A Surprising Proposal in a Realm of Secrets

“Lady Mei, aren’t you ashamed to cause such a scene?” a soft voice rose from the crowd. Lorita appeared behind my father, placing a hand on his shoulder. So, he had hired her; I should have realized she wasn’t just a simple servant to him. She must have witnessed everything that happened the day I arrived in this world.

“Do I look like I’m playing games?” I asked weakly, lifting the hem of my dress to reveal my bruised ankle. Rafar’s brow furrowed, and I heard his mechanical arm creak as he clenched his fists. “Breathe. They aren’t our true enemies,” I said to him, and he followed my suggestion.

“Prince Rafar, tell us at once. To what do we owe the honor of your visit?” my father insisted sweetly.

“I’m here to discuss business, but first, I need to do something far more important,” Rafar finally spoke.

He knelt down.

“What?” I thought, shock flashing across my face. Rafar was certainly the one I wanted by my side, but so suddenly?

He was the Sun Prince, secretly the Emperor of monstrous beasts. Seeing him bow for me left me astonished.

“What? Why are you doing this?” I asked, wanting to confirm if what was happening was real. “Please, get up…”

“I’ll stand only after receiving your answer,” he said, his dark eyes intense. “Do you want to be my wife?”

I froze, unsure how to react.

“What? Wife?”

“Yes, my wife,” he repeated, bringing my hand to his lips. “Will you marry me, Mai?”

Unlike in my past life, this wasn’t just a game; it was real. The robot-man I had dreamed of stood before me, proposing marriage.

I stood still, saying nothing. Why was this happening? Could this all be a dream? Would I open my eyes to find myself in the college workshop, fixing a vacuum cleaner again?

No, this was very real.

But why would the villain, emperor of all beasts, want to marry me? Surely, he had a reason for this request. The maids watched anxiously, and my father wore an intimidating expression.

“Yes, I accept your proposal,” I finally said. I didn’t know the reason behind it, but I would have to find out, or it could mean my death. Yet staying in the mansion was practically a death sentence. “But I have some conditions to make.”

“As you wish, my queen,” Rafar said, standing and lifting me into his arms. I blushed immediately, and the applause from the maids was cut short by my father’s shout.

“You… you plan to destroy me by accepting this marriage! That’s your intent, isn’t it?” he shouted, pointing at me. I smirked and looked away as we stepped into the carriage.

A strange silence filled the air. Rafar gazed out the window, seemingly amused by my father’s outrage.

“What are you plotting?” I asked, leaning back against the seat.

“Several things on various topics.”

“Why did you propose to me?” I finally asked, exhaling. Now was the time to discover the truth and face that this wasn’t a fairy tale.

“I’m in love with you and want you to be my queen. That’s all,” he said, smiling at me.

I blushed instantly. He was teasing me!

“You say you’re in love with me… but we only met yesterday at the ball…”

“I truly don’t know what you did to me.”

“Honestly, I can’t believe this…”

“I’ll make you believe it,” he said with a grin.

“Alright… about the conditions I mentioned earlier…” I began, expecting him to resist, but he remained silent, waiting for me to speak.

“I’d like to visit the La Corda palaces occasionally. I have friends I can’t leave behind,” I said, thinking this was a simpler way to explain my meetings with Eigar.

“Of course, do as you wish,” he replied, though he looked slightly displeased.

“I’ll also need separate rooms,” I said, blushing a little, which made him laugh.

“You’re my fiancée, not my wife. Of course, they’ll be separate,” he said simply. “Anything else?”

I thought for a moment before responding. I had no idea what awaited me in Souland, the Southern Kingdom. Perhaps, once I entered its gates, a monster would attack, and that could be the end of me. But fear would get me nowhere. I needed to be strong.

“In fact, I have one more request,” I began shyly. “I don’t want to be known as the Cleric’s Daughter anymore.”

Rafar laughed.

“You could ask me for anything, and that’s your request? Mai, you’re truly intriguing.”