The Contract

Chapter 10

The day when Reina and the seventh Prince will meet came. Reina wears an ordinary commoner clothes. She also don't allow her knight to follow her and the only way this is possible is by not telling them her whereabouts.

The people in the Von Helios estate doesn't have an idea that their miss escape to meet someone.

In the Firebird Inn….

Reina find the Firebird Inn easily by asking the common people where it is located.

"Thank you Mister for helping me" said Reina to the old man who guides her.

"No worries young lady" replied the old man.

When Reina entered she see a typical Inn describes in the novels. Experiencing it first hand is extremely fascinating.

She sit at the hidden corner at the left side of the Inn to wait for the Seventh Prince to come. She comes thirty minutes before the agreed time.

"Miss, Can I take your order? Here is the menu" asked the server man beside her.

After Reina ordered some food and she looks at the window while watching the people outside. She is too absurd of looking blankly outside so she wasn't aware of the man who sits beside her.

"My lady, is the people outside more interesting to look at than me?" asked the man sitting in front of her while smiling.

Reina was shocked for a moment "Your highness, what do you mean by that? If others will hear you saying like that they will think something in appropriate about us" she said while her mouth is twitching uncontrollably.

The Seventh Prince is wearing an ordinary clothes but still his sex appeal is oozing. He also wears a hood to block his face so no one can found out his identity.

"So, you are afraid of peoples comment about you?" asked the Prince in front of her.

"Not really I'm just concerned about your reputation being drag down by me" Reina said politely.

"I don't mind" the Seventh Prince replied to her.

"What are you saying? By the way, what do you want from me your highness?" asked Reina curiously.

The Seventh Prince smiled "I want you to get engage with me" he said very naturally.

Reina was dumbfounded of what she heard.

"Am I hearing things correctly your highness? You want to get engage with me? Is that what you said?" Reina said doubtfully.

"Yes, why? You don't believe me?" asked the Seventh Prince.

"It's not like that your highness but I don't think I am suited to you" Reina said blatantly "Getting me involved directly could shorten my life span. What the hell is he thinking proposing something presumptuous?"

"Hear me first before you react ok?" replied the Prince who starts to get annoyed with her answer.

"Ok tell me straight what you are planning your highness" Reina said seriously.

The Seventh Prince sigh "The engagement I am offering you is contractual. What I am really aiming for is for you to work exclusively for me. Meaning you are not allowed to accept other jobs than the one I am offering you right now, once you signed the contract I prepared here as a proof that we have an agreement. You have to follow it strictly" he added.

"Hmmm… sound reasonable to me" Reina answered "What else your highness?" she added.

"Here is the contract and all the details you have to remember once you signed it" the Seventh Prince said while giving her a piece of paper where the contract is written.

Reina receives it and read its content.

In the contract it is stated there Party A (Seventh Prince Hellery Ecclaire) and Party B (Reina Von Helios). First, Party B needs to get engage formally with Party A. Second, Party B is not allowed to have ant romantic relationship to another man while the contract is effective. Third, Party B is not allowed to work to others than Party A. Fourth, Party B needs to live in the Palace together with Party A. Fifth, Party B is not allowed to interfere in Party A's private life. Then, Party B needs to protect Party A at all times. Lastly, Party B will receive payment of 100 gold coins monthly as a payment for her service aside from the things which she can receive from Party A. But if Party B violates one of the terms in the contract she will be fined 200 gold coins with interest to Party A. The total amount of penalty is according to the duration of time the contract is effective. This contract will be effective for two years.

Reina felt like puking blood when she reads the last terms of the contract "This is unfair if she violates if she will fined 200 gold coins with interest. Even if she sell herself off where can she can't afford to violates the contract" she said to herself.

"Any problems with the contract?" asked the Seventh Prince innocently.

"Uhmmmm…. Your highness can we change the amount of penalty here" said Reina while smiling warmly.

"Nope…. I don't allow anyone to change anything from the contract I give because I think it's actually very reasonable on my part" the Seventh Prince said while smiling wickedly.

"This scheming man is actually scamming me bluntly. Reasonable, my ass this is actually an unfair contract wherever you look at it" Reina said to herself.

"But how am I supposed to protect you? I am but a weak woman who didn't even know how to fight" said Reina with a face looks pitiful than any other.

The Seventh Prince almost fall down on his seat when he heard what she say.

"The person who possessed the spirit blessings is one of the most powerful beings in the entire continent. Weak, my ass as if I will believe you" said the Seventh Prince to himself.

"Miss you seem mistaken about the meaning of the word weak" the Seventh Prince while smiling warmly to Reina.

The water that Reina is drinking splashed in the Seventh Prince face. Reina was dumbfounded when she realize what happened.

"I'm sorry your highness" she gets her handkerchief and wipe the Prince face roughly. Having no experience how to wipe others face she isn't aware of how rude her actions is.

"Stop" the Seventh Prince hold her hands irritably "Are you asking for a beating?" he added angrily.

"I'm sorry your highness" Reina said apologetically although deep inside "Serves you right scheming man…hahaha".

"Tell me directly if you want to work with me" added the Seventh Prince.

Reina sigh "Ok, I agree to your terms but I also have one condition" she added.

"What is it?" asked the Seventh Prince.

"I can't say it for now for I will still think of it. But I hope you allow it your highness" Reina said seriously.

"If it will not go against the other terms consider it granted" replied the Seventh Prince.

"Thank you for that your highness" Reina replied respectfully "Is there any other concerns you want to asked?" she added.

"Hmmm…. None" he replied.

Then Reina signed the contract brought by the Seventh Prince.

"If there is nothing you need for me then excuse me for I'll eat my food then" Reina said.

Before the Seventh Prince could answer she already started eating her order. The Seventh Prince watched her enjoy her meal until she finished.

"How about you your highness don't you feel hungry?" Reina asked curiously.

"Nope, thank you for asking but I'm full" replied the Seventh Prince.

"Thank God I'm full" Reina said while rubbing her stomach.

"Thank you Miss Reina Von Helios for your cooperation with me in the future. By the way next time we meet I will help you to familiarize yourself in using the blessings of the wind spirit" said the Seventh Prince after he stand to take his leave.

Reina felt choking when she heard him say the about the spirit blessings.

"Don't be surprised the Crown Prince announced it already in the Palace. I am afraid that from now on a lot of people will come to you to gain your favor. Other will envy you and can put you into danger so you have to be careful. If you need help don't hesitate to ask me, bear that in your mind my future wife" then he pulled her hand and kissed it "Take care of yourself and leave to me everything about the engagement. I will inform you after I finished the preparation and don't roam around this past few days" he added before he disappeared on her sight.

"What a very cunning man!" Reina said to herself before she left the Firebird Inn. She leave her payment on the table.

Reina returned safely to the Duke's estate. When she returned home it's almost lunch time already. She rent a simple carriage, this time when she passed by the woods no beast interfere to her journey.

"Miss do you want to eat I will prepare your meals" said Ericka the moment she see her.