Chapter 5

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Alan, out of breath, arrived at Olivia's room and stood tall in front of Silas and Olivia.

"So, what were you two doing with those opera glasses at that window?"

"Brother, your eyesight is good."

"It's hard not to notice something that sparkles so much!"

Alan slumped onto the sofa, looking exhausted.

Olivia asked Taylor to prepare a cup of tea for Alan.

Sitting across from Alan with Silas, Alan sighed and said,

"Is it that amusing to see me in trouble?"

Olivia and Silas exchanged glances. They weren't really enjoying seeing Alan in trouble, but it seemed Alan had interpreted it that way.

(I was just checking if they were compatible...)

They were merely observing to see if they strangely got along well. The king had asked them to interfere with Alan and Florencia's relationship, but if they seemed to like each other, it would be too cruel to meddle. So, they were just checking their compatibility. They weren't teasing for fun.

"You must be tired."

When Olivia said this, Alan glanced at her and nodded.

"I can't understand what that princess is thinking. No matter what topic I bring up, the conversation doesn't continue, and she keeps looking down, making me feel like I'm bullying a child. ...Do I really have to marry that princess?"

It seemed he had already developed a dislike for her on the first day.

Olivia, when she was engaged to Alan, wasn't particularly talkative, but Alan isn't bad at conversation, so they managed to have a decent talk when he initiated it. For him to say the conversation didn't work out must mean it was really bad.

(This might not work out even if the king doesn't worry about it...)

Of course, it's hard to refuse from this side, so if Princess Florencia wants to marry Alan, it will likely proceed. It's still unclear. She might just be very shy, or, more positively, she might be so nervous about Alan that she can't speak.

Thinking about it, Alan seems a bit pitiful. At first, she thought it was wrong to interfere with Alan and Florencia's engagement, but now, it might be better to help Alan by interfering.

(But, the king said to make Princess Florencia dislike Prince Alan... How can I do that?)

She can't imagine Alan being rude to a princess from another country. Especially since he seems to think of her as a child, he will likely be particularly kind and polite. Making Princess Florencia dislike Alan will be difficult.

"So, what were you two doing?"

"Looking at the garden?"

Silas answered nonchalantly. Indeed, Alan and Princess Florencia were in the garden pavilion, so it wasn't a lie.

Alan narrowed his eyes.

"Did you really need the opera glasses for that?"

"To see better."

"Was there something in the garden that you really needed to see?"

"Sort of."

"Fine, never mind."

Alan must be really tired. He put more sugar in his tea than usual.

"Olivia, what would you do if you were in my position?"

Caught off guard, Olivia put her hand to her cheek and thought. Alan was probably asking not how to proceed with the engagement but how to avoid it.

"Well, to avoid the engagement... First, I would try to persuade the queen."

Alan slumped back, looking at the ceiling.

"...Mother, huh."

From this reaction, Olivia was certain that persuading the queen had failed.