002

Gracefully, I sliced the sweets into a cube and ate the piece with my teeth first before I sealed it with my lips. I can't mess up my lipstick! Even by sipping through the straw, I keep my pinky fingers lifted—water is challenging to contain with the gravity we have, that's why our drinks are always sealed. 

My smile never left my face ever since we dined together without our family, only the two of us on this banquet table. That's how I observed him strictly; the way he sits with his legs crossed and one arm on armrest is resplendent, his tender eyes are like gravity pulling me into him, and when he sips on his tea it makes me want to be the teacup! He exhales. Even his breath is so billionaire!

"Well, I supposed you're not the type of woman who will unwisely spend the time by asking what my favorite color is. We're both looking beyond courtship so maybe we can discuss how we can work out our marriage."

I draw my fan and flap it daintily. "Are you in a rush?" Because that's a sign of uninterest. 

"I am not. I value how much you value your time, Princess Ashlene." 

My name sounds so imposing from his lips! "Very well." I crossed my legs too underneath the table, preparing for examination. 

"Our dates, should we do it five times a week?" 

"Twice a week." 

"Weekends?" 

"Sunday and Monday." 

"Evening." 

"Seven in the evening and two hours onward." 

"Alright." He sips from his drink. Then we exchange answers more swiftly. "Would you like a grandeur wedding? Or in modern style?" 

"Classic." 

"Outdoor? Indoor?"

"Indoor." 

"Reception in your new mansion." 

"Where?" 

"In the Larkspur domain, none else." 

"Service is yours." 

"A Bugatti?" 

"Lamborghini." 

"Ash theme." 

"Definitely."

"As you wish." And then he smirks. "Sex for the first fourteen nights after the wedding."

"Thirteen minutes maximum." 

"Twelve children."

"Five." 

"Ten."

"Six."

"Eight." 

"Deal." I did a quick sip on my drink, breathed out with a stiff smile and fanned myself harder. "Do you mind if I ask how many wives you have?" 

"I have four wives at the moment. Eighteen children in total." 

"I demand a separate roof." 

"Same private estate." 

"With boundaries." 

"Done." 

"... I still have something in mind." 

"Your viewpoint is esteemed, speak at your convenience."

This conversation is getting more and more professional. I hold fast on my pride as a woman but his excellence teases me to worship this man. I cleared my throat and asked, "What made you interested in me, Prince Harrison?" I saw his amused eyes and smiles widely with a chuckle for the first time with me.

"I like ambitious women. In my perspective, nothing is more beautiful than a woman who's doing what she's passionate about. I adore every face you make every time you read books. Apart from that, you're brave. So if you're ever going to be a queen then I'd like you to be my queen. I will make sure that everyone will know you, the most dignified queen in Larkspur."

Of course, he wouldn't say that in front of his wives.

This prince is indeed professional not just with businesses but with his target women. He knows all my buttons. He made me hear words I wanted to hear regarding my ideal marriage. His body features, his demeanor, his background made me overlook the vices that he's a 40-year-old man with 4 wives. 

I took one more bite of sweets and asked more about his criterion, anything that would benefit our marriage, expectations and limitations. This is how marriage happens in Stell… It is an obligation, no romantic attachment. The only love allowed is the love for the duty to increase prosperity. Tikka is right. 

Romance is a crime punishable by law. 

A man should not love a woman romantically for it will make the man treat his wives unfairly. A woman should not fall in love with a man for it will arouse jealousy from the man's other wives. Frankly, courtship is a joke. The father has all the authority to arrange the marriage of their daughters, which weighs our value that daughters are the keys to connecting the family's legacy. 

Which is why men don't need to propose to a woman, they just need a favorable background to get the woman from her family. While men can have more than 1 wife, a woman should stay with 1 husband and produce heirs for him. Specifically, a man with noble calling has a higher responsibility to increase his prosperity by having more than 4 wives. On the other hand, normal men can have no greater than 4 wives to make sure that he can sustain them and prevent poverty.

Which is why I barely see my father, His Majesty, in our mansion. He comes home to different mansions of different consorts every night and day. Stell's hierarchy of nobility is simple. The first born Prince is the successor of the title of the King, if a man becomes a king then all his wives will become Queens. Direct descendants are entitled to Prince and Princess. The rest are only extended family.

Practically, women will line up to a Crown Prince. And Prince Harrison is not the crown prince. However, unfortunate circumstances can make the other prince inherit the title and Prince Harrison is currently a candidate. Multiple families cultivated separate dominions and increased their prosperity. Stell is already 1000 years old, 140 million population recorded, yet polygyny is still enforced. 

If I become a Queen, I'll have the power to stop it. But I remain less powerful than the King. But with Harrison as my King, will I stand a chance? I've been bouncing and floating downward on my bed this whole alone time. I had dismissed the prince and contemplated our conversation until midnight. 

Should I accept the marriage to save my descendants? He already proposed the freedom I desired as a consort, but can I give him 8 children in exchange!? Indeed, he's dangerously handsome at his age! I won't be fed up for the first 14 nights with him with a billionaire body! Strictly, no romantic attachment…

I look at the table when I land on my bed after a bounce, looking at the stress ball to be precise. I leap and grab it, squeeze all my dilemmas there as I look at the piles of my books that taught me the colors of true love. Their words are nothing if no action meets its meaning. 

So…

He likes ambitious women…

Then I stay ambitious… to the extent he cannot control. 

