Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 179: Tempting offer

Chapter 179: Tempting offer

(Long Chapter.)

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On that same day Ara visited the dungeon, at the same time in the queen’s residence. Merona sat causally on the couch in the parlour room with marquis Favian sitting across from her.

Favian’s face was a bit haggard, he knew the odds were against his daughter’s case so far, but then, the further he dug the more he realized how severe the situation was. He’d already went to all the powerful families he was acquainted with in Findara, however no matter how much gold he offered, none of them were willing to lend him their connections, because they were afraid to cross the crown Prince, if they got themselves involved in such an issue, they might very well regret it, so many of them politely turned down Favian’s request for help.

Furthermore, the Morrison’s, who could have helped him were no where in Findara now.

He had a grim expression on his face as he spoke to Merona, "Isn’t it too harsh to lock Claire up in such a place when all she simply did was use an aphrodisiac?"

He was clearly agitated, but Merona, on the other hand comfortably sat on the long couch as if the matter didn’t concern her when she was the mastermind behind Claire using the aphrodisiac.

"Well, your daughter has crossed the crown Prince and his wife without the fear of a likely probability of her clumsy plans failing, being locked up is just the inevitable consequence of her failure."

Favian clenched his jaw. He was well aware that Merona had plans to make his daughter the second wife of Hamon and also supported her into doing all this, but he couldn’t antagonize her at the moment. Right now, he really needed her help more than anyone else.

"Your majesty, can you please save my daughter out of this first? Claire is a smart lady and am sure she wouldn’t_"

"She is definitely not as smart as I thought. I took her as my right hand lady, but how has she served me? She’s too careless. Your daughter would make a fool of me if I surely bring her out."

Favian had already come to her earlier that night, then returned again when he found no other way, however the queen was still refusing to help Claire.

"Your majesty, if there is anything I can do for you to help my daughter out of this...I am willing to do it."

"It’s not like I don’t wish to help her, but Claire doesn’t even have the slightest hope in hell. It’s going to be difficult to save a lion that is already caught in a trap."

Favian’s forehead creased, "But you are the queen, you have more authority than the crown Prince, you can easily figure out a way to bring her out, Your majesty."

Merona nodded her head thoughtfully, then said, "Well, you are quite right there, but I have no control over the crown Prince since he’s not my son. But then if we are going to bring Claire out of that place..." She trailed off as if in thought, she then added, "I guess there is only one way out; we have to get rid of the main root."

"Y-your majesty...!"

A smile spread on Merona’s face, "To free your daughter from his prison...I want you to bring me the heart of the crown Princess and the head of the crown Prince. And after that, when my son becomes king, I will make him take your daughter as his queen. She will be the next queen of Findara; without the couple in the picture, we can easily bring your daughter out of his dungeons."

"Your majesty...!" His eyes widened at her shocking suggestion. However, Merona just causally sipped her tea, "Are you willing to do it or not? If you don’t, Claire might have to stay there for who knows how long...probably forever."

"...!"

Her eyes flashed devilishly, "Make your choice, Favian. I know your daughter would also want this too, she will be queen. And you will also have more power as the queen’s father. Imagine having control over the noblemen of Findara, would you want to miss that?" She manipulated his thoughts.

Favian saw how tempting her offer was. If his daughter becomes queen, he would have authority in Findara. And he was sure Claire would be happy to hear this!

He thought for a moment then said, "I will do it, Your majesty."

__

The sun rose from the horizon, with the morning birds singing.

In the crown Prince’s residence. Ara had been thinking of ways to confess her feelings to Hamon. However she still couldn’t master the courage to do so. Even though Hamon had already told her his feelings, she hadn’t confessed hers in return.

Ara knew he might have already guessed her feelings for him, but still she wanted to say it out to him. There was a difference in his confessed, heartfelt words and her ambiguous ones.

No matter how embarrassing it may be for her to tell him, she didn’t want to remain in this ill-defined state. She wanted to give him an equally heart pounding confession.

An idea suddenly came to her mind. ’How about we just go out together? Yes!’ She’d take him to a place where just the both of them would be alone. She couldn’t wait to see his expression when she would say out her feelings!

Since returning to the past, all she ever thought of was how to defeat Cornell, not giving any thoughts to what she’d do after all that. Unlike now, she’d wanted Hamon to become king and eliminate the threat, but she hadn’t imagined their life together, she’d once seen their relationship as contractual, but now it had grown to something more. Now she’d fully known what her heart wanted; she wanted to be with him, to spend every waking moment by his side, she wanted to have a happy and normal future with him.

