The Heartbreak Prince

After a lengthy journey, Lila finally arrived at the Northern Empire, Ezra, feeling utterly exhausted. Despite her fatigue, she knew she had to meet the Empress and, perhaps, even Axel, the Crown Prince.

As she contemplated her plan to make Axel fall in love with her, Lila's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the greetings of the servants.

"Greetings, Young Lady Lila Elara of Montgrave!" they chimed in unison.

Entering the grand castle, Lila was struck by its immense size, even surpassing that of the Southern Empire Azro. Everything seemed to dazzle her senses.

Overhearing snippets of conversation among the maids, Lila couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance at their gossip about the Crown Prince's reputation.

"I heard the Empress already chose the Crown Princess."

"Either way, whoever it may be. I pity the lady."

"His Majesty, the Crown Prince is known for having a lot of women at his side."

"He's going to cheat anyway."

"If I were a villainess, their tongues would be cut in an instant," Lila thought to herself, suppressing her frustration at their indiscretion.

This is what she wanted. At this point, she didn't care about love. He could cheat on her. As long as she had power. She didn't have a care in this world. As long as she survived. Most importantly, as long as her family survived. She didn't care if he brought home a thousand girls.

'I would never in my life fall in love with him. I would never. Ever.' Lila declared to herself.

'But I have to make him fall in love with me. In that way, for a moment, he won't throw me out. I need his power. I need him.' Lila contemplated.

Lila took a deep breath and nodded at the servant behind her. The door in front of her was so huge.

"Your Majesty, Lila Elara of Montgrave has arrived," the servant announced.

Behind the huge door, an extremely extravagant dining room was revealed.

Lila was astonished for a minute but then quickly regained her composure.

"I, Lila Elara of Montgrave of the Southern Empire Azro, greet your royal highness, the Empress and the Crown Prince of the Northern Empire Ezra," Lila politely said.

"Please, have a seat," the Empress said, pointing to the seat opposite the Crown Prince.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Lila said as she settled into her seat.

"It must have been a long tiring journey for you," the Empress, Lamaine observed, her gaze sweeping over Lila.

"Oh no, I had fun traveling, Your Royal Highness," Lila replied with a polite smile.

"Well, as you know. This marriage is not only for the heir, but also a treaty," the Empress explained, addressing the purpose behind the union.

At that moment, the Crown Prince glanced in Lila's direction.

"Indeed, I believe my father, the Grand Duke of Montgrave, proposed this treaty. I will marry the Crown Prince of the Northern Empire Ezra as a treaty of peace between the two kingdoms. Therefore, I will do my best to serve the Northern Empire, Ezra, Your Royal Highness," Lila stated, meeting the Crown Prince's gaze.

Unsurprisingly, Lila couldn't discern any emotion behind the Crown Prince's red eyes.

As Lila observed him—his black hair, piercing red eyes, and imposing stature—she couldn't deny his undeniable handsomeness, even if his demeanor irked her. 

'Even if he's sitting down, I can tell that he's tall. He's beautiful,' Lila murmured to herself.

"You're done looking?" the Crown Prince remarked, his tone cocky.

Lila smirked in response, finding his arrogance rather amusing.

"Well, then. I leave the two of you," the Empress gracefully excused herself, leaving Lila alone with Axel and his indifferent expression.

Rumors had labeled him as a heartbreaker, the heartbreak prince. Lila had anticipated him to make the first move, but it seemed the opposite was true.

'With that face, I don't really blame the other women. I would also throw myself into him. However, his arrogance is really pissing me off.' Lila uttered in her mind.

"Forget it. It's not worth the effort," Lila muttered to herself, abandoning her plan to make him fall for her.

'The only thing we had in common is our evident dislike with each other.' Lila pondered.

"So, you wouldn't come here for money, you're already wealthy enough, or were you promised something else? Why the hell would someone from the Southern Empire of Azro put her life in danger here? Are you dumb?" Axel snapped.

'I really am a dumb blonde but...' Lila said to herself.

