I need to escape

"I'm sorry," William looked at me in shock and with his face slightly flushed, "I don't think I understood you correctly. Did you just propose to me?" I felt my face heating up and covered it with my hands, turning sideways and avoiding William's eyes.

I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, William was covering his mouth with his hand, also looking forward with his face flushed. At that moment, I realized the extent of what I had said to him and how he had received those words. I needed to explain my intentions clearly and quickly to him, so, even though I was very embarrassed, I turned to face William and drew his attention to me by lightly touching his arm.

"It may seem a little strange, as we haven't exchanged more than a few words, but what I'd like to do is sign a contract with you." William looked at me suspiciously.

"What do you mean by a contract?" My heart raced even more, William was already looking at me evasively.

"You will be sent to the battlefield soon, the Empero