35 Extra Long Chapter: I have a very complex family (3)

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His First Uncle Advice

"Finally!" Ivy stretches her hands as she strolls down the hall and back into her room.

"Now, I've completed the two things on my checklist; there is just one final one left, which is..."

When she remembers the third thing she has still yet to do, she lets out the biggest sigh of the day.

"Prince Leon's Proposal...." 

She scratches her head as she thought about it.

Arghhh, I still haven't figure out what am I going to do about that. I know I rejected him, but when he said he'll do something about it, that reply keeps bothering me!

I know I didn't want to think about it, but I couldn't help it! Seriously what is going on in his head?! Why did he propose to me? Why? Why? Why?!!!

We became lovers in just a little over a month. Isn't it strange now that he suddenly wants to jump the gun?

She stood there and scratched her head again and again, but she still cannot think why that boy did what he did.

"Ms. Ivy? What brings you here?"

Sir Gregory came walking down the hall.

"Hi Sir Gregory, did you finish training with his highness?"

"Ah..." his face suddenly turns pale," it's getting a little bit hard catching up with his pace. So I'm just taking a short break. What about you? It looks like something is bothering you."

"Ahh," her face turned pale too as she recalled the third thing she has yet to do...

Then Ivy thought of something.

<should I ask Sir Gregory's thoughts on this?Hmmm>

"Ms.Ivy? Are you okay?"

Sir Gregory asked when he saw Ivy making strange faces.

"Sir Gregory, can I ask you for a man's opinion?"

"Hmm?" Sir Gregory raised his brows as it was the first time he saw Ivy coming to him with such a question.

"Yes. If you think my opinion may be useful."

Ivy then looks at him with a straight face and ask.

"Why would a man suddenly asked a woman to marry him?"

"Eh?" Sir Gregory got startled to hear such a question from her, but he tried his best to answer

"Perhaps it's true love?"

He smiled, hoping she would be satisfied with his answer.

But Ivy crosses her arms and continues to ponder. Then she shakes her head and said

"No, no, that's not possible. They only became lovers in just a little over a month ago."

"A month ago?"

Then Sir Gregory realize this was about her and Prince Leon.

In his mind, he thought.

<So he proposed to her! That son of a devil! Finally!>

While Ivy was waiting for Sir Gregory to answer, he coughed and calmly replied

"You cannot underestimate the power of true love. Time doesn't matter. It can happen in a month, a day, or even seconds. If he wants to marry you, it must be true love."

Ivy just showed a dull expression.

"Such an unscientific answer. It's ok. Sorry to waste your time. I'll be leaving then."

Then as she was about to leave, Sir Gregory stop her.

"No, wait, Did I say something wrong? You don't believe it's true love?"

Ivy looks at him with a straight face. "In just a month? No way. It doesn't make sense."

In Ivy's mind, true love must have stages, and stages take time.

<we haven't even properly dated or kiss yet, and now he wants to marry me? That's just unthinkable. And the novel says his true love is Princess Sophia, not me.> Ivy's inner voice.

"Anyways, true love is out of the question. It's just not possible."

She folded her hands and pondered again.

When Sir Gregory heard her answer that way, he thought he had to do something quickly. If not, it will jeopardize the Prince's proposal.

So he calmly thinks, and just when he was about to answer, Peterson appeared.

"Sounds like maybe he's not thinking things through then."

Peterson said as he climbs up the stars.

"Uncle, what are you doing here?"

She smiled at him. Seeing Peterson now makes her happy as she felt her family suddenly grew bigger.

Peterson blushes when he saw Ivy smiled. Ever since earlier that day, he has decided he'll do his best to be part of the family again and care for his cute niece as well.

"I just wanted to pass you the blueprints I promise you about."

"Ah, thanks, by the way," Ivy then asks him again, "what do you mean when you say he's not thinking things through?"

"Oh, that, I overheard your conversation downstairs just now. You ask why a guy suddenly wants to marry a girl after only being lovers in less than a month, right?"

Ivy nodded vigorously

"And you are very sure that's not true love."

Ivy nodded tremendously.

"Well, it could only be two possible reasons,

One, he could be a very passionate guy who likes to fool around. These sort of guys jumps into these things with any women they know, but they don't mean it. They'll change their mind instantly once they find another woman.

Ivy paused and gave what Peterson said a thought.

Then she immediately shook her head and said

"No, no, no. Not possible. I didn't raise that boy to become a playboy like that."

"Raise?"

"Ah, it's nothing, then how bout the second possible reason?"

"The second one is if he is a very responsible man. He must have either done something or felt guilty about something, and he is marrying out of responsibility."

"Hmm.... in what sort of situation a man would think like that? Can you give me an example?"

"Ahh... the common ones are he might have accidentally slept with her after alcohol..."

"NO! THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT SORT OF THING YET!" Ivy suddenly yelled, frightening Peterson.

Then when she returned to her calm composure, she coughed.

"This example does not apply to them; are there any more examples?"

"Ehh..." Peterson scratches his chin. "I guess anything that will tarnish a women's chance of getting married then, especially if that woman is a noblewoman."

After hearing his words, Ivy suddenly thought of something, and she had to confirm

"Then what if the women's face was injured and he felt it was because of his mistake? Would that make the guy propose a marriage?"

Ivy gaze at Peterson seriously, making Peterson feel strangely curious about why his niece is so fixated with this topic.

"This is just a hypothetical question, right?"

She just nodded

"Well, as I know if both of them are nobles, and if he is a man who has a strong sense of responsibility, then yes, I would say that would be highly possible."

Then when she has finally found her reasonable answer, she said

"Ok, yes. It finally makes sense that the boy is very kind, after all. Thank you, Uncle!"

Then she immediately ran off back to her room.

Throughout this whole conversation, she has forgotten Sir Gregory's existence.

Sir Gregory was there, witnessing everything they said, he wanted to interject, but he couldn't since they were talking to each other very passionately about it.

Then at the end, once Ivy left the scene, he kneeled to the ground and said devastatingly,

"Ahhh... what have you done? Now it's going to take a miracle to get them to marry."

Peterson didn't understand what Sir Gregory had meant; he was just happy that he help his cute niece in the end.

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Papa Hensley & Family

A few days later, after we've received an emergency telegram from Sir Jacobs, begging father and the rest to return asap because their work is piling up like hills.

So the date for us to return home has finally been decided.

Everyone went back a few days ahead while I stayed with Peterson to settle one last thing at Ester Lake.

Well, to be exact, everyone left except the Prince.

Even though Prince Leon was supposed to return with them too, he insisted on staying with me for some reason.

"You should've just gone back first. Sir Jacobs will be very much troubled because of you."

Ivy looks at the Prince as they walk together towards the carriage.

"That's why I sent Gregory. He'll handle it." The Prince answered casually like it's a no big deal.

"But isn't that supposed to be your work? Why are you staying, anyway? It's almost complete, so there is really nothing else for you to do here."

"I promise Master that I'll protect you while I'm here. What if you got kidnap or being crush under a roof again? That will worry me." He smiled sarcastically.

"I've already learned to be more careful of my surroundings. On top of that, Uncle Peterson is more than capable of protecting me, so thank you, but I don't need your protection, Leon."

Then while she tries to increase her pace and separate herself from him, she accidentally stumbled, and the Prince immediately stop her fall by grabbing her waist from behind.

"You were saying?" He looks at her with sarcasm on his face.

While Ivy blushes and said

"This... this is the last time!"

Then she quickly stood back on her own and went ahead while Prince Leon just laughs at her from behind.

While they were outside the mansion getting ready to leave, Mr.Hensley & family came by to bid their farewells.

"Mr. Hensley! Everyone! I'm glad you are here. We were just about to..."

Ivy stops as she saw Mr.Hensley immediately dashing his way towards her, and he started groveling over her feet.

" Nooooooo!!! DON'T LEAVE ME!!!"

Hensley cries and shouts while he locks his arms around her legs.

"What will we do without you? What will I do without you?!!

You can't leave us. You are my precious money making... I mean, dear daughter!"

Ivy suddenly felt she just heard something she shouldn't have.

"Mr.Hensley, please stand up. You have your daughters and Robbie to help you. You don't need me."

"What are you talking about! You are my proudest treasure in the family!!!"

Hensley yelled with a straight face while his children are standing behind him, feeling embarrassed with their father's attitude.

