Reason #22: too fast too soon

A little while later, everyone followed Ivy and rode in the carriage together.

Soon after they reach their destination, they realize that they were back home at Hensley's Inn, but this time, it's no longer an Inn. It's now called.

"Hensley's Lakeside Resort!"

The old antique inn was no longer anywhere in sight. They saw a giant reception hall at the front with many small luxury cabins lining up alongside the lake. Not only that, but there is also an indoor and even an outdoor bar that's already available to serve.

Hensley's eyes glow like diamonds, then as he came back to his senses, he asked.

"But how?!"

Ivy then began her business presentation.

"My grandfather had a connection with an excellent craftsman. I thought it would be a good idea to upsell the place by making full use of the location.

Ester lake is pretty beautiful after all, and there are so many families and couples that come and visit here. So I told the craftsman to design small luxury cabins and set it up next to the lake as a more comfortable option for them to stay.

With nature as our main selling point, we can set up recreations like kayaking, fishing, and Peterson will stay behind and help set up some extreme sports like the zip line that day.

We manage to rebuild the place with the help of Peterson's men. Everything is different except this,"

Then Ivy took out the original cash register from Hensley's Inn.

When Robbie saw it, he said

"You found it?"

"Well, we wouldn't want your efforts to go to waste. We did almost die, after all."

As Ivy pass over the cash register to them, she proudly declared

"From today, an all-new line of generations shall begin!"

Mr.Hensley was so touch, he kneeled to the ground and cried.

"For you to have done so much for people like us, how could we ever repay you."

Ivy then stoop down to his level and say

"It's not for free, of course."

Hensley immediately raises his head, and he shivered in fear.

"We have to pay? For all this?"

Ivy just smiled, "of course, monthly payment and with interest. I'm your biggest investor, after all."

Mr. Hensley's jaw dropped when he heard Ivy negotiating her terms.

"I expect 20% profit sharing and a full financial report every month, and also, you have to let me be in charge of all the marketing and planning in the future."

As she helped Hensley stand back up, she told him that they would-be business partners.

"It's still pretty much under construction, but the bar will be fully operational by the end of this week, so we should be able to gain a little profit from there.

Baron Ingrid also said he would be our guarantor so we can buy some supplies first and slowly pay back the creditors later.

I won't just stand aside and let you do it all alone. I hope we can work on this together."

Then Ivy offered her hand to Mr.Hensley and said

"Shall we shake on it, Mr.Hensley?"

Mr.Hensley cried out loud and just hugged Ivy tightly as he shouts.

"Call me PAPA HENSLEY!!"

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

Before we left, we wave goodbye until we could no longer see each other.

Peterson stayed behind and helped Mr.Hensley rebuild, and then once it's complete, he promises that he will come to the capital to visit.

So much has happened these couple of weeks that I just want to go back and rest quietly.

I don't want to think about anything anymore. I just want to spend my time at home, rest, and quietly read my books under my favorite tree.

I can't wait to get back home soon.

After sitting for a while, the moving carriage slowly made Ivy drowsy, and before she knew it, she then fell deeply asleep.

Not long after, the sound of horses neighing woke her up.

When she gradually opens her heavy eyelids, she notices she was sleeping on top of the Prince's lap.

"What?!" She immediately stood up from surprise and accidentally hit her head on the ceiling

"Ouch!" Her whole face cringes in pain while she rubs the bump on her head.

The Prince laughed

"Are you okay? You hit your head quite hard up there."

"I'm fine. I was just a little startled, and you could've just woke me. I must've been heavy."

"You were, and you drool a little too."

"What?!"

Ivy's whole face flush in red while he lets out a small laugh when he saw her face.

"You look tired. That's why I didn't want to wake you. You can sleep a little longer if you like."

"No, thank you. I had enough. We are almost there anyway, right? I can't wait to get home."

Ivy said as she stretches her arm and looks forward to relaxing at home.

However, the Prince broke her little dream when he said

"But we are not going back to the Duke household."

Ivy turn and gaze at him; she thought she heard wrongly, and so she had to confirm

"What? What did you just say?"

"You. Are. Not. Going. Home"

The Prince repeated himself word by word that it made her so surprise that she stood up and hit her head on the ceiling again.

"Ouch! Urgh"

She held both hands on her head this time, rubbing not just two bumps but also one giant headache.

"Why?!" She asked

Then he leaned forward to her and reminded the promise she made.

"Huh?! But, but. I..."

Ivy wants to go home, she is tired from the journey, and she just wants to be alone. So inside her head, she starts thinking of excuses.

"But I haven't told father yet."

"Already done, I've told Master before they went back to the capital."

"But my clothes, my things, I haven't packed."

"Gregory already help you move your things instead."

"How bout my store? I still need to settle my accounts."

"No problem. Your business is good. Ellie told me herself."

<SH*T! There is no way out of this> inside Ivy's mind.

Then the Prince look at her, and he started to pout.

"You promise..."

She leans back with a jump, feeling shocked from his comeback.

<this boy is playing the guilt card on me!>

Ivy was speechless, even though she wants to fight back. But she is running low on energy, so she decided to lose instead.

"—— Sigh, ok, you win."

She covers her face in a devastating defeat.

The Prince happily smiled at her as he held her hands.

"I look forward to our days at the palace together."

Inside her heart,

<I just hope for peaceful days ahead.>

After the ride, they have finally arrived at the palace, and it was already late evening, just before supper time.

Ivy has been to the palace before but only on the eastern side.

That's because that's where Prince Leon's and other diplomats' offices were, so she was very familiar with that side.

But the palace consists of three sides, the east, the west, and the north.

The west is where they are now, and the north is the main palace. That's where the emperor resides.

