2 Reason #2: He is too pretty

Sandwiches For A Friend

**********

I did not expect

[Plan A - Avoid The Prince]

to fail so quickly.

<Curse you, author of this novel! You just had to make the villainess life that much difficult!>

While she had a panic frenzy in her head, the duchess shook her and said

"Ivy? Ivy? Are you ok? you just froze there like a statue."

"Huh? Yes, mother." She replied to her mother immediately as soon as she broke free from her daze.

"I'm fine. I must still be feeling a little under the weather."

Then the duke touched his daughter's forehead to check her temperature, and with a concerned look, he turns to his wife and said

"My wife, we should let her rest. I'll call the doctor and check on her later."

"No, father, it's ok." She pulled his hands away and said

"I'm just slightly tired from touring, that's all. There is no need for a doctor and Mother, you mention that you have another meeting to attend to, so I will just ask Nina to escort me back to my room."

With a worried face, the duchess asks her.

"Are you sure?"

She then kisses her mother and father on the cheek to reassure them.

Just a small peck on their face made them happily blush in red. 

Right after she handled her parents,

she drops a small curtsy in front of the prince and said

"I bid your highness farewell, apologies that I could not stay and accompany you a little longer."

"It's alright. I wish Ms.Ivy a fast recovery as well."

The moment he bid her farewell, like a three-step process, she smiled at him, turned around, and inconspicuously stroll out from the danger zone.

Once she was out of sight, she immediately increased her pace and ran back to her room to sort out her next attack plan.

********

Her Parent's Thoughts

After Ivy left, the Prince withdraws himself from the duke and his wife to resume his training.

While the couple was alone, the duchess turns to the duke and asks.

"My husband, have you notice that our daughter has been acting a little strange?

She is a lot more mature these days; it's as if she is like a whole new person after the accident."

"Yes, I notice my wife. She hasn't thrown a single tantrum in days. Usually, she would shout at the maids for the smallest things.

But not to worry, my dear wife. I'm sure this is what you call growing up. Our child grew up in a blink of an eye without us knowing, and soon one day, she will grow up to be a beautiful, noble lady."

"Let's just hope she won't grow up too fast. I wish she could stay small and adorable a little longer. But is it wise to have our daughter engage at such an early age?"

"His majesty favors our house greatly, and I often felt that the crown prince was lonely in the palace, especially after the queen's passing. I'm sure our daughter can be a great friend to his highness.

They are just engaged, not married, and they are still very young, just like you said.

The idea of marriage is irrelevant to them right now.

I don't know if they would like each other, but we can always discuss this matter again later."

The couple joins their arms together and slowly walk away while they imagine the children's future.

********

Plot Analyzation

Back in my bedroom, I laid down on my bed and close my eyes as I try to cool down the biggest headache that drops on me today.

It's a good thing that I'm pretty skilled with my poker face.

A talent that I develop against customers that I hate in my past life.

No matter how irritating, annoying, or hateful they may be, I will always keep calm and professional.

Just smile and wave.

"But, Urghhhhhh..."

Ivy tried to squeeze her bulging headache.

"This sudden turn of events is killing me! Who knew that I would be the male lead's Fiancée. I only remembered that the villainess, Ms.Augustine, was one of Prince Leon's admirer who wanted to grab his attention.

Damn me for skipping the finer details in the novel!"

Feeling increasingly frustrated with the novel, she spread out her hands and legs to balance her chi.

Then she started to do her breathing exercise, and with an in and an out, it made her calmed down a little.

With an "okay!"

She yelled as she felt like her battery has been fully recharged.

She rose from her bed and was ready to go back into battle.

So she held her chin and began to analyze,

"Still, the prince being the villainess fiancé shouldn't come as a surprise.

If you think about it logically, it does somewhat makes sense.

If Ms.Augustine were the crown prince fiancée, she would've felt jealous and angry that the prince fancy the princess instead.

That could be why she tried to get rid of the princess because she was trying to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

It's just too bad that the prince never felt the same way towards the villainess.

If my guess is right, the prince probably tried to cancel the engagement peacefully, but Ms.Augustine just wouldn't accept it."

Then suddenly, an idea struck her, and she grins.

