We talked about our day. I told him about Alina's death glares at the game and ice skating rink in the morning, which he apologised with kisses on my shoulder and assured me he has a plan to end the marriage contract. I also mentioned spending time with Perez and Pascul, and I noticed he didn't tense up when I said Perez's name. I still remembered the tension between them at the winter ball.

He had told me that the girl Perez was in love with used him to get close to Nicandro, presumably for the throne. I guessed that was the main issue causing the tension between them, but it seemed like it was all good now. Looks like they have resolved or at least overlooked their issues during the past six months.

At least something good came out of the family what that was one of their darkest times.

I also brought up the conversation with Aletta in the washroom. He thinks that I should tell Sha the truth. Not the whole truth, obviously. Sha has grown to be my best friend within the last few months and one of the people I trust the most. So I agreed with him and decided to tell her tomorrow.

Aside from the talking, there was a lot of kissing. For any second that we weren't talking, we were kissing.

On top of that, there was some touching too. Let's just say I know what his bare chest feels like now. And he knows what my bare thigh feels like now.

I used to think it was crazy how couples can spend so much time together without getting tired of each other. Now I know. Somehow, time passes faster when making out.

Nicandro pulled away from our kiss, his hands still on my waist and mine on his shoulders. "We should leave soon, I only booked the spa for two hours."

I smiled at him. Always so considerate. "And we'll go to your room after this?"

"Can't think of a better way to end the night than that." He put his hands around my waist and hoisted me out of the hot tub.

Food was already set on the table as I walked into his room. The room is twice the size of an average apartment flat.

I turned to him. "Don't tell me you planned tonight down to the minute."

"Now I'm nervous about what you might think when you see what's on the table." I can see a blush creeping up his cheeks.

On the table, I noticed a picture and took a closer look at it. It was the picture that we took after the game today. I couldn't contain the huge smile on my face when I saw our happy we looked. Specifically, how happy I looked.

Even though I had to deal with Walter, Alina and Aletta today, today was the most normal I had felt since I was stabbed by my father's ex-fiancé.

"This is the most perfect fourth-date gift ever." I reached my hand out and squeezed his lightly.

"I'm so glad we both are in agreement that our first date was the first day we met in Palencia."

"Of course!" I chuckled. "Having our first date under fake names without each other knowing it? Now that's even better than a spy movie."

He smiled, showing his dimples, which gave me déjà vu back to that day in the coffee shop when he offered to buy me a drink. "I actually came up with 'Javier' on the spot."

As Nicandro was putting the dishes away, I checked my phone for any texts from Peter for his research into Operation Safari and Sha for any explanation of what the heck was going on with her and Aletta. Instead, I got a text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Don't come back to your room tonight. -Aletta

I frowned. Seriously, what is her deal with Sha? And why did Sha give Aletta my number? I ignored the text and could care less about Aletta's threats in the washroom earlier. If she knew the real truth about me, she would've had me arrested already. I would get to the bottom of it when I go back to my room later.

"Everything alright?"

"Yeah, nothing you need to worry about." I put down my phone and direct my attention to Nicandro. "So, any more surprises planned for tonight?"

He raised his eyebrows slightly. "Actually, I thought you were going to retire to your room for the night."

I check the time on my phone. 10:48pm. He quickly added, "Of course, I don't mind you staying for a while longer."

"We haven't properly spent time together in six months, I want to spend every available minute on the cruise with you."

He walked to the couch I was sitting on, sat beside me and put his hand on my lap. "No objections to that statement."

I put my leg over his and rested my head on his shoulders. We sat in companionable silence. That took me back to six months ago, the day I left Spain after we said goodbye to each other. We sat together on the couch not saying a word while holding each other hands, until I received the call that the cab has arrived.

"I can't believe it's been six months since we properly spent time together."

"I know, it felt like it went by in a blur." Nicandro looked me in the eye. "I guess time just stops when you're not around."

Even with all that happened during that time; moving in with Breton, going to a new school and discovering I had a half-sister, there was not one day which I didn't think about him.

I was always wondering what he was doing if the stress he was dealing with was too much to handle. And it if was, I wanted to be there for him and do what I can to make it easier for him. I couldn't help the flutter in my stomach whenever I see the news and he was featured in it.

"Want to play twenty questions?"

He hesitated, taken aback by my sudden change of topic. "Uh, sure."

