Meanwhile, Erick, who has just arrived at the palace, is stopped by the palace's guards. They asked:
⨀ Guard: What does the Hustran family need from the king's second son?
Jonathan got off his horse and showed him the letter sent by the second prince. The guard, seeing the second prince's royal seal, ordered the palace doors to be opened.
⨀ Guard: The prince's guest has arrived, everyone to their posts.
Erick was welcomed with trumpets and a path full of flowers and red carpets, the guards bowed to him as if he were royalty. This act alone made clear the prince's intentions with the daughter of Archduke Hustran, it was a marriage proposal without a doubt.
Someone knocked on the window of the carriage where Erick was riding and he approached to see who it was... Jonathan was knocking on the window, Erick opened it so he could talk to him.
⨀ Jonathan: Miss Veronica, don't worry, if necessary I will sacrifice myself to prevent this from ending in an abuse of power.
∎ Verónica: By abuse of power you mean…
⨀ Jonathan: To you, lady, remember that I am here to prevent you from becoming a wanted fugitive for attacking the prince.
∎ Veronica: You shouldn't say something like that about a lady, besides I would never do something like that.
⨀ Jonathan: It seems that not even you know what you are capable of doing, although I suppose it is because you lost your memories in the accident.
∎ Verónica: I would like to know more about my past and what it means to be Verónica Hustran.
⨀ Jonathan: I don't know if it will be of much help, but if you want I can tell you what I know about Verónica Hustran after getting out of this problem.
∎ Verónica: Really? So let's get this over with quickly.
The carriage arrived at the door of the inner castle and Jonathan helped Erick get out of the carriage, to Eric and Jonathan's surprise the prince himself was waiting for her at the door.
⨀ Prince Damian: Welcome Miss Hustran, I hope my servants treated you well on your way to the castle.
Erick realized that the prince was very beautiful, blonde hair, blue eyes, tall and with a good physique, but if he had to choose the most beautiful man he had ever seen, it would be Gutts.
Erick decided to grab Jonathan's arm as if he were his companion and took the attitude of a merchant arriving at a place of business.
∎ Verónica: I think they exaggerated a little, but I did like it, young prince. However, I hope you have not forgotten that you have not yet told me the reason for your invitation.
⨀ Prince Damien: I thought I had been quite obvious with the welcome, but if it is still not clear to you then let's go to the visiting room.
The interior of the castle was adorned with gold finishes and furniture, almost everything had gold and this made the living room shine in a yellow tone, the guest room on the other hand was a more reddish color, the furniture and walls were red while the floor and ceiling were black, but reflected red as if they were mirrors.
⨀ Prince Damian: Take a seat, Miss Veronica.
Erick decides to sit on the couch, Jonathan was also heading to the couch.
⨀ Prince Damian: You, you better wait outside, your lady and I have matters to discuss
∎ Verónica: He comes with me, if he leaves I will leave too.
⨀ Prince Damian: But this is not something that someone like…
∎ Verónica: Then I have nothing to do here.
Erick turns around and heads for the exit.
⨀ Prince Damien: Wait, okay, he can be present.
Erick sat on the sofa and Jonathan next to him, this seemed strange to the prince, guards are not usually so intimate with their lords.
⨀ Prince Damian: Miss Veronica, the reason why you are here is because I wanted to propose a marriage that will only last 1 year
Upon hearing the proposal, Jonathan stood up from the couch, his face reflecting indignation and fury.
⨀ Jonathan: Your highness knows perfectly well that something like that would affect the lady.
∎ Verónica: Sit down Jonathan, you are not here to speak for my interests, remember your obligations.
Erick stared at Jonathan until he sat down, then sighed and looked at the prince.
∎ Veronica: Your Highness, you must know that your proposal would greatly harm me.
The explanation for Jonathan's behavior is because a marriage for a period of 1 year would harm Erick more than anyone else, because in this country women who divorce are seen as something already used and discarded, that is, no man would be interested in them again and their prestige in society would be affected.