I've heard that the emperor rarely comes out from the main palace ever since the queen's passing. I'm not sure about the details either, but he never took in any other women other than Prince Leon's mother.

At least that is one less concern of mine since I have no interest in meeting him. From all the things I've seen he did to my poor boy, I've already hated him even before meeting him.

As we walk through the big vast halls, there were pillars after pillars.

There were so many rooms and so many corridors that I fear I might just get lost if I'm alone in here.

When the prince escorted me to my room, he asked.

"Would you like to have dinner together?"

I told him, "I'm not very hungry."

Because all I want to do now is just to retire.

He says, "Ok." Then he opens the doorway to my room, and once I entered, he said

"If you need anything, I'll be in the room next to you."

Suddenly, I notice that what he just said didn't sound right.

"Wait!" I stop him "what do you mean?"

He just smiled back at me and said, "I'll be next door to you."

"Huh? But I thought the guest room is located far away from the royal chambers. So why are you sleeping next door?"

The prince didn't answer her; he just quietly close the door.

"Urgh... I'm getting a headache.

I know he is planning something, but I'm too tired to think about it."

Then she immediately laid herself in bed, and she looks up at the ceiling.

"Let's not think about this anymore; let's just sleep first tonight. I'll talk to him in the morning tomorrow."

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

Later that night, the Prince came knocking on her door.

"She said she wasn't hungry, but I should at least bring her something to eat before she sleeps."

Then as he held on to the tray and waited for her to answer, the maid passed by and said

"Your highness, my lady has retired."

"I see. You may leave."

The Prince felt a bit sad that he couldn't see her before she sleeps but told himself.

"It's okay, you are here now, and that's all I need."

He places his hand on her door, and he wishes her, "Good night, my princess, sleep well."

**********

The next morning.

When I woke up, I felt so refreshed. The bed was surprisingly comfortable, and I really love the scent of the pillow.

When I look around the room, I saw that they brought my books from home.

"These are all the books I'm reading. How did they know?"

They bought not only just my clothes, my books, my jewelry, and they even bought my favorite teddy bear.

"Munchkin!!! How I missed you!!"

(Author: That is what Ivy calls her teddy bear.)

"I guess I didn't need to worry too much. All the things I need are all here."

Then a knock came knocking on the door.

*knock* *knock*

"My lady, are you awake?" Asked the maid.

"Uhm, yes, you may enter."

Then two maids came in through the door and said, "We are here to help you prepare."

Ivy gulped, "prepare for what?"

Both of them chuckled.

"Prepare for breakfast. His highness specifically asked us to help you get ready."

Then they introduce themself to me.

"My name is Mina."

"And mine is Mona."

"and we shall be your serving ladies." X2

Ivy is actually not very fond of having maids helping her. Even back home, she only got Nina to help her because it was challenging to put on corsets alone. But ever since she designed her line of dresses, she has been dressing by herself just fine. On top of that, she has a scar now, and she would like that to remain hidden from people.

So she said

"I'll be ok. I can prepare by myself, thank you."

But the two maid press on forward and say, "we insist."

"Uhm, but... it's really ok. I really don't need any assistance."

Then the two looked at each other, and they smiled.

"His highness has mentioned to us that my lady will resist. Your secret is safe with us, so please do feel rest assured."

Then slowly, step by step, they move closer to her, and they look at her with a horrifying glare.

"his highness says he likes to see you as soon as possible, so let's not delay any longer."

The maids then pounce on her and immediately put her through processing.

***********

"——sigh, why do I feel even stress than I was at Ester Lake?"

The maids have left the room, leaving Ivy alone while waiting for Prince Leon to come by.

The women in this world like servants touching them and cleaning them from head to toe. I find that really embarrassing, they always look at my body, and they will always mention things like

"Wow, your skin is so pretty."

"I admire your figure."

"Your hair is so fine."

Am I a Barbie doll?

Besides, the servants never meant what they say, they have to say nice things to their master, and I hate hearing all those pretentious lies.

Ivy looked into the mirror and saw herself, and she can't help but feel impressed.

"But despite what I said, they really did a good job helping me prepare. When they didn't let me wear my own clothes, I thought they were going to make me wear a heavy dress and a tight corset, but this dress is to my liking."

She looked closely at her whole body.

The dress she wore was made of part cotton and part silk, so it felt very comfortable on the skin.

The dress was long but just enough for her to walk and not trip, not like other long dresses she used to wear.

She loves the design, simple and elegant, exactly like how she wants all her dresses.

"Ah, this dress must be expensive. Father could buy this for me, but I feel happier if I use my own money. But I can't since it is so expensive. This must be something they provide their guest to wear. Royals are just too rich."

Then as she was trying to make sure her bangs are in place so that her scar won't appear, Prince Leon came by to see her.

"His highness has arrived."

Mona said as she opens the door and let the prince in.

"Leon, Good morning. Did you sleep well last night ?"

When Prince Leon came in and saw Ivy, his eyes widen with surprise as that dress she is wearing now was the dress he picks out for her on purpose. She looks just the way he had to imagine, he said to her,

"You look perfect."

He smiled, and then he held out his hands and asked her, "are you ready?"

"Ready? You mean breakfast?"

Ivy was feeling a little baffled since this morning.

The bed was nice, her favorite things are here, and the dress was amazing. Everything seems to be perfect that it kind of scares her.

"Yes, of course." The Prince just answered truthfully

"Then why do I feel like you are up to something?" Ivy looked at him with suspicious eyes.

"The only thing that I'm up to is feeding my fiancé breakfast since she must be starving from having no supper yesterday, and we can't have that, can we?"

Ivy couldn't read his mind, and yes - she was hungry. So she decided to listen obediently to cure her hunger first.

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