"Most certainly not. I am truly in love with your daughter, Lord Edward. I have come here to ask for your permission in continuing seeing her," Hansel said.

"And what will you do if I do not give you permission?" Lord Edward asked.

His glare was intimidating but Hansel was not about to back down.

"I shall continue seeing her," Hansel said.

"Even without her father's permission?" Lord Edward asked.

"It will be be truly unfortunate that you haven't given us permission but it doesn't mean I will stop seeing your daughter. I truly love her. I am sure your daughter would be happy to have her dear father see her in her wedding day," Hansel said.

Rubiella gasped.

Lord Edward's frown deepened.

"Wedding day? You are already planning to marry my daughter?" Lord Edward asked.

"Yes, shouldn't that be the goal of courtship in the end? I am in love with her and I wish to marry her," Hansel said.

"And how can you support your married lifestyle? Rubiella is the daughter of a viscount and you, I do not even know who your parents are. I do not believe that you are a noble," Lord Edward said.

"That is understandable. I haven't been a noble for a long time yet. To be accurate, I am a nouveau riche," Hansel said with a smile.

Rubiella paled.

"My daughter here told me that you don't like to be seen in social circles which is why I do not know of you. I see that she has made me believe that you are of noble birth but you are actually one who bought your nobility instead," Lord Edward said.

"I'm sorry, Father. But really, there's no problem anymore, right? He's a noble now and we can tell the others what I've told you. No one has to know that he isn't of noble birth," Rubiella said.

"And you even wish to involve me in your charade," Lord Edward sighed in frustration.

"I assure you, Lord Edward, that I can properly support your daughter financially. I am the business partner of Duke Ashburn and we have several businesses together," Hansel said.

"Ashburn . . . Is that how you met this man, Rubiella? You told me that you're friends with the Saintess," Lord Edward said.

"Yes, Father. I met him there when I was visiting," Rubiella lied.

No need to tell her father that she had slipped out of the house, almost got kidnapped by a bunch of ruffians, and saved by Hansel. He didn't need to have a heart attack.

"Do you know that my daughter is engaged to the prince since birth?" Lord Edward asked.

Hansel raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Oh no. She forgot to tell him about that annoying detail.

"It's not a formal engagement! There's no contract and we have never agreed for its fruition! Our mothers used to be friends and they made that silly agreement on their own!" Rubiella said.

"If His Highness is not to be wed to the Saintess as customary, he will be wedding my daughter. I do not see any benefits in giving you my daughter when I can have her wed to the prince as her mother would have wanted," Lord Edward said.

"My wealth is nothing compared to the prince's wealth but I do have something that he will not be able to provide to her," Hansel said.

"And what is that?" Lord Edward asked.

"My love. I love your daughter and I will cherish her and protect her. I cannot convince her mother but I think she would like to see her daughter be happy and be loved. Don't all mothers wish for that? Your daughter may be well cared for in the palace if she ever ends up marrying him but do you think she would be happy?" Hansel said.

Lord Edward was silent for a while and so were they.

"Rubiella, are you certain of this man?" Lord Edward asked.

"Yes, Father. I love him and I know that he is speaking the truth when he says that he loves me," Rubiella said.

"Your mother would have wanted the best for you," Lord Edward said.

"I just want the best for my happiness too, Father," Rubiella said.

Lord Edward sighed.

"I never expected for my daughter to be with a nouveau riche but if you are truly making her happy, then I suppose her mother will not be too displeased," Lord Edward said.

Rubiella smiled eagerly.

"Father, are you saying . . . ?" Rubiella asked.

Lord Edward nodded.

"I give you permission but I have three conditions," Lord Edward said. "One, you shall not bring disgrace to my daughter. I expect to have my grandchild only when she is married. Two, you will not lose your noble status. You are a baron right now but one wrong move, and you will be demoted back to a commoner. My daughter will face hardships from society if you lose your status so conduct yourself with dignity as a noble is expected to be. Lastly, cherish and protect my daughter. If she ever comes back to me crying, I will make sure that you will never step foot in Aderlan ever again," Lord Edward said.

"I agree to all of those conditions. Thank you, Lord Edward," Hansel said.

"Thank you, Father!" Rubiella said and got up from her seat to hug her father.

Her father was startled. It's been a long time since he had held his daughter. He smiled.

Rosietta, are you seeing this? Our daughter has grown up so much. I'm sorry that I couldn't keep your promise with the queen but look. She's so happy now. I hope you are too wherever you are, my love.

Lord Edward ruffled Rubiella's hair. Rubiella was surprised but she didn't back away.

"You look nice like this, daughter. You resemble your mother a lot. You don't need to tie this up always. Red suits you," Lord Edward said.

"Father . . ." Tears of joy sprang up in Rubiella's eyes.

"Shall we have dinner together later? You can have Hansel join us if he is available," Lord Edward said.

Years worth of distance had come between them ever since Rosietta passed away. Lord Edward had turned to business like a mad man trying to dull the pain of her death and he didn't know how to treat Rubiella. She looked so much like her mother and it was so painful. He thought that the only thing he could do for her was keep the promise between Rosietta and the queen but now that he saw her so happy this day, he realized that what he was doing might not be for her happiness at all. Perhaps he could still mend his relationship with his daughter. Perhaps she would ask him to walk her down the isle on her wedding day. Just imagining it, his lips curved up into a smile.

*

*

*

Meanwhile, somewhere in Aderlan . . .

"I wish to leave," Miyu said.

She had a pained look on her face. Not of reluctance but of understanding the hardships that would befall her with her decision.

Miyu was wearing an off-shoulder white dress with small blue gems sewn on it, reflecting the lights on her beautifully. She looked like a goddess.

"You cannot! It is your duty to marry the Sun King," an older woman who looked like her mother figure said.

"Duty . . . How ironic. The mortal beings we rule over have the freedom to marry whomever they wish but I, the Moonlight Princess, cannot even choose my own husband?! This is madness," Miyu said.

"Look. See your wedding dress here. Isn't it beautiful? You shall be the most beautiful bride of all the beings of existence. You will be wife to the Sun King! What could possibly be nobler than that?" The older woman said, holding an exquisite dress in front of Miyu.

The dress was incredibly beautiful but Miyu looked at it with distaste.

"Will that bring me happiness? I may be the noblest bride of all marrying the most powerful man of existence but my heart . . . doesn't leap with joy! Instead, I feel trapped! That dress is merely a symbol of me being a prisoner to him throughout my existence!" Miyu cried.

The older woman's face crumpled up in sadness.

"You truly wish to leave, child?" The older woman asked.

"Yes. I do not wish to marry the Sun King and if I have to face his wrath then so be it," Miyu said firmly.

The older woman held Miyu's hand.

"My child, I only wish for your happiness. I hope you can forgive this foolish mother of yours in trying to keep you here," the older woman said.

Miyu smiled sadly.

"I know but I have to do this. I'm sorry, Mother," Miyu said.

The older woman had tears in her eyes. She embraced Miyu tightly.

"May you find your own happiness, my child," the older woman said.

Miyu embraced her back.

"Thank you, Mother," Miyu said with her eyes misty with emotion.

The two looked at each other with a sad smile. A smile of farewell hoping that the other will be well. Then they turned and faced in front and bowed.

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

"WOOO! That was great!"

"Bravo!"

"Amazing!"

Miyu smiled widely and waved her hand at the audience.