⨀ Prince Damian: I know it very well and that is why if you accept I would give you a medal of blue roses.
∎ Verónica: I don't need medals, if that's your offer prince I'm sorry, but our conversation ends here, let's go Jonathan.
Erick gets up from the couch and heads to the door next to Jonathan, leaving the prince sitting.
⨀ Prince Damian: What do you want? money? can? I'll get it for you if I have to, but you have to help me.
∎ Verónica: Your Highness, if what you want is help, I am sure that there are many people who would be willing to help you with less, but it is important to me to know what I am being a part of, if what you would like is a partner to marry you, I would understand, however, I am looking for myself personally. What do you want to achieve? Because I? If you want my help you will have to tell me everything.
The prince stands up and bows his head, this left Erick and Jonathan speechless, who were only watching from afar.
⨀ Prince Damian: Please, Miss Veronica, understand that I cannot tell you if you are not willing to do so, just as you look for explanations and I am a trustworthy person.
Erick understood that he was not going to tell him until he accepted, but he did not want to get involved in a political dispute in the kingdom, but he remembered that he had to get allies for the invasion of the north in 4 years and made a decision.
∎ Verónica: Okay prince, I will agree to help you.
⨀ Jonathan: Wait, miss, your father and mother will not agree.
∎ Verónica: Don't worry Jonathan, I will explain it to you another time, but first of all I must set my conditions to accept your proposal prince.
⨀ Prince Damian: As long as I can comply with your demands and they do not harm the crown, I promise to respect your conditions.
∎ Verónica: First, you will have to undo my commitment to Gutts, which I don't think will be a problem because he will cooperate, second, our marriage has to be something private and only a political process, I don't want a party or announcement, third, you will have to help me without needing an explanation. For the latter, you don't have to worry, I would never ask you for anything that affects the crown or the prince, and in addition to these 3, I will accept your initial offer as part of the conditions.
⨀ Prince Damian: Yes, you are demanding.
∎ Verónica: It's all or nothing, you decide.
⨀ Prince Damian: All your demands will be granted, on the condition that you are my wife for 1 year.
The prince ordered that they bring a scroll for contracts, Erick, who was curious about these, did not hesitate to ask.
∎ Verónica: Is the contract for marriage?
⨀ Prince Damian: No, the contract is to avoid betrayal, such as you revealing the purpose of the marriage or not complying with part of the deal.
∎ Verónica: So, it is a contract that ties our lives to an oath to avoid betrayal.
⨀ Jonathan: You can't accept something like that, miss, you still have time to reconsider.
∎ Verónica: I won't say it again, Jonathan, you are only here as an escort, you have no opinion.
Jonathan bowed as if apologizing for having been impertinent and remained silent throughout. Erick felt bad for having scolded Jonathan that way, he knew he didn't do it with bad intentions, but it was getting in the way of his mission to gain allies.
The servant arrived with the contract, Prince Damian wrote all the clauses and terms of the contract, then with a needle they pricked their index fingers and each placed a drop of blood on the contract, it began to disintegrate, emitting a light blue glow.
∎ Veronica: Is that all?
⨀ Prince Damien: If that's all, let's sit down, you must be waiting for an explanation.
∎ Verónica: It is not necessary, I will only act as your wife for a year, I do not want to get involved more than necessary with political matters.
⨀ Prince Damian: But what about wanting to know what I want to achieve and why I chose you.
∎ Verónica: I said it to reject your conditions and propose mine, although I would be lying if I said that I was not curious, but it is better to know less in these cases.
⨀ Prince Damian: What a headache you give me, but it's good to know that I wasn't wrong when I chose you.
∎ Verónica: You say you are the surprised one, but I am the one who was most surprised by the visit to His Highness, people do not usually speak well of you.
Erick, who until now had taken a businesslike attitude, wanted to make it clear that despite what people said about the prince, he was going to believe what he saw with his own eyes.
After the conversation between the prince and Erick, who is now in the body of a Hustran, ended, they said goodbye and when they left the prince's mansion the servants celebrated the engagement agreement with the prince.