Thirty minutes later, Prince Alexander returned to the main office along with Jonathan Axelsen.
Inside, they saw Poul and Penelope sitting silently in their respective seats. Poul was the first one to speak.
"So, how was the tour? Did His Highness find it enjoyable?"
"Well, I must say, I'm impressed with the tools and equipment that you are using in your factories, especially the electric-powered lathe and milling machine. The workers are working in order as if they were ants, and the overall environment is very organized," Prince Alexander replied, his eyes scanning the room with genuine admiration. "I can see that much effort has been put into making this place efficient and productive."
Jonathan Axelsen chimed in, his enthusiasm is evident. "Indeed, Your Highness. We take pride in our innovations and the quality of our work. It's our goal to provide the best for the people, and we're constantly striving to improve."
Penelope, feeling somewhat uneasy in the presence of the prince, forced a polite smile. "I'm glad you enjoyed the tour, Your Highness. We certainly believe that our work here can make a difference in people's lives."
Prince Alexander turned his gaze to Penelope, a warm smile playing on his lips. "Penelope, I must admit, I didn't expect that you would be interested in visiting such an industrial setting. But then again, you've always had a penchant for defying expectations."
Penelope felt her cheeks flush slightly but maintained her composure. "Indeed, Your Highness. I believe in learning as much as possible about the world around me, and this seemed like an excellent opportunity."
The prince nodded in approval. "That's an admirable attitude. It's a quality I find most attractive in my future queen," he added, his eyes lingering on Penelope for a moment longer than necessary.
Poul, unable to ignore the prince's subtle advances toward Penelope, clenched his fists under the table, fighting to keep his emotions in check.
"Well, I guess this concludes our visit to your company, Mr. Axelsen. Mr. Nielsen, we will be leaving now to prepare for our departure to Istanbul. As you can see, our country is in the middle of the war," Prince Alexander said as he reluctantly tore his gaze away from Penelope.
Of course, Your Highness," Jonathan responded, showing his respect. "We appreciate your visit and hope that our collaboration will benefit both our nations."
Poul also rose from his seat, doing his best to maintain a cordial demeanor despite the tumultuous emotions swirling within him. "Safe travels, Your Highness. We look forward to working together in the future."
***
Inside the royal carriage, Alexander and Penelope sat in silence.
As the horses trotted along the cobblestone streets, the tension in the air between them was palpable. Penelope could feel Alexander's eyes on her, but she kept her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window.
Finally, Prince Alexander broke the silence. "Penelope, I am sure that you weren't silent for the last thirty minutes with Mr. Poul Nielsen while I was away. I'm sure that you two talked about something."
"Why are you so curious about our conversation, Your Highness?" Penelope inquired, her tone carefully neutral. She felt her heart rate pick up, knowing full well that Prince Alexander's question carried an unspoken weight.
The prince hesitated, clearly weighing his words. "I suppose it's because I sense a certain… chemistry between you and Mr. Nielsen. I just want to be sure that there's nothing I should be concerned about."
Penelope's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, but she met his gaze squarely. "Your Highness, Poul and I are acquaintances, and we share a mutual respect for each other's work. Our conversation was strictly professional, and I assure you that there is no cause for concern."
Prince Alexander nodded, appearing satisfied with her response. "Very well. I trust your word, Penelope. Forgive me for prying; I just wanted to ensure that there were no misunderstandings between us."
Penelope cleared her throat. "Your Highness, the status between us is not yet official, and I don't like you prying into my personal affairs. And what did you have to tell them that you are going to make me your Queen? Don't you think it's quite rude and presumptuous of you?"
Prince Alexander was taken aback by Penelope's sudden boldness, but he managed to keep his composure. "You're right, Penelope. It was inappropriate of me to make such a statement, especially without discussing it with you first. I apologize for my impulsive behavior."
"Also, there is something that you must know. Even if your father and my father agreed to the marriage, I don't."
"What do you mean?" Alexander asked.
"I mean," Penelope began, taking a deep breath and mustering her courage, "that I don't want to be forced into a marriage based on political alliances and old-fashioned expectations. I believe that a union as significant as marriage should be built on love, trust, and mutual respect, not on the whims of our fathers and their desire for power. Tell me, Your Highness, you really don't love me right? You just wanted me because of my influence and popularity with the masses."
"That is not true…" Alexander stammered, taken aback by Penelope's directness. "While it's true that our initial meeting was orchestrated by our fathers, I've come to genuinely admire and respect you, Penelope. Yes, your influence and popularity are undeniable assets, but I believe there's much more to you than that."
"See, you even admitted it yourself," Penelope scoffed softly. "I'm going, to be honest with you, I don't like you. I have no feelings for you. Would you rather be with a woman that doesn't love you? You don't, right? So let's end this. Once we return back to London, let's tell our fathers that we are calling this marriage off."
"Is this about that man?" Alexander asked, his tone like a growl.
"No," Penelope replied firmly, her eyes narrowing. "This is about me and my own happiness. It's about having the freedom to choose my own path in life, rather than being forced into a marriage I never wanted."
"No, that's definitely because of that man," Alexander insisted. "When I mentioned the name of the company, you have changed completely. You may not love me but I love you more than anything, Penelope. I will never let you go, we will not call off this marriage…"
Penelope's eyes flashed with defiance. "Your Highness, you may be a prince, but you do not have the right to control my life or dictate my feelings. My reasons for wanting to end this engagement have nothing to do with Poul. It's about my own autonomy and happiness."
"No, I will not let you go, Penelope. You are mine…mine alone," Alexander's voice wavered, his desperation clear. Penelope's eyes widened at his sudden possessiveness.
Suddenly, he grabbed Penelope's arms and pulled her closer to him, causing her to gasp in shock and discomfort. "You will see, Penelope. In time, you will come to love me as I love you," he said, his voice low and determined.
"Alex….you are hurting me," Penelope whispered, her voice trembling with pain and fear. She could feel the pressure from his fingers digging into her skin, leaving marks that would surely turn into bruises.
Prince Alexander, realizing what he was doing, quickly let go of her arms and stared at her in horror. "Penelope, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just... I can't bear the thought of losing you," he admitted, his voice breaking with emotion.
Tears filled Penelope's eyes as she rubbed her sore arms. And then, she averted her gaze away from him, not wanting to see his face.
