"No! I refuse. I am going home right this instant! I will not marry that man! Not in a million years!"
Clara panted as she pointed at Xander who, rather, looked relaxed on the study's couch. James worriedly tried to calm her down. His friend and knight, who I troduced himself as Fredreich earlier, continued to sigh. "Alright, alright. James, F, please leave us. I believe my betrothed and I have matters to discuss." Both of them shuffled out of the door which left them in deadly silence.
"Now, now, Miss Clara. I apologize for the-"
She quickly snapped back at him, "You purposely lied to make fun of me, didn't you?! To make fun of someone who seriously responded to the will of our ancestors! Do you think of me as someone who will bow to your whims just because you're his highness, the prince? Accuse me of treason, for all I care. I have shamed my family because of a sick bastard's prank!" Xander raised a brow and cleared his throat. "Let us discuss things in a calm manner, Clara. It was only an initial assessment as to see the woman's reaction with a a series of predicament."
"A series of predicament? Excuse me, Xander, or is it his royal highness Prince Frances Raizl? I understand your concern regarding the matter of assessment but your way is clearly ridiculous. You purposefully left out the status' details in that letter of marriage. So, maybe I was too stupid not to reassess everything about your background but dammit, why did you have to fabricate everything about your personal details?! Suddenly appearing in front of me to embarass me, further? Why, thank you very much."
She frowned as he scratched his nape. He stood up, "Fine. I'm sorry, see? I didn't mean to embarrass you or anything. You just seem interesting. Plus, I really, really meant to introduce myself to you as soon as possible but I can't help but to feel... playful." She huffed and walked towards the door, "I'm still not convinced."
"Wait-I-Fine. Cool down a bit. We can talk after you calmed down."
Claire sighed and clutched the doorknob as continued to speak, "I guess you're that angry at me, huh? I was planning to share Therese's cookies. You know her, right? The patissier and-" She turned to look at him, in a questioning gaze. Then, he turned away. Damn him! She huffed as she turned back.
"...and her muffins."
She bit her lip and faced him, "Fine! Apology accepted." Xander looked at her and grinned sheepishly by which turned into a smirk in a flash. "And, don't give me that look, your highness. I might forgive you for now but I will never forget how shallow you are." Xander frowned as he watched her cross her arms. He is not shallow. He just happened to be amused at her carefulness. Being all lady-like when she has a sailor's mouth, to begin with. He sighed and looked at her, "Well, how about we talk about this engagement? As much as I'm trying to be devoted to you, I have to work on some thing that-"
"Do not give me that "busy" card, your highness. Oh, I know what you do behind the curtains."
His mouth hung open. Is she... kidding or what? She shot him a glare and uncrossed her arms. She, then, strode towards the cushioned seat across him and sat gracefully. "Fine, then. Let us talk sensibly and no, kidding this time." He smirked, "No promises, you grace."
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"My family values fidelity and faithfulness. Chelle sees this as a way to preserve honor among bloodlines ad dignity among citizens. While you may probably never stop flirting with other women, you have to promise me not to touch them in any way and I don't take broken promises lightly. Once you do, consider this arrangement done, your highness."
Xander looked at her with secret awe. A woman of high-value and untarnished virtues, too. Is this how Chelle raise their daughters? Quite the contrary with his country, considering how dirty the court games are. Instead of nodding like an enlightened pupil, he maintained his composure and said, "Well, that is quite wonderful of you to consider your family's reputation, your grace." She shot him a look of disdain, "I am not only doing this for my family, your highness. I am also doing this for you. It is shameful for a man to bed other women while promised to another. Didn't your governess teach you so?" He chuckled at her sharp tongue. He is marrying someone with vigor and love for freedom, true. "What else do you have in store for me, Miss Clara?" She blinked and paused for a few seconds, "I don't need anything else except for two things more." Xander stared at her, eyes full of curiosity. Need? "May I ask whatever they may be?"
"My freedom. Your honesty. If I don't have these two, I don't even care if you care enough to let me go, but I will go back to my home country, no matter how self-entitled I will become."
He smiled at her. A woman who is not afraid to say what is on her mind. A woman who is brave enough to question where his loyalties lie. A woman who is strong enough to earn his honesty. "Your freedom, I suppose, is up to you, your grace. I do not know your definition of freedom but I would want you to show me the boundaries. My honesty, per chance, is yours but I value my freedom too, to select which questions to answer." She blinked and gave him the slightest of her smiles, "I understand, your highness. I do have my own secrets to keep." By which I will uncover soon, he thought. He smiled, "Well, your grace, may I set a few rules, myself?" She blinked and complied, "Yes, your highness."
"Well, Miss Clara du Mont, you are certainly a beautiful lady and while interracial marriages of convenience in Chelle is common, it is the opposite here. People will certainly be curious of your pale complexion, your red mane and your strange accent. They will look at you at face value and I wish to protect that spirit you have."
Claire looked at him skeptically before blushing. What is he talking about? He eyed her for a moment and smirked at her reaction, then continued, "I want you to be honest with me, as well. Tell me about your qualms and immediate needs. Tell me about yourself. Tell me how much you hate dresses because they make you twitch and itch and just... like how you're behaving now. Tell me about being uncomfortable with being left in the dark or being chained. Tell me your sole purpose of agreeing to this arrangement and why you are still here despite the nagging feeling you felt on the journey towards here. I am not stupid, nor am I blind to see your expressions, Clara. I may be playful and reckless but I am observant enough to notice." She stared at him with wide eyes. This man should never be underestimated. "I-I do have secrets I cannot disclose, too."
He grinned, "I can work with that. I don't want to force with something you don't want to do but... I will make you do it in your own pace." She almost shivered at his words. Is he really the man she thought he is?
"I may be gone for weeks, a year to top, but I don't want you to be left wondering or I, in any case. Write me letters or any sort of communication. As much as I am a traveler, I also uphold a title. I do not want to tarnish that title by disregarding you, who is under my responsibility. I am not going to question you about being the only one. I want you to understand that I will not always be by your side but I will always be looking out for you as your future husband. I can promise you fidelity and faithfulness but I cannot promise you my devotion... and heart."
The lady nodded. She cannot promise him her heart as well. Agreeing to this marriage was also a gamble to her, just like to him. It is a marriage to secure whatever her grandmother was trying to save. It is a fulfillment of a promise made long before she was born and she is trying to uncover whatever her grandmother has in store for her. "I understand, your highness. I cannot promise you my heart, as well."
"I want to ask you one more thing."
For a second she saw him falter and he just smiled, "If you... find love, tell me. I'd gladly let you go." She saw a smile of someone who failed someone or... who believes will never find that feeling. Now, it's her turn to smirk. "To mess this arrangement my grandmother have planned years before I was born is almost like a sin, your highness. I do not want to wait for another of my family's daughter to fulfill this if I am fully capable of doing it myself." He chuckled, "You really are something. I guess the muffin-sharing is worth it, huh?" She stood up and gave him a look, "My good prince, I have always been something." She gave him a wink and strode out of the room.
"Yes, I must agree to that."
Xander smirked to himself. Damn, that's sexy.
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Hello! Sorry for inactivity, fellas... oh, and for the errors. This is quite raw, too. Give me some thing to think about, too? Constructive criticisms are welcome. 'Til next time.