Back at the small house. Ara stared at the paper in her hand reading through the terms again.
The contract terms went like,
1. Prince Hamon won't have any mistresses until after a year.
2. Arabella and Hamon would share a room and a bed, but wouldn't touch each other until Hamon made Arabella his queen.
3. After Arabella becomes queen, Hamon would have every right to Arabella as her husband, and she would live only as his wife.
4. Arabella would address the Prince only by his name when they are alone.
5. Hamon and Arabella would seat to have every meal together after their marriage, unless something important comes up.
It was only a few lines written on it, but Ara knew the immense weight of the terms on her future marriage. However, everything had gone well, but she still felt tense.
Ara looked up at Hamon and said, "You can take a look at the contract, if there's anything you want me to add to it."
"Let's just leave it that way for now, and when we have anything to add, we easily add to it, but if you want to add or change anything... We both have to agree on it first."
"Alright."
At the bottom of the contract paper, Ara wrote that more contents could be added or removed with mutual consent. Most of what she thought was important was already sorted out, so now they needed to refine the details.
It was time to finally decide on the consequences that would result in breaking any terms on the contract. She heard him ask,
"What would be the punishment if one does not follow the terms written down on the contract?"
"Hmm...What do you think would be the best punishment?"
Hamon stared at her. He wouldn't let this golden opportunity pass, because he would make sure to let everything go his way, Ara might be thinking that the majority of the contract terms were in her favour, but she was wrong, he would make her think that, then he would get everything he wanted in the future. After thinking for awhile Hamon opened his mouth and said,
"The party who goes against the terms...Would do anything the other party wants for one month." There was an evil like smirk on his face as he said that.
Ara saw the smirk on his face and knew the Prince was up to no good, but that was his problem she wouldn't be the one to go against the terms, because everything was in her favour, so she was sure he would be the one to fail to follow the terms, "Yes, I agree..." She said while she wrote it down, just then she heard him say,
"I want you to promise me one thing... That you will not hate me for whatever I do in the future when you go against the terms."
Ara looked up at him and saw the serious expression on his face, he looked dangerous with that expression, with his legs crossed sitting leisurely. What does he mean? Ara's instincts were warning her, something was ominous, it was a few simple words, but somehow it made her feel uneasy. Ara didn't know why, but how he said it made her felt unsettled, but even with her unsettled mind, she nodded,
"I promise not to hate you no matter what in the future." Ara glanced at the contents of the contract, she thought for a while and made a quick decision in her mind to also ask for something from the Prince, this was an opportunity for her, " I also want to request for one thing from you."
"What is it?" He asked, he would give her everything she requested for, Hamon stared at her, waiting to hear her first request, but what she said was totally unexpected for him.
"No matter what happens in the future, even though it means putting my life or yours on line, I want you to save my family from any harm, even if it means I'll die in the proce-" before she could complete her words, he cut her off by saying,
"What are you trying to tell me? Why on earth should I risk your life for your family?"
Hamon looked astonished and she could see a slight hint of indignation as well. However, Ara was more interested in accomplishing her original goal of saving her family, " I just want you to promise me this... Don't Let them die."
"No, I can't promise you that, if your life is on the line, I can't risk you for anybody," She saw a firm expression on his face as he spoke, she couldn't help but be astonished, then he added,
"Not even my own family." He refused to promise, Why should he promise her such thing? And why was she even worried about her family, when her father was a general? But still he wouldn't promise her that.
She was taken aback at first, did he really just say that he wouldn't risk her life for his own family? Why? What was she to him for him to even say that? But she couldn't dwell on that thought for long. "Please..." She pleaded softly hoping he would give in this time.
"I already said NO." He refused firmly.
Although Ara hadn't been around Hamon for long time, but she already noticed that he was not a person to easily change his mind. Ara suddenly remembered how he had smiled when she addressed him by his name earlier, was that a trick she could use to coax him?
"Hamon..." She called softly, "Please, just promise me this, just once." She said making a pitiful face, she doubted if the method would work on him, but she could see how the light in his eyes simmered.
"I don't want to risk your life for anyone." He remarked, the firmness in his voice had somewhat softened, he seemed to struggle internally before he sighed then continued to say, "I promise... But that doesn't mean if your life is in danger I'd leave you for your family, but I'll try my best to keep them safe from whatever it is that you think would harm them." He could see fear in her eyes for the first time, What could it be that was bothering her?
Ara sighed in relief hearing his words, and quickly started to write it down before he could change his mind. From the start it was important to bring the contract in a more advantageous direction for her, she didn't care what Hamon thinks. After she was done writing, she pushed the paper to him,
"You can sign in the blank space below."
Hamon picked up the pen without hesitation and signed the contract, "Done."
When Ara finished signing at last, she copied the contents of the contract on another paper, holding each of the copy of the contract as she passed one over to him.
"How are we going to announce the wedding?" She asked when she was done with the contract.
"There's a grand ball coming... How about we meet there and have our first dance together, people would think it was a love at first sight when we announce our wedding after the ball." He explained his plan with amusement in his eyes. He hadn't planned to go to the useless ball before, but now he had to because he wanted to show the whole kingdom that the eldest daughter of the Boxton household, was his future wife.
"That's a good idea." She replied with a thoughtful expression. That would be a good thing, she wouldn't have to worry about how to explain everything to her father. Now that she thought of her father, "I have to go back home before my father realized am not in the mansion...When shall we meet next?"
"It would be very stressful for you to sneak out all the time to meet me, it would be better we get married as soon as possible after the ball."
"Y-yes that's right." Ara wanted to get married to him quickly, but for another reasons not because she wanted to be with him. But Hamon's tone sounded as if he didn't want to part ways with her just yet.
'He really is a Casanova!' She thought internally. His voice had a tone of a Casanova, he seemed to know how to stir up a woman's heart, does he also act like this with other women? She shook the thoughts out of her mind, it shouldn't be her business.
"I'll see you in the ball, right?" He asked unsure. Hamon was only going to attend the grand ball because of her.
"Yes, I'll attend the ball."
After hearing her conformation, he said, "I have to leave now then, I have some things to attend to before the grand ball... Make sure to come."
"Yes I will."
Ara had already planned to go to the southern part as soon as possible before the day of the grand ball, she had to make sure that Hamon showed up this time, not like in her previous life where he hadn't attended the ball and left the kingdom just like that.
"I don't want to leave you alone to go home by yourself." He said with a worried tone.
Ara didn't know how to respond to his worried words, but she said, "Ah... My coachman is with me, he'll probably be waiting for me by now." When she saw him nod, she got up her chair. Hamon also stood up from his seat, he had a serious expression on his face this time, he took the lead to walk out of the house, while Ara quietly followed behind him.
When they stepped outside, it was already getting dark. Hamon glanced side ways and said, "There's someone I want you to meet before you go."
"Who is that?" She asked.