"I am the next Duke of Edinburgh. I don't joke."
His resolute words thew Luna into a fit of illusion. All she could see was a world of mirror that reflects different ways of her death, a tinnitus of mirror breaking was heard as if her world was crumbling over. But it didn't took her long to recover.
"Oh, it's a pity I don't like the young master. Objectively and romantically, I don't think I'll want to be involve with you."
Her smile was captivating but he rwords were harsh. It was a total rejection that made Rasen's brow twist. It hurt his pride that a lady younger than him that blatantly rejected him even before he could properly express his intentions.
"Luckily, we have all the time to change the lady's mind."
"It seems that the young lord has forgotten that I am but a child not until a couple of years ago. Do you perhaps, fancy kids?"
The gap between their age was not that big, however the way she delivered it made it seem as if he was double her age when there was only two years of difference.
The smile on Rasen's face began to crack while Luna smiled more alluringly.
'Wow, the male lead was actually a creep. I don't think he was like this in the novel.'
The novel described Rasen as a cold young master that was indifferent to anyone. Not even the ladies who wanted to win his heart has succeeded. He was said to distinguish people from usable and non usable. Needless to say, it seems that Luna is the former. However, what she didn't know is that, she had seriously captured his heart.
"My lady, do wish to be empress?"
His question made Luna frown.
'So we're talking about this.'
"You're words are treacherous. How come a duke's son dared to ask me a question not even the Prince had ask."
Rasen laughed at her direct answer.
"The purpose of this visit is to propose an idea of engagement between the first prince and lady Luxembourg."
'Aha. So this is how I got engaged.'
"And if I happen to say I do, what is it for the young master?"
"Then I wish to be your lover."
At his confident declaration, Luna reflexively wiped the hand that held his arms in disgust. It was an absurd notion that her engagement is being decided by someone who is not even her family, but it was even more baffling that the young master of that house wishes to be her lover.
'You want me to cheat with you? Are you crazy?'
"The young master's joke is going too far."
She said in a cold voice. Her face was expressionless but inside, she was burning with all sorts of emotions, disgust, anxiety, and anger.
Rasen only shrugged his shoulders as if there's nothing he could do if she believed his words to be a joke.
"If you don't wish to be a part of the imperial family, you can be a part of Edinburgh duchy. How about an engagement with me?"
He asked with a hint of laughter but his eyes were serious. It was their first meeting, no matter how beautiful a person was to leave an impression, it was still not rationally enough to say it was love. However, Rasen was convinced. In his heart, he won't let anyone have her other than himself.
"I think it was time to go back. We've been gone for a long time."
Luna dodged the question and walked ahead leaving behind the little Duke.
—
After sending off the guests, Luna found herself in the tower where Raj was. It was already late at night when she got there, he was already sleeping.
"He's really handsome than the male lead."
Her small whisper was only met with silence. Her mind was a mess from the brief encounter this afternoon and after being provoked by Rasen, the first thing that came into her mind was Raj.
For some reason, she was convinced that she would calm down when she sees him, and she was right.
The moonlight was illuminating his sleeping figure, as she stood beside him, she can clearly see all of his features. Unknowngly, she held her chest.
The more she looked at him, the weirder she felt. There was a sense of familiarity that she can't explain almost as if she was missing someone she hadn't met for a long time.
It was when she was about to leave that a hand held her wrist.
"Are you here?"
Raj looked at her as he help himself up while rubbing his eyes. His languid appearance awoke a strange feeling of Luna. Her cheeks were burning at the sight.
Unconsciously, Raj slid his hands down to her palm, intertwining there fingers.
"Did I woke you up?"
"No" he was half asleep but he was still awake enough to have a conversation.
"You should sleep. I'll be back tomorrow." Luna whispered when she saw him droop his eyelids.
Like a kid, Raj nod his head and held her hands tightly before lying down to sleep.
The next day
"She's late."
Raj said while he looked at the window. Beside him was a blue phoenix that was smaller that it's usual size. His spirit guardian had the power of fire, and just like the legendary phoenix, it also has the ability to heal and regenerate.
Because of this, he was healthy and safe from any poison attempt and disease but an external wound is a different matter. He can heal other people's wound however, he cannot use it on himself unless he was in a good condition, it was not far off to say that it was useless power on himself.
If one to compare, he can heal himself when he had a paper cut but he can't heal himself when he was cut with a knife. Now that he had recovered, he can command his guardian to completely heal him.
'I can leave tomorrow but...'
He needed to live this place and go back to the imperial palace. Although he had left a note before leaving that he'll be gone for some time, it was only proper to leave when he's all healed up.
Just in time, the bell rang signalling that Luna was here. He hurriedly called back his guardian and fix himself. He had finally decided to tell her that he's leaving.
When the door opened, what revealed behind it was her sullen face.
Raj was curious, so he asked.
"What's wrong?"
"Raj, have you ever faced an existence that is so disgusting that you want to crush it?"
"What?"
Luna waved her hand. She had just gone back from her father's office. There, the duke that told her about the discussion duke Edinburgh had proposed.
"Luna, the Duke had suggested a marriage between you and the first prince. And this morning, a letter of proposal came from the young master Edinburgh."
"You're not marrying me off to either of them, right?"
"Of course, I'll follow your will. However, if the emperor approves of the idea it will be difficult."
"Those damn Edinburghs are really bent on tying our family into their mess."
The conversation ended with Luna in a foul mood. And so she headed towards the tower.
"Have you heard of the young master of Duke Edinburgh?"
Baffled with the subject, Raj only nodded his head. Well, naturally he had heard about his cousin. Although they are not close and doesn't interact often, he had a few encounters with the Edinburgh family especially with them being his maternal relatives.
"That damn bastard had the audacity to tell me that should an engagement between me and the first prince push through, I should make him my lover!"
At her words, Raj's face hardened. He was well aware of their intention of putting him to the throne, they had been doing all sorts of things to empower him and even went to the point of trying to control him, but it was the first time he had heard of this news. More importantly, what caught him off guard was the last thing she said.
"Lover?"
"Yeah! Isn't he crazy? He wants me, and if he can't have me, he's willing to cheat with me? He even sent a proposal saying if I don't want to marry the Prince, I should marry him!"
She huffed her chest as if she had ran out of breath while running. Prince Raul looked at her figure and find it cute. She looked like a kid whining about how her candy had dropped on the floor.
"Are you getting engaged with the prince?" Raj asked, somewhat hopeful that she'll agree but what followed after was disappointment.
"Of course not. I don't like to be a part of imperial family, some ladies may want it but for me it was nothing but a place full of danger."
Her words were half right. Being a member of the imperial family is dangerous in some ways especially now that there was a struggle with the succession.
"Then, are you going to marry him?"
At his question, Luna opened her eyes wide as if what she heard was the most shocking news of her life.
"No, are you even listening? Do I sound like I favor that little duke?"
Raj shook his head. For some reason, he was disappointed with her rejection but on the other hand was happy that she doesn't like the young master of Edinburgh.