The arrangement

The morning sun bled through the palace windows, painting the marble halls in gold. Ana’s slippered feet whispered against the floor as she hurried toward the gardens, her body still humming with the memory of last night’s chaos.

She had bitten a king.

She had drawn blood.

And yet she had dreamt of him.

A shadow moved.

Before she could react, an iron grip seized her wrist and yanked her into an alcove. Her back hit the wall, the breath knocked from her lungs as a familiar scent enveloped her leather, bergamot, and storm\-tempered rage.

"Running away again, Princess?"

Ivander loomed over her, his morning coat impeccably tailored, his cravat crisp. Only the faint bruise on his lip betrayed the beast beneath.

Ana’s pulse roared in her ears."Let me go,Ivan."

"No."His free hand braced against the wall beside her head, caging her."Not until you explain why you fled like a thief in the night."

She lifted her chin."You know why."

His gaze dropped to her mouth."Because I kissed you?"A dark chuckle."Or because you bit me?"

Heat flooded her cheeks."You..you forced yourself on me!"

"Did I?"He leaned closer, his hot breath on her skin."Then why didn’t you scream?"

Ana’s nails dug into her palms."I hate you."

Ivander’s smirk faltered. For a heartbeat, something raw flickered in his eyes not anger, but pain.

"Liar,"he whispered.

Then his mouth crashed down on hers.

This kiss wasn’t like last night’s. It was hungry, desperate, a king brought to his knees. Ana’s hands flew up—to push him away, to claw at him,something but instead, her fingers tangled in his hair.

A groan rumbled in his chest."Ana"

"No!"She wrenched back, her voice breaking."You don’t get to ruin me and then pretend this is love!"

Ivander stilled."You think I don’t love you?"

"Love?"A hysterical laugh escaped her. "You don’t even know me! The Ana you claim to love is a child from your memories!"

His jaw tightened."I know you fear thunderstorms. That you don’t like giving up from ruling the Spain,I know deep down you want Spain but as a good sister you have to give up the position to your younger brother who’s just 14.i know that you read astronomy books until dawn,you love stars moon everything in the sky."His thumb brushed her cheekbone."I know you, Anastasia Swan.Every version."

Ana’s breath hitched.

Then they hear a cough.

They turned.

Isabella stood at the end of the hall, her arms crossed. "Am I interrupting "

Ivander didn’t release Ana."Leave us alone"

"No."Isabella strode forward, her silk skirts hissing.

"You are ignoring the kings order"

Isabella glares at her brother before leaving Ana clutching the envelope with the royal seal of Spain pressed into wax.

Ivander didn’t release her wrist."Well?"

Ana swallowed, breaking the seal with trembling fingers. The parchment crackled as she unfolded it, her father’s sharp handwriting staring back.

Anastasia

By order of the Crown, you are to remain in London under King Ivander’s tutelage. You will study economics, diplomacy, and statecraft under his guidance. This is not a request. Do not disappoint us.

-His Majesty, King Fredrick of Spain.

The words blurred.

"This couldn’t be real."

Ivander plucked the letter from her grasp, his eyes scanning the lines. A slow, dangerous smile curled his lips."It seems fate agrees with me, Princess."

Ana snatched it back. "You…..you planned this!"

"If I had,"he murmured, leaning in,"do you think I would’ve let you run last night?"

The heat of him, the scent of sandalwood and power, made her head spin. She shoved against his chest."I won’t be your plaything."

Ivander caught her hand, pressing it flat over his heartbeat."No You’ll be my student."His thumb traced her knuckles. "Starting today" "Right now" Ivander drags her to the study room of his chambers.

Ana’s chair scraped against the floor as she jerked away from the desk. "This is ridiculous."

Ivander didn’t look up from the ledger."Sit down."

"No."She stormed to the window, glaring at the gardens below. "You can’t honestly expect me to believe my father wants you teaching me economics."

"Your father wants an alliance."The edge in his voice sharpened."One he thinks you’ll secure by marrying me."

Ana whirled. "What?"

Ivander finally met her gaze, his expression unreadable."Did you think this was about education?"He tossed a document toward her a draft treaty, with clauses about unified trade routes and marital bonds between crowns.

Her stomach dropped. "No."

"Sit. Down."

This time, she obeyed.

For hours, he drilled her tax codes, import tariffs, the delicate dance of royal debts. His voice was cool, detached, infuriatingly professional.But his eyes..dark and hungry, tracking every flicker of her lashes, every frustrated sigh.

When she misquoted a law, he circled behind her, his chest brushing her shoulder as he pointed to the text."Here,Read it again."

Ana’s breath hitched."I..I can’t focus with you hovering."

Ivander’s lips grazed her ear."Then learn faster."

Ana slammed the book shut."Enough."

Ivander arched a brow from his armchair. "Tired already?"

"Bored."She stalked to the shelves, trailing fingers over leather spines."If you’re going to force me into lessons, at least make them interesting."

A rustle of fabric. Then his voice, suddenly close"What would you prefer? Philosophy? Poetry or Romance?"

She turned and froze.

He stood inches away, a volume of Spanish love sonnets in hand. The title mocked her"To the One Who Burns Me."

Ana lifted her chin. "War strategy."

Ivander chuckled, low and rough."Of course."He reached past her, his sleeve brushing her collarbone as he pulled down "The Art of War"."But be warned, Princess.I play to win."

She snatched the book."So do I."

Their fingers brushed.

A spark. A silence.

Then the crash of shattering porcelain.

They jerked apart. A maid stood in the doorway, wide\-eyed, a tray of tea spilled at her feet."F\-Forgive me, Your Majesties!"

Ana stepped back, cheeks burning.

Ivander didn’t move but instead glared at the maid for disturbance"Leave before I kill you."

As the maid fled, his gaze locked onto Ana’s.

"What a rude king"

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