"Wait a minute, the main problem here is that the previous villainess was madly in love with the prince, and she tried to get in the way of the protagonist's love.

So to avoid my doom, all I need to do is the opposite!

I won't be clingy, obsessive, and I won't show a single love interest with the prince at all.

When the time comes, I will show them my full support and wish them - Hurray! Long, live true love!

However, there are a couple more years before the princess appears, so I will need to be good friends with him.

At least, just enough to maintain a good relationship and end things on good terms.

Then, I'll just have to patiently wait for the day where the crown prince annuls the engagement, and when that happens, I'll happily accept it."

Inside Ivy's mind, she smiled at the scene where she signed the engagement annulment.

Right after that, she will wish the prince and his princess happily ever after, and finally, she will be able to obtain her own happily ever after.

"Hohoho...." she laughs by herself cheekily.

"Oh, yes. This plan is good.

Maybe it's even better than the last one.

Just keep telling yourself not to fall for the prince even if he is beautiful."

Then as she recalls Prince Leon's face, she suddenly blushed.

"OMG, even though I knew that the prince is handsome from the story, his good looks were beyond my expectation.

Hehe, but no worries, I'm a professional.

I've worked with dozens of charming clients in the past.

They were also handsome and flirty, but no matter how much pheromone attack they shot at me, I've endured and remain professional.

I have to admit that Prince Leon may grow up to be, perhaps, the most handsome guy I've ever met, but since he is still a child, I won't have any interest in him since I'm 30 y.o on the inside.

So before he fully matures, I'll just take my time and get used to his pheromone attack.

With good enough practice, I will be immune to his charms."

[Pheromone attack: It's a type of charm attack that beautiful people have on others to make them fall in love with them.]

This was, of course, something that Ivy developed inside her head.

She created this concept so that she could keep herself sane against beautiful people.

She thinks that some human beings have a higher level of pheromones, and because of that, they look more attractive to people.

And some people, like the prince, their level of pheromones was so high that they look irresistible.

However, she knows that this is not Love. It is just science.

That is why she always made sure to think about it logically, and once it made sense in her head, she will never be caught in the delusion.

*********

Her Plan of Attack

Determine to move forward with my next plan of attack, I step out of my room and run towards the training ground, hoping that I could still meet the prince.

"Ah, he's still there."

From afar, I could see a young boy vigorously swinging his wooden sword against the dummies.

" Hi Prince Leon"

I happily greeted him from a safe distance, but the prince ignored me and continue to swing his sword.

<Stupid brat, I know you can see me> my inner voice with a smiley poker face

I stood there for a while and noticed that the sun was getting hotter.

And because of that, the prince was sweating so much that his whole face was drenched in sweat.

Then, I thought of a great idea.

So I went and grab a rugged fleece from my bedroom, then I stop by the kitchen and made some delicious sandwiches and refreshments.

After that, I return to the training ground and lay the mat under the tree.

Then I sat comfortably under the shade and enjoyed my afternoon tea.

"Ah~."

I said as I drank the ice-cold lemonade,

"This is absolutely refreshing, and the weather today is so cooling."

Then from a second, I could see the prince glancing over and saw my sandwich.

"Just as what I've expected."

Ivy covers her mouth as she chuckled.

"It was faint, but I could hear his stomach growling a little earlier, so I thought I could lure him with the food I made.

After all, the prince is still just a child, and a child could not resist staying hungry."

Suddenly, the prince stopped swinging his sword and walk towards her.

He then stood in front of the girl and offered his hand, hoping she gets the idea.

But the girl just stares at him while she continues to munch on her scrumptious sandwich.

As he was not getting what he wants, he waves his hand at her with an eager look.

It's as if he was trying mind control his way and send her a message <Give Me The Sandwich>

But she looks as if she did not get his message at all because she continued to stare at him with the sandwich in her mouth and offered him nothing.

She actually deliberately acted that way. She knew what he wanted. She just didn't want to give it to him.

As the prince's patience finally reaches its limit, he said to her.

"Give it."

"Give what?"

"Give me a sandwich."

"Why?"

"Because I'm hungry."

"and?"

"Because I'm the prince!"

"So??"

The prince finally threw a fit and yelled.

"Just give me a sandwich!"

