Chương 48: Reason #25: it would be the beginning to my doom (7) C

Before the Ceremonial of Manhood

The Final Royal Guest #3

"Ah, it seems like our final guest has just arrived."

Said Sir Jacob as he notices a small royal fleet from afar, driving its way towards them.

When Ivy heard him say that,

She immediately stood up and gazed as far as she could.

Then when she saw the flag symbol from the southern kingdom, she immediately reset her emotions and clenches her fist in determination.

<Ok, this is it!>

she yelled in her thoughts

<The time where the female lead and the villainess meets has finally come, and you got this!

You already have everything plan.

Whatever happens, there will be no worries, because you have not only money but also protection.

But it still bests that I keep my distance to avoid any unnecessary trouble.

Even if we can get pardon, it's still a one-time extra life card, and I wouldn't want to use it unless it's an emergency.

There is only a little less than a month left. Once you endure this, you can finally live in peace.>

Then suddenly, she slaps herself with both her hands and said

<Ok! Fighting Face On!>

"Are you ok, Ms.Ivy?"

Sir Jacob asks as he sees her cheeks bulging in redness.

"Yes, I'm more than ok! I'm super duper fine. Please do not mind me, Sir Jacob, and focus on the guest."

Then she focuses all her energy and gazes at the coming carriage.

The moment she saw the royal carriage pulled over at the bottom of the palace stairs, she held in a deep breath and waited for horns to blow, and the messenger shout.

"Welcoming the arrival of Princess Sophia!"

The whole time, she couldn't stop her heart from palpitating. All she could do was repeatedly take in deep breaths and get ready for one of the most significant events in her life.

Then when the servants finally opened the door, she suddenly dropped down on her knees and shut her eyes as if her body unconsciously close it to help her avoid seeing the reality in front of her.

<ahhhhh... why did I close my eyes? Just open it. You will meet her sooner or later, so let's just get it done and over with it.>

And so even with her hands shivering, she slowly lowered them and peek through her fingers.

Then she could see a bright light shining and a beautiful little girl slowly appearing in front of her.

At that very moment, the very same Ms. Ivy Augustine, who had insisted that she did not believe in love at first sight --Fell in love, and it was love at first sight.

The beautiful girl standing in front of her was like a baby angel. She has gorgeous dark Goldilocks-like hair and big blue eyes with a chubby perky complexion that you would just love to squeeze and snuggle all day long.

She is the cutest creation she has ever seen on earth!

Even when Ivy was already utterly madly in love with the princess, when she saw something suddenly popping out at the center of the Princess's hands, she fell for her even more because it was a cute Pomeranian puppy that had a brown face with white fur covering around its head like a royal fur scarf.

It was a like Cute Madness Bonanza!

The ultimate cute combo made her felt like cupid had just shot a big fat arrow right through her heart.

It was true love.

(Author: Ivy's weakness - children and cute furry animals, especially puppies.)

While Ivy was melting herself with true love, Sir Jacob has been tirelessly trying to shook her awake from it.

"Ms. Ivy, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?"

Once she came back to her senses and saw Sir Jacob, she finally remembered where she was.

"Sir Jacob, sorry I got distracted."

"I thought something had happened to you since you suddenly kneeled on the ground and covered your face like that. Princess Sophia has been standing and waiting for you to greet her."

"Princess Sophia?"

Ivy looks at the beautiful small girl in front of her again.

As she was feeling delirious from true love earlier, she thought she heard wrong, so she pointed at the girl and asked.

"Sir Jacob, who is this?"

Sir Jacob was baffled by Ms.Ivy's bizarre behavior, as he was watching her this whole time. Regardless, he still answered her and said

"Ms.Ivy. I've repeatedly told you. This is Princess Sophia from the southern kingdom."

Ivy blinked her eyes three times, and no matter how many times she blinks, the vision of the little girl standing in front of her stayed the same. What she saw didn't make sense to her, she thought her brain had shown a bug or an error, and so it made her instinctively held her chin and put on her thinking cap as she asks again.

"This is Princess Sophia? Are you sure?"

The Princess felt offended by Ivy's attitude, so she hit her on the head and said

"How rude of you to talk to me that way! Didn't you hear, I'm Princess Sophia, so show me some respect."

After the Princess scolded her, Ivy just tilted her head as she felt even more confused with the situation.

So while she stoops down to the little girl's level, she smiled and asked.

"Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

The Princess looks at her with a straight face.

"How old are you?"

Ivy asks her sweetly.

