The Terrific Crown Prince

fake love

“Why are you in the palace, Eloise? Are you trying to stalk me? Do I want me to repay your kindness?”

Eloise shook her head fearfully as before. “I was accidentally in the palace, your highness. I didn't know that you were the crown prince then. I was sold by my father in this palace?”

"Can you prove what you say?"

Eloise nodded her head. "I can even tell you who the man who sold me is."

Luke smiled his smile. “You dare lie to me and now you are trying to trick me.”

"I will try to prove it to you."

Luke narrowed his eyes. “Why do you want to report it to me, Eloise? Do you expect me to set you free?”

Eloise shook her head. “Being in this palace is better than being at home. At least I don't get scolded by my family." Eloise glanced at Luke and then looked down again. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult your ex-wife and in-laws. I'm just telling the truth."

Despite living in the palace, Eloise still knows developments. Even the rumors about Luke spread widely as soon as he entered the palace. Eloise became in-the-know when she heard the maids talking about Luke. Including how the man announced his divorce from his wife a few days ago.

"Tell me your real reason."

Eloise nodded her head. "I don't want any other girls to want to sell me."

Luke nodded his head. "I am willing to grant your request. I'll investigate on the condition that you don't run from me, Eloise. You have to promise me that you won't trick me."

Eloise nodded her head easily. Luke secretly smiled faintly at Eloise's very naive nature. He was just testing her and Eloise found her very scary. she hasn't changed at all. every move by Eloise made her more and more sure that it was not someone else's fault.

“Continue with your work! Make sure the Slayer is healthy and clean."

Eloise nodded her head. after that Luke came out of the stables before anyone noticed that the crown prince was talking to a low class slave. He didn't want to cause an uproar in the palace quickly.

***

John sighed when he heard the report from the palace maid that the crown prince had disappeared again.

"How could he go when you guys guard at the door of his room?"

The palace eunuch shook his head. "I don't know, sir. I always stay at the door. I didn't hear any sound.”

John exhaled. He was sure Luke didn't get far this time. The man did not disappear for a long time like before. He tried to think as quickly as possible. "No need to make a fuss, I will find the crown prince as soon as possible." John then ordered the eunuch to return to his place while John immediately went down all the halls of the palace. He thought about all of Luke's habits. He searched the kitchen but he couldn't find it.

John thought that Luke was doing work independently again like a few days ago. he was grateful the man didn't. John enters Luke's library which is also the Prince's study, but Luke isn't there either. John eventually finds Luke in the boxing arena. The man was hitting the bag with sweat pouring out all over his body.

"Your Highness, you are making a scene again in the palace." Despite speaking in a polite tone, John expressed his slight protest.

"You've been up too long. I'm used to starting activities before sunrise. You should familiarize yourself with my schedule.” Luke casually provides a proper alibi.

John nodded his head. he couldn't argue anymore. "I will order the eunuchs and ladies-in-waiting to be in front of your room early, your highness."

"Good, you can count the most, John."

 "What are your plans for today, your highness?" John faithfully received the order.

"There isn't any. I just wanted to repeat my studies and check some of the reports that arrived at my desk. I have to return the taxes paid by my people, right?”

John nodded his head. "I will accompany you, sir."

“Today I want to be accompanied by eunuch. I have a special job for you. I need you to investigate human trafficking in my area. Either to be used as slaves in the palace or slaves elsewhere.”

"I will carry out your orders, sir!"

Luke nodded his head. he lets John go. After the man disappeared from his sight, Luke breathed a sigh of relief. He almost found out that he sneaked into the stables early in the morning to talk to lowly slaves.

***

 “Your highness, your ex-wife wants to meet you. What should I do?” Eunuch bowed respectfully to interrupt Luke who was focused on reading the file that was on his desk.

Luke was silent for a few moments. "Have I ever made an appointment with her?"

"No, your highness. The guards have tried to chase her away but she insists she will wait for you until you agree to see her.”

Luke chuckled lightly. Agatha never changes. she was always selfish and stubborn. Her status as Luke's ex-wife made the palace guards a little reluctant to expel her roughly. She makes good use of all opportunities.

"Let her to see me."

Eunuch nodded his head. he rushed out of Luke's room. Not long after that Agatha appeared before Luke. Luke asked the eunuch to leave them both. Luke motioned for his wife to sit down.

Agatha beamed at Luke. She glanced around Luke's room. “Wow, Prince, even your library is so big. Have you read all the books in here?” Agatha commented on her ex's workspace.

“tell your interests, Agatha!” Luke said with a very even expression.

"Are you very busy?" Agatha frowned and looked at Luke with a slightly worried look. She tried to approach Luke but the man gave a warning with his eyes that Agatha should not cross her limits.

"There are some rules that you must follow while you are in this palace, Agatha."

Agatha took a sip of her saliva. “Luke, I mean prince, I want to apologize for what I've done to you. I didn't know you were a prince. If you had tried to be honest from the start, I would have received you better.”

“Of course, you will also continue to lie to me throughout my life. I will definitely never know the truth that you tricked me all this time.”

Agatha knelt before Luke very easily. he snorted. Luke had seen the same scene before at Victor's party, when Agatha asked Victor for a second chance.

“Your Highness, I know you have loved me all these years. Can you just get rid of your feelings like that?”

Luke smiled sinisterly. "It seems you misunderstood. I love the woman who saved my life. That woman is not you, Agatha. That means, my feelings for you all this time are fake love. I loved the wrong person."

Agatha shook her head. "No! You never even met Eloise when you grew up. I'm not sure you love her. You don't even know where she has been."

Luke smiled a little. “Agatha, I don't have time for your behavior today! You go home!”

Agatha dropped her tears. "Your highness, are you throwing me away because of the difference in caste between us? How can you do something like that? I am willing to marry you even though you are poor, your highness. How could you just dump me after you returned to the palace? I can't believe you forgot all our memories. You even forgot your promise to my grandfather to look after me until I'm old.”

Luke laughed out loud at Agatha's words. "You have a great sense of humor, Agatha." Luke satirized his ex-wife. “Darling, you may be delusional. I can call a psychiatrist to check your mentality."

Agatha shook her head. "I love you, your highness. Please, believe me!"