As Ivy was feeling troubled by his honest reaction, Robbie step forward and pulled him away.

"Pops, stop that. Can't you see that you are troubling her? I'm sorry, Ms.Ivy. Please forgive my father for his rudeness."

When Robbie bowed down to apologized, Ivy immediately karate chopped his head again.

"Ouch! What's that for?"

Robbie yelled as he feels the bump on his head.

"I don't feel good when you act so polite towards me, so stop it. Just act normally like we used to."

She smiled brightly at Robbie, treating him just like before.

While her smile made Robbie blushed, the boy standing next to Ivy is getting a little annoyed.

When Robbie notices the Prince's expression, he sneered at him then said to her.

"Ivy, if you ever get lonely, we will always be here waiting for you."

Ivy held both of Robbie's hands and happily answered.

"Of course! Yes! I'll miss all of you very much."

Robbie smirked secretly as he could see the Prince's nerve popping out from his head.

Then Kourtney, Kim, and Khloe push their brother away and held Ivy's hand.

"You take care now, okay? If you ever need anything, you will always know where to find us."

Said, Kourtney

"Write to us. Lots! Okay?"

Said, Kim

"Ivy, we will miss you."

Khloe cried, and soon after, the other two sisters cried along as well.

Ivy just nodded with tears, and they all gave each other a final hug.

"We'll make sure to take care of them while you're gone, so don't worry."

Then Sir Ingrid came along with the Baron to bid them goodbye.

"Baron! And Sir Ingrid."

While the baron and son tried to kneel, the Prince stop them and said

"No need for formalities since it's only us. I'm grateful for what you have done for my fiancée and me. I will notify his majesty to reward you for your hard work."

"We thank you, your highness. It is our duty to serve the country. We are just glad that Ms.Ivy is now a lot better."

Then Ivy walks towards their side, and she bowed.

"I like to thank both of you for saving my life. I'm eternally grateful. If it weren't for both of you, I would not be here today."

"No, Ms.Ivy. Please hold your head up. We just did what we could. It was the wizard Tolius that did most of the work."

Sir Ingrid said as he felt flustered to see Ivy bowing at him.

"Ah, yes. I have to thank him too. Is he not here with you?"

Ivy looked around behind them to confirm.

"Tolius is a wizard and a traveling merchant. He is only here for the festival, he left right after the storm, but he did leave a message for you. He says that there is a high chance that both of you will meet again."

As Sir Ingrid explains to her, her face turns disappointed as she couldn't thank her savior.

"I see. I was hoping to thank him personally for saving me."

"Ms. Ivy, even though Tolius performed the magic, the truly admirable one was your fiance. It's been a long time since this old man saw such a beautiful sight, he ki..."

The Baron immediately stop talking when he felt the Prince's deathly gaze...

"Ki?" Ivy asked while she looks at the baron, waiting for him to finish his sentence.

Then Sir Ingrid immediate steps in and help his father

"Ki... kingly, my father had meant his highness was very kingly that he finds it to be a very beautiful sight. Haha"

Ivy was suspicious but was too lazy to investigate further, so she just accepted his answer.

"Still, I'm very grateful to you. If you ever need my help, please do not hesitate to look for me at the Duke household. You are always welcome to visit us."

Sir Ingrid's eyes widen, and then he blushed as he asked.

"Can I really?"

Then the Prince gave them a deathly gaze again with a look saying.

<I'll kill you if come near her.>

Ivy had noticed Prince Leon's expression since a while ago, but this time she decides to do something about it. So she turned around and gave the Prince's death gaze a reply.

"Didn't I say to play nice with each other ?"

The moment she said those words, they recalled what happened that day at the bar and so Prince Leon immediately stops misbehaving and nodded obediently at her.

Then she looked at all of them and smiled

"Yes! All of you are always welcome."

"Ivy! We've got to move out now."

Peterson yelled as he ride his horse towards them

Then Ivy suddenly recalls the matter that she wanted to show to Mr.Hensley.

"Mr.Hensley, before I forget, there is something I wanted to show you."

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Author:

I decided to do a long one this time! I love heartfelt family stories. I cry a lot when I read about them.

('༎ຶོρ༎ຶོ')