Page 16 of Coral Prince Conundrum (Runaway Prince Hotel #1)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Daryl

There was nothing that Seero could have said to adequately prepare me for the Coral Kingdom.

Everything here is like something out of a fantasy movie.

I knew magic existed in certain kingdoms, like the far-off Desert Kingdom and nearby Icedonia.

But seeing water defy physics with my own two eyes is another level of astonishment.

Seero already demonstrated his powers, but he never showed me the literal sea dragons and other creatures that ferry about the Corali people.

And that’s nothing to speak of the sheer prince…

ness of Seero himself. Massive guards, each riding a giant seahorse, flanked us on the trip to his backup house.

We needed them, too, because crowds and paparazzi swarmed us.

They seem to love Seero, so at least I feel safe when I’m with him. I am, after all, his fiancé.

Fake fiancé. Of a freaking magical ocean prince. The handsome man himself keeps smiling and doting on me, making me feel just as special as him. The way his dark eyes gazed at me by the tidal pool sent shivers down my spine.

But I am not special. I’m just a barista who happens to be caught up in fake relationship shenanigans, hoping it doesn’t devolve into an international incident.

Which is why I’m here today. I poke at the giant, gelatinous sphere surrounding my head.

Jojo, the amphibious jellyfish, has taken a liking to me, according to Seero, and he’s the only thing that stands between me and immediate doom.

My head and neck are completely climate-controlled inside this creature― ew ―allowing me to visit the underwater palace.

Seero had me change into a dark green shirt and long waistcloth, matching his traditional Corali outfit.

He held me as we were ferried hundreds of feet deep underwater by the guards and their sea dragons to the main palace.

The Coral Castle―resembling a theme park castle with spiral-conch-shell-styled structures atop each tower―is heavily safeguarded.

We passed dozens of sharks and water mystics floating to protect the structure from any intruders.

Not that any other race could come down here without scuba gear. I sit in the chair in the main dining room and poke Jojo around my head, praying he doesn’t decide to quit on me, or worse, eat me.

“Just keep calm,” Seero murmurs. His voice is surprisingly clear despite us being deep underwater.

I nod, since my voice can’t carry with the giant jellyfish around my head.

The biology of the creature allows my entire body to be climate and pressure controlled.

Still, I can see and hear everything. I don’t know the physics behind it, but my body is fine down here, as long as I keep my head inside this creature. How am I going to eat?

King Ero and another woman with a golden crown shaped like coral stand at the head of the table.

Lamps containing what appear to be bioluminescent seaweed illuminate the room.

Seero sits next to his dad, and his two siblings sit across from us.

The rest of the table is occupied by royal viziers and other distinguished guests.

They all have gills and are eating, drinking, chatting, and having a good time.

The table itself feels like it’s made of solid sea rock.

Every two minutes in this kingdom, I learn something new about a world unseen, deep within the ocean.

I would love to study here as much as possible.

Maybe the handsome man to my left would let me live here indefinitely… ?

Shut up, inner desires. This is only temporary.

I look up to see King Ero stand, and we all follow suit.

“A toast!” He holds up his goblet, and I do the same, even though I can’t physically drink.

“My son has found ang kaluluwa niya !” Everyone cheers and raises their glasses, and I turn to Seero.

He avoids my gaze, choosing to stare at the king.

“As Queen Marites Dagat, I welcome you.” The woman wearing the crown, Seero’s mom, looks directly at me. “To our kingdom, and our family.”

“We shall start the wedding planning in a matter of days!” King Ero says.

The two royal parents seem genuinely overjoyed that their son is engaged.

I thought it would be weird since we’re both guys, but I guess homosexuality isn’t a big deal here.

I’ll bet lying to the whole kingdom is treasonous, though.

“Let us enjoy our time together,” Seero remarks. He turns to me, and with a twinkle in his eyes, he says, “Daryl just got here, after all.”

