Ava stepped back, her mind racing. Prince? As in, royalty? Kai nodded, his eyes pleading for understanding. "I wanted to tell you, but... I didn't want it to change how you see me."
The fiesta's noise faded into the background. Ava bombarded him with questions: "Why hide it? What about the resort's debt?"
Kai explained his family's decision to keep it a secret to save the resort, but the pressure was crushing him. "I want to be more than a prince," he said, his voice raw.
Ava's heart ached. She saw the real Kai, not the title. "I like you, not the crown," she said softly.
Kai's face lit up, but his advisor appeared, urgent. "Prince Kai, the council's calling. Decision time: claim the throne or lose everything."
Ava felt the weight of it.
Kai looked at Ava, then his advisor. "I need a minute," he said, pulling Ava aside. "If I claim the throne, I have to leave the resort, the island... and you might get dragged into royal life."
Ava's eyes met his. "What do you want, Kai?"
He took her hand. "I want to be with you. But if that means giving up the throne... I'm ready."
The advisor cleared his throat. "Your Highness, 5 minutes."
Kai turned to Ava. "Decision time. Want to be my partner in royal chaos? "
Kai grinned, pulling Ava close. "Then let's do it." Together, they faced the advisor. "I'll claim the throne," Kai declared, "but on one condition: Ava stays by my side."
The advisor nodded, bowing. "As you wish, Prince Kai."
As they walked toward the council, fireworks erupted again. This time, it was their future lighting up.
Ava smiled, feeling Kai's hand in hers. Royal life just got a whole lot sweeter 😊
THE END.