4 ~3~ The Deal

"Let me make it clear to you again Milady, I'm Charles Heiston, your fiancé and the crown prince of this empire"

After saying those words, Victoria's world suddenly crumbled. She never expected to meet the crown prince for the time being. All she knew is that he hated her, he hated her whole being because she's an annoying rat for him. Anne --- who was now occupying the body of Victoria and her whole identity knew that Charles hated Victoria because of her blind obsession to him that's making him vomit every time he sees her.

'What do I do now?! Just when I'm certain that I'll be able to avoid the plot! Why didn't I remember that the crown prince had those blonde hair and green eyes attributes? Goodness! No, relax Anne, you are now Victoria and you swear to yourself that you will live a whole life comfortable to the way you wanted and dreamt of. Now's the time to straightly act like a different person to him'

"I'm grateful to have met you, crown prince Charles"

Then as if her hand that Charles was still holding had been burnt, she immediately claim hers and respectfully bowed to him. That left the crown prince surprised and dumbfounded at his position. All he knew is and thought is that she'll be clinging over his arms again like any other time. Even though he heard that the lady had an amnesia, he wanted to confirm to himself. That's why he's shocked to know some changed from the lady.

'Hmmm, so interesting. Isn't she just acting or is it true that she doesn't remember her memories? Whatever the reasons are, I'll have to find out. This is the first time that this annoying lady had made me curious about her. This never happened before, huh. In any other case, I have to find who's behind what had happened that night and if the Chutlier family had connection with'

"….and I think that you don't even like me, right?"

'What is this lady even talking about? I was so focused on my own thoughts that I hadn't been pertaining mush importance about what she's saying'

Charles was stunned to know that it's the first time that he had been captured by his curiosity with the lady. Upon the years that they've known each other, it's the first time that Victoria became an interesting subject to him

"I may apologize, Milady however, may I know clearly what you're saying again?"

Charles asked because he wasn't able to heard the words that Victoria was saying. However, on Victoria she had a different meaning about it.

'What the hell? Did I make him angry? His smile is so much creepy however, the way that he stood from earlier made him look like he's taller than me in inches. Goodness! It's not time to admire him Anne! Now, it's time to say it clearly again'

Before Victoria was about to say something, she immediately breathe slowly and closed her eyes. She wanted to breathe the fresh air from the air garden. She wanted to feel the soft and gentle breeze to her skin. It's the things that she wanted to do in her previous world that she never gotten to experience.

'What is she doing?'

Charles, on the other hand, only focused his sight to the lady because she's making him drawn into her. For the time being, Charles only realized how gorgeous his fiancée was. He saw how the cool breeze was swaying her brown hair gently, he felt like he had seen some scenario from his past. He saw how the warm radiance of the sun strikes her whole being, he saw how she rests herself from exhaling the air that she took in earlier. All of those, he had observed for the first time

'What am I thinking? Why did this annoying lady suddenly made me felt interested about her? Is it because of that event or is it because I felt like she's changing?'

Charles couldn't help but shook his head as he tried to avert his gaze from the warmth of the summer vibes upon looking at Victoria. However, even though he wanted, he felt like his body had a mind of its own

'Anne you are now Victoria however, in order to run away from the plot of your own destruct you have to take risks. It's now or never'

"As I was saying, yes, you may be the crown prince. I may be engaged with you. However, for the time being I wanted to annul my engagement with you. Nothing more, nothing less"

'Did she hit her head too hard? Huh?'

However, instead of being angry or being embarrassed, Charles laughed it off. It's like he's seeing a child asking for a candy that wasn't even given any that's why the child was throwing tantrums

'Oh I know now, maybe she's only acting to capture my interest. Where did she suddenly learned such techniques?'

Then Charles as if not bothered by her request came towards Victoria and immediately held her hands that made the lady almost jumped out of her position

"You're only joking, right Victoria? You knew how much I love you, right?"

There he acted like he truly loved the lady

'Fall for my charms already annoying lady! I know your acting won't even last for long this time.my thoughts will always prevail than your techniques, remember that Victoria'

However, for the second time of the day, Charles was surprised by the lady's expressions. He only saw her smiled a sad smile. She never did that kind of smile for him before. All Charles saw from her expression was nasty smirks, like she had won something from him. Yet, this time of the day he was absolutely stunned by her.

Charles can't deny the truth however, he wanted to deny it as long as he was looking at the lady that he despises the most.

However, Victoria on the other hand continued to smile sadly as she was letting Charles held her hand gently. It's because she already knew what he was thinking. She knew that he's thinking about her suddenly changing.