"I was just thinking about how we know all of each other's dark family secrets and have shared trauma together, but we don't know the basic things about each other." I explained.

"We've been doing this whole dating thing backwards haven't we?" He cringed.

"Didn't think the normal dating thing would've worked for us anyways." I shrugged and sat upright. "Alright, first question, do you put the toilet seat up or down?"

I opened my eyes to the warmth of sunlight on my face. I took in my surroundings to see that I fell asleep on the couch we were talking on yesterday night, beside Nicandro. It was an L-shaped couch; I was sleeping on the horizontal area and him on the vertical area. I reach forward to him and tug a strand of his black curls behind that was covering his face.

I looked at the time on my phone and it was already past eleven. Don't know what time I fell asleep last night, but it must've been late. After playing twenty questions, we shared some of our childhood stories.

I shared that back at the orphanage, every Wednesday they would give us this horrible porridge for lunch. But no one dared to speak up, so I sneaked into the kitchen and poured a lot of salt into the cooking pot. It was so salty to the point that it was unbearable to eat, so everyone collectively decided to speak up. When the supervisors tried the porridge, they tasted how horrible it was and then changed Wednesday's lunch menu.

Nicandro shared that when Pascul was two, he went missing. He couldn't have left the castle without guards noticing so they had twenty staff members look for him all over the castle. They ended up finding him under the dining table.

I shook his shoulders lightly and his eyelids fluttered in response. "Morning." I'd hate to wake Nicandro up now, but I remembered he told me he had the meeting to end the marriage contract with Alina today.

"Morning, beautiful." He slowly opened his eyes and smiled widely at me, which caused me to have butterflies in my stomach.

"Hate to bring the mood down, but don't you have a meeting to get to?"

He looked at the clock on the wall and immediately sat upright. "I have to go."

"I know, good luck." I pressed a quick kiss on his cheek. "Update me after."

When he was inside the washroom, I looked for a pen and paper.

I will be the one planning a date today, tell you about it later (:

I went back to my room after leaving the note, remembering to take the picture of us too. It hasn't hit me until I reach my suite that I spent the night with Nicandro, sleeping on the same couch. Nothing happened more than some intense kissing and slight touching in forbidden places, which got me cheesing so hard I have to collect myself.

It felt nice to experience these feelings which I haven't had since... Walter.

I know I should have the conversation with Walter that will finally give some sort of closure to us. But I don't know why I can't bring myself to have that conversation with him.

I opened the door and see no sign of Sha. Though it was clear she was here and left not long ago, since the tea on the table was still warm.

Me: Hey, can we talk? I don't know what Aletta told you about me, whatever it is I can explain.

I sent Sha another text, despite her leaving me on read for the text I sent her yesterday. Whatever was going on with her and Aletta, I am getting to the bottom of it today.

By the time I got ready and had my lunch, it was past one and no reply from Sha. Nicandro hasn't texted me either, which means he's still in the meeting. I didn't let the worry about something going on and started planning our date for tonight. I looked at the ship's itinerary booklet and decided on mini-golf. A classic second date option. I called the number listed and booked a slot for tonight.

Breton then called to check in, and the first thing I did was tell him I can't believe he didn't tell me his sister was the prime minister of the UK. He brushed it off and asked if I'd seen his sister on the ship yet. I told him that I met her at the welcome party and went ice skating with not one but two princes of Spain.

Then he asked if I wanted to go to Malaysia, when I come back for a short vacation since it is neighbouring Singapore. I said I'll think about it when I received yet another text from Aletta's number. But this one I can't ignore.

Unknown: Want to join us for afternoon tea, Sha is here too

(2) We're at level 3, the lounge opposite the Japanese restaurant

What game is she playing? I hung up the call with Breton and made my way there without a second thought. As I said, I'm going to get to the bottom of it today.

The 'lounge' was actually a bar. It was also empty, it clearly only opened in the evening. I looked around and noticed Aletta sitting at the far end corner with a man.

I walked closer to see that the man is Perez.

Why is he here? Where is Sha?

Aletta noticed me and gave me a wave, as Perez turned around to face me.

"What the hell is going on?" I couldn't hide the irritation in my voice. However, beneath the irritation was anxiety as I didn't like the look they were giving me.

Perez gestured to the seat beside him. "Why don't you tell me, Alveanea?"