In Rose's palace, the palace where the queen lived. Queen Nissa looked towards the window, her gaze staring away. Today she invited the Duke Raffles's daughter or his son's fiancé, Elisabeth to the palace to talk about a few things before going to meet that damned boy. She didn't want to at first, but she didn't expect that this meeting made her satisfied and it paid off.
"Search and find out who is the first prince's lover."
She said softly in commanding voice, although there was no sign of anyone else in the room but in a few moments a shadow began to move outside the window. After that, the corners of Queen Nissa's lips began to lift up.
"Looks like finally I can have a good sleep."
…
On the other hand, Reisa facing the first prince in bar while the waiter prepared the food and drink. They had already eaten, the food is just for formality to get a place for them to talk. this bar is pretty crowded so Lucas cast some spell.
[ Voice Isolation ]
in the table where they sit, a thin transparant membrane form a dome warpping them. Reisa who saw that when the spell is formed become dazed until Lucas's cold voice woke her up.
" I am sorry that I didn't help you earlier"
'so you know!!' said Reisa in her mind.
"Well, It is because I saw potential on you. Didn't you realize what you did?" Lucas give Reisa dubious look.
"How did you know?" Even Reisa herself just realize it today after few accident. That foresign that come and go without notice.
"Before I came out from Audience Chamber you already holding a handicraft."
"That! ... because I heard a noise from the audience chamber." Said Reisa timidly at the end of her sentence.
"..." Lucas who prepared this reason for Reisa to reveal her ability.
"Cough- also, it is because of your leaking mana is uniqe." finally he find another reason.
"Huh?!"
"I myself, also a mage. Hmm... actually, rather than mana it was a divine energy. To be short, you have a talent and its quite rare for noblewoman like yourself. So, i tried to probe your fighting power... sorry."
He said sorry but his eyes didn't shown it.
"Then who are you? and your purpose?"
And then, Reisa just realize that she hadn't introduced herself all this time when first prince dragged her here.
"I am sorry for my late introduction, I greet your highness the first prince. My name is Reisa Claymore. And...." so Reisa explain her identity as marriage candidate and her affilation with Queen. "... I hope you're not angry." Reisa bow her head.
"I am not, I am glad that you tell me those thing. To be honest, I might really choose you as my wife." Reisa beam happily and raised her head with sparkle eyes at Lucas that make him feel bad.
"But, don't expect love from me."
"Eh!"
"Think of this as political marriage or contractual one, then I will choose you. Title, wealth or power you can have all of those. Just stay as a good wife for two year."
Reisa froze, her hope crushed and those two year time is exactly the time of his death.
"WHY? In two years, can't we just marriage as it is and slowly fall in love?!"
"NO!" He said firmly. "I already love someone else."
"Then why didn't you just marry her!"
"It's complicated. I am still pursuing that person. I need at least two years to get all ready and stall time for the king request."
"So all along I am just a SUBSTITUTE!"
She started to think that this may be the reason of his attitude in her past life. So he has someone else? who is she?
"Hey! Let me clear one thing, we didn't have any realionship. If you're disstastisfied I can look out for other candidate."
"How could you be... then why did you ask me out today, turn me down after giving me false hope..." Reisa cried.
"Ahh, sorry you liked me... you're not from capital right? It might sound narsistic, but I have a lot of admirer. Don't you know that in the past I told them that they can ask me out once a month or as long as I am free. So they make a rolling to whose I would going to date. In the end they end up as fans, so I didn't think much of you feeling."
"Isnt it wrong to play with their feeling like that?"
"If your idea is loyalty to one person, I admire it. But can you be sure that it is the right person? I just on my way to find someone I am destinied with so I tried with anyone who interested with me, and recently I found that person. Moreover, I told you about the marriage contract it is out of kindness or do you prefer I married you without you knowing that I am seeing someone else?"
'Isnt is what you did to me last time!' the reason you neglec me for whole three month and when she dumped you then you have me as her SUBSTITUTE!? cruel! but why... my heart,
"I am sorry, I will do it the marriage Contract!"
"Hmm, good choice then..."
"BUT! even if you don't love me right now, someday I will make you like me!"
"Such a bold confession, don't you realize that the Contract require you not to love me?"
"..."
"Well, I don't hate someone who love me, or we could move this way. Right now I am persuing someone, and there is chance I am failed. In two years time you can tried to make me fall for you regadless the result of my attempt. If you failed I will go with that person, If you success both of you will be my wife and if my attempt is failed I will be with you. How? Since you already love me this might be hard on you if you failed and break your heart. So I suggest you back off and find a better person."
Reisa began to waver but then when she though of her future of her past live there is only him. Just when she want to accept the Contract.
"Don't be hasty to give me answer. Meet me before the final selection in Lunar hotel after you think it through fully."
Lucas leave an Introduction black card for Reisa to meet him next time after sending her off with teleportation scroll.