I want mcdonalds.
Well that's the first thought when I waltz into dining hall with the food.
A chandelier hangs on top, the room has a long ass table, it looks... really childish if you ask me. But a fantasy is a fantasy.
"Your highness," I bow. "Your meal."
I set it onto the table, and I show him the scanning results.
"Have a seat." The prince has a servant pull a chair for me, and I shake my head.
"I wouldn't dare to have a meal with the crown," I shake my head. "Please enjoy your meal your highness."
"No no," Zachary smiles. "Take a seat. I have a couple of questions to ask."
Ah. The mouth must have slipped again.
"It's alright," I shake my head again. "I can stand."
"I heard Hades sent you here," Zachary drawls, stabs a piece of his steak, and bites down to chew.
"That is correct," I mumble.
"Did he receive news from someone?" He stares at me.
"I do not believe so," I shake my head.
He looks like he's in thought.
"Then... what do you think about becoming empress consort?"
HUH?
"I have no such plans... your highness," I scratch my cheek.
"Then if I gave you the chance would you take it?"
"Ah..." I stare at him.
I don't want to be empress but I want to marry a man who can rail the daylights out of me. I mean Crystalia did die during the wedding night... but still I'm not marrying this man. I would however, hook up with him. One night stand? Yes. Marriage? No thanks <3
I would let him rail me until there's no tomorrow but he is not allowed to marry me thanks <3
"Your highness... I don't think it's suitable for me," I smile.
"You're nearing your 30s and your parents aren't rushing you into marriage?"
"My parents don't really mind," I smile. "My brother is already married and has a child."
"Then I shall overcompensate your parents so that you would marry me," Zach smiles.
"That's corrupt," I interject.
"But what if I've set my eyes on marrying you?"
Right. This book was going to force me with Zachary because Crystalia ended up with him in the end.
But who did I love? Albert became a fleeting figure, but my heart still rested with him. Zach became the hand that's offering me a future of riches, but also toward the never ending harsh critics.
"I don't have any intention to live in a position where I am being spoken of all the time," I stand from my seat.
"My apologies for making you uncomfortable," He shakes his head. "Unfortuantely, there's more I need to ask you about."
I sit back down, and the prince wipes his mouth.
"Why did Hades send you?"
"Your highness it was because my family saved his soldiers during the war and I had saved him from an assassination."
Zach cuts into his eclair and bites down.
"Then you must have been sent for a reason."
"Someone leaked information that there was a servant who was under Bria's orders to attempt to poison you." I mumble.
The prince turns to stare at me, and he dismisses his servants.
"Bria?" He tilts his head. "Where did you hear that?"
"A witch who visits my village-"
Zach slams his utensils onto the table.
"Do you know where she moved to?"
"N-no," I mumble. "W-why your majesty?"
"She... I was actually considering taking her as my wife," He grins.
Is this man insane? Oh wait he's a royal nevermind.
"The witch is called Crysta, and unfortunately, the eclipse wants my brother to end up with her so I had to give up," He sighs dramatically. "Which is why I am now contemplating marrying you!"
"Your majesty-"
"But you turned me down," He sighs. "Will you do me the honor of helping me choose a wife then?"
I blink at him.
"Well the pay's better, and you can still help me scan for poison-"
I stand up abruptly.
"I will do my job as instructed by the duke and then I will stop bothering the crown prince." I speak. "Your majesty a piece of advice, if you'd like to marry and settle down, you have to stop losing interest every time someone likes you back."
The prince tries to call for me, but I head out.
I walk back to my room, and I stop to stare at the moon through the window.
"If you're hearing this... white sheets are Albert, blue sheets are for the crown." I continue walking down the hallway before I reach my room.
The sheets are white.
I hate that eclipse girl, but if the moon wanted it, then I wouldn't complain. I wanted to end up with Albert again anyways.
If dwelling in the past is what the world has to offer to me, then it'll be what I take.
"I heard the crown prince asked you to become empress consort!" the maid rushes up to me.
"I turned him down," I loosen my outfit, and I untie my hair. "The title of empress is too much."
"Then concubine?"
"Too much pride for that," I shake my head.
The woman sighs. "I'd kill to become a concubine... I heard they're treated really well..."
Well considering that Lilith and Albert's mom was poisoned to death, and that the empress is a jealous person, you might just die within months.
"I guess it depends on the empress."
"Ah speaking of which, a letter came in for you." She hands me a letter, and it's from Hades.
Ah. They found traces of the poison's seller. Today's meal hadn't been poisoned, but I managed to find someone who would was fiddling their fingers out of anxiety. It could be anxiety or it could be because they're nervous.
"Speaking of which," the maid stares at me. "What's your name?"
"I'm Heliana."
"What a beautiful name!" She smiles. "I'm Eclisa."
Eclisa. The eclipse's human form.
The biggest mouth who loved spreading rumors, the same daughter who played with probability.
Ah this would be interesting.