"P-Prince Spencer!" Vanessa squeaked, worried about what he would think of them after what he'd just witnessed. "I'm so sorry for what you've just seen. Clearly Carina has no manners at all and needs time to reflect on her actions-"
"That's quite enough, Duchess Rayburn." Prince Spencer cut in, his tone flat, but eyes lit up with a fierceness that scared everyone into silence. "Rather than Carina, I think it is your other daughter Jane that has no manners. Falsely accusing her own sister of harming her in front of me, did you not think I wouldn't notice what her intentions were? It's clear to me that Carina hasn't actually done anything wrong, and yet both you and your daughter Jane seemed intent on accusing her. I have to wonder just what exactly is going through your mind for you to behave so abhorrently."
Everyone in the room was caught by complete surprise at the prince's words, as they would've never thought that he would take Carina's side during all this. Even if Jane had admitted she lied, Carina had still knocked her out without remorse.
It was at this point that Vanessa realised she had made a horrible miscalculation. Clearly the prince genuinely did like Carina, so much so that it didn't matter to him if she could raise a hand (or head in this case) against her sister in such a coldblooded fashion.
Sensing that she had utterly and thoroughly lost this battle, Vanessa made a few excuses and rushed apologies before running out of the room to check on Jane.
Carina looked at Vanessa with a frown as she fled from the room.
Once the room was mostly emptied except for Carina and the Prince, he turned to Carina and stepped forward with intent.
Carina, startled, took a sudden step back to put more space between them.
"Are you alright?" Spencer asked, as if he hadn't noticed that Carina had effectively just shut him out.
"You're worried about me?" Carina asked, puzzled. "Jane's the one that fainted, you know."
Spencer nodded. "I know, but I'm sure launching an attack like that must've hurt your head quite a bit."
Carina raised her fingers to her forehead, probing for any sore spots. "It did, at the time, but I'm alright now. I'm sorry you had to see something like that."
"And I'm sorry you have to deal with a family as poisonous as this."
Carina chuckled a bit at that, which relieved Spencer a great deal.
"Don't worry too much about it, I have my own way of dealing with them."
Spencer smiled, suddenly reaching forward to take one of Carina's hands into his own.
Carina was too shocked by the action to react, and was only able to respond by dropping her mouth open in surprise.
"Your stepmother had approved of this courtship before your sister had appeared, so I hope you will now prepare for our relationship moving forward."
Carina was still gaping. "Wh- you- you're still interested? Even after all that?"
Spencer looked at her as if he thought she was silly for doubting him. "Of course. I told you from the beginning that I was serious about this."
Carina still looked unconvinced, so Spencer lifted their intertwined hands and placed a light kiss against her knuckles.
"I also happen to like strong women, and Carina Rayburn, you are by far the strongest and most interesting woman I've ever met."