THE ROYAL DECREE

"DURING THE subjugation mission, me and my tribe will devote ourselves to protecting you, Lady Eclaire," Rosette said in a serious and very determined voice. "Thanks to you, the king didn't punish us heavily. Hence, we wish to repay you through this."

Oh.

It looked like she already knew what was happening.

Eclaire knitted her eyebrows. "Lady Rosette, did Nathaniel force you to do this for me?"

"It's true that Prince Nathaniel asked me and my tribe to protect you as a way to repay you for saving our entire territory," Rosette admitted. "However, it is also our will to protect our benefactor."

"I appreciate the sentiment, Lady Rosette," Eclaire said, then she gently patted Rosette's shoulder. "But to be honest, I don't really deserve your gratitude since I just did what I had to in order to get away from Nathaniel's marriage proposal."

There, she finally said the truth.