The lights from the cameras are almost blinding.

I expected this, of course. But judging by how fast my heart is beating, I can’t say that I’m 100% prepared for it.

Since I accepted Prince James’ proposal on the hot air balloon ride, everything has been moving at lightning speed. It has only been a week, but the news has already begun to spread and now we’re sitting in front of rows of journalists, giving an official statement.

I know now why he took his time telling me about his feelings—because once we decide to make things official, everyone and their grandmother is interested in us.

“I can’t even begin to express how happy I am that Rosemary has accepted my proposal, and how excited I am for our future,” James says into about twenty microphones propped up on the table.

That’s the last sentence of the written statement that has been prepared by the palace’s press secretary, and now it’s time for the press to ask questions.

My fiancé, the crown prince, looks as handsome and powerful as he always has. There’s not a crease in his designer suit today, and I’ve also dressed up for this announcement.

A stylist and the press secretary came to us with a few dresses to choose from this morning. James picked the yellow one for me, because he said it reminded him of the first time he’d seen me at The Dungeon. It was really sweet of him to remember.

Despite his outer calm, the prince holds my hand a little tighter than usual. It’s the only indication that he’s nervous about the questions they’ll soon ask him.

We’ve gone through all the important ones, but we need to make sure that we send the right message if we ever expect to get accepted by the people. We have a big scandal and a few bald-faced lies working against us.

“Your Royal Highness,” a hand shoots up as soon as the Q-and-A session begins, “A few months ago, you appeared on national TV and you denied knowing Rosemary Wilson. Did you know her at the time?”

“Like I said in my statement, there are some things that will need to be clarified, and that’s one of them,” the prince says as his thumb rubs my hand under the table. “I remember that interview. I did know Rosemary at the time, and it broke my heart to have to deny knowing her, but I had to do it. It was a matter of national security.”

He glances at me and adds, “Besides, all the media attention was very stressful to Rosemary, and I thought I could shelter her from public scrutiny.

“I apologize to the kingdom for making a false statement. My intention was to protect the woman I love.”

Most of the room goes wild with activity as cameras click and reporters shout out questions, their voices overlapping to form an indistinguishable din. A handful of female reporters seem to be stunned into silence, their lips parting and their eyes flashing with desire—sorry ladies, this man’s taken.

The press secretary holds up his hands to get everyone to quiet down. He points to a random reporter and allows him to ask a question.

“Were you the couple in those pictures from the club?”

“Yes,” the prince says, sending the whole room into another frenzy.

“What do you say to the allegations that you abuse women?” asks the next reporter.

“I say everything I’ve ever done with women has been safe and consensual,” the prince says.

I knew something like this was going to come up, but it still pains me to see James getting hounded like this, over some fictional abuse that has never even happened.

I wasn’t planning on speaking up, but I look straight into the cameras in front of me and say, “I can confirm that. Prince James is the sweetest, kindest man I know, and I trust him completely. I know he won’t let any harm come to me.” I wince from the flashes going off all around me as the sound of camera shutters fill the room.

“What’s behind the mysterious door in the woods near Willowdale?”

“It’s the entrance to a secret royal residence,” Prince James says to the audience of enthralled reporters. “We’ve realized now that there’s no need for secrecy anymore. And with all the speculations going around, it’s probably best that we open it to the public.

“Rosemary and I will get married there, and we’ll allow cameras during the ceremony and reception so the whole kingdom can see that there are no aliens there,” James says with a grin, making the reporters laugh. He adds, “Of course that’s also exactly what I’d say if I were actually hiding some aliens from the public.”

The tension has broken, now that most of the big questions have been answered. The journalists seem to be relaxing, even as the questions continue coming.

I’m so glad we decided to tell everyone the truth.

One of the royal advisors suggested that we tell the press the prince and I had met after the pictures from The Dungeon were published.

I’ll admit that would’ve made some things easier: we would’ve been able to deny that we were ever at a sex club; James wouldn’t have had to admit his lie; and it would’ve been possible to keep Ardglass Palace a secret.

But if we feed them the lies and they discover the truth later on, there’d be no way for us to regain the people’s trust.

The people’s trust.

Jesus, those are such serious words.

A few months ago, I was just happy to be making enough money to pay the bills. I wanted to travel, but I didn’t have the money and it wasn’t like I could simply remove one source of income from the family pot.

In short, I had regular people’s problems.

Now, I’m worried about losing the people’s trust?

It’s so ridiculous I’d laugh if I wasn’t also terrified. I don’t know if I can handle that kind of responsibility.

I’m just a young girl from a village in the middle of nowhere. I’m not used to living a luxurious life. I don’t know how to behave myself in the social functions of the nobility.

But Prince James has chosen me, and he has assured me that I’d make a good queen. I don’t know if that’s true; maybe he’s just being kind.

As a side note, being the crown prince’s fiancée is not all fun and games. I hate losing my privacy—they’ve given me a 24/7 bodyguard, now that I’m almost a princess—but I’d do anything to be by his side.

James squeezes my hand, interrupting my thoughts. The reporters are looking at me.

“Did I miss something?” I whisper to James.

“Someone just asked if you have anything to add. You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to.”

If I’m going to be the prince’s wife, I’ll have to learn to speak to the public, sooner or later.

I face the cameras and say, “I never imagined that something like this could happen to me. I never thought that my wedding would be a kingdom-wide holiday, but here we are.” Some of the reporters laugh, which helps ease my nervousness. “Thank you so much for being here to share in our joy. We ask for your blessing over our marriage.”

Prince James wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulls me close, and kiss me on the forehead. The cameras go wild and I have to shut my eyes because the lights are so bright.

I smile, knowing how much I’m loved. I hope the kingdom can see how happy he’s making me, and realize he’s not the beast they think he is.