Husband With Benefits
Chapter 712: Admiring

Chapter 712: Admiring

Rafael glanced at Isidora as he sipped his drink, his thoughts momentarily drifting. She was an intriguing woman, and as he had expected, more than worthy of being a queen. There was something about her—a captivating blend of beauty and brains—that he found himself admiring more than he intended to. Her allure was undeniable, almost magnetic, and he found himself drawn to it in a way he hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t just her looks, though they were certainly striking; it was the way she carried herself, the confidence that radiated from her. She wasn’t shy about sharing her opinions or even too diplomatic as was the habit of those in politics, and that only added to her appeal.

He’d spent the entire evening by her side, fully aware that he should be mingling with the others, engaging in the usual pleasantries. But no matter how much he told himself to move on, to circulate through the room, he simply couldn’t tear himself away from her. It was a little embarrassing, really, how she seemed to have this effect on him. He almost didn’t want the evening to end, a thought that caught him off guard.

As they talked, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "The advancements in cybersecurity have been the challenge," she said," with every step forward, the threats have evolved too.

Rafael could not help but agree. While the threats around their borders were visible, the threat on the internet were real and yet not visible. They could not guess who and what would be a threat, demanding constant vigilance and research and development. He could not help but agree, "You’re right. It’s a never-ending battle. But it’s not just about the technology; it’s about the people behind it. A single weak link can compromise an entire system."

"Exactly. And it’s not just the big players we have to worry about anymore. Even small-time hackers have caused massive disruptions if they find the right vulnerability. That’s why I believe in a proactive approach—building a culture of security awareness from the ground up. And getting those old coots on the council to understand that is like banging myhead against the wall! If it were upto them we would be..."

She paused then and he couldn’t help but grin and complete her sentence," If it were upto those old coots, we would be living in the stone age. Isn’t that what you were about to say?" Isidora nodded but then leaned forward," But you said this okay, not me! So if you ever claim that I said this, I will refuse.

Rafael laughed," Of course, Princess Isidora! I dare not allude to you saying something like this. But... let me tell you a secret." He leaned forward, as if telling her a secret, and spoke," I had the exact same argument recently with my father. On the one hand those people claim that they want us to take our nations into the new era. But on the other, the object to change, guarding the old ways like dragons guarding their gold. And it is truly amazing that we share the same views. I never expected you, or anyone, to have such an in-depth knowledge about this. It is truly amazing."

"Princess Isidora, I think our nations should have a chance of working together in the future with us at the hem."

Dora raised her glass then, silently agreeing, "To future cooperation and the exciting possibilities it holds!"

Rafael clinked his glass against hers, smiling. "To future cooperation," he echoed.

Dora actually felt happy as she agreed to work together in the future. If she and Kael were going to make this official, then of course there was a much greater chance of them being together.

As Dora sipped her drink, she paused. And if... what she was starting to feel towards Kael was about to turn real, they might get even closely linked in terms of family. Thinking of this, she placed her glass back on the table and said," You can just call me Dora. My friends call me that. We can skip the formalities when we are not in public.

Rafael chuckled, leaning in slightly. "Well, only if you call me Rafe. And actually, I’d rather call you Isis.¹ You’re a Goddess in your own right, not just a gift from her."

Dora giggled at this. "You know the meaning of my name?"

"Of course. What kind of a Prince would I be if I didn’t know about the Royal lineage and future rulers..."

"What if you make a political guffaw?" Rafael and Dora intoned together, laughing, as Dora exclaimed," It seems our studies have also been the same. Isis, huh? Hmm. I don’t find the name as objectionable as being called Issy or something like that... But my boyfriend might not appreciate you calling me a Goddess."

Rafael’s eyes widened in surprise. "You have a boyfriend?" The revelation caught him off guard, while also making him feel a twinge of regret. She was already taken...

"Not officially, yet. But soon. I think I am going to propose to him."

"You’re going to propose to him? What kind of a weak a** boyfriend is this?"

Dora laughed as she thought that Rafael was calling his own brother a weak a**. "Oh he is not weak. Its just that, I’ve been hiding him from the world and he feels like a dirty mistress- his words not mine. So, he wants me to claim him in front of the world."

"Well, it sounds like he’s a lucky man. And I suppose, if he feels like a dirty secret, proposing is a strong way to claim him. So, when are you planning to do this?"

"Tomorrow."

Rafael widened his eyes,"Tomorrow? So soon? Well then, I wish you all the best, Isis. I hope once he feels secure, he can treat you like the Goddess you are."

Dora laughed at that. "Thank you, Rafe. I will make sure to pass on your message to him. And now, I need to go before my assistant has a panic attack since I’ve been sitting here all evening... See you soon."

Rafe nodded and stood up, watching her leave. Sigh. Some men were born with all the luck in the world.

Visit freewe𝑏nove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺 for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience