Chapter 5

"Hey, are you... Miss Lumina? Why are you here?"

Stephan tilted his head and stared at Lumina as he said this.

"Well, actually, I got lost in the garden, and then she helped me."

Sharon, looking embarrassed, replied. Stephan smiled wryly and asked Lumina,

"This garden is so complex that even I sometimes get lost. How did you, who are here for the first time, manage to help her? Besides, why were you in the garden? The tea party is still going on, right?"

While Stephan's words seemed to be probing for something, Lumina maintained her expressionless demeanor and replied,

"I was a bit tired of the crowd, so I went to the garden. It's not that difficult to retrace my steps."

Sharon was surprised by Lumina's suddenly cold and distant demeanor, but Stephan smiled slyly.

"Hehe. As expected. But I'm glad I met you. I wanted to talk to you a bit more."

Lumina had a bad feeling about this and furrowed her brow slightly as she waited for Stephan to continue. However, Stephan extended his arm, his expression clearly inviting her to follow.

Lumina couldn't refuse, so she placed her hand on Stephan's arm and they returned to the tea party venue without sighing.

Sharon followed behind, and Lumina secretly wished they could just go home quickly.

A seat on the upper side of the tea party venue was left empty, and Stephan guided Lumina to it, urging her to sit down.

This seat was in a position where it was clearly visible from the venue, and the gazes of the young ladies were piercing.

Lumina felt like saying, "If you're going to glare at me like that, I'll change my appearance for you."

"What did you want to talk about?"

"I've been wanting to have a good conversation with you, Miss Lumina. After all, you are my top candidate for a first engagement, right?"

At this, Lumina pondered for a moment and replied without a smile,

"Yes, I suppose so. In this setting, that would be the case."

"You're speaking with some hidden meaning."

"Yes, I suppose so. ...Your Highness, I have a proposal for you."

Stephan smiled, finding it interesting, and tilted his head playfully as he asked,

"What is it?"

But Lumina's words, which she had been waiting to say, took Stephan by surprise, making him widen his eyes.

"How about deciding on an engagement only after you have personally evaluated the candidates by the age of 18?"

Taken aback by this unexpected suggestion, Stephan was left speechless.