52 Reason #25: it would be the beginning to my doom (8) B
The people yelled and stomp the ground as each of the house representatives march into the arena grounds.
The arena was filled with people from top to bottom as if all the seats were taken, and the noise of the crowds was so loud that they could feel the vibrations flying in the air.
"Kyaa!!! Your highness!!! Look over here!!"
The crown prince's fans scream while they wave their (I♡prince) fan.
The Crown Prince's event had drawn many people from far and wide, especially the ladies, to watch the most popular crown prince's strength.
When the male lead finally walks into the arena, the crowd roared so loud, and you could feel the ground quake. Then it followed with cheers and confetti flown around in the air as they showered their love and praise over the crown prince.
Ivy could see that the people loved the Prince, and it made her smiled with relief and said
"At least I've done something right."
Before this day, Ivy has been relentlessly telling the Prince to make more friends and be nice to his people because she didn't want her son to be lonely.
So over the years, as the prince work hard to gain her favor, he became the kind and charming crown prince that the people love and adore.
So while she taught him for his sake, everything he did, it was for her sake, and as a result, the people benefit from it. Sadly nobody knew, not even they.
As the crown prince started to kneel, followed by all the contestants, the crowd immediately turn silent when the emperor stood and say
"Greetings, my citizens, it is my honor to welcome all of you to my son's glorious day.
Today marks the first celebration of his manhood. And as tradition, the crown prince shall show us his capabilities and his bravery as a man and as your future leader.
He will present to us, his skills and his strength as evidence, and only with that, he shall prove himself worthy of leading and uniting our four kingdoms and our empire to peace and glory!"
While the people burst and rumble with excitement, all Ivy could think of was
<Uwah... so much pressure... I still can't believe that kind old man Humphrey is Emperor Conandas. The one who traumatized my son for many years. guess to him, having a high achievement more important after all. I'm just glad Leon grew up well, despite his upbringing.>
Then the emperor raises his hand to say his final few words,
"A final word to all and my son, as a man, you will now earn your right to choose your future bride to be. For a man is only a real man when he can protect the person he loves."
At that very moment, Leon and Ivy raise their head and gaze at the emperor.
To Prince Leon, never in his life would he have thought his father would say such a thing to him. Though he was still puzzled by his father's actions, he just grinned and yelled.
"Long Live The Emperor! May the lord eternally shines on your majesty's glory!"
After Prince Leon shouts, the stadium goes wild, chanting "Long Live Emperor Conandas!"
Ivy just chuckled and smiled, seeing the prince's happy face while she said
"I guess Humphrey is not a bad guy, after all."
But in the midst of her happy thoughts, Robbie tapped her shoulder and asked.
"Ivy, why did the emperor say the crown prince will choose his bride to be? Aren't you, his fiancée?"
"Uhh...about that..."
Moments later, after Ivy updated them on her current relationship with the prince, everyone yelled.
"WHAT?!!"
"So, your engagement was never made official? So you're not engaged?" Gracie asked, feeling shocked by the news she just heard.
"No. Apparently, I'm not. I'm just as surprised as all of you."
"Hmph! You should've told us! We are your sisters!" Kim said while she pouted with her hands' fold.
"But it's ok, right? Since you sign the royal lovers' contract with him. Once his highness officially comes of age, he will immediately ask you to become his fiancée again." Kourtney said while Khloe vigorously nodded.
Ivy just silently smiled as she didn't know what to say to her.
Although learning about Princess Sophia's age had been a surprise to Ivy. Still, the choice to be the prince's bride lies with the prince, not her.
She is just a self-proclaimed mother/childhood friend; what right does she have to tell the prince who to love.
<In the end, you are just a side character.>
She thought, and while she unconsciously let out a gloomy face, when everyone saw it and try to reach out, a knock came.
"Ms. Ivy, his majesty has requested your presence."
"Sir Jacob?"
When Sir Jacob came into the room, Gracie immediately went to his side and showed him the merchandise she bought.
"Sir Jacob, I've bought the (I♡prince) fan that you wanted, here."
"Ohh! Thank you! Ms.Gracie. I've been so busy that I haven't got the time to buy my vote for the crown prince."
"Hehe, it's my pleasure."
Then the overprotective brother,
Sir Gregory cut between the two sweet couple and said
"Didn't you came to escort Ms.Ivy? His majesty is waiting for her."
"Ah, yes, my apologies Ms.Ivy. I shall see you later, Ms.Gracie."
After Ivy and Jacob left the room, Khloe suddenly pointed out the elephant in the room and asked.
"Are they breaking up with each other?"
"NO!" Sir Gregory suddenly yelled with a fearful look on his face.
After that, he immediately tried to calm down and said
"Please, Ms.Khloe, I would like to request you not to say something like that out loud casually, and I can vouch on behalf of his highness that he loves Ms.Ivy very much. That is why he formalizes a relationship agreement with her."
"Then why is it that Ivy always shows that face? She showed the same face, even back at Ester Lake, when we talk about their relationship." Kim said with her voice slightly raised.
"It's a little bit complicated, but I can assure you that both of them are fine."
Gregory folded his arms as he stands firmly with conviction based on the analysis he made earlier.
"Are you really sure? Cos, based on my womanly instincts, she doesn't look fine at all. As if it feels like she's going to leave the Prince."
Kourtney shared her hunch, and her hunch was right, but this is something that nobody in that room will ever know.
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(THE EMPEROR'S BOX)
"I see that things are going very well for you and Gracie."
Ivy happily grinned at Sir Jacobs while they walk towards the emperor's private box.
"Uhm... well, I'm not too sure about that. Since she complains to me that I'm always preoccupied with work, and I'm not spending enough time with her."
"Hehe. Gracie is a girl, after all. She just wants more attention from the man she likes."
"She...she does?"
Jacob blushed
"Of course! Since there is nothing to do while his highness is in his battles, you should go and be with her. I'm sure that will make her really happy."
"But... It won't be right, and I'm still officially on duty."
Then once they've finally arrived in front of the emperor's box, Ivy pushed Sir Jacob and said
"Ok, I'll go in myself. I'm ordering you as your supervisor to take a break. So quickly, hurry over there right now and don't come back here until his highness's battles are over."
"Ms. Ivy..." Sir Jacob's eyes started to tear up and said, "Please do stay with his highness forever."
After he shook her hands and thanked her, Sir Jacob immediately run off to the Duke's box as instructed.
While Ivy waves him goodbye, she thought.
"Sir Jacob is a good man, and Gracie is a good girl. It makes me a little jealous seeing them like that. If Leon wasn't the Crown Prince and if both of us were just side-characters, maybe...."
She paused her thoughts as she suddenly felt guilty for having such an idea. Then she started hitting her head and said
"No. No. No. Wrong Ivy. Bad girl. Don't be greedy; don't be selfish. You should know better. He belongs here, and you belong where you should be, and that is away from him. Remember your reasons why you don't want to marry a prince. If you don't want to die, you have to stay away from him."
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Next chapter
Emperor's Box
