Athena, Third Person POV
It was now after class. The prince has called me over and we meet once again in this empty classroom.
“Athena, I will get straight to the point. What happened to you?
“This again, prince? As I already said, nothing has changed. I am still me.”
“You may have fooled me before but your recent talk with Freya says otherwise. You would never have spoken to her like that before.”
“True. It seems you have me where you want me, prince. But do you really think I would answer your question? How many times have you tried to do so and failed?”
“I know that but I will not give up. Please, tell me for once.”
If the prince was not in his position, he would probably be begging me more but being the prince has its own set of rules. Bowing down lower than a vassal is not something someone of his position should ever do.
“And I will say it again, prince. There is one method you can use to force me.”
This exchange will never change. The prince refuses to abuse his power even to his own fiancée. It is truly hilarious.
“Hmm?”
The expected denial does not come. Is the prince actually considering to use it?
“Oh? Are you actually going to use it, prince?”
“N-no. Of course not.”
How amusing. He was actually considering it.
“Then, I have another proposition for you.”
The prince looks at me and does not answer.
“Would you like to break our relationship?”
“What?”
“My question is not hard. I will repeat it again. Do you wish to break our engagement?”
“Wait. Why are you asking this?”
“No reason. Well? Do you accept?”
“Wait. What happened? Are you okay? This is not normal!”
Weird. Why is he more worried than relieved?
“What is with this reaction? Are you not happy?”
“What are you saying!? Have you forgotten!? You told me that your father threatened to abandon you if you do anything to destroy this relationship!”
Oh. Yes, I supposed I did say that.
“That is a lie, prince.”
“Do not take me for a fool, Athena. Even if you have changed now, what you said back then was not a lie.”
“Hmph. Feeling confident, are we?”
“I have never forgotten about that. Why are you suddenly proposing this?”
“I have no need for it anymore. What you said may have been true in the past but I can now take action even if we break it. I can convince my father.”
With my most recent actions, father has more trust in myself. I would be able to leverage my use in that way even if we break this off. Also, removing the shackles of the prince will provide me with more freedom in my actions.
“Again. Are you serious, Athena?”
I look straight to the prince’s eyes and answer him.
“Yes.”
“Let me think about it. Just give me a minute.”
The prince starts thinking. This is not a disadvantage for the prince. There may be an issue of finding the next candidate, he would be free of me and would no longer need to be worried.
“No.”
After a few moments, the prince suddenly bursts out that answer.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I do not plan on breaking it yet.”
“You do understand that I will continue to use you for my own purposes if you choose to keep this?”
“Of course. I have considered that. You already know my limits so it is your choice on what you use it for.”
“Oh? Are you thinking of yourself as a shackle to keep me under control?”
“Must you always give additional meanings to my actions? Do you not get tired of doing that?”
“No.”
“Of course that is your answer. Well, I already gave you my answer so you will have to deal with that.”
“Fine. Is that all, prince?”
“You do know you still have not answered my question.”
“I know.”
“At least that part of you has not changed.”
“I will take that as a compliment.”
I proceed to leave the room and look back at him by the door.
“But I can at least give you this. I have found my path.”
I close the door and leave. The prince remains inside the room and hears a voice.
“Whew. You two sure you’re not madly in love with each other?”
Freya enters through the window.
“Wait. This is the third floor, how did you get here?”
“I can climb three floors with no issue.”
“Of course you can. Also, we do not have those feelings for each other.”
“Well, that is fine. Though I am also curious prince. Why did you not agree?”
“Really? You too?”
“What? I’ve always been the curious sort. I’m not like those people that keep questions to themselves. I ask immediately.”
“You do know that you should be more discreet?”
“Nah. Just answer the question already.”
“Fine. I am worried, that is all.”
“That’s it?”
“A more specific answer would be because of her confidence. Something inside me tells me that once I let her go, something horrible would happen.”
“Something horrible, huh.”
“Whether we like it or not, we are childhood friends. So, we both have a certain responsibility for each other. I have a feeling that once I let go, her recklessness will increase.”
“Seriously, just get married already.”
“Stop it. You must have realized it too.”
“Well, that much is obvious. Nobody tries to break off their engagement with a prince without a good reason.”
“Besides, I do like her changes now.”
Freya does not respond and stares at the prince.
“It is not like that. I have always been worried about her. She rarely shares her struggles but I have always remembered everything. Now, I no longer see any of that fear. As she says, she has already found her path. I plan on supporting her, no matter the cost.”
“Again, you aren’t convincing for that part.”
“Whatever you say. You already know what I want to ask you, right?”
“Fine. I’ll help her out if she needs it. Only if it interests me, of course.”
“That is enough. Knowing you, you already find her interesting.”
“Looking for a little payback?”
“I cannot always be on the losing end, right?”
“There is one thing I can confidently say.”
“What?”
“It’s not only her that’s changed.”
Freya leaves through the window again leaving the prince by himself.
“I know.”
