"Uh? It's the Duke of Oncidium!"
Lawrence who was standing there looking at me with angry eyes. "Duke...!" Lobelia fluttered the hem of her dress and ran to Lawrence. While running with a breathless breath, Lobelia's eyes were shining with respect and anticipation for the Duke of Oncidium. "I apologize on behalf of the duke's honor for being defiled by the false words my sister said. I'm so sorry, Duke." "..." But Lawrence turned around and about to leave the banquet hall without even responding to Lobelia who apologized with tears in front of him. "Lawrence." It was a very low voice, but my calling was strong enough to stop his body from moving further. "Isn't there anything you want to say?" "I cannot object the Imperial Princess's words and actions," he said. "By the way, it was a steamy hot night we had in the garden last night-" Lawrence walked like a flash towards me and grabbed my shoulders. "Stop it," he whispered. "I didn't say anything wrong, so why?" "....Would you please have a talk with me outside?" "Sure." When I saw his cold sweat reaction, I was satisfied. "Where shall we go and talk, my room?" "Wherever you go, I will come along," he said. Wherever I go he said, it's clearly that he really wished to get out from this place and so we left the hall. The people who criticized and called me for a liar now have their mouth shut. Thousand of eyes were following us to the door. "Ah! Lobelia, you should take over the party. I don't think I will return anytime soon." I flashed a smile before we walked out and the door was closed, before we walked far, I could heard the fuss inside the hall. 'Ah~ The joy of my heart to see that broken beautiful face of Lobelia's. The man she's in love with is within my reach.' I smirked to the fact as Lawrence was walking in front of me.
"Let's go to the Emperor's garden," I said as I broke our silence. Lawrence stopped his steps and turned at me, by forced he grabbed my arm to pull me closer to him. "...You, because of your handsome, I will let you go. I warn you to mind your action toward me. Do you realize that you are being rude to the Imperial Princess and touch me carelessly?" I glared at him. "That's the same for me. What the hell do you want from me?" He asked in anger. "What do I want?" "Haven't you been insulting me because you want something for me? You ordered a maid to dirtily harassing me in front of the public, raped me who was drunk and couldn't control my body and you inflated a story to everyone like that." "..." "...I've been thinking that maybe you are interested in me. Thinking that you must have done all those to attract my attention," Lawrence added. "Huh?" I raised my eyebrow, thinking what kind of nonsense he said. The peacock sighed deeply with a serious face, immediately following up with the words how he felt generous. "What?" "Because you try so hard to get my attention, I guess you have succeeded. I'll marry you as you wish." "What a bullsh--" I stopped my sentence before I continued to cuss and about to hit the reality back to him. But I changed my mind when I thought about what he said, this could be a good plan to make Lobelia went insane with envy, I had to agree with this absurd marriage. Besides, as a crazy princess, no one would sent me marriage proposals. So while there was a lunatic man in front of me and a chance, why not? "Please don't ever think that I will love you." Lawrence words woke me up from my thought, of course he still had his dignity and pride. 'It's just a kiss and he already thought too far about me. Oh well, since I already stole the virginity of his lips then I have to be responsible.' "If you heard me and since the marriage deal has been done, I'll go back." "See you soon, go back safely." Lawrence left without looking back at me, I glanced at the wall behind my corner eye.
"Who's there?" A young looking maid suddenly appeared after hiding behind the wall, she bowed her full body and head faced down on the floor. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. Please spare my life, Your Majesty. I apologize for my rudeness." I was about to punish this kid but I guessed I had to let her go. "Alright. Instead, spread what you just heard." "Yes?" She looked up at me confusedly. "You hear me. Tell everyone that you heard the Duke of Oncidium has proposed to me. He loves me so much that, after a fierce proposal, he grabbed me and told me that it's a has to be done marriage." "Yes. Yes, I will surely do it. Thank you for saving my life, Your Majesty." "If there is another unnecessary rumor is made of, you know what will happen to you. So be careful on what you're saying," I warned her. The young maid bowed down fully many times.
The unexpected negotiation was done, and the first face that welcomed me was Noah's worried face. "Your Majesty." "Sir Noah, what are you doing here? I heard that you are busy." "I've been worried that Your Majesty had a problem with the Duke of Oncidium. I'm glad nothing happened," he scanned his eyes on me looking if there were any bruises or wounds. "It's not like he'd kill me," I said. "He has a very cold disposition and he has a position and honor comparable to the Imperial family. This means as a young successor of Oncidium family, he can do anything that the Imperial do. If he has the temper, he can harm Her Majesty as much as possible." "I will married," I suddenly exclaimed. "Absolutely... Yes?" Noah's eyes got widen in surprise. "I know it's so suddenly," I said. "Why does it become like this?" Noah asked. "I got a proposal," I told him. "Is it from the Duke of Oncidium?" Noah asked again. "Who else could it be? Isn't it funny? I'm not even a good person," I chuckled. "This can't be. Please say it's a joke."
The unusual appearance of Noah who asked more persistently was a little strange. "Shouldn't I have to marry too? The best option of men only him and he is the first man to propose me," I told him. "If you had waited a little more, there would have been many more people to propose Your Majesty," Noah said. "How do you guarantee that? People think that I'm a lunatic princess who harm people randomly. How many men do you think would like to marry me?" I looked at him straight into his eyes as I asked but he didn't budge a bit. "...I will." Noah took a step closer and stared back into my eyes. "Didn't you say that I will be with you forever?" "As a knight," I cut him. "...I am not satisfy with that. Just because no one can love Your Majesty, I can't too?" "I'm that one person who keep people by my side because of necessity and hasn't you give me a heart?" I couldn't think straight by his sudden behavior. "I don't know if you will let me propose or you want to start a fight. I thought that you would married as late as possible... but this is so suddenly..." Noah looked at me with a sad expression, he looked heartbroken and betrayed by my decision. "I cannot accept this. If I knew you would accept his proposal, I would have done it first." "Noah von Schaumberg." "I love you! From the first moment I saw you." I was stunned and taken aback as Noah declared his true feelings to me. I couldn't go soft right now, I had my purpose. "Stop it," I told him. "Please choose me. Please accept me. Please keep me by your side." Noah's big eyes were filled with crystal like tears and it seemed to flow over his white cheeks.
"Please... choose me, Poinsettia."