The wedding

Lily opened her eyes finding Roselet there. Roselet was one of the maids that she became friends with. Roselet was a demon. She was hybrid of bear and human. The only half-human in the palace. Roselet was a friendly demon.

Roselet greeted Lily and said with excitement "Lily, you know what??? Lord Noah has told us to prepare you for the wedding!! Isn't good that you are becoming his bride!!" "What??!"

Okay, this was too much this can't be true Lily thought to herself. She asked Roselet "You are kidding right??!" Roselet was confused saying "I'm not kidding Lily. We were knowing this from the start that you were here to marry him. Like Lord Noah never ever brought a human in the palace on top of that because of your presence the palace higher ups were also confused and rejected the idea that you stay here. But Lord Noah argued with them. He did everything to protect you isn't it romantic?"

"Romantic my foot, that demon who locked me in the chains is romantic??" Lily argued back. Roselet who clearly doesn't what to waste time said "Lily, would you like to take bath or eat breakfast first?" Lily sighed and said "Please this time let me see Noah once." "Lily, you shouldn't call Lord Noah's name so casually." "But he asked me to call him that??" "WOW!! You two are couple after all."

Lily disgusted asked one more time "I want to see him." Roselet gave up and said "Okay, okay. I will take you to him. Follow me." Like that it was her first time going out of the room.

The Palace was beautiful and gave an expensive look but the only two colours which was mostly used was black and red. While still following Roselet something catches Lily's attention.

It was a painting of a woman with blonde haired woman who was hugging and begging her loved one to stay. But on other side the man who she was hugging was disgusted and wanted to leave. That picture at some point reminded her of her first life. And she wondered that the 68 lives of her was also the same. Even though her love was fruit of a potion but never accepted or even think that Leon has never loved her.

While she was still thinking a familiar voice came "What are you thinking?" It was Noah!! Noah was beside her. He was smiling but no one would able to catch what was he thinking behind the sly, tender smile. Lily was in state of self-refection. She wanted to know what really happen to her. Who in the world did she fall for Leon's tricks.

Before she could think any further a hand from behind hugged her. It was Noah again. But this time instead of drifting away in her thoughts she came back to reality.

"Let me go" Lily said "Why should I?" asked Noah. Lily slapped Noah in the face. There was a red mark left but Noah's face was even funnier than that. In his eyes you could see shock, distain and other emotions that you can't quite name. He stared at Lily for a moment and let her go.

"Why are you here?" He asked. The smile in his face has been dropped by then. "I'm here to asked that. AM I REALLY GOING TO MARRY YOU!!?" He chucked and said in a wild grin "Why not?" "What the----?!" Noah then seems to realised something that he took Lily's wrist and dragged her to one of the rooms nearby.

When he was quite satisfied, he explained "Oh right!! I was going to tell you actually but I got busy. If you have to stay in the palace for long time, you need a reason for that. Being my wife is actually the most effective" Lily asked "Aren't you the owner of this palace?" "Right," he said "It is true that I'm the owner but those crazy bulls under me won't let that slide and would keep pestering you and me. That's why I came up with this marriage. Don't worry it's only in name. I won't lay a finger on you. Unless…" "What unless?" Lily asked "Unless you want me to do Something more." Lily was speechless.

She sighed and said "I will be get going now." But Noah was having to intension of letting her go. He asked "What were you thinking when looking at that painting?" Lily turned and said "Oh yes!! I was just thinking that if I was pathetic like that woman in the painting back in the 68 lives of mine. First letting myself drink that love potion and then trying my best to save the fake love of mine." "No need to worry you are always the purest and smartest person for me." Noah said with a smile. Lily for one moment thought that Noah was in love with her. Slap out of it Lily finally thought to herself.

While she was still thinking about this topic, she came to realised something "Wait, if you know then, is it that the other gods also know about the love potion." Noah thought for a moment and replied "I think that most probably only God of equality should have known about this. But there are chances that other gods know too but, the love potion that was used on you was the new potion created by Leon so they wouldn't have recognized it. But they would have noticed it for sure."

Lily looked down. She felt that she was betrayed. She at least thought that the gods are honest with her. But it seems that this thought was only in vain. She sighed and said "I will get going. And don't stop me this time." Noah smiled and said "No worries and also our marriage will be two days from now." "This quickly?!" she asked "This is maximum."

Lily left while Noah stud there expression dark.