My cheeks warm inside the climate-controlled jellyfish helmet. Despite all the deception, I’m still having a good time just being by his side. Seero makes me feel safe.

“Yes, to our prosperous future,” the queen says. “And our family growing more and more.”

“Very ill! Here, here!” Oroy says from across the way.

Priya gives a pinched smile and clinks goblets with her brother.

Everyone drinks, and then plates are promptly filled by waiters.

I even get my own dish, some sort of fancy seaweed salad, even though they all recognize I can’t eat at the moment.

What proceeds is a joyous, raucous dinner.

At least, I think it is―I don’t understand Corali.

But all the people who line up to greet Seero promptly shake my hand and bow to me as well.

I merely nod, since I can’t talk, and don’t understand most of the words.

But I can tell how elated everyone is. I’ve never had this many people meet me in a row, let alone act thrilled about it.

I figured the prince had love in his life, but his family appears to be genuinely supportive.

Hours later, the four of us royal adult kids make it back to the surface home via multiple sea dragons.

Once our rides breach the surface, I’m relieved to be able to eat from the takeaway dish that Seero had prepared for me, the seaweed salad with what tastes like breadsticks on the side.

I’m even more thrilled to get some personal space from Jojo, promptly dropping the jellyfish from my shoulder into the tidal pool the moment I get a chance.

Oroy and Priya disappear to their respective floors, while we, the soon-to-be-newlyweds-but-not-really, take the top floor.

The servants, all dressed in lighter tunics, open the doors to what I assume are our quarters.

A smaller woman approaches me and bows. I smile and glance at Seero before nodding at the woman.

“I am Imelda,” she says in her musical accent.

“I am the servant assigned to you.” She moves her arms like she’s doing tai chi, and a small, four-wheeled cart rolls in.

The gilded cart is being pushed by an orb of swirling ocean water.

On it, I spot pajamas, towels, and more toiletries than I can imagine.

I’m thrilled plumbing is the same in most countries, and the Coral Kingdom is no different.

Still, I don’t have the mental fortitude to ask how to use the toilet if I’m ever in the underwater buildings.

“Um, nice to meet you, Imelda.”

She continues to move her arms in a circular motion. Then, when she slowly reaches a hand forward, a tiny conch shell floats to me on a hovering disc of water. I’ll never get over water mystics. She may be showing off, but if I had this power, I’d do it every day.

“If you need anything at all and his highness the Coral Prince is not available, just ring this conch.” I take it from her, and in a blur, she and the floating water make their exit.

I blink and study the conch in my hand. Then, I pick up the rest of the toiletries and follow Seero further through the hallway. Opening the doors, I’m overwhelmed again.

“Wow,” I say once we walk into our room.

I didn’t have a chance to look at the actual sleeping areas before we left for dinner.

But now, gazing at the massive, ostentatious apartment before me, my breath is stolen.

I take in the scene: silky linens of blue, gold, and green adorn nearly every surface.

There are several couches and a small kitchen.

The large windows are draped, but I know from seeing the outside that there are balconies.

No matter what kingdom you’re in, privacy is a rare commodity for the royals. And I guess that’s me now.

“I am glad Imelda and the others were so prompt with getting you the…clothes I requested.” Seero seems so unsure as he walks me through to the next room. Before I can ask, I’m shocked at the sight of the biggest bed I’ve ever seen, complete with a marble canopy.

“Jeez, this one bedroom is bigger than my entire apartment,” I murmur.

“I hope it is to your liking. The bathroom is just down the hallway.” I turn to my friend, but he pointedly avoids my gaze.

“Seero.”

“I will check up on you in a few minutes. It is late, and we should both be getting our sleep. If you need me and I am not here, ring the conch bell. Imelda was instructed to make every effort to give you anything you ask for.”

“Dang, talk about royal treatment.” I yawn, and, with new towels in hand, I stride to the hallway bathroom. “Wait, why would you not be here? Out swimming with sharks or something?”

