Hamon burst out in laughter at her condition, he wasn't expecting her to say something like that, why was she requesting for such a condition? And why did she think he had other women apart from her? No woman would come to him with the ridiculous rumors going around about him being an ugly monster, she was the only brave one to propose to him even with the rumors. Was she a jealous type?...It was going to be quite interesting to see her jealous.
Ara on the other hand, just stared at him while he laughed as if what she said was funny. Why was he laughing? Did he find it funny, because he wouldn't be able to let his mistresses go? Was her condition ridiculous to him?
This was her only opportunity to bargain for a year with him, that way she would be able to make him do the right thing by bring down Cornell, but here he was laughing as if what she said was funny.
Hamon finally stopped laughing and asked, "Why did you want such a condition from me? And why should I agree to such a thing? I can have as many women as I want"
So her suspicions were right, he did have mistresses. Ara clenched her fist tightly under the table and said,
"Because I want to be the crown princess, and have the right to be the queen with power, after you make me the queen... You can marry as many women as you wish, and I won't be against it."
Hamon's expression changed instantly at her words, was it because of power she was in such a hurry to marry him? That means she only wanted... Power?
"You are marrying me because you want power in Findara, am I right?" He asked with an expressionless face.
"Yes... I want power." She answered firmly without looking away from his burning eyes, as if she was challenging him.
Ara didn't bother hiding her ambition from him, he should know that she doesn't care about his stupid mistresses, all she wanted was power in Findara to be able to take down Cornell in the future, the power to the throne which only the crown Prince could give her.
Hamon stared at her green eyes, he couldn't read her expression, but if power was what she wanted... Then he would give it to her, just to have her by his side, he would give her the whole kingdom if she requested for it,
"I agree."
Ara was quick to sigh in relief not knowing he wasn't done talking, she heard him say,
"But... I also have something to add to the contract." He said with his annoying smirk.
Ara knew all contracts were one for one exchange, now that he had agreed to her condition, it was also right for her to agree to whatever he wanted to add to the agreement, she smiled a little, "What do you want?" She asked with an encouraging expression.
Hamon placed his hands on the table and said with a serious expression, "I want us to be like real couples, we will share a room and a bed after our marriage... And we would do everything married couples do."
Ara almost fell off her chair at his words, she wasn't expecting that would be his condition. No way! That was impossible, she would never agree to such condition! Ara quickly uttered before she even realized it, "No way!... I won't agree to that."
Hamon raised his brow, "And why is that? It was only fair that you agree, because I also agreed to your condition." He remarked with a matter of fact tone.
"But..." Ara bit her lips, she had thought about this kind of situation before this, but she thought the Prince wouldn't also want something like that to happened between them since it wasn't a love marriage, she also knew if she wanted the power to come with respect in their kingdom... She would have to give birth to an heir to the throne, but she wasn't planning to be queen forever, after she's done with Cornell, she would leave the position for his next wife.
Ara had been innocent, after her family's death in the future, she never had time to be with any man as she had spent her whole life trying to seek revenge, and she never had any experience, not even that of a common love affair, she had instinctively rejected the idea of sleeping with any man.
Ara tried to think of a way out of this, she was the one to propose to him first, now it was time to face the consequences, she had to make him understand that she wasn't okay with his condition. Ara parted her lips and said softly,
"I don't think it's a right thing to do... It's a political marriage and not a love marriage... So I don't think it's right for us to do... Such a thing."
"Such a thing? Since when is it a sin to share a bed with ones wife? And besides your condition was that I can't have any other woman apart from you for a whole year... So why can't I have my wife for the mean time before I could have my mistresses back" he remarked with a calm demeanor.
"... I... l don't know why you agreed to marry me, but I proposed to you because I wanted to be the queen and not your woman..." Ara noticed Hamon's expression changed to something deadly and quickly to continue to say, "How about this... until you become king and make me your queen, we wouldn't do any such things as married couples... I would only be your woman in name until then... If You don't agree to this ...Then I won't mar__"
"I agree." Hamon hurried to say before she changed her mind about marrying him, he was okay with that as long as she was only his, but he couldn't keep himself from asking, "Why do you want power so badly?"
At his question, Ara suddenly wondered what she looked like in Hamon's eyes, she must seem like a greedy and power hungry woman. However, she didn't care what he thinks of her, she doesn't care if he saw her that way or sees her as a greedy woman, "Because I want to become powerful."
Hamon heard her answer, and remained silent for awhile, he knew there must be another reason behind her wanting to become powerful, but he would rather find it out himself after they got married, because he knew she wouldn't tell him the truth.
Ara waited to hear his response, What if he refused to marry her because she wanted power? She swallowed dryly, she would have to look for another man with power in the kingdom, but the Prince was a better option than any other man in Findara.
Finally Hamon opened his mouth to say, "If that's what you want... I accept your condition."
"Thank you so much, Your Highness!" She Exclaimed happily as her face brightened up.
Hamon watched her happy expression, was that what she wanted? He sighed, but he couldn't just let her use him to gain power without him gaining anything from it. After Hamon thought carefully he said,
"I have another condition to make."