Chapter 117

Ella POV

“He is a difficult man to shop for,” Elizabeth said as we left our fourth stop empty-handed.

“I think I’m making it more difficult than it needs to be,” I admitted, frustration seeping into my tone. “I just want to get something that will really make an impact on him, and nothing feels right.”

“Well, we still have plenty of stores to check,” she reassured me. “And if we don’t find anything here, we’ve got the rest of the city to try.”

“I can’t drag James shopping around the entire city,” I said, glancing back at him sympathetically.

“I don’t mind,” James replied with an amused smile.

“You have to say that—it’s your job,” I argued, narrowing my eyes. “But I can tell how miserable you are.”

“I’m really not,” he said, laughing lightly.

“Well, that’s good because this is turning into quite the ordeal,” I sighed. “Who would’ve thought it’d be so difficult to find a gift for him?”

“He never asks for anything,” James said with a shrug. “And he’s not that particular about most things. It’s not like he has a signature cologne or a favorite type of accessory. I’ve never put much thought into what a good gift for him would be, but now that I have, it seems impossible to decide.”

“It’s just like James says,” Elizabeth chimed in, her voice tinged with curiosity. “I’ve known Alexander socially for years, and yet I can’t think of a single thing.”

“You know, we visited his family home this week,” I said, almost to myself. “I saw his childhood bedroom. You’d think that would give me some insight, but it was just as plain and minimal as his office. It gave me nothing.”

“You’ve been together for a while now,” Elizabeth said thoughtfully, her expression sharpening. “I mean, you’re getting married. You have to have some idea of what he likes.”

“Fine wine, good food, bespoke clothing,” I said, listing each with growing exasperation. “But those are so impersonal. I could try taking him out to dinner, but he’d insist on paying. And it’s not like I can sneak to his tailor and buy him a—”

An idea struck me mid-sentence, and I let my words trail off as I focused on it. Could it actually work?

“What is it?” Elizabeth asked, her brow furrowing when I fell silent. “Did you have an idea, or did you swallow a bug?”

I laughed, realizing my mouth was still slightly open. Elizabeth’s teasing was lighthearted, and I didn’t take it to heart.

“What if I did go to his tailor?” I suggested, the idea taking form as I spoke. “He’d already have all of Alexander’s measurements, and he could help me design something. He’d have a sense of what Alexander likes, right?”

Elizabeth considered this for a moment, tilting her head. “That’s not a bad thought. Though, I have to say, Alexander probably owns enough suits to last him several lifetimes.”

“What if it were for a specific occasion?” I countered, my excitement growing. “The suit could be part of the gift, and the occasion he wore it for could be the other part.”

“Oh, like a special suit for a special date night?” Elizabeth said, her face lighting up. “Now that’s a cute idea. You’d just have to come up with the perfect date.”

“Great,” I said with a sigh, though a smile tugged at my lips. “I’ve solved one problem and created another.”

“This one might be easier, though,” she reassured me. “You two have been on plenty of dates by now, so you already know what he likes to do, right?”

“That’s true,” I admitted, feeling a flicker of hope. “With a little more time and thought, I’m sure I could come up with something amazing.”

Elizabeth turned to James with a conspiratorial look. “Should we stop by the tailor’s shop? I think he’s been using the one here in the shopping center lately. It’s convenient for him.”

I glanced at James, who nodded slightly, always ready to help. The idea was starting to feel more real, more possible. If I could pull this off, it wouldn’t just be a gift—it would be a memory. Something meaningful. Something perfect.

The three of us began making our way toward the tailor shop. As we walked, my mind started to wander again. It felt almost absurd to be focused on something as trivial as shopping for a gift—not just because my relationship with Alexander wasn’t truly romantic, but because the looming presence of Amanda and David clung to my thoughts like a shadow.

Did I really have the luxury to focus on this while they were scheming, possibly plotting something far worse?

It might have been a mistake to delay responding to Amanda’s text message, but Alexander had assured me he had it handled, and Elizabeth had promised to investigate. So, what else could I do?

“Are you dwelling on unpleasant thoughts again?” Elizabeth asked, her voice breaking through my spiraling concerns.

“How can you tell?”

“The look on your face,” she replied, giving me a knowing glance. “You look like you’ve just bitten into something sour.”

I sighed. “It’s hard not to worry, even in the middle of such a great day.”

“Things are going to turn out fine,” she said with quiet confidence. “You’ve got friends on your side—people who will make sure every precaution is taken. It’s okay to let your guard down a little. You’re not in this alone.”

My throat tightened at her words. She had no idea how much they meant to me, how deeply her words comforted me. I hadn’t realized I needed to hear it.

Still, I hesitated. “I just don’t want to let my guard down and risk something bad happening.”

Elizabeth nodded, her expression softening. “I understand,” she said. Then, with a bright smile, she wrapped her arm around my shoulders and gave me a reassuring squeeze. “But now is not the time for that. Now is the time for celebration and for planning happy occasions. And don’t forget—you’ve got a date night to focus on, right? Everything else can wait for a little while.”

“How are you always able to look on the bright side?” I asked, genuinely impressed by her unshakable positivity.

“It’s simple,” she said, her smile unwavering. “I’m always prepared for the worst-case scenario. So, if it happens, it’s not as scary.”

“That’s... a curious attitude,” I admitted. Truthfully, though, I could see the logic. If you already had a plan for the worst, there was no point in dwelling on what might go wrong.

“It comes with the territory of being the king’s daughter,” she explained. “You always have to be ready for anything. If you don’t learn how to deal with that without panicking, well… there’s really no time left for living.”

Her words hung in the air, offering me both comfort and a lesson I wasn’t sure I’d mastered yet. But in that moment, I resolved to try.

I’d managed to make things work in the original timeline. I wasn’t happy as the Luna Queen, but I had done my job well. Maybe this time around, I could balance being a leader and being happy with my life.

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed insistently, the familiar ringtone cutting through the air. A smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it—I recognized it immediately as Alexander's.

My heart fluttered, a small thrill rushing through me at the thought of hearing his voice again. I quietly scolded myself for the reaction, mentally chastising the ridiculous crush that refused to loosen its grip. I had to get a handle on this. But despite my internal reprimand, the warmth in my heart was stubborn.

Taking a steadying breath, I slipped my phone from my pocket and answered, doing my best to sound composed.