Neyan sighed irritably. "You are going again to the human world!"
"What's wrong with that? I didn't break the king's rules."
Neyan covered her mouth, her face flushed with anger. It seemed like she was choosing the right words to scold Baron.
"I don't know what you've done in the human world, but you'd better stop going there. Tomorrow you have to face my father and explain your decision whether you will accept this match or not."
"I know it."
"If you do not accept this match, then my father will punish you."
"I also know about that."
Neyan chuckled annoyed. "So, you chose to be punished instead of marrying me?"
"I never said that."
Neyan stood up and looked at him with her eyes that were cruel and ready to kill. Baron remembered that a few days ago Neyan had attacked him until his neck was bleeding.
If Muv didn't save him maybe he would be dead. Now, Neyan looked at him in the same terrible way as back then. Baron remembered where he kept his sword. Maybe, he kept the magic bag in his room.
Neyan came closer and then put her hand on Baron's bare chest. She took a deep breath as if she was inhaling something fishy.
"What?" Baron stepped back. "Do you want to attack me again?"
"You just met a human," Neyan accused.
"None of your business."
Neyan closed her eyes with a sad face. "Baron, I'm really sorry that I attacked you at that time. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"You don't have to apologize to a commoner like me," said Baron.
Neyan frowned. "You are not just a commoner."
"Oh really?"
"You are my future husband!" said Neyan firmly.
Baron saw anger mottle her face. What Neyan said was true, but could Baron marry Neyan if he had given up his heart for Victoria?
He realized that he was risking his own life if he put his feelings first. Time for fun had run out, even though he had just started.
Three days seemed like three minutes for Baron. Should he marry Neyan? He felt sad as he lost his heart and had to replace it with another woman.
"We will meet again tomorrow at the palace," said Neyan. Then she turned and walked out of Baron's house.
The Caraura Tea hasn't been touched by Neyan at all. Baron took a sip of the drink and felt the warmth run through his body.
He still doesn't want to die anytime soon. Married to Neyan was simply not his choice to live life.
That night, Baron could not sleep well. He kept thinking about his kiss with Victoria. He could feel a warm vibration filling his long empty heart.
If he married Neyan, he would never be able to freely play into the human world again. Just hours apart from Victoria had made Baron miss her. What would happen if he had to be separated forever from Victoria?
Then if he was married to Neyan, would Neyan attack him again like that time if the princess was angry with him? Baron feels that his life is being threatened at all times both in the human world and in Emporion Land.
***
That morning Baron came to the palace. He was escorted in by guards to enter the main hall. The place was still the same as the last time Baron came to this place.
This time, King Valo and Queen Inayba wore their royal robes which were red with golden stripes. His eyes did not move to stare at Queen Inayba who was so beautiful and luxurious.
Neyan stood beside her mother. Her face was very similar to Queen Inayba's, but her proud expression was more like King Valo. Her dress is pink with fine silk material. The bottom of her skirt seemed to be floating in the air every time she moved.
"Greetings to the King and Queen," said Baron while lowering his head and saluting him while placing his hands on his chest. "Greetings, Princess Neyan," he added.
Neyan nodded once without looking at Baron's face.
"Stand up, Baron," said King Valo. "Do you know what day it is?"
"Yes, My King," answered Baron.
"Have you made up your mind? Are you going to marry my daughter, Princess Neyan, or not?"
Baron lowered his head in a respectful manner. "I feel unworthy, My King. I am just a commoner."
"How presumptuous! Do you mean to embarrass the royal family?!" exclaimed Blaker from the right side of the throne.
"I apologize. I don't dare, My King," said Baron, lowering his head.
"You're wasting our time! King Valo and Queen Inayba have no time for all that nonsense!" Blaker held his chin up high.
Baron was annoyed, but he was unable to show it in front of the king. He said, "I don't dare to against the King's orders. I'm sorry for upsetting everyone with me."
King Valo nodded slowly. Queen Inayba looked tense, her hands twirling the string ornament hanging from her dress.
"So, do you accept this match?" asked King Valo, repeating his question.
Baron took a deep breath and sighed. "Yes, Your Majesty. I accept this matchmaking."
Queen Inayba sighed with relief, but her face didn't look happy. The ladies around them clapped their hands. Blaker cleared his throat and clapped his hands too.
"Good then," said King Valo. "I don't need to think of a way to punish you because I actually don't want to punish the son of my beloved general."
Baron lowered his head. To be honest he didn't want the king to talk about his late father. It made him uncomfortable. His late father makes a pact with King Valo without his consent.
"Very well, then we will soon have a wedding in three days!" exclaimed King Valo.
All the ladies-in-waiting bowed to accept the king's orders. Blaker also saluted.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Baron.
He glanced at Neyan who was seen smiling faintly. Neyan must be very happy to know that Baron accepted this match. She did not know that Baron felt sad and depressed in his heart.
There was nothing that he could do but accept all of this. He never knows when he will be able to meet again with Victoria.
When Baron exited the palace, he encountered Loma and his troops. They all congratulated Baron while tapping him on the shoulder. The news spread rapidly throughout the palace.
"Congratulations on your matchmaking," said Loma.
"Shut up." Baron narrowed his eyes while frowning.
"What is wrong with you? You should feel happy. You will become one of the leaders in Emporion Land."
"No. I won't do it."
"Be a little happy, Bro." Loma elbowed him and it felt very uncomfortable. Baron rubbed his ribs.
Loma invited him to walk around the palace while on patrol. They passed the garden which was in the west wing of the palace. The atmosphere was bright that morning.
The sun was shining brightly on the orange and blue flowers. The flowers bloom in the morning and bud at night. Baron knows that the flower intends to cure the sprue.
"I heard that a few days ago you just went to the human world. Is it true?" asked Loma.
"Yes." Baron nodded his head.
"You endanger the Emporion Land's existence, Baron. Don't you realize that your father is trying to protect our world from the attacks of The Catcher? You shouldn't be traveling there too often." Loma advised Baron who still looked gloomy.
"Don't worry, Loma. As long as I was there, no one was attacking me."
"What are you doing there? Do you intend to avoid this matchmaking problem?"
Loma's words pierced his heart and they were true. Baron really avoids all of these problems, it's just that he is too proud to admit it.
"Yeah. I just want to relieve fatigue."
"What fun can you have there?"
Baron looked left and right to make sure no one was overhearing their conversation. Then he whispered, "I met a woman."
Loma was surprised to hear Baron's confession. "Are you serious?"
"I don't know, but it looks like I've fallen in love with her."
"To who? Neyan or ... "
"The woman I just met," said Baron explained.
"You are crazy." Loma stared at him with a frown.
"Yes, I know!" exclaimed Baron. "I can't prevent that from happening."
Loma nodded slowly. "Our conversation sounds dangerous. We'd better not get into it here. We wouldn't know if there were invisible ears hearing our conversation. Spies are everywhere."
"Is it true? Did you find anything suspicious?"
Loma looked left and right, making sure they were safe. He lowered his voice and said, "Yesterday I found a horse animagus corpse that was only dry skin and bones. The Animagus is half horse and half-human. It looks like he tried to turn into a human, but failed. I don't understand what really happened to the animagus, but I believe that this is a murder."
Baron shuddered at this. "Do you know him?"
"No, I don't. I suspect that the animagus doesn't come from here," said Loma.
"Then what did you do to the corpse?"
"I and my troops ended up burning the corpse." Loma sighed. "Forget about it. How about we party tonight? "
"What party?"