and go back to eating. For the rest of the meal we talk about our interests and dislikes, embarrassing childhood moments and basically everything that people talk about on normal dates.

When we finish eating, William says. "Ready for the surprise?"

"Wasn't the dinner enough of a surprise?" I ask.

"It was but nothing compared to what I have in store." He tells me.

I let him take my hand again. We go up again. But the floors that we go onto, I haven't been there before.

Soon we reach a narrow staircase and William stops. "Ladies first."

I start up the stairs and after what seems forever, they open onto a huge landing. The walls are made of glass and from here not only can I see the city lights but also the water.

I hear a whisper in my ear. "Look up."

I do as told only to find an even prettier sight. The sky is jet black with thousands of stars dotted across it.

"It's beautiful." I manage to say.

"I know. That's why I wanted you to see it. Two beautiful things shouldn't be kept apart." He says.

I turn back to him and pretend to be surprised. "Did you just call me beautiful?"

He leans towards me and then says. "Yes I did." I pull him to me and kiss him. When we pull away he presses his lips against my forehead and says. "I love you."

I pull away but his arms don't let me go that far. "I love you too."

The story reached #72 in ChickLit!!!!

I'm really happy. Thank you so so much :)