I took the stress ball and a rubber rope with me. Everyone is in the depths of slumber. I passed through the window and floated up to the top of the mansion, hopped on every wall and roof as possible. The vacuum isn't strong enough in a high distance so I holding on to a pole to keep my floating in control is necessary. 

I tied the rubber on two poles and pulled myself in between it. I stretched it with me as far as I could and when I let go, I was tossed beyond measure. I overpassed 5 other mansions and then I gradually descended forward when I'm about to reach the boundary walls. I moved my legs as if I were walking in the air, but I still couldn't make it to the wall's crown so I stretched my arm and climbed on the wall while leaping to the other side—the outside.

I rejoice without noise once my tiptoe touches the ground. I made it out! I spin around as I hop, playing with the smoothness of my veil dress. Then onto my target destination. The station is currently closed as expected but some male crews are outside, drunken and merry on a round table in the middle of the night. 

The vacuum, which serves as our gravity, is getting less and less the farther I get from the mansion. That's how these men play with the liquor by tossing the liquid above and as it floats down like a bubble, they catch it directly through their open mouths. Loud laughter. They deserve it after a day of work.

"Excuse me." 

That's when they noticed me. 

"I would like to take a tourist ride on the spaceship." 

"Business is closed, little miss. You can come again in the afternoon." 

"Naaah, don't push the pretty lady away!" said by the one who's lost it. "Hi. Are you married?"

"My friend here is looking for a third wife." Then chortles. 

I insist, "I need to take a ride right now." I did not come here unprepared so I pulled out my wallet and offered them 2 stacks of paper bills. 

"I said, business is closed." A friend nudged him, stealing glances at my offer. The most drunken man approaches me again. 

"Give us all you've got there and we'll let you enjoy the ride." He was about to grab my wrist, so I moved away. 

"Don't lay a hand on me lest you die."

"And who are you, little miss, to pet lions in the den?" 

"Princess Ashlene of Von Luxengarde." 

Silence. All their reddish eyes widened while they inspected my appearance from head-to-toe. The next thing they knew, they all bow before me. "F-F-Forgive my rudeness, your highness!"

"Please. I need to take the ride." 

The 'lions' exchange glances with each other, and after a short silence, one says, "... Fire up the engine!"

♛♛♛

Von Luxengarde is the richest in the field of engineering and this ship, the tour this station provides for tourists to have a closer look on Earth, is one of my family's many businesses. Even the vacuum originated with us.

The Earth every night is stunning in sparkling lights. Inside this sphere-like spaceship is the closest view of it beneath us. It's totally zero gravity here so I have to hold on to the handrails. I squeeze the stress ball. My prince is right there. If I can see him again for the second time, I know what my decision will be with Prince Harrison. All I need is a leap of faith.

"Would you like a different angle, princess?" a crew member asked. 

"Can't we get any closer?" 

"We c-can't, your highness. The Earth's gravity might suck the spaceship."

I twisted my lips, then looked around for options. What caught my noble attention is an extravehicular mobility unit hanging on the door. The crew said it is used for spacewalking for tourists to enjoy a space adventure. It's made to be fitted for easy movements, a separate helmet where an oxygen tank and communication device is attached, and a rope to keep me secured from the ship. 

The crew assisted me up to the actual spacewalk. Moist blurs my view as I giggle and squeal! In every movement I make, a certain weight is pulling me down. The Earth's gravity is calling me. It's so big! I can extend the rope to go farther from the ship until the crew warns from the ship, ["Your highness, you are exceeding the limit of the distance."] Then he pulls the rope. 

"Let me be, please. It brings me onto cloud nine~!"

["It's getting too dangerous."]

I smile even though he can't see it. "I'll remember your face! And I promise to give you an increase and promotion!" I remarked. The rope is secured on the suit, so I removed the suit. 

["I am honored, your— W-What are you doing, princess!?"] Now I'm freely descending down to Earth, submitting to its gravity. ["Princess Ashlene!! Putkdjg back thensekils—"] The device finally cut off after the crackle and I'm being sucked down faster… and faster… and faster! 

My celebration suddenly turned into cold sweats and intense palpitation. The Earth's wind is unwelcomingly sharp. It's scorching! Visor is fogging up! And I can't stop spinning! I had to close my eyes, which for a second I thought I passed out… I felt the stress ball in my pocket… 

I can do this. 

The wind reduces to a strong, constant pressure as I orient my body to a belly-down position. I've mastered this move by floating. And now that I'm a proper freefall, I screamed to the top of my lungs, "OH MY GOSH! OH MY FREAKING GOOOSH!!" It's cold this time! And I almost shivered when I passed through the clouds!

Then… I was calmed by the peaceful scenery of the Earth's city's lights. For some unknown reason, it feels home. Everything; the buildings, roads, and vehicles are glowing that conveys warmth. For a short moment only… because the closer and faster I get to the ground, I'm losing ideas what to do! 

"AAAAAAAAAAHHH!! HELP MEEEE!!" I'm falling down to a huge building with a roof made of glass. Heaven was in favor of me when I saw two people on that roof. "AH—!" I fell on one of them, and the next thing I heard was the sound of the shattering of the glass while I clung both my arms and legs on one thing. 

Breathing becomes difficult now. I squint and find myself hanging above a big spiral staircase wherein the ground looks deep and dark. "Aaah!! Help! Help me! I don't know how to float here!!"

"Ehem." 

Only then I realized… that I've been holding onto a man's waist and leg. He's holding an open umbrella, both of us levitating through it. I couldn't see his face clearly but the moon's light refracted on his eyeglasses. 

"How can I help you, madam?"