Luna

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝒩𝒾𝓃ℯ

"Wife..?" silence dawned on for a minute before Claude coughs and looks into her eyes again.

"Be my Regina, Lady Fleur."

"Your highness... It's too sudden! Haven't I backed out before?" she said in confusion. When the regina competition started Luna was the first to back out, even if she's the duke's daughter, Duke Altir and Duchess Iris had specifically told her to find her heart.

"But I see you fit to have the crown more than a lady of a lower status."

"I apologize, your highness. Even if I get more jewels, riches. It is merely a material for me to see." said Luna, while the prince sighs.

"You really don't like it, huh?"

"It's not that, your highness. I just..."

"Luna... Do you know the story of 'Seraya'?" he said and circled his wine glass, shaking it and pacing around gently. He continued to tell, "Seraya is called the goddess of wealth and beauty. It is told that she is also known as an idiot, a mere woman who used her face and money to serve men and entice them. Instead of getting power, she did nothing but smile and be pretty, such a bad move created her karma. Later then, she was tricked by her sister, 'Seraphina'. Manipulated and shamed was Seraya then fell into the bottomless pit." he chuckles and takes a sip, continuing to swirl his glass again.

"You see, Luna. Right now you need power and I can give it to you. In exchange, you will be my Regina we shall rule mountains over mountains!" He laughed and showed me a ring. "You will have immense power over everyone, Lady Fleur." Luna stood up and cleaned herself, brushing her dress slightly, "Thank you for the offer, but... I have to refuse, 'With power comes great responsibility.' so, I have to refuse such a tempting offer."

Her heels tapped the crystal floor, giving her confidence. Making her determined to refuse Claude.

".. Even if you can find who killed them?" he shouted which made her stop and turn around, "What possibly do you mean by that?" she asked. Perhaps even becoming a queen would be possible just for her thirst.

Luna gulped, it was too tempting to refuse by now. He was sly and knew what had Luna wanted in the beginning. It was easy that she now wants the power hidden in it.

She knew by now that Claude, his highness wanted her and she wanted to further confirm it. Looking at him, Luna became serious and asked, "What can his highness acquire by me being a regina?"

Claude smiled, it was like he was waiting for this opportunity. He finally put his drink down and waved his hand to alert the maids that they are finished eating. "Follow me." he said and walked with her.

He leads her to his office, the office was spacious. It has various things like bookshelves purposely stuck to the wall, a small living room and his table placed near the windows that held the nature's glow outside.

The prince sat in his chair then saying, "Feel free to sit anywhere you like." he graciously offers wuth a smile to which she replies a bow, "Thank you for your offer, now why are we here?"

"Running to the details fast, huh?" he chuckles and explains to her what he plans to do.

"A contract wife?" she sips her tea elegantly. The prince nods and asked, "Would you like to add some clauses?"

"I would like to get a monthly allowance."

"Okay." he said while writing it and passing it to Luna, "So, do we have a deal?" he intertwines his fingers while letting his cheeks rest then crossing his legs, relaxing a little bit in his chair.

Meanwhile, Luna only read it and sips her tea. She smiles a little and said after she took little gulps, "Deal." signing it and passing it to him after.

Will this be a start of something blooming? Or shall it end in blood and ashes? Who knows? The story is only far from ending anyways.