'I knew that you never loved her --- Victoria Chutlier because of her attitude. However, it seems that my approach of being brave to you earlier was not effective in any ways that's why I guess I have no choice but to proceed to my plan B. I'm sorry Charles, you were my favorite character inside the novel and I truly despises Victoria. However, the circumstances had now changed. I don't know why but I reincarnated as Victoria --- the character I hated so much. All I have to do for now is that I have be the opposite of Victoria --- the old Victoria. In that way, I'll be able to live and avoid being killed by you or the other male leads. This time I'll live the way I wanted and dreamt and I promise that from now on, I'll be a good friend for you and the rest of the main supporting characters here'

Victoria thought of those then as if her sad smile wasn't enough to surprise Charles, she immediately held both of his cheeks and her smiled turned to a genuine smile

"It's because I no longer felt any love for you. I guess feelings do change time to time"

'So that's the reaso---- What?! What did I just heard?'

However, even before Charles could process everything about what the lady said - who was now holding his cheeks gently, Victoria immediately let go of her hands from his cheeks. Then, she's still smiling genuinely. Now, she's already a meter away from Charles. However, Victoria had put both of her hands intertwined on her back, as the wind swayed her brown hair gently while she's now smiling sadly as her eyes were now opened to see Charles expressions.

However, Charles' expressions shocked Victoria enough to make her raised her eyebrows. It's because it's the first time that Charles' felt something aside from being annoyed. It's the first time that he realized how beautiful the lady was in front of her. it's the first time he realized how fragile those smiles were. Also, it's the first time that he realized that Lady Victoria was also sad.

Yet, the words that came of out her mouth was like a bomb that he never expected to hear.

'What is she playing at this moment? If she thinks that she captured my interest and curiosity then she's never wrong. However, saying those kinds of words may lead to some taints among the families especially her family with the imperial household. Now, I'm truly confused about this lady in front of me. I felt like she's not the lady that was greatly obsessive with me. I felt like she's someone else'

However, Victoria suddenly spoke again

'I guess, if my bravery and arrogance will not work on him then I have no choice but to be his friend. Besides, from all the chapters of the novel that I've red about him, he's only had one true friend from childhood that he fell in love with and that is Hersha. However, I will not get in their way this time. I'll live the life I wanted without getting on their bad side. I'll be implementing plan B right now and onwards'

"If you think that I was joking your highness then you're wrong this time. It's because aside from falling out of love to you, I think I also wanted to enjoy my life from now on"

'Besides, I'm already giving you a chance to stay with Hersha. The one that you considered your childhood sweetheart. Now, all I want to do is live comfortably and freely with this extravagance that I've never even had to experience from my previous lif---'

However, before Victoria could finish what she was thinking, Charles immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. Now, he's already hugging her small figure from his slightly tall figure.

From then on, Charles thought that she's going too far

'I think that she's going too far from capturing my interest. Is she even saying the truth? Then wait till I did this, I'm sure she'll surrender and be like the other girls that always fawn over me. They're like annoying bees that I've wanted to cut. That's why I have no choice but to enter with this engagement set by my father. Besides, I'm still buying time for Hersha'

"Let me hear it like this. Let me hear that you don't have feelings for me anymore"

The way that Charles said those words had hurt and pained in his voice. However, if Victoria didn't know any better she'll probably fall for it. Yet, she knows that he's only acting that's why she has to keep acting as well.

Now, all Victoria did was break their hug and looked straight into his soul as she smiled sadly

"All I want is for you to let me go"

Then it dawned Charles, he realized that she's not acting for him to be interested on her. She's truly serious about the matter

"So you're willing to taint your family's reputation just by living comfortably?"

'Is he saying about the impact of annulling my engagement with him?'

"Then your highness, let me make it clear to you, do you want to be married with someone out of political terms with no love at all? Yes, both families could benefit from it however, we're the ones to suffer. Sooner or later from now on, we'll never expect what the future holds, right?"

"Y-Yeah you're right"

'She changed. She's not the type of person that I thought she was'

"Then all I can do is to annul the engagement and we'r----"

Again before Victoria finishes her sentence, Charles didn't said anything, however, he was now holding on her sleeves.

It's as if his body had a mind of its own

"What is it your highness?"

"If you wanted to annul our engagement then give me years ahead. Still you have to play pretend to be my fiancée until I sort out things"

"Yeah?"

"You need to be my guard for the ladies to fill in the vacant position of being the crown princess. Besides, as you said, you have no longer feelings for me"

'What?! Am I his knight now?'

"Yes, I'll have to do that. However, your highness, I wanted to make sure that you'll have to keep the bargain of the deal with a notary note. Don't worry, I'll be the one sending you tomorrow to the imperial household. Just sign it and we're done. I'll give you the time until we turn 18. Are you alright with it?"

"Y-Yes, I'm fine with it"

'In that way, I've already made Hersha a noble I could marry'