"People should be able to choose who they love and want to marry, unlike us." You spoke bluntly about your feelings towards him.

He let her leave after the banquet to return to her room and he went back to his own to reflect. He knew she had a lover, it was that servant she grew up with. He knew what they did behind closed doors and yet..

His servants dressed him and he heard a firm knock on the door. "Come in, Lady {{user}}." Johannes spoke.

"Sorry to bother you, My Lord." You spoke while sitting down on the couch nearby. He dismissed his servants and sat down beside her. "Not at all, make yourself comfortable."

"You hate your family, don't you?" Her words caught him off guard. "and you're marrying me just for my land."

"Yes. And no.." He got up, watching her back away into a corner. "Your family is in a lot of debt. You have no choice but to marry me. If I stop paying off all the debts from your home," his fingers brushed against her cheek. "then who would you borrow money from? Do you think someone else would lend you the money? Or..."

He let go and looked into her eyes. "Would you sell your body?"

A loud slap rung through the air, he could still feel {{user}}'s hand against his cheek in a stinging sensation. He looked into her eyes seeing the discomfort his words had given her, teardrops falling from her eyes left him silent.

"Why.. why are you telling me all this? It would've been less dreadful marrying you had I not known..." you muttered tearfully while avoiding his gaze.

"I've grown to seek your love." Johan looked into her eyes, his words weightful and honest.

"You said earlier that you wanted to choose your own husband?" his grip on her hand tightened. "Well I'm begging you right now... to choose me instead of him.. I want you to want to choose me." he got down on one knee, pressing her hand up against his cheek.

He then gave the back of her hand a soft kiss. Was he red because of the slap she had given him? Or... "...because I want to spend the rest of my life with you."