"No"

"What! How dare you!"

"This is my sandwich, which I've prepared it by myself. In this world, nothing comes for free and so if you want my sandwich, then please trade something for it."

The prince went silent, and he murmured.

"I don't have any money with me."

"I don't want money."

"Huh? Then what do you want?"

"I just want a friend."

Her reply made the prince froze.

He had a confused look at first, but then later, he just smiled and said

"Ok, I will be your friend."

**********

Prince Leon POV

Ever since my mother, the queen, passed on last spring, I've not seen my father, the emperor since then.

One day, he suddenly summoned me and told me to train under the great swordsman - Duke Augustine, and that's when I first met my master.

Master is a kind man. Although his training was tough, he treated me well and taught me many things about the sword and the way of life.

I respect my master very much. When I heard that I was betrothed to his daughter, I felt nothing because I know that this was just another arrangement where father would use me as his tool for his empire.

Even though we have not seen each other for many months, he only had a few words for me, and that is

"Do not disappoint me."

And just before we parted, his gaze on me was as cold as ice.

When I first met the Master's daughter, I find her very peculiar.

Usually, the people who see me for the first time would shower me with praises and compliment me to get on my good side.

But when Ms.Ivy first met me, she looks as if she was afraid of me.

Then when I saw the master and the duchess hug and kiss their daughter, she showed a face as if she was the happiest person in the world.

I envied her dreadfully. Even though I was the prince and people say that I have everything, I could never have what that girl has - the love of a family.

After a while, she came looking for me again. I didn't think she would since she look afraid the first time we met. I tried to ignore her since I don't like to be reminded of that awful memory.

"Hi Prince Leon"

I continued to swing my sword, hoping that she would buzz off.

Just when I thought she left, to my surprise, she immediately came back along with a blanket and a basket full of treats instead.

Then she just sat down comfortably under the tree, enjoying her one person picnic.

Truthfully, I was hungry, and I could smell the fried chicken coming from her side.

Plus, it was also a hot sunny day, and when I heard her gulping down that nice cold beverage, I couldn't stand it any longer.

I fell for her plot to lure me towards her.

She was obviously trying to win my favor like any other person I know.

I still didn't want to talk to her, so I just offered my hand, signaling her to hand me the sandwich, then I shall be on my way.

But after I offered my hand, she stared at me as if she didn't know what was going on.

<Take a hint, you idiot! Be grateful that I came over to eat your sandwich!> I thought as I wave my empty hand harder at her.

But she continued to look at me, looking clueless while she munched her sandwich loudly and like a vulgar.

Feeling my patience reaching its brink, I said to her.

"Give it."

"Give what?"

"Give me a sandwich."

"Why?"

<Huh ?!! Is she really not doing this to win my favor? just having her one-person picnic?! Anyways that chicken sandwich looks delicious, and I'm hungry>

"Because I'm hungry."

"and?"

"Because I'm the Prince!"

"So??"

<this little girl! Is she really an idiot?! How can not get it? I'm the crown prince. You are supposed to listen me!>

I was getting frustrated, and I got angry.

"Just give me a sandwich!"

"No"

"What! How dare you!"

I couldn't believe what I heard. This little girl dares to disobey me. She has loving parents who love her so much, and she couldn't even spare me a sandwich! I cannot believe how selfish this girl is. Why did she deserve such a loving family and not me!

"This is my sandwich, which I've prepared by myself. In this world, nothing comes for free and so if you want my sandwich, then please trade something for it."

<Huh? What is this girl saying? So she wants money? Is a young like her already learning to extort my wealth? I'll just say I don't have any money on me>

"I don't have any money on me."

"I don't want money."

"Huh? Then what do you want?"

"I just want a friend."

I froze. I couldn't understand what is she thinking about. I'm already her fiancé. Why is she still asking me to be her friend? Isn't it kind of redundant? But this is the first time someone asks me to be their friend, and I didn't have to pay nor do them any favor.

On top of that, I get a sandwich and a friend. How is this a fair trade? I laugh inside my heart. She amuses me. Spending time with her may make my time worthwhile.

"Ok, I will be your friend."

Author:-

What are your thoughts if this novel were to adapt into a comic? Would you support it? Comment your support to let me know!

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