He won! I lost!

"What have you done? Have you lost your mind, Nina?" Albert asks in frustration and Nina didn't utter a word. She looked down silently, listening to all the rants.

"When are you going to look that you are losing your life because of your stubbornness," he complained.

Nina looked at him, with tears welled in her eyes.

"We have given everything you wanted; we accepted all your imprudence and hoped that you will find your way but this Nina, I didn't expect this from you," Agnes yelled.

"Mother,"

"You don't have to talk anything. We now understood what a crazy-adamant girl you are. You can never be happy in your life if you have this attitude,"

Nina got up and ran out of the house. She wiped that tears and headed straight to the riverside and crossed the passage to go into the forest where no one will come for her. Gasping hard, Nina stumbled in the middle of the woods where she got no energy to run anymore.

She lay on the wet grass, she doesn't care about anything, and looked at the greying skies. Though she didn't regret her decision much her parents kept pushing her to feel that.

Yesterday after rejecting his proposal, they came home. Her father was upset about what she did and Agnes too. They were thinking she has missed the chance to have a wonderful life but they weren't seeing how it's going to be in the future. They were trying to catch this momentary happiness. This is what Lilly did too and she didn't want to make the same mistake.

King Solomon was upset to know that she rejected his son's wish but he respected her decision and asked his guards to escort them to their home. Nina realized that he's a good man.

Heaving a sigh, Nina asked herself a question, am I a fool to reject him?

She has no idea and closed her eyes. Now she's on the verge of regretting her decision.

She stayed there until she become peaceful enough to again listen to her parent's rants if she goes back. Upon walking to the home, Nina was surprised to see the guards standing there before her home. She ran to know what is it this time.

"Father,"

"You brought us the worst," Agnes glared.

"What is it?"

"We are going to take over this farm. It's King's orders," one of the guard.

"What? How could you do that? This is our farm, no one has the right to take it from us,"

"The King has the power, young lady," the guard replied.

Nina looked at her father; he did not even glance at her face and walked inside sadly.

"Father, please," she said.

"You all should leave the place by tomorrow or else we will drag you out of here," the guard ordered.

"How dare you," Nina gritted.

But Agnes stopped her from getting into a fight and pulled her inside the house.

"What are you going to do? Fight them?" Agnes scowls. "Why are you not getting the point, Nina. He wanted to marry you but you rejected him and he will do anything to make you regret that decision,"

"Mother, but…"

"Don't say anything anymore. All we have now is this farm. You know what in situation Lilly is now, think about your father and me. Please you have to reconsider your choice," Agnes requested. Nina felt there's a point but how could go and ask him to marry her.

"Give me some time,"

"What time? Tomorrow we can't be here in this house. Didn't you hear that?" Agnes screamed. "Before everyone knows tomorrow, I want you to do something. Or else you will never get married,"

"What I should do?" Nina asks.

"You know it, Nina. Don't test my patience. If the word gets out tomorrow, I know your father will be devastated and he won't forgive you at all,"

Agnes's words struck her hard and her eyes welled in tears.

"Mother?"

"You can only save our family. It's all in your hands, Nina," Agnes put the burden on her shoulders and walked inside to calm Albert.

Closing the door behind, Nina stumbles on the bed. She's helpless and terrified of her situation. She never thought the King would do such a thing. He seems to let go of this matter, yesterday but now this is strange and unfair in every way.

Agnes is so right, tomorrow when the soldiers drag them out of this place, they would face the greatest embarrassment and she can never face her father when she was the reason for all that to happen.

Nina can take whatever the shame, but she can't put her family through this. Tears glide to her cheeks realizing there's nowhere she could get the comfort she has been earning for. She now regrets why she even saved him. It's so hard to accept but she could feel Theodore must be the one behind all of this, he's not what she thought.

That night she didn't eat nor sleep; she kept looking at the crescent moon in the sky. Accepting something which is at your discomfort is hard, especially when that could change her life in the way they she didn't wanted is even harder for head-strong Nina.

The next morning, when the guards came on to their doorstep, Nina came out of her room wearing one of her dull looking dresses. She opened the door for the guards.

"Are you ready to leave, young miss?" he asks.

"Before that, I want to meet the King, Sir," Nina said.

"Oh, you wanted to meet him. Well then, shall we leave?" he asks, showing her the chariot.

She couldn't understand this at all. She thought she had to argue to meet the king but they easily agreed.

Her parents were watching it from inside and they were quite happy that she has changed her mind.

"I won't let you down, father," she said before escorted by the guards.

The ride to the palace was tiresome and lonely. She slept it off mostly. She reached the palace when it turned dark. She came out not looking anywhere around but the path she once walked.

The guards, took her to the King's meeting hall. She walked in hoping to see King Solomon but to her surprise Theodore is sitting on the King's chair, casually with a piece of paper.

Upon her arrival, he sat straight and had a mischievous smirk to see her face.

"My greetings, sir," she bowed not seeing his eyes.

"I expected you earlier, you are late," Theodore teased, "Why you came back?"

"I came here to ask forgiveness. I shouldn't have said those things the other day. I deeply regret it," Nina apologized first.

"Fine, then what else?" Theodore stared at her.

"I want my parents to have the farm, please don't punish them for my behavior," Nina looked at him. "I can make amends to you. I will whatever you say, sir,"

It hurts her pride badly but she has no other choice.

Theodore had a big smile on his lips and came to her.

Nina stared at the man who possess all the traits she hates. Thinking about how unfortunate she is to marry such man shudders her.

"What an immense pleasure it is to see you submit to me," he chuckled. "You hurt my honor so badly by rejecting me that evening but I'd like to give you a second chance to redeem it,"

Nina almost glared at him.

"It's always the same, you need to marry me," Theodore is firm in decision.

"If you do what I say, your farm, your parents and everything will be left unharmed,"

She looked down as she has already made up her mind. If this is what he wants, fine! I will make him regret this decision for the rest of his life, Nina thought.

"Will you marry me?" he reached out his hand for her.

Heaving a sigh, Nina nods, "yes"

"I honored to accept your generosity, sir,"

Theodore has a victorious smile and he asked for her hand which she reluctantly gave in.

"You aren't going back to your farm," he announced.

"Why?"

"What if you runaway? I can't trust you,"

"I am not a coward," Nina retorted.

"Fine, you are not. I want you to stay in the palace until we get married,"

"What about my parents? They would be worried,"

"I will summon them tomorrow," Theodore answered. "The guards will take you to my chamber, rest there until I return,"

"But…"

"No buts. I have an important summit. I need to go now," he left her hand and stared at her puzzled face for a moment before leaving her alone.