AN: This is the first story I'm publishing here. So please give it a try!

AN: 6-14-2010

The story was beta-ed so, I will replace all the chapters today with the revised versions.

The changes are not deep, but you'll notice the improvements in the story if you read it again.

If you don't want to do it, jump directly to Chapter 14!

Thanks!

Chapter 1

"Here is the ballroom. It was opened in 1856 with a ball to celebrate the end of the Crimean War." The tour guide of Buckingham Palace kept talking.

"Fuck!" She cursed lowly. The guy had the weirdest accent she'd ever heard. It was a little mixture between Scottish and Irish – somewhat difficult to decipher.

"Frustrated by the tour?" A British accented, smooth and velvety voice startled her from behind.

"No. I'm frustrated by the guide's freaking accent. I barely…" She stopped talking as soon as she saw the owner of such wonderful voice. Oh My God!She thought. He was… celestial. Oh! The silky looking lips, the chiseled jaw, the disheveled bronze hair… and the eyes! Mmmm. Two emeralds must have replaced them, since the green was so vibrant…

"Barely?" The man smirked. Damn. She cursed internally when she realized he saw her ogling. Blushing deep red, she quickly composed herself and finished the sentence to emend her fault.

"I barely understand what he says, which a shame is because the palace is wonderful, and I would like to know more about it."

This time he was looking at her. He had been appreciating her from afar, but he had never, in his 25 years of life, seen such a wonderful sight. She was beautiful, but in a discreet kind of way. Her mahogany waved hair produced a halo to her heart shaped and pale face, where her chocolate eyes created the most beautiful final touch. She was breathtaking and mouthwatering. Breaking the train of thoughts that were making him strangely hard, he decided to speak again.

"If you want I can be your tour guide."

She smirked at his not so subtle attempt of get to know her, but as she was in England for fun – to vacate from real life, she thought "What the hell!?"and decided to get in his game.

"Oh… So, you work here?"

"Kind of…" If only you knew! He thought. She seemed to be smart. However, he noticed, as she spoke, that her accent was a little off.

"Are you American?"

"No. I'm Italian, although my mother is British; and you… I'm definitely not going to ask…"

Oh no! She recognizes me! This made his heart beat desperately in is thoracic cavity. Was it such a weird feeling that he didn't want her to go away?However, as she finished her sentence, he released the breath he didn't knew he was holding.

"…Your accent gives you away. I'm Bella, by the way. Well Isabella Swan, but call me Bella. Shall we?" She smiled at him. It was strange, but she could almost remember his face from somewhere, although she never met anyone British before. Her mother had no family left. Probably he just looks like some actor or someone like that.

"I'm Edward Masen. It's a pleasure to meet you." He was happy that she took his offer and introduced herself. He decided, however, to use his other surname, to make sure she didn't recognize him. Cullen was a very well-known name in Europe, and strangely enough, he wanted to get to know this beautiful woman better, before he could tell her who he really was.

"Cut the shit please!" She smirked. "I already agreed to make you company during the palace tour…" he smiled at her boldness. It felt so good to be treated just like any normal human being, and he couldn't understand why but suddenly he realized that it was a huge turn on for him, although it never did it before.

"Alright. Let's begin. You know you're lucky to visit the palace today." He offered her way at his side, trying to keep the thoughts of her dirty talking at bay, while he put his hand at the bottom of her back. She shrived at the touch but didn't push him away. His touch was peculiarly familiar, as if she had known it all her life. Strange.

"Really? Why is that? Because I got you as a personal tour guide?" She teased him a little more. This guy was definitely interesting. He had manners and posture. He knew how to flatter her, and at the same time, he was bold enough to flirt with her.

"Maybe it has something to do with it. But no; today is the last day this week that the ballroom could be visited..." Before he could finish his sentence, her questioning quickly interrupted him.

"They're going to close it to public?" She asked shocked.

"No." He chuckled. "There's going to be a Royal Ball next Saturday, so the Ballroom needs to be cleaned and decorated for the purpose." He looked at her curious expression and before she could ask, he was already telling her the rest of the information. "The Crown Prince has to find a wife, and it seems he has to do it this way, as he couldn't find someone who appeased him until now."

"Is he stupid?" He was so stunned by her words that he let her continue.

"If he's going to marry someone, who will become his Queen someday later, shouldn't he choose a woman he his madly in love with? His true love?Why would he choose some fake bitch, who he would never love, because certainly, she would only be marrying him to become 'The Queen'?'"

