Everyone wanted to marry Prince Ilya because they knew he would be the next king. Why they believed this? It was simply due to the pretence that Prince Ilya was a full royal. The son of the king and the second queen Ilsa, the daughter of a duke.
This thought process was simple and not quite wrong but what they believed would happen wouldn't.
I knew the truth.
In the next 3-4 years, Prince Rudo would become the acting king and then after a while, I would hand it over to Prince Ilya. For what reason? I'm not sure. Even the game had not specified this but I found it suspicious.
A part of me wanted to ask Prince Rudo but it would be impossible right now. I wasn't close to him and even if I was, there would be no way for me to ask such a thing without seeming like an oracle and I'd be signing my own death warrant if I did this...
In this world, only one oracle had ever existed and her fate was one of being used, abused and then death by execution for crimes she wasn't responsible for and even tried to stop. But people can quickly turn on you when you are no longer useful...
Her abilities sealed her fate.
My face had probably been dark because suddenly, prince Rudo's voice came to my ears.
"Would you like to dance?" The question was awkward coming out of Prince Rudo's mouth. Frankly, I didn't even understand why he would ask such a thing.
I looked at him a paused for a second. Feeling my eyes on him, Prince Rudo brushes his hand in his hair.
"Let's give them a show. An albino and a foreign looking woman dancing together. I'm sure it'll cause a riot." Despite saying this, his demeanour was strange.
With this explanation, I couldn't help but freeze. This felt unnatural. Mostly considering how he had acted beforehand and how I knew him in the game.
Was he trying to use me for something? Did he act like this before Ariadne had been killed in the game? Was he trying to put attention on me? To show someone that he 'cared' about me so that I would be used and killed without real issue?
I felt goosebumps appear on my skin.
Then for a moment, I looked around. No one was looking our way. No one except for the king who had probably been starring out way the whole time.
"Do you want to, or not?" He asked simply.
Hearing this, I didn't know what to say but when I looked up to his face, seeing how he looked away from me almost with some kind of embarrassment, I felt my body relax.
I see... I thought to myself.
"Sure..." I said simply and then I took his hand.
When he felt my hand, Prince Rudo clapped it hard.
"I'll show you a good time." He said simply. "We can continue our discourses."
I nodded.
In my head I smiled, but my actually mouth did not move at all. Not even a twitch.
Prince Rudo had a favourable outlook of me. For what reason? I didn't know but I was glad for it.
In the game, the few people in Prince Rudo's entourage had always been safe from any danger. They were protected from the shadows by people Prince Rudo trusted and if I was able to work myself into being important to him, I'd have that privilege also...
I hoped that this was enough to make me survive passed 18, but even if it wasn't, I still planned on reinforcing my chances.
***
Prince Rudo and I danced for three dances.
This drew many eyes to us. It was as if we were saying we were a couple of sorts but in truth, it was because we both knew that no one else would try to share a dance with one of the other.
To this, I almost laughed.
"The price of being different." Prince Rudo whispered, and then he paused for a second before he said, "People seem to be misunderstanding. At this rate, you won't be able to get married."
I shrugged. "Whatever happens in the future happens."
Prince Rudo's eyebrows raised at my words.
"You don't mind ending up unmarriageable and then forced to marry me?" Prince Rudo asked with curiosity.
"I don't really want to get married..." I said simply, the look in my eyes turning slightly dark.
Marriage was not something I considered. I didn't have time to think about actually marrying anyone since for now, my fate was already decided. I would die before I would even get the change to get my first kiss, let alone be married.
"You look like someone who's about to die." Prince Rudo said.
Hearing this, I frowned and looked up to him. The darkness of his crystal blue eyes matched my own and so I said,
"Marriage is death without love. And love is usually the privilege of commoners."
Prince Rudo paused a second then he nodded.
Prince Rudo: "I might have to agree but I think love can be worked on and found even if you don't love someone at first. Also, there are many kinds of love... maybe you might not love your husband but you can love your child. Maybe you might love your child but you might love your in-laws. Maybe you might not love your in-laws but you might love your servants. There are many possibilities."
I was a bit shocked by the words that had come out of Prince Rudo's mouth. So much so, that I was completely speechless for a moment.
"I didn't take you for an optimist." I said.
Prince Rudo shook his head. "I'm a realist."
"Really. Then what would you do if you were forced to marry?" I said slyly.
I knew that wasn't fair, but I needed to test the waters.
"I wonder." Prince Rudo said without looking away from me.
Feeling his stare I began to feel bashful and so, I turned away for a moment.
Because of this, from the corner of my eyes I saw Ellie, she started straight at me with some sort of interest or longing.
I frowned.