We both chuckle, but his smile slowly dies. “I…thought it best if I sleep on the couch. Giving you your space is the most respectful course of action.”

Before I can argue, the Coral Prince dashes away, leaving me alone in the huge bedroom.

Thirty minutes later, I’m sitting on the covers of the extra-large, king-sized bed.

The new clothes seem nice, but I’m choosing to spend night one in the boxers and tank top I brought in my bag.

Fortunately, the lamps were easy to work, and the outlets accept my phone charger.

So, I’m texting Justice, letting him know I’m alive.

Apparently, he has his own princely problems.

There’s a knock at the door, and knowing it can only be one person, I holler, “It’s open!” Seero pokes his head in and smiles.

“Can I come in?”

I grin. “It’s your house.”

He steps forward, and, naturally, he’s only wearing a green waistcloth. I realize it’s the traditional garb of the Coral Kingdom, but he needs to stop looking so…delectable. The mere sight of his abs has me forgetting my own name.

I shake my head and try not to get hard as he approaches me. “This is your house now, too.” He raises a hand in a defensive gesture. “For the time being.”

I chuckle. “I hope to never get used to…all of this…” I wave my arms around at the almost one acre of space. “Thank you, though. For being so accommodating.”

“I should be thanking you. You have had to endure so many new things today.” He gives me that devastatingly adorable look of contrition, and I know I would do anything for him.

My cheeks warm, and I shrug. “You act like it’s such a hardship to sleep in this gargantuan bed.

” We both laugh, and I lean back. The mattress is definitely big enough for two people.

He’s being polite and not assuming I want to have sex.

But would it be inappropriate for me to lie back further and beckon him to have his way with me?

“But still. You are doing an amazing job in the role. And starting tomorrow, we will get to work on the presentation.” His smile falls, and he taps the sheets. “We…have a mission to accomplish. And I believe in us.”

My throat suddenly feels like a sand dollar.

“I believe in us, too,” I reply softly. Why does this feel so devastating?

Being here is fascinating, but the Coral Kingdom is not my world.

I came here for the explicit purpose of helping Seero make this presentation—that’s it.

We’re not here to have fun, even though I can’t deny how thrilling and wondrous this land has been.

We should both keep the mission in mind. But instead, my gut feels heavy.

Knowing that he won’t sleep next to me feels wrong, so wrong.

I can’t voice any of the conflict in my head; I wouldn’t even know where to start. Seero isn’t my fiancé, not really. I’m not even worthy enough to be his boyfriend. Even if this prince genuinely wanted a relationship, we come from two different worlds.

So instead, I sit there in silence. And after another minute, Seero stands up. “Well, goodnight.”

My heart aches so much as I watch him walk to the door. Before I realize it, I stand up and say, “ Kaluluwa .”

Seero freezes, then turns around. “What?”

“That word. It, um, keeps coming up. It seems to make your parents extra happy. I haven’t had a chance to look it up, though I doubt the internet has a translation app for Corali.”

An adorable grin breaks out on his face. “You heard that?”

I nod. “Yeah. People keep saying kaluluwa . What does it mean?”

He smiles. “I believe it is Filipino in origin. But in my country it means…” He gains a wistful expression as he gazes at a far wall. It’s so quiet here, late at night, just the two of us in the most private home on the surface of this island nation. “The closest it translates to is…soul.”

He looks at me, dark eyes reaching into my heart.

“Finding your kaluluwa is like finding your betrothed. The one you are meant to build a future with. It is the most revered honor in all of the Coral Kingdom. To find your soul is…the highest privilege.” His smile fades, and he nods, then turns around for the door.

He softly says, “And it is what I have been searching for my whole life. Goodnight, Daryl Tishman.”

When the door closes, I stand there, frozen. Seero lied when he said I was his soulmate, a bluff to keep me from harm. Still, this Coral Prince has always yearned for that perfect life partner for him. But why does a part of me want to claim Seero as mine?