The Imperial Prince (2)

At the other end of the room, Roxus struggled to hold back her laughter. She squeezed her stomach and gripped Ernacht's sleeve, which furrowed his sharp brows.

"…My Lord…" Cecilia looked confused and sad. "I..."

Unconsciously, Cecilia glanced at Roxus, as if looking for help. But as soon as she realized Roxus was holding back laughter, Cecilia realized, that Roxus herself might have stepped in to help Samael.

"I don't understand…" said Cecilia looking sad and uncomfortable.

"Princess, you do not need to think about difficult things in a hurry. Princess only needs to accept my gifts and if the Princess doesn't want to see me again, I will disappear from the presence of her forever," said Samael, who was so warm and devoted, sounded heartwarming. Cecilia now looked like a very lucky woman.

Silence expanded.

"I understand, Princess Cecilia. There was no way a man like me could side by side with an extraordinary Princess like Princess Cecilia. There was no way a man like me who accepted the world before my feet could understand what a brave and wise woman like Princess Cecilia wanted. Even though I've always dreamed of carrying Princess Cecilia around the world, pushing the Princess's wheelchair along the beach and…" Samael stopped. He looked at Cecilia who stands before him happily.

"Princess Cecilia is really strong, can handle everything alone and recover with her strength," he continued softly. In the first place, Samael didn't have the world before his feet as he said. Samael fights for everything he currently has. Second, Cecilia was neither brave nor wise. Cecilia is a cunning and cowardly girl who narrowly escapes death over and over again. And third, Cecilia didn't recover on her own. Cecilia also made many sacrifices to get well.

But everything the man before her said was the opposite of what Cecilia thought. Oh, Cecilia knows the reason why Samael wants to be her husband. He wanted to make Cecilia queen, and make Bertia his home. For Samael, anyone is fine even if it's not Cecilia. What he needed was a place outside of the Dragon Empire's Rule, where he could run from his father he couldn't beat.

However, it made sense. Both Cecilia and Samael were cowards. They are also cunning and willing to sacrifice anything to achieve their goals. Truly, they are the perfect match. There is one difference between the two that makes Cecilia unable to accept Samael as an equal. The difference was, that Samael had the strength she needed, while Cecilia didn't have—

"Master." The ring on Cecilia's finger called out to her. Roxus smiled meaningfully from afar. "If Master doesn't like this situation, I will take Master away from here."

Cecilia then understood. Rolia, the Artificial Spirit Roxus gave her was the power she needed to become equal to Samael, even without the help of her connection with Roxus anymore. Of course, technically she still had a lot of help from Roxus, but even, now, if Roxus wasn't actively supporting her, Cecilia still had a hold.

Now, she didn't have to worry about a way to protect herself from those who could stab her in the back, including Samael.

"...Lord Samael..."

"The forty women I have brought, twenty Female Knights have sworn to be your bodyguards until the day you die. The other twenty are maids who will help you move around day-to-day, and help with the basic needs of your life while you are alive. Their tongues have been sealed so as not to leak anything from your palace, and there is still a final gift I haven't explained to you." Samael is looking for a way to make their deal equal in his way.

"Three small boxes in front of you," Samael asked the servant who was standing at the back to come forward. "Are three magic items," explained Samael later. "These three are part of the four magic item collections I have—"

"Lord Samael," Cecilia's words cut off Samael's words making everyone even more impatient and confused. "You know, I don't want a gift from you," Cecilia said quietly. Cecilia's face flushed red, making everyone gasp at her beauty and bashfulness. "We only met once. I don't understand how Prince Samael could fall in love with me in such a short time. My Lord... there's no need to do all this, I mean, we can start with drinking tea together, or having lunch... "

Samael covered his mouth with one hand. His face flushed red. "Did I misunderstand...?" he asked softly. "...Did the Princess say that we only need to go through a courtship—"

"Ahem!"

A forgotten existence, the King looked at this situation with an expression of displeasure. "Courtship period? Nonsense. Get engaged immediately, then you can have lunch together…" The king grumbled.

"Looks like my words that are often cut off lately are because I often cut other people's words," said Samael bluntly.

The King flushed red with the sarcasm, and Cecilia furrowed her brows with a cute expression.

"Please forgive my arrogance, Princess Cecilia." Samael stood slowly, and bowed deeply towards Cecilia, and not the King. Secretly, Cecilia was touched. Her gaze warmed sincerely towards Samael who was looking at her in the same manner. As the two of them smiled, the two of them shifted their gaze awkwardly between each other.

The king furrowed his brows as soon as Samael finally turned his head towards him.

"Loriet," Samael's calm and serious voice calling out to the king by his name brought everyone to their senses. He is the Imperial Prince. It is rumoured that his military might could wipe out a kingdom or two at the size of Bertia from the map. He is also a Swordmaster of Dragon blood, even though he is the youngest brother among the Dragon-Sons.

"I will send a dowry for Princess Cecilia today. Immediately record our marriage, and adopt Princess Cecilia as heir to the Bertia Royal Throne as soon as the recording is complete. Wedding parties will be held in Bertia and Rotund. I informed Father Orcen and he will be here in five days. Also, in five days, bring me Leonid Bertia's head as our wedding present."

He was like a storm.

The King's eyes widened at the words that Samael said fluently.