CH 11

After leaving Olivia’s room, Cyrus was walking back with the King.

The bet that they told Olivia about. There is actually more to it.

(As expected, I can’t tell her that the other condition is for Aniue to step down from his position as the Crown Prince huh……)

Even if Cyrus is willing to become king, things won’t be so easy for him since the queen is still there. Since the Queen intends to make his brother, Alan, ascend the throne, Cyrus’s willingness alone will not be enough. He needs to make his brother give up as well.

Naturally, if he only has to think about Olivia then he could have told his father to deal with his elder brother himself. However, his father told him that the only woman he sees fit to become the next queen of this country is Olivia. This is to say, even if Cyrus fails, he doesn’t mind making her become Alan’s queen. With that being the case, Cyrus has no other choice but to become king himself. After all, if he can not get that position, even if he can obtain her heart, he will not be able to be with her.

Cyrus also realizes that this is a test that his father has given him to see if he has the qualities of a king. It may be a bet between father and son but it also serves as a trial for him as well.

(If Mother is a cunning fox then Father is one as well huh. It would be nice if they can keep their game between themselves.”

While thinking so, Cyrus also realizes that he is like a donkey chasing a carrot that his father is dangling in front of him. He knows that he is dancing to their tunes but he will not be able to obtain Olivia if he doesn’t.

Even so, for the time being, his father is still his best ally. He made Olivia help out at the castle for a month to help Cyrus get close to her. Now it’s up to him to take advantage of this chance and do everything he can.

The queen is especially fond of his brother but it isn’t like she’s pathetic to Cyrus either. But it’s just that. She probably thinks of him as a cute and foolish son. Anyway, he knows that his mother will never give up trying to make Alan king and she is not the type that would choose her means to achieve that.

Moreover, with the fool charade done and over with, his mother finally noticed Olivia’s talent. She caught his mother’s eyes. Things couldn’t be more troublesome than it is right now. In other words, the current battle is one for Olivia.

Fortunately, his brother is still unaware of Olivia’s value. By the time he noticed, his brother should have already fallen for Tiana(probably). That’s why he shouldn’t be actively trying to get Olivia back. Then again, he will need to finish things as quickly as he can before his brother notices Olivia’s charm.

(It was a mistake that I didn’t tell Olivia about how dangerous Mother can be……)

He was elated when he knew that he will be able to meet Olivia every day as she will be at the castle for a month. He was so busy thinking of how to get close to her that he forgot about his most dangerous opponent.

“Come on. Don’t look so glum. It’s not like you were backed into a corner yet right?”

The King said with a happy smile.

After glancing at his father who’s walking at his side, he constructed the expression of a [Prince] and answers.

“Of course, Father.”

Tiana was groaning with a pile of books in front of her.

It’s been a week since she started her princess education.

When she was glad that Wattle’s lesson where she couldn’t understand what he was trying to teach her at all was finally over, she was instead faced with an enormous amount of textbooks and new instructors.

(Why do I have to study this hard.)

She has to come all the way to the castle every day and take her lessons from morning until evening. The amount of lessons is just maddening. She tried to complain to Prince Alan but he couldn’t do anything and told her that it’s necessary for her education.

(WHY! Even though Olivia could play around every day, why do I have to put up with this ridiculous amount of lessons?)

Since Olivia was able to fulfill her obligations as Alan’s fiancee, there’s no way that someone [Smarter] like her can’t do it as well. In the first place, she doesn’t understand why she has to take all these lessons. After all, she is supposed to already be well-educated as she is right now. She shouldn’t have any problem as the crown princess.

“Tiana-sama, your hands stopped again.”

The low voice of her history teacher indicated that he has reached the limit of his patience.

“I’m not feeling well.”

Tiana replied while turning her chin away. Seeing that, the teacher tiredly sighed.

“Did you not say the same thing yesterday?”

“I’m not feeling well these days.”

“Perhaps we should call you a doctor.”

“That will not be necessary. I will be fine if I can take a walk.”

