" You", Edmund said, his tone somewhere between shock , annoyance .
Alexa blinked, lips curling. " What you?"
He smirked," No, you."
Her sunglasses slid lower on her nose as she glared." Don't start,royal boy".
" Wait—— Pazarella," he said, almost teasing, his hands lifting in mock surrender.
" Whatever ", she snapped back, turning her head with a scoff.
For a moment, the silence was only broken by the tide. Edmund let out a slow breath.
" First things,first — let's take deep breath, Alexa."
She shot him a look, but the irritation in her chest demanded release. With an exaggerated sigh, she inhaled, exhaled. He mirrored her, calmer than she expected.
Her arms crossed tightly. '' What the hell are you doing here?"
" Oh,yeah?" His eyes narrowed, the smirk returning. "Maybe I should be asking you the same question. "
" Why do you keep following me?" Alexa snapped, her sundress swaying as the breeze caught its hem.
Edmund folded his arms, the striped shirt loose across his frame. " Yeah, as if I have so much free time to follow you."
She narrowed her eyes. " I was having a relaxing day. And you just ruined everything."
He tilted his head, a teasing smile tugging at his lips." You think I ruin everything? That's rich. Usually, you do the ruining."
Her lips parted," You—"
But before the word could land , her sandal slipped on the loose sand. Her balance faltered. With a startled gasp,she tumbled forward — straight into him.
Edmund caught her, his back hitting the soft sand with a muted thud. For a moment, her palms pressed aganist his chest,his hands instinctively steadying her waist.
The world seemed to hush— the waves, chatter of tourists, even her racing thoughts. Just his eyes, piercing , too close, locked onto hers.
Alexa swallowed hard, her voice caught somewhere between defiance , something else.
Edmund's smirk had faded, leaving behind something unreadable.
Neither moved. Neither spoke.
The tension was everything.
From a shaded cabana farther down the beach, two figures watched in silence. Their faces stayed hidden beneath wide-brimmed hats, voices hushed, measured.
" See how easily,they fall," one murmured.
" All it takes is a little push".
The other let out a low laugh." Let them pretend. Allies,friends, it makes no difference. Her reputation, his crown are cracks waiting to split."
" Timing", the first said softly. " That's all we need. When the world looks at them with respect , admiration...."
".... that's when we strike ."
Their glasses clinked,the sound swallowed by the sea breeze .
Then —bzzzt.
Alexa's phone lit up aganist her hip. Edmund's vibrated in his pant pocket.
Both flinched, breaking the gaze like guilty teenagers.
She scrambled up first, brushing sand from her dress. She reached for her phone in one swift motion, masking her racing heart behind the smooth gesture.
Edmund sat up slower, raking a hand through his tousled hair before answering his own phone call, voice low,clipped. But his eyes—— annoyingly — kept flicking to her.
Alexa , whispering to James on the phone, alarmed." How... how did Edmund knew I'd be here? This was supposed to be private."
James thinking fast,sweating slightly. " Uh... I guess... he just... happened to be... passing by?"
Alexa becomes suspicious hearing it." Passing by? At the same location?Jay..."
James nervously, faking calm." We'll... maybe it's... coincidence ? Pure coincidence. "
Meanwhile, Edmund notices Alexa and frowns.
He speaks," What is she doing here? How did she find this place?"
Lionel quickly ,trying not to lie too obviously. " Your Highness...maybe it's...uh...fate? Or...a random choice?You know.... coincidences happen."
Edmund raising an eyebrow ." Random choice? At this exact location?"
Lionel shrugging," Sometimes...the world aligns strangely. Pure luck, Your Highness. "
Alexa, Edmund glance at each other, both thinking the other is deliberately there, but neither knows the secret.
Alexa muttering under her breath," Luck...really?"
Edmund under his breath,tense. " Strange ...coincidence..."
James into the phone, pretending. " Hey, Ail. So sorry,but seems there's no network here?"
Before she could say, he sublty hungs the phone.
Lionel nervous , pretends. " Your Highness, there's no signal. Maybe a bad connection?"
He hungs up too.
Both of them stared at their phones, suspicious, annoyed, trying to figure out what just happened. While on the other side,the secretaries exchange a sly,' mission accomplished ' look.
After that, they walk side by side, all silent, still fuming,suspicious about each other. Their phone lies useless after the ' no network ' calls. They turn a corner, stop dead in the tracks.
Ahead, their secretaries are strolling together, completely at ease , holding hands, laughing softly. The world around them seems to fade as Alexa, Edmund take in.
Alexa,blinked. " Are they–?"
Edmund's jaw tightened, but a flicker of surprise softening his eyes." Handholding ".
James,Lionel disappear in a private path, still holding hands, completely unaware that their bosses have just witnessed the revelation.