Chapter Seven

Ayla bit her nails. She had almost lost her mind when she saw Estella go out onto the balcony with that wicked bastard. And when Estella closed the curtains, as if telling her not to follow, Ayla nearly went insane. What if something happens to my dear Estella?

It was hard to concentrate on the plan when worry wracked her whole body. In the end, she snuck outside to see what was going on—and found them in a compromising position.

That bastard was practically glued to Estella!

Ayla’s blood boiled. She couldn’t hold back her fury. She grabbed an arrow and let it loose.

But Rodrigo, who seemed to have eyes on the back of his head, managed to dodge the arrow and proceeded to press his body even closer to Estella! Her sister, her innocent little bunny of a sister, had been cornered by not just by a wild animal, but a tiger.

Ayla tensed her leg muscles, ready to jump onto the balcony to rescue her, but Estella remained out of reach in Rodrigo’s clutches. She hated Rodrigo but had to admit that he was skilled.

What if he found out Ayla was about to harm him and decided to do something terrible? No! She squeezed her eyes shut at the terrifying thought. No matter how much she thought about it, it would take much less time for Rodrigo to break Estella’s neck than it would for Ayla to jump onto the balcony or burst through the door.

I have to wait until he steps away from Estella.

Upstairs, Ada and Kalen were thinking about the same thing. They had thrown an ax and waited for an opportunity to get rid of Rodrigo, but no such opportunity came.

Ada, Kalen, and Ayla all gnashed their teeth as they imagined dismembering Rodrigo, who had lured away their naive little sister.

***

“So, are you saying there’s something you can do for me?”

“No, it’s something we have to do together.” I could tell he had let his guard down a bit by the calm tone of his voice.

Keeping an ear out for Kalen and Ada on the rooftop, I pulled Rodrigo further away from the railing. Carefully, I pushed him against the balcony door and stood before him. Since I was shorter than he was, I wouldn’t be able to cover him with my body, but at least my siblings wouldn’t be able to attack him as easily.

“I don’t like asking questions. I am usually the one who answers them.” Rodrigo crossed his arms, frustrated, as he pushed me to continue.

“I’ll make it quick.” I cleared my throat, ready to reveal my plans to him. Nothing particularly clever or grandiose, but it was a plan. In order to save him, I needed to stay close to him. And I knew the best—maybe the only—way to do so. Why am I nervous?

I took a deep breath and said, “Let’s get married.”

His face froze. We both waited, uneasy for a long moment of silence, until he demanded, “Is this a new Kartina tactic?”

I let out a laugh at Rodrigo’s response. I was being serious and everything. I scoffed, “Pfft. What?”

“Is it a distraction tactic to attack me while I’m too shocked to react? Or to make me keel over from shock? Or are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

It was quite a mean response to a marriage proposal. I frowned. “That’s a lot of questions for someone who doesn’t like asking questions.”

“Something completely unpredictable happened, you see.”

“That’s life.”

“I never thought I’d get a life lesson from a Kartina.”

I put my hand on Rodrigo’s cheek again. “Didn’t you say you were curious as to why I was doing this? Will you believe me if I tell you the reason?”

Rodrigo took my hand off his cheek. But he didn’t let go of it.

I let him hold my hand as I looked up at him. He had to know. “Because I want to survive.”

***

Estella’s sudden marriage proposal and declaration that she wanted to survive had Rodrigo at a loss for words. The Kartinas were the ones who had been tormenting him all along, but Estella’s words made Rodrigo feel like he was the villain.

“I’m asking you to take good care of me and my family when you gain power someday. I don’t want to die, you see.”

There was no indication of dishonesty in her words. The same was true for her solemn blue eyes. Estella definitely seemed like someone who was telling the truth.

Can I trust her?

Rodrigo began making calculations in his head. The gains and losses he would incur if he were to accept Estella’s offer. It was an offer that would benefit him in every scenario. He would be able to block most attacks from the Kartinas through Estella, and the news of their relationship would get all those annoying women to back off, not to mention that the emperor wouldn’t be able to walk all over him. With the series of intelligent and thorough calculations, the decision came quickly.

Rodrigo released Estella’s hand. He leaned against the wall, making himself more comfortable. Before he gave her his answer, he took a good look at her.

Estella was as beautiful as the rumors had suggested. And so very different from the other Kartinas. He was sure a fake relationship and a fake marriage would not do her any good.

“Just take my hand.” Estella held out her hand. There was something strangely, alluringly reliable about this small hand.

And truth be told, Rodrigo was exhausted. He was surrounded by enemies. And formidable ones at that. Wouldn’t it be all right for him to take this small hand, which promised to protect him, and finally get some respite?

“All right. Let’s do it.” Rodrigo convinced himself once again that he had nothing to lose.

“All right, when should we have the wedding?” Estella prompted.

“No, not marriage.”

Estella tilted her head to the side, curious. Rodrigo put his hand on her cheek. Had her hair come loose while they were dancing or when she clung to him? A loose lock tickled the back of his hand.

Rodrigo slowly lowered his head. His lips stopped precariously close to the corner of her mouth. They were tantalizingly close. Estella drew in a breath.

The tenseness Estella felt was the kind that any woman would feel in this situation. His face was a work of art, but the smile on it was something art couldn’t imitate.

He’s using his looks? Estella realized that all those seduction tactics she had learned were useless against a naturally stunning person like him.

“Shouldn’t we start with dating? There is still a year left until you are of age.”

Oh, right. You have to be an adult to get married. I had forgotten since age wasn’t important to the Kartinas. Is it because he’s the male lead? He’s playing by the book.

“All right, let’s do that.” Estella moved to stand next to him, linking her arm with his. Archenemies to lovers.

The stage was set. The game of deception had begun.

It saddens me that I have to deceive my family, but it’s for their own good. So, it’s okay. Everything will be okay. Estella smiled brightly as she drew open the curtains.

But soon, Estella was disheartened. Having cleared the big hurdle that was Rodrigo, she had thought everything would be okay, but that optimism went down the drain as soon as they returned to the banquet.

***

The banquet ended in chaos.

Kalen, Ada, and Ayla were unable to hide their astonishment when they spotted us, me and Rodrigo, as we emerged from the balcony arm in arm.

Forgetting that they were surrounded by people, Kalen started throwing the shuriken he had hidden in his clothes, as Ayla offered some poison to Rodrigo that she had quickly concocted. Right in front of him, in front of everyone, out in the open.

Ada took a moment to react, but then she pulled out her sword. The sounds of clashing blades broke out, accompanying the beautiful music played in the banquet hall.

Clang, clang, clang! Swords flashed and struck together. Tables toppled over, and all kinds of colorful expletives escaped Ayla’s mouth.

Screams erupted here and there, but even then, the musicians were so absorbed in their performance that the music continued, and the combination of women screaming alongside the instruments was practically comical.

“Once I get my hands on you, you’re dead!”

“You think I’m going to let you catch me?”

Rodrigo’s reply sent Ayla over the edge. She set off a smoke bomb. The green smoke was enough to scare people off. The entire crowd began to scream and scramble over each other to get away. Duke Gloria had gone pale.