Proposal

It was hard for Sir Aiden to sleep beside me because of an overprotective black cat with ruby eyes who kept on hissing at Sir Aiden.

In the end, the cat ignored Sir Aiden and we all slept soundly last night.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"My lady, the empress has ask for your presence in her office"

So it is finally time, huh.

I am thankful that she even gave me a day of rest.

On our way there, a lot of servants and knights were already whispering about me.

Knock, knock.

"Come in"

With her permission, I opened the door.

I then saw the imperial family in front of me along with John.

No wonder there were so many people whispering about me with indifferent eyes when me and Sir Aiden came here.

It was a shock for me to heard that prince Diego defeated Chejada just a little over half a year when it took him almost one year in the novel. But seeing him right now... I can't say no to the rumors I've heard on my way here.

Andrin had a worried expression while prince Diego was smiling as he looks at me.

"We are not the type to beat around the bush so I will say it. The first prince of Vanifi would like to get engage to you, baroness"

"Empress, is that why his highness cut his hair?"

"Yes"

Prince Diego who had the longest hair among the three now has short hair.

"As far as I remember, you said to the second prince that you prefer short haired men, correct?"

"Yes, I did your majesty"

"Does he look good in your eyes?"

"Yes. Prince Diego look very attractive in my eyes"

Hearing my words, prince Diego got happier.

The empress and prince Diego exchange glances. He then step forward and knelt down in front of me as he took a small box from his pocket.

"Baroness Dianna Emond, will you marry me?"

"No"

Just after his proposal, I said "No" as if I already knew what he was about to do.

Well, I did knew that he was going to propose though.

"Will you please tell me why, my lady?"

He ask, without losing the smile on his face.

"You see, someone confessed their love to me just a couple of weeks ago. And I said to that man that I will wait after four years. If his feelings were still remains as is, then I will allow that man to court me"

"Then, if I wait four years as well, can I also court you?"

"If you want to, then yes. However, I think that would be unbecoming for a prince"

"I have already cut my hair. That much shows how serious I am, my lady"

Indeed. The fact that he cut his hair means he has already pushed aside his status as a prince and honor as a knight.

And since it was Lucia is the Empress, who is known as 'The collector' for her hobby of collecting competent individual, she would not hesitate to support prince Diego since I am a wild card.

Whether it is the aristocracy, politics, economics, religion, technology, culture and matters relating to the commoners, I have an extremely wide influence which has the potential to get bigger than empress Lucia's.

The proof of that would be on how I killed the queen using the law of Loate.

John probably reported this which is why Sir Aiden was the one who was with me last night.

While I did expect prince Diego to propose, I didn't consider about the possibility of him cutting his hair since in the novel he loved his hair more than anything. And because of that, another fact emerged. The fact that he wants me more than anything.

The prince stood up and went back to his seat after gently kissing the back of my hand.

"You better keep your promise, baroness. Or else"

"Or else what, your majesty"

"Or you would break my brother's heart"

As if.

As far as I know, she doesn't even care about her own family if they aren't good enough in her eyes. She even killed her own son just because he had a deformity on his legs which will not let him stand up properly in the novel.

But I can't judge too quickly since this is real life. I am not sure whether everything that happened in the novel will happen in this world as well.

"Now that thing has been resolved, I would like to ask you about something else my lady"

"What is it, your highness?"

"Will you be my partner for this upcoming new year banquet?"

"No"

"May I know why?"

"Prince Diego, with all due respect, can you not see me trembling over here? My body is weak to cold and you are asking me to dance with you? Are you for real?"

It was obvious based on their expression that he was supposed to ask me out but everyone was disappointed at the prince to be the only one not to notice it.

I can't believe he didn't notice something as noticeable as that when he is one of the best knights in the empire.

Is this perhaps what it means to be blinded by love?

"Baroness, I'm sorry for not noticing your situation. Nevertheless, allow me to accompany you every now and then"

Huh? Isn't he supposed to go back to Chejada after the winter festival?

"It has been decided that the second prince will be the one to go to Chejada as the leader of the envoys from Vanifi to take care of the major matters there, baroness"

Sir Aiden said as if he knew what I thinking about based on my facial expression.

Oh, I see. So that's why Andrin is all gloomy right now.