Ch 12: Contract
Aribella POV
“You’re supposed to be in bed!” Rhory snarled at Emrys, who was seated behind a long wooden desk in Rhory’s office.
“You,” Emrys stood, his vibrant blue eyes pinning me with a shocked expression. “You could have informed me that I was going to be shot!”
There was a certain kind of pain in his eyes that I knew all too well. He wasn’t even angry with me… He was hurt, and not just physically.
“I… I told Rhory the night of the annual gathering.”
“How was I to believe your little story?” Rhory threw his hands in the air. “You are someone I’ve hardly met or spoken to, and I’m just supposed to take you at face value?!”
“That’s exactly why you should take me at face value,” I let my shoulders fall. “What purpose would I have to lie? You should have realized, given the knowledge I had, that I wasn’t lying.”
Emrys groaned, “There is no point in dwelling on the things that we cannot change now. Thankfully, Rhory brought a coagulating medication and wraps, or I would have been unconscious before making it back to the castle.”
I arched a brow at Rhory, whose cheeks heated, but didn’t dare comment. He clearly believed me in one way or another, or he wouldn’t have bothered bringing supplies in the event that my predictions came true.
“What exactly do you want from me, Ms. Voss?” Rhory sighed, collapsing into his chair. He looked exhausted, and a part of me felt guilty knowing that I’ve opened a can of worms in his life.
“Protection. That is it,” I walked around his office, admiring the endless rows of books that lined the walls. “I don’t wish to marry you, if that is what you are truly asking.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, but Emrys spoke up, “The proposal was my idea. It’s an insurance policy per se.”
“How so?”
“I may be the Grand Duke, but my father is still the King. His word overrules even mine, and therefore, offering you protection for absolutely zero reason other than because you asked is out of the question. He cannot deny me assigning you a guard if you are to be my future wife,” Rhory explained.
“We must come up with a contract,” Emrys added, gritting his teeth as he adjusted the sling on his arm.
“The contract is my insurance policy,” I slowly walked towards Rhory’s desk, dragging one of the chairs that was seated in front to the edge. “Would you mind?” I pointed to the ink and paper on his desk.
“Hold on,” Emrys moved opposite of me. “How did you know that I would be shot?”
“I refuse to divulge my informant.”
That would be a surefire way for this entire plan to fizzle out before it even got off the ground.
Yes, I read about you when I was younger and then somehow traveled back in time after I died. I’m most definitely not crazy!
“Aribella,” Rhory sighed again, his patience wearing thin. “I’ve gone out on a limb for you. We had only two interactions prior to today, and I’ve taken you as my fiancée. That alone is going to stir up a shitstorm of accusations and scrutiny on my part. I’m willing to accept the negativity that will surround us because, quite frankly, I’m not interested in falling at the hands of anyone else,” his honey eyes slide over to Emrys, “And I’m not willing to have anyone I care about get hurt again. So for both of our sake, please treat this agreement with the upmost honesty.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek. Can I honestly tell him the truth? Right now?
No. Not yet.
“I assure you that any information that I can help you with to keep everyone safe, I will divulge. But I cannot give you my informant. You will just have to trust me as I am trusting you.”
“What are your terms?” Rhory stood, obviously noticing Emrys’ discomfort and led him over to the chaise near the window wordlessly. Emrys didn’t protest but narrowed his eyes at Rhory before panning them to me.
Our gazes locked, and I sighed, turning away. “I’m not going to judge you for resting when you need to.”
“You intrigue me, Ms. Voss.”
“Please call me Ari,” I dipped the quill into the ink, staring at the blank page for a moment before lifting my eyes. “I’m not here for your money or status. I’m not here for five minutes of fame… I simply want to live, and apparently I need help with that.”
Saying those words out loud goes against everything I believe in.
I don’t want a knight in shining armor. I don’t want to rely on anyone else to ensure my safety, but I also know where that got me in the past, and if I must swallow my pride to ensure this second chance; I will.
My hand moves freely, writing word after word before sliding the document towards Rhory, who returned to his seat and has been watching me for the last fifteen minutes.
“The first line of this contract says you refuse to marry me,” Rhory peered over the paper, and I noticed wariness in his gaze. “I already told you, that’s what we have to do.”
“I will be your fiancée, but I will not be marrying you. We’re going to have to work together until it is unquestionable that your brother is trying to kill you to take the throne. I need the perks, but not the title.”
He lets out a soft hum, “Okay. So you plan to remain by my side until he’s put away and then we just.. call off the engagement? You walk away with nothing and I lead my kingdom without you?”
“Exactly.”
“You want one of the guards as your personal right hand?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not to touch you,” Rhory snorts, “If we are to play pretend, there will be touching. But I can assure you that I will not cross a single boundary that is not absolutely necessary. Can that be agreed upon?”
“That’s fine.”
“Your terms are fairly simple. We do this little dance until my brother is caught, and our safety is ensured, then we part ways. You want nothing more than protection and will part with nothing when this is over,” Rhory leans back in his chair, his eyes never leaving the contract. “I don’t understand all of this, if I’m being perfectly honest, but nonetheless, I can agree to these terms. May I add a few of my own?”
“I’ll consider them.”
Rhory lets out a chuckle, slapping the paper on his desk, “You will uphold your duties as my fiancée while the terms of this contract are valid. That will involve royal classes, attending parties, and traveling beside me. Is that something you can handle?”
“I don’t see why not.”
“You must act as if Mael is not a threat. I still do not know what to make of this information you’ve given me, and I cannot risk having him catch on. But after your little performance at the gathering, I see no reason to believe you’re not capable.”
I snorted, “I’ve gotten excellent at playing pretend.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
“Would you like to add a clause that I cannot pretend with you?”
The quill in Rhory’s hand halts, and he slowly lifts his face to look at me, “Could we do that out of good faith? I hardly see the need to add honesty to the contract.”’
An indescribable feeling swims through my veins, and a genuine smile spreads on my lips, “I can do that.”
Rhory returns the smile, “Good. I think that would be for the best.”
“Will you do the same?”
“You have my word,” his grin widens.
“Can the two of you stop flirting while I’m right here,” Emrys groans.
“I don’t flirt with women,” Rhory lets out an annoyed grunt.
“Don’t worry,” I smirk, “I’m not interested in stealing him away from you.”
“This situation is entirely out of my comfort zone,” Emrys closes his eyes, seemingly done with our little banter. “I don’t think I have ever met a woman who would stand before the Grand Duke and act as you have.”
“Back to the contract,” Rhory ignores the jab from Emrys. “The only additional clause that I have would be for you to disclose any important information that you may have.”
“Where do I sign?”
Rhory arches his brow before placing his index finger on a line, sliding the paper towards me. I sign my life away, before he does the same.
“Mr. Itsuki?” Rhory calls out, and not even a moment later, Kaelar walks into the room, standing beside me. His height is even more impressive as he stands, awaiting his orders. Rhory turns towards me, “Kaelar Itsuki is my trusted guard. The four of us will be the only ones who know of this contract and its details,” his eyes turn towards Kaelar, “I want you to read over this contract, and sign your name as our witness. After today, you will be appointed to become Ms. Voss’s personal guard.”
Kaelar says nothing as he picks up the quill into his gloved hand and scribbles his name onto the paper.
Rhory outstretches a hand, and I take it, “I’ll have Mr. Itsuki lead you to your new room.”