Axel was standing from his seat, Lila thought he's going to walk away.

"Are you a spy?" Axel asked as he grabbed both of Lila's slender arms.

Axel's abrupt questioning caught Lila off guard, his accusatory tone making her defensive. "I'm not here for money or any promises. I came because... I like you," she admitted, her words tinged with uncertainty.

Axel's skepticism was evident. "You're not telling the truth," he remarked, his tone mocking.

Lila's mind raced, scrambling for a response. "Love at first sight?" she offered, the silence in the room echoing loudly.

Axel's expression remained unreadable. "Are you asking me? You're not even sure of your answer," he retorted.

Attempting to defend herself, Lila reasoned with him. "Do you really think my father would send his only child to become a spy?" she questioned, meeting his gaze head-on.

"Then, I don't get it," Axel admitted, his confusion evident.

Lila proposed an agreement, hoping to find common ground amidst the tension between them.

'A lot of things have changed. Mateo impregnating another woman didn't happen in my first life. This could also mean that the future was already altered when I woke up in my second life. In four years, the invasion of the Southern Empire Azro could happen and it could also not.' Lila pondered.

Lila's mind raced as she contemplated her next move. Axel's question hung in the air, demanding an answer.

Drawing closer to him, she seized his collar, pulling him towards her.

'On my way here, I had a dream, the reason why Axel invaded the Southern Empire Azro was not because of the long time rivalry between the two empires. It was because of his little sister. Blinded by love, she gave all of herself to the Crown Prince of the Southern Empire Azro, Mateo. It started when she would sneakily go to the Southern Empire Azro. There she met Mateo and she got pregnant. Both of them are at the age of sixteen. Mateo, believing that she's a low class commoner, asks her to abort their secret love affair. The Princess of the Northern Empire, Bianca of Ezra didn't kill herself because she's fucked in the head. She was poisoned by Mateo, the father of her child, the Crown Prince of Southern Empire Azro. My ex-fiancé.' Lila recalled in her mind.

Unfazed. Axel's red eyes didn't even move not until...

"Bianca and Mateo," Lila whispered to Axel's left ear.

Rage filled Axel's eyes, flames flickering within them. With that, Lila confirmed that her dream was not just a dream, it was not a prophecy. It was the past truth.

The story of Bianca and Mateo remained a secret known only to the two of them and the Royal Family of Ezra. 

"This marriage, this treaty, it's all rubbish," Axel growled, his grip tightening on Lila's wrist.

"What's your motive? If you're not a spy then how the hell did you know all of that?" Axel demanded, his grip unyielding.

'God, he's grabbing so hard. This is going to leave a mark.' Lila muttered inside her brain.

"I wanted to escape from Mateo's grasp. Bianca, she's my friend, I don't want to end up like her," Lila confessed, her heart racing with guilt over the lie.

"You might be wondering if I'm telling the truth. You know how vile that man is. He is capable of doing evil things to get his way, and I don't want to be a part of it. I am swearing on my own life that I am telling the truth," Lila declared bravely despite the lies spitting in her mouth.

As Axel remained silent, Lila's anxiety mounted. Suddenly, he moved closer, pinning her to the table and gripping her wrist tightly. In her panic, she reached for anything nearby, inadvertently unbuttoning his shirt and revealing his muscular physique.

The clatter of dishes echoed in the room as a servant entered, only to hastily retreat upon seeing the obscene position.

'He was on top of me, half naked!' Lila exclaimed to herself.

"Your Majesty, are you a— I am sorry for disturbing you, Your Majesty." The servant quickly left.

"Oh no, Your Royal Highness." The servant said outside, seemingly stopping someone from entering.

"Axel, if you're doing—" 

'Oh no, not the empress! I was about to push Axel but it's too late.' Lila contemplated silently

"Well then, I'll be leaving again. I'm hoping for a grandchild soon." The empress teasingly said as she quickly left too.

'Thinking about it, this position is really obscene.' Lila mumbled silently