Atha received the paper envelope extended to her with both hands, then took out the papers inside.
What on earth is this?
'...Marriage contract?'
She wasn't sure what her eyes were seeing.
No, is it possible that the marriage contract has already been written?
“History is...”
It was the day I participated in the charity event held at the temple.
In other words, it was the very day she entered the Imperial Palace.
Atha checked again: “This, is it my marriage contract?”
No, my name is clearly written there, but I'm asking just in case.
“Yes”
When she looked carefully, she found that the contract actually contained her parents' signature.
All that was left was the signature space next to her name.
“...You mean that this is a marriage contract between me and Your Highness?”
“Yes”
“That is, you wrote this contract stipulating my marriage to Your Highness in advance?”
“Yes.
You saw and heard correctly, so you can stop checking now.”
Alisto felt bitterness in his throat as he saw the saint repeating the same question with a shocked facial expression and a stunned voice.
'Are you in a hurry?'
The subject of marriage had already been mentioned, and he had shown her the contract so that she would understand that she should not think about escaping in the future.
But looking at the Saint's reaction, it seemed as if he had unintentionally frightened her.
…I wish I had lied to her, as was the original plan, that this was a love marriage.
There was no reason for her to want the contract in the first place.
The excuse for this was that he had never felt such a rush before.
Because it's the first time.
Because he did not know how to deal with that anxiety that did not subside, but rather continued to accumulate and fill him inside him.
Feeling like he had to do something right away, he made a rash decision.
But there is no escape now.
Since it has come to this point.
If the Saint got tired of him and tried to escape again, he would have no choice but to truly trap her.
He thought for a moment, how he would feel if he treated her kindly while she was locked up with him.
“……”
Even he found the idea to be incorrect.
It's like giving her the disease and then the medicine, oh my.
Can't he be given one more chance?
He felt that then he would be able to get closer to her really, really slowly.
'I wish I too had the power to turn back time.'
Did his wish come true?
The woman, who had been looking at the necklace from all sides with a foolish expression, raised her eyes to meet his and finally asked, “So, what will the wedding procedures be like?
There is no indication here of what I should prepare.”
At that moment, Alisto felt suddenly at ease.
Without realizing it, he rubbed his eye, eyebrow, and forehead with his left hand.
Yes.
Now, I have to get closer to her really slowly.
So that this woman does not feel a single ounce of fear, and so that she never takes a single step back.
From now on, he would think twice and thrice before doing anything, he couldn't bear this stress again.
'I didn't know my heart was this small'
Alisto removed his hand from his face, exhaled lightly, and then began to explain the wedding procedures.
The imperial wedding proceedings were longer than I imagined:
1.
Internal approval from the Imperial Palace.
2.
Replacing the official meeting with the visit of the Minister of the Interior to the family of Count Hermann.
3.
Atha was granted the title of “Imperial Duchess”.
4.
Engagement party.
5.
Lessons teaching the “Crown Princess” on palace etiquette and protocols.
6.
Preparing the equipment (luggage).
7.
Wedding preparations.
7-1.
Preparing a private palace for the residence of the Crown Prince Princess.
7-2.
Forming a crew of maids, servants, and guards.
8.
The wedding ceremony.
“I expect it will take about a year until the wedding.”
When Alisto finished explaining, Atha smiled shyly and expressed her concern: “What if I can’t keep up with the palace etiquette lessons and other things?”
Since she had not excelled in studies throughout her life, including her school years, the word “education” itself was a burden for her.
Then—
“It's okay to learn it slowly, and it doesn't matter even if you don't master it completely.
I will appoint specialized people to help you and accompany you.”
The response from Alisto was exactly as I expected.
Atha nodded privately: 'Of course he'll say it's okay.'
A person who fell in love at first sight and wrote the marriage contract on the same day, what wouldn't he agree to?
He had been suspicious since he brought her to the palace immediately just because she asked him to take her, but she was starting to understand now.
Alisto certainly fell in love with her at first sight.
Just as Cedric did in the novel “The Life of a Saint in Captivity”!
Let us remember again that this novel is a dark romantic story based on “imprisonment.”
He had already written the marriage contract, yet he hid this fact and kept gradually developing her admiration for him?
Although strange, it is understandable if we think about the “striped man”.
Rather, this was befitting the character of the “promising tyrant.”
Now added to it is “obsession.”
'Hello obsession, come in'
Atha's mind was not complicated.
On the contrary, it has become clear; I finally felt like all the pieces of the puzzle had come together.
She thought of Alisto as a character in a novel.
A hero who secretly plans obsessive machinations, while treating her with the utmost kindness?
'This is actually better'
Especially his handsome face, it's no secret.
Why is inner beauty important?
As long as a wonderful, handsome man like this is obsessed with me.
There is another advantage in the strength of obsession; Since he will not want to lose me, he will do whatever I ask for.
In other words, if I exploit him well without angering him, he may become a “fool” like no other in this world!
She decided to test it a little: “There is something I would like to have.”
Alisto immediately responded: “What is it?”
"I like this pink diamond, but the set only contains earrings, a necklace, and a ring.
I—I want a bracelet, too," Atha said simply, considering it just a test, so it was okay even if he didn't buy it.
He did not hesitate for even a second: “Is there a specific design in mind?”
Atha immediately extended her left wrist, and with her right index finger drew a circle around her wrist: “I want it to be studded with pink diamonds densely like this.
In two rows.
And at a high price.”
She seemed very firm as she added that she preferred the bracelet to be gold.
Alisto nodded happily: “Since the shapes of the chains and the sizes of the stones are diverse, it is best that we go together to see them and choose them ourselves.”
'That's true.'
'He's really stupid.'
Atha felt that Crown Prince Alisto Prince was the ideal model for a fantasy romance hero and a mass of "clichés".
It is a cliché that the most powerful man in the world turns into a “fool” in front of the woman he loves.
Who is the woman who loves the strongest man?
It's me.
This is really cool.
“Was talking about the bracelet what you were going to say earlier?”
What was I going to say?
Atha thought for a second about the past, and quickly remembered the purpose she had forgotten: “Ah!
I wanted to get permission to go out.
I want to go to the temple.”
Atha thought she would get permission to leave easily.
Alisto has been fulfilling everything she wants so far.
But—
“This is not possible”
Contrary to her expectations, Alisto opposed her visit to the temple.
“Why, why?”
He placed a food box in front of her containing a mixture of meat and vegetables, and asked her in a normal tone, as if commenting on the beauty of the weather suitable for eating lunch outside: “Did you know what the saint’s ability was, or were you informed of the content of the revelation?”
Atha instinctively shook her head as she saw the man staring intently into her eyes.
She did not know why, but she felt that her knowledge of the content of the revelation should not be discovered.
Atha grabbed the fork and tried to speak in her usual tone: “The content of the revelation, I don’t know either.
That’s why I want to go.
You said I would receive a separate notification, but I haven’t received any news yet.”
Then she added a question: “Did you hear anything?”
When I asked him the question, Alisto suddenly lit the portable stove and started boiling water.
Just like that day when she suddenly visited him and he served her petal tea himself.
Her question was very simple:
Did he hear anything about the revelation or not?
But when Alisto delayed answering, Atha suddenly felt an ominous and strange feeling.
Thump—
Her heartbeat began to accelerate, a beat of anxiety, a far cry from the beautiful beat of admiration.