Without heeding the teacher who tried to stop her, Tiana stood up and quickly left the room.

Left behind, the teacher looked up to the ceiling while holding his forehead.

Seriously, this is ridiculous.

Why does Tiana have to be put through a hard time like this?

She is supposed to be someone that was recognized by Prince Alan for her talent and became his fiancee.

(Even Prince Alan said that I’m wonderful right.)

It was at a party 6 months ago that she had her first conversation with Alan.

It was a dance party held at a Marquis’s residence just before the end of last year’s social season. Crown Prince Alan always attends such parties with Olivia but at that party, Olvia was sick so she was resting in a separate room.

Without tending to her, Alan was greeting the guests at the party alone.

(Just like the painting, he’s truly beautiful……)

Alan’s younger brother, Cyrus was said to be a delicately beautiful prince but Alan has this fearless atmosphere to him that differs his charm from his brother’s. If she has to describe it, he has the charm of an elaborately made plaster statue.

Tiana has been obsessed with Alan for years but with an eyesore like Olivia around, she couldn’t get close to him. She had tried to embarrass Olivia to make Alan disillusioned with her but for some reason, she still failed at every corner.

For Tiana, that party was her greatest opportunity. With no Olivia beside him, there were naturally many ladies who wanted to approach Prince Alan. They swarmed him like butterflies to a flower but tearing them off of him was easy for her. After all, Tiana is more beautiful.

The dark pink chiffon dress that she chose for the party also fully complements her charm.

Sticking her chest up, she walked straight to Alan with the confidence that the prince would naturally be attracted to her.

“Greeting, Your Highness.”

“You are……if I recall, you should be Count Lemone’s.”

“Ah, Your Highness remembered? I’m honored!”

See, as she thought, the prince is conscious of her. After all, he recognized Tiana with only a glance.

With a smile, Tiana pretended to tumble and lean gently against Alan.

“I’m sorry, I was a little dizzy……”

“That’s no good. Why don’t you rest up in the break room? I was just about to go there myself, let me escort you.”

Olivia is in the break room. She wasn’t amused by the idea that Alan was about to go check on his fiancee but she couldn’t afford to abandon her chance to get close to him.

Tiana and Alan head to the break room on the second floor of the Marquis’s resident together.

Worried about her condition, he was also being gentle and slowly matching his pace with Tiana’s.

“Is Olivia-sama feeling unwell?”

When she pretended to care and asked him about Olivia, Alan shrugged and answered.

“I wonder about that. Maybe she’s just pretending. Olivia can’t deal with people at the party properly after all.”

“Oh…..”

When Tiana pretended to be surprised, Alan smiled at her.

“She’s not really well-educated you see. I think she doesn’t like studying that much. Thanks to that I’m always troubled by her.”

“I can understand your pain. Even though studying should be an aristocratic obligation……….let alone being Your Highness’s fiancee…….at the very least, she should educate herself on the same level as me.”

“Yeah, I heard that you are quite an excellent young lady, Miss Tiana. I’ve heard a lot of good things about you from Count Lemone you know.”

“How embarrassing. I’m not……”

“You don’t have to be so humble. I can only wish that Olivia can be as diligent as you, Miss Tiana.”

Alan let out an exaggerated sigh and enters the break room with Tiana. Inside, Olivia was lying all alone on the sofa with her eyes shut. It seems that she’s sleeping.

“……it seems that she’s really feeling unwell.”

Looking at Olivia’s sleeping complexion, a slight frown formed on Alan’s face.

“My apology, Miss Tiana. I have to escort Olivia home. Will you be fine on your own?”

“Y, Yes……of course.”

As expected, she couldn’t give any other reply to Alan who said that he would escort his fiancee home. With a lonely look on her face, Tiana looked down and teared up a little. Alan must have been mesmerized by her ephemeral beauty as he continued his words.

“I will be back after I send Olivia to her mansion. It might be a little lonely but can you wait here until then?”

Hearing that, Tiana internally cheered.