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Before the Ceremonial of Manhood
Why would she want to know such a thing?
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And so he curiously asks her, "Why is this so important to you?"
"Huh? Why you say?"
Then Ivy took a moment to think, and she couldn't find the right words, and she couldn't tell him the whole story, so she just put it vaguely
"Uhm, let's just say my future depends on it."
"Hm? Your future?"
"Yes..."
Peterson put on his thinking cap again,
<how does a man who wants to marry an underage girl have anything to do with her future? Is she talking about herself? But it can't be since she cannot marry until she comes of age. She is still 15 after all.>
"come on! Let's hurry, the Prince's ceremony is starting!"
Suddenly a child shouts next to them, and when Peterson heard the child mention about the Prince, a scary thought came into his head.
<Wait a minute> his eyes widen when he just realize something <it's true that she cannot marry until she becomes an adult, but this is different if the prince comes of age, a crown prince can choose to marry anyone he wants once he reaches 18 even if that person is underage. So that means...>
When Peterson turns his gaze and look at his cute niece fidgeting with her fingers and waiting for his answer, he just immediately says, "NO."
"Huh? No?"
"No. I won't allow it."
"Huh? Uncle, what do you mean?"
"As a responsible adult, I will never allow a man to marry an underage girl even if he has the right to do so."
Hearing his answer made Ivy's eyes sparkle.
<Finally> she thought <Finally, I found someone with proper sense in this world. A proper mature adult with a proper mature discussion.>
So she tightly clasped her hands again while she carried high expectations for his answer, she asks
"But what if they say it's true love? What if both of them truly love each other? What should we do about it then?"
Peterson saw his niece face looking at him with high hopes and high expectations. Then he thought <Is she really thinking about marrying the Prince at this age? But she is still so young.>
After deep consideration, while he puts himself into the shoes of a responsible second in line fatherly figure, he then answers her
"Then what's the rush?"
"Huh?" Ivy was baffled by his answer, "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, why the rush to get married? You can still love one another even without getting married, and if you truly love each other, then it won't be a problem to wait until you reach the proper age to get married. So in short..."
Then he places his hands over her shoulders and stoops down to her level while he gazes at her eyes and said
"If it's true love, then he can surely wait."
Ivy's eyes glistened at the sight of her heavenly uncle.
She felt save by his words as if it was like church prayers that brought her back from the pits of chaos, and she felt so touched that she shed a tear.
"Wait, why are you crying?"
Peterson suddenly panic, thinking his words might have hurt her feelings
"No, it's just... You are so right, Uncle. If it's true love, he can surely wait."
Ivy immediately hug her uncle around his shoulders and said
"Thank you, Uncle, I'm so happy I talked to you about this. You really are the only one that I can count on."
Peterson just let out a sigh of relief and patted on her back, thinking
<As long as she is happy and she doesn't marry the prince, then everything is ok with me.>
While they hug, someone started calling out Ivy's name again
"Grandbaby!!!!!"
It was Mr.Omer that called her name, and together with him was his rowdy group of muscles.
"Grandpapa! You're here too?"
Ivy yelled, then immediately went to her grandfather's side and gave him the biggest hug.
"Of course! My sweet, sweet granddaughter. This is one of the biggest events of the year, and it's also our biggest business too."
"Huh? Business? What do you mean?"
"Come on, my sweet Granddaughter, leave that idiot uncle of yours behind and let me share with you along the way."
"Grandpapa, that's not very nice. You should not talk to your son like that."
"Hmph!" While Mr. Omer pouted, Peterson just said
"It's ok, Ivy. I'll join you later. I still got something that I need to settle. Just run along ahead."
"Ok, but be sure to find us when you finish. It's a promise, ok. We will be waiting for you."
After that, they smiled and wave at each other than left, leaving only Sir Gregory alone at the scene.
Sir Gregory, who has been standing at the side, had witnessed the whole conversation, and he was unable to do anything to stop them again.
All he could do in the end was let out a sigh,
"it's just too difficult to stop them once they got the conversation going. I guess the Prince is not going to like this. Conquering her will be a lot harder than we think."
************
Before the Ceremonial of Manhood
Backstage Preparation
A couple of hours ago, when Ivy was still in her room struggling with her problems about the novel.
Prince Leon, on the other hand, was at the arena, practicing and sharpening his sword for the ceremonial battles.
"Your highness, here's the report that you wanted."
Sir Jacob immediately came over to see the prince after he finishes helping Ivy with the royal guest.
In his hands was a bag full of files and papers for the Prince's morning report.
"Thank you for your hard work, Jacob. I expect that there are no problems during the royal guest arrival?"
The Prince asked as he slowly flips through the documents and listens attentively to Sir Jacob's reports.
"Other than King Gautzelin's rowdier attempts, and few small damages at the palace entrance, there is nothing else that is out of the ordinary. However, the northern kingdom brought along a few large crates with them and requested that the crates be moved to the arena. Prince Berry says that it's something that they will be using for battle later. Please do take extra caution when battling against the northern prince."
"Ok, I'll take note of it, and what's the status report on the northern kingdom's illegal migrant situation and King Trevor?"
Sir Jacob then took out a thick folder
"We apologize, your highness, but there are still no new results reported from our investigation team. All that we have now are the increasing number of suspicious activities by the slave traders from down south, which has been reported earlier.
As for King Trevor, we only know that he is the only son of the late Queen Rosa, who has passed many years ago and Princess Sophia on the other hand, is the only daughter of the late king's consort Catherine which is currently missing. The cause of the late King Haynes death was due to an unknown illness. Finally, there are not yet any other reports on King Trevor and his relations to magic."
"Ok, keep me updated and ensure that the teams rotate their shifts. I don't want anyone of them lingering too long at the southern borders."
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll be sure that they follow your kind orders."
"And have you prepared what I asked for later?"
"Yes, your highness." Sir Jacob happily smiled again
"We've prepared everything that you've instructed down to the very last detail. As long as your highness wins every battle today, I can guarantee you that we can soon check off Step 5 from the plan."
"Hmph," he sneered. "As long as Master keeps his promise, that shouldn't be a problem. I'm glad that everything is going according to plan."
"Yes..." Sir Jacob nodded " even though the news about the engagement not being official was a little sudden, I'm impressed that your highness could come up with such an idea as to remake a new agreement with Ms.Ivy.
And, because this new agreement only involves two parties, which is only your highness and her, now no one can say anything to object the both of you. Plus, she even signs the agreement with the royal's magic sealing pen, now nobody could destroy the contract."
Then the Prince let out a small laugh
"Like they said, Jacob.
Desperate times, come for desperate measures."
"Yes, your highness." Sir Jacob humbly bowed, "Now, all you have to do is to get her to say those five magic words."
While Sir Jacob was happily reading his reports, the Prince's hands that was flipping through the papers, suddenly pause, and he asked,
"Jacob, is this everything that she has done this morning?"
"Ye.Yes. Your Highness," Sir Jacob began to gulp and stutter, "I left not a single word, but if you read my thoughts on Ms.Ivy's actions, you'll find that everything was just a misunderstanding and nothing happened between them. You are undoubtedly the only man for her."
The Prince then threw back the report to Sir Jacob and pulled out the sword he had just sharpen. With just a simple swing, a vicious tornado forms out of thin air, and it destroyed every obstacle in front of him, leaving only but dust in the atmosphere.
"Eeek!" Sir Jacob unconsciously screech like a little girl while he shudders behind his file.
Then as the Prince puts away his sword, he called out to Sir Jacob and said
"Make certain that you double the medical team because I'll make sure the only man that she sees standing alive today is me."
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