The Heir's Secret Child: A Royal Scandal

"Quick, he's coming."

"Don't stand too close to me."

"You're obstructing me. He won't see me when he passes."

The maids scuttled behind ornate pillars, whispers trembling in the grand corridor of Eldoria Palace. One clutched her apron while another ducked behind a column. Their eyes darted, cheeks flushed with excitement and nerves.

Every heartbeat thumped with breathless anticipation that Prince George was near.

Royal heir to the throne of Eldoria Kingdom, Prince George strode by with a few bodyguards behind him: tall, breathtakingly handsome, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he passed the staff.

The girls murmured their greetings, each hoping to catch his eye. But when his gaze landed on Catherine, the smile deepened, a small private gesture, before he moved on, no pause in his formal step.

Catherine had grown up in these halls as a maid, learning to serve before she learned much else. Her mother taught her to always live in decorum and discretion around the palace.

Catherine bit her lips, feeling the usual flutter in her stomach. She forced her eyes down, pretending to adjust her apron, as George continued toward the throne room for a discussion with his parents, King Arthur and Queen Charlotte.

Inside, the King and Queen waited, seated upright and regal as the afternoon light shone on them through the tall curtains. And as usual, the topic was about his duty to the crown.

The argument began almost immediately.

"George, you cannot delay this any longer," King Arthur thundered. "You are the heir. A prince without a bride is a prince without stability. Your mother and I have been patient, but your time is running out."

Queen Charlotte's gaze softened at her son but her words mirrored her husband. "Your father is right. The Kingdom of Eldoria looks to you as a symbol, and symbols are strengthened by certainty."

George's jaw tightened. "You remind me every day."

Catherine slipped in quietly with a tea tray balanced in her hands. With several years of training, she set out the porcelain with practiced grace. The clink was delicate, yet it felt deafening in the tension-filled room.

She avoided George's eyes, but she knew he was looking at her.

They used to argue and play games in this same room when they were little, running around with no care in the world. They were always so close, but she remembered her mother's words, telling her that she should never forget her place.

The argument continued as soon as Catherine left the room.

"You think being a King is easy? Every eye is on you... especially now," King Arthur gestured towards the open window, the kingdom spreading beyond. "Anything we do or say affects the stability of the monarchy. Do you understand that?"

George's anger was already bubbling up. "I will not be dictated to, Father!" he snapped. "I serve Eldoria, but I will not be with a woman chosen to satisfy appearances."

"You serve Eldoria by fulfilling your duties," King Arthur