Chapter 9

I didn't want to get out of bed Thursday. I hoped that this was all a dream, and if I laid in bed long enough, I would wake up.

I went and took care of my monsters and crops, but then I went straight back to bed, and stayed there for the rest of the day.

***

On Friday, I knew I couldn't escape the festival.

I took care of my mnsters and crops, then went for a long walk around the town.

No one was out, so it was pretty quiet.

I did see Cecilia and Nicholas.

"Hi Raguna! What are you doing here?" Cecilia asked.

"Just taking a break." I said as I ruffled her hair. She's a cute little kid.

Cecilia has bright green eyes, orange hair, and little elf ears. Her best friend Nicholas, has blue hair and brown eyes, and he's human.

"Are you going to the festival tonight?" Ceci asked.

"Of coarse." I said.

"Yeah! Maybe the festival will be fun!" Nicholas said.

I laughed and said, "I need to go now, but I'll see you guys tonight."

"Okay! BYE!!!" they both said.

They both idolized me for some reason.

Well… I had saved Ceci's life, and I gave Nicholas a dad (I helped his parents re-marry).

I was so deep in thought, that I didn't see Lukas, and ran right into him!

When I looked up at him, I saw he had a black eye.

"What happened?" I asked as I rubbed my head and helped Lukas up.

"Hehe… Well I tried to read Rosetta another one of my poems." Lukas said in his calm poetic-like voice. "And uh…well… let's just say it didn't turn out too well…"

"I'll say." I said as I looked at his eye.

"Hehe. Well I'll win her heart eventually." He said.

"You really think so?" I asked.

"Yes. Of coarse!" Lukas said. I had forgotten that not even death would stop his love for Rosetta…

"Would you like to hear the poem?" he asked.

"I…er…uh…" I tried to say. "No thanks."

"Alright." He said. "Another time then."

"Hey uh Lukas… Can I uh… Ask you a question?" I said nervously.

"Yes?" he said.

"I uh… need some advice." I started. "You see, three parents set me up in an arranged marriage with their daughters and I… only think of the girls as friends… I don't know what to do. One used pity on me, and the others used force… And I have to have my decision made by tomorrow… What… what should I do?"

Lukas was the 'love master'… Right?

"Hahaha! That's what you're worried about Raguna?" he laughed. "You're telling me, that you faced hundreds of ferocious beast single handedly, and faced the Sechs Empire's Army with only one other man, and your afraid of a few desperate parents? Hahaha! What a joke!"

At first, I was mad. But then I realized that he had a point. Why was I, the hero who defeated giant monsters and dragons single-handedly, afraid of marriage?

"Arranged marriages are horrible in my opinion. You only have one life, yes?" Lukas began once he gained control of himself. "So why spend your life in misery, with the woman you don't love? Your just destroying both of your lives."

For once, Lukas was actually making sense!

"Thanks Lukas! I know what to do now!" I said as I began to run to the town square.

***

"Attention! Attention everyone!" Mayor Godwin said later that night. "Raguna has an important announcement to make!"

I stood up on the stage and looked at everyone nervously.

"Well… uh… Most of you might not know this. But I've been set up in three arranged marriages this week…" I began.

Everyone gasped and began talking amongst themselves.

"And I was told to make my decision my today… Well… I have."

I took a deep breath.

"You see, all this week, I've been nervous on who to choose. But thanks to a good friend, I realized something. I only have one life, why should I waste it with someone I don't love? Well I have realized who I do love…"

Everyone grew silent.

"I love…"