Wow. She called him stupid. I am stupid. She is completely right. I can't do this. I can't spend the rest of my life with some snotty bitch, who will be my Queen, just because my father wants me to marry. I've tried the snotty bitch before with Tanya and it doesn't work. I'll die before she even gets to give me an heir to the throne.He thought.

It was that moment that His Royal Highness, Prince Edward Cullen II, had the biggest epiphany of his life. In a quarter of a century that he has lived, he never thought that he would learn from the mouth of a beautiful, sexy and interesting woman, that true love is waiting for him. That moment looking at her he realized that he had already found his true love. Right here, next to him, as she looked at him expectantly.

"I hope I had not offended you. I just insulted the Crown Prince of your country!" She finished smiling, as she saw his face broke in the most beautiful smile she had ever seen, even though it's crooked. Edward was so happy that he wanted to kiss her at that moment, but afraid she would turn him down, he contained himself.

"No offence – I have never thought about it that way, but I think you're absolutely right."

The rest of the tour was great. Edward and Bella learned more things about each other, and by the end of the visit, almost 5 hours later; Edward kissed her hand and wished her a good stay in the country. Bella was quite disappointed that he hadn't even offer her his phone number or asked hers, so she turned away and headed for the subway, which would take her to Piccadilly Street, where her hotel was.

Later that afternoon:

"Rose!" She yelled as soon as she got inside the suite in The Ritz. She was sad, but at the same time, she was also ecstatic. Would she ever saw him again?Oh! Those beautiful green eyes…

"Yeah? What happened?" She asked as soon as saw Bella's expression. It was a mixture of sadness and ultimate excitement. In fact, there was brightness in her eyes that Rosalie had never seen, especially after what happened five years ago.

"I met the man of my dreams. I talked to him all afternoon. His name is Edward. He has bronze disarrayed hair, the most wonderful and vibrant green eyes I've ever seen, a strong jaw. He is so beautiful, inside and out. And he is British! Oh! That accent made my legs quiver…"

Bella stopped her 'speed of light' speech to look at Rose. When she saw her smirk, she asked "What?"

"Well… you'll never believe me, but I think you just fell in love at first sight. So where did you meet him? Do you have his number?" Rosalie kept questioning, but Bella was already entranced in her thoughts. Was she in love? Was it even possible? She had only met him this afternoon, 5 hours ago, although truth to be told, he had yet to leave her mind for solely a second.

Bella sat down on the couch. Edward was everything that she ever wanted and more. He is handsome, intelligent. In fact, they share several opinions about the most varied issues. He was kind for her, attentive, flirtatious but also a gentleman and a friend. During the afternoon Bella discovered that, they shared the same taste about music, books, and even food. Edward had a soft spot for Italian food. It was the typical throat clearing that brought Bella back to the hotel room in London. She decided to deny Rose's assumptions.

"Again Rose? I told you enough times I don't believe in love at first sight. You may think that's what happened with you and Emmett. Attraction?Yes! Love? No." She tried to escape the scrutiny of her sister-in-law. She loves her to death, but sometimes she can be quite impossible. Truth to be told she never believed in Rose's and Emmett love story more than now.

"So, you can tell me that he had left your mind since you met him? Are you not wondering if you'll ever see him again? That you don't smile, and your heart beat accelerates every time you think of him?" Bella was not capable of denying her, and Rose smiled knowingly.

"But he let me go and didn't ask my number. Maybe I'll never see him again." A lonely tear ran down Bella's pale face, and Rose almost immediately scooted over her, embracing her tight, while whispering soothing words in her ear. In her heart Rosalie knew that this Edward whoever he was; was the Prince Charming to Bella's fairytale.

She couldn't know how literally true that was.

Lying in his bed, Edward never thought he would see the day where he would feel empty inside. That was how he was felling ever since he let her go. He couldn't forget their afternoon, and unfortunately, he couldn't forget either, her disappointed face when she left and he didn't ask her number. However, that disappointment was surpassed by the planning he did this afternoon. He hoped that was enough for her to forgive him.

This had to be the best afternoon he ever had. The way their opinions completed each other's, and the way she envisioned certain aspects in ways that he never did. How right he was when he assumed she was an intelligent person. She was a lawyer. Regrettably, he saw a tear left her eye as she confessed him it was because of her father. Edward deduced that he was probably dead. However, as he discovered more about the brown-eyed girl the more entranced he got by her personality and her behavior. She was everything he ever wanted and so much more. He couldn't be worthy of having her, but he would do everything in his power to do so.

He suddenly couldn't wait for Saturday evening.

AN: I hope you liked it. The next chapter is almost ready, I'll try to post it tomorow. R&R!