"Hmph! why must I tell you?"

She folded her arms and turned her gaze away.

"Hmm... I'll give you some fresh-baked chocolate cookies if you tell me. How does that sound?"

(Author: Ivy remembered Princess Sophia likes sweets, especially chocolates. It was written on her portfolio in reason 25 (2) )

Seeing the Princess gulped

Ivy continued to lure her in and said

"I can guarantee you that the palace chef makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the country. Once you eat it, it will change your life!"

"Change my life?!"

Princess Sophia was shocked by the life-changing notion and was hook by her sweet temptations.

Even though she didn't want to tell Ivy because she felt Ivy was very rude and also cunning at the same time.

But for the sake of the cookies, she pouted her face and answered.

"I'm eight years old."

When Ivy saw her pouting face, she felt another arrow had just reshot her heart.

<urgh.... my heart cannot take it any longer. She is just too cute. I'm going to cough out blood if it continues like this>

Suddenly the puppy jumps out from the Princess's arm and onto Ivy lap.

Then the puppy place it's tiny paws on her and goes, "woof!"

Just when she thought she could not handle any more cuteness, the puppy gave her a finishing blow.

When Sir Jacob saw Ivy acting so strangely, he decided to ask the servants to escort the Princess back to her room instead.

"Princess Sophia, it seems that Ms.Ivy is unwell. She will have to greet you another day. I truly do apologize on behalf of her behavior."

When Princess Sophia saw Ivy's blank face, she cooperatively nodded and said, "ok, please do take care of her."

Then after the Princess left, Ivy finally turns back to normal.

Then Sir Jacob folded his arms while he looks at Ivy.

As he was puzzled with her strange attitude towards Princess Sophia earlier, he couldn't help himself but ask,

"What happens? Ms.Ivy. You were perfectly fine before Princess Sophia arrive. That back, there was not ok at all. Princess Sophia is young, but she is still a princess, and we need to give her the proper respects that she deserves."

While Sir Jacob was lecturing Ivy on her behavior towards the princess, Ivy suddenly cuts him off from his speech and asks,

"Sir Jacob, did you say that you are the best legal advisor in the country?"

"Well, Yes." He answered truthfully while he held his hands on his hips as he proudly says

"I was the top student at the academy. That's how I got the position to work at his highness's office."

"Then how well would you say you know the empire's law?"

"Ms. Ivy, do you doubt my skills?

He folded his arms while his brows drew together.

"You can ask me any question, and I can even show you the position of the clause in the book."

"Good. Then here is my question. Can the crown prince marry someone underage?"

"Well," he held his chin and looked up as if he was looking through the library in his brain.

"Technically speaking, yes. As long as his highness has come of age, he can choose whoever to be his bride even if that person is still underage."

Then she suddenly turns her body around and held Sir Jacob's shoulders tightly.

After that, she gave Sir Jacob a serious look and asked again.

"Are you sure? Because according to what I know, a noble lady can only marry after their social debut at 17! So are you really sure about what you just said?

While Sir Jacob was surprised by Ivy's sudden movements, seeing her serious face made him feel as if he was being tested for his skills, and his pride as an honor roll student wouldn't allow this to put him down.

So he answered with his chest held up high and say

"Ms. Ivy, I'm starting to get offended by this. Yes, I'm 100% sure by the book that his highness can choose to marry whoever that he wishes once he comes of age, and the bride can be at any age, no matter how young or old."

After hearing his firm reply, Ivy let go of his shoulders while she turns her gaze away.

"Ok, thank you. Sir Jacob. I've heard enough."

"Ms. Ivy, pardon me for saying this, but you have been acting strange. Is something wrong? If there is anything at all that I can help."

"No. Sir Jacob.

There is nothing you can help with. Since it's the mother's responsibility for her son's actions, I must properly teach him how to be an upright citizen and not turn into a scum of this country."

Ivy says as she heads towards the door, feeling as if her head was about to burst out full of rage.

"Huh? Wait, Ms.Ivy."

Sir Jacob grab her arms as he tried to stop her from leaving and ask her to explain.

"What do you mean? I'm very confused right now. Did you just mention Mother? Or Scum?"

Ivy just kept her back facing at him and said

"It's fine, Sir Jacob. I shall see you at the Arena later. Good day."

After that, Ivy immediately went back to her room to think, leaving Sir Jacob alone while he felt baffled by her strange actions again.

**************

Next Chapter :

Before the Ceremonial of Manhood

A Mother's Struggles