She didn’t want to be greedy, but she couldn’t keep holding back. She was well aware that nothing was organized yet, with Merona and Cornell still alive and had their sights on the throne. But she didn’t want to delay her feelings for Hamon, she wanted to be honest with him. And the perfect way to go about it, was to go on a couple outing!

Currently, Ara was helping Hamon tie his ascot as usual. It was her daily routine now. But her mind was too filled with thoughts to even concentrate on what she was doing until she heard Hamon’s voice,

"Wife, I think you’re tying it the wrong way."

"Huh?" She jolted back to reality and realized she’d tied it wrong, "Oh, let me redo it..." She hurriedly began to loose it. But before retying it, she gathered up her courage and opened her mouth to speak,

"Hamon..."

Hamon, who was already gazing at her quietly the whole time, hummed, "Hmm?"

Ara looked up and met his crimson eyes. Not long ago, she didn’t understand what that soft yet burning flames in those otherwise cold eyes of his meant, but now she knew the affectionate heat in them was reserved only for her, it was a clear reminder that his heart was hers.

She cleared her throat, "Are you going to be free this evening? I mean am just asking, if you’re not free, I won’t force you_"

"What is it?" He cut her off before she began to ramble. Ara only rambled whenever she was nervous. He thought.

She smiled awkwardly, "Well...You once asked me that day to think of a place I wanted to go, so I thought we should go out this evening, but that is if you are not busy..." Damn it! She was really bad at this. She noted.

He beamed, "Sure, do you have a place in mind you want to go?"

"I-I have a lot of places in mind, and I...I have a surprise for you tonight as well."

Ara’s words seemed to catch him by surprise, "A surprise for me? Hmm, My wife has a surprise for me, I like the idea!"

Ara blushed, "Yes, if you will allow me go out to arrange my surprise before this evening." She said, then added, "don’t worry I’ll take the guards with me..."

Hamon tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "Of course, I will allow you. How can I not when I’m already looking forward to this surprise of yours, wife. You can take Oliver along then." He offered her a gentle smile as he stroked her hair.

Before, Ara thought that he liberally gave his smile and kind gestures to every woman and scolded herself for harboring unnecessary fantasies, however in truth he only treated only her this way.

Her heart began to pound, again! These days, just looking at Hamon would do that to her as if there was some fault with her heart. She was embarrassed that she was unable to express those uncontrollable feelings. She quickly tied his ascot and avoided his gaze hoping he wouldn’t notice the heat on her face.

She fixed his ascot tie and smoothed his coat before helping him button up the coat while still trying to avoid his gaze, she heard him remark with his deep smooth voice, which always seemed to send bolts of lightning to her body,

"What is making you blush this much? Do you have something to say?"

"W-what?"

"I noticed you’ve been blushing the whole time, but then, the blush suits those cheeks of yours. It makes you look even more beautiful." He pinched her left cheek gently.

"Hamon...!" She quickly hit his hand away and turned her face to the other side. Hamon was even more flirtatious lately and she didn’t know how to react now that she knew he was not acting. Before, his words would have easily passed her by, but now she’d become hyper-aware of his actions. She wasn’t used to receiving so much affection.

Ara turned back at him and said, "From now on can you please stop teasing or complimenting me like this..."

"Hmm, why?" He asked in bemusement.

"If-if you continue to compliment me all of a sudden, I might die before my time from a heart attack...I still want to live long..." She bit her lip and swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat from the thought of dying. Why was she suddenly feeling uneasy at the thought of dying? Why was she even suddenly thinking of such things?!

Flare glowed in his red eyes, "Die? How will you die when I’ll be here to bring you back? Not even death can take you away from me, wife." He stated seriously, his expression looked different for a moment, but then he immediately grinned when Ara glanced up at him with her reddened face, "Oh, My wife is too beautiful and adorable. The most beautiful of them all!"

"Hamon!" She gently threw a punch to his firm chest which made him laugh out even more. Even the maids standing outside their rooms door waiting on Ara, all looked at each other in astonishment hearing the crown Prince’s laughter echoed from the room.

Ara clicked her tongue and turned to walk away from the laughing Hamon, but he was quick to capture her wrist and drew her back, she clashed against his firm chest.

"Ha." A small cry escaped her lips at the impact. Was his chest made of stone?! She glared up at him with her lips pursed as if she wanted to speak, but didn’t, as she was met with his piercing gaze instead. His hands slowly slipped down to her waist as he spoke in a low voice, "I’ll be looking forward to our outing tonight."

Hamon always had a mischievous streak, but now she found herself drawn to it like a moth to flame. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her temple, "I’ll be off now, see you tonight." Saying that he released her waist and left the room while still smiling warmly.