Reason #25: it would be the beginning to my doom (8) A

Ceremonial of Manhood

Villainess Short Term Happiness

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(THE DUKE'S BOX)

"Hmm..." Ivy held her chin while she forms herself into her thinking pose.

"This requires serious thinking," she says as she carefully observed and analyzed the data in front of her.

"Alright, I've made my decision!" She pounded her hands on the rim. "I'm going with Prince Edgard!"

"My daughter, are you sure about this?"

The Duchess asked while she puts down her opera glasses and turns her gaze at her daughter.

"You will make His highness very sad if he knew you chose another man other than him. Besides, from the way I see it, his highness is still the better choice."

"Hoho, yes, sweet granddaughter, your mother is right."

Mr. Omer says while he is at the side, counting his money.

"Don't worry, Mother, Grandpapa. I know what the odds are." she looks at her elders while she confidently smiled and said

"But no matter what, I'm sticking with Prince Edgard, and I think he is a good choice. Don't you agree as well, Sir Gregory?"

"Well, if you really have to choose someone other than his highness," Gregory held his chin as he analyzes, "Prince Edgard do have strengths of his own, and he is the son of that really strong King Gautzelin."

"But brother, I thought you said his highness is the best one out there? Should I change my choice?" Gracie immediately turns to her brother with a concerned look on her face.

"Ms. Gracie, there are no refunds once you've made your choice."

Mr.Omer gave Gracie a stern look while he showed the no refund policy to her.

Then while the young boy Robbie watched and listened to the whole scene, he finally asks.

"Excuse me, but what is all this?"

In front of Robbie, he saw a black scoreboard written with the list of contestant names and, on the side, was a pile of gold that's stacked together as high as the ceiling.

During this whole time, Mr.Omer have been running private betting pools amongst the nobles while Ivy and the rest have been analyzing their choice before placing their bet.

"Hm? Isn't it obvious?"

Ivy began to explain as she went to the blackboard and slam on it

*SLAM!*

"We are betting to see who can defeat the Crown Prince!"

After feeling dumbfounded by her actions, Robbie asked with a straight face, "isn't this illegal?"

While Ivy just smiled and answered honestly, "Yes, it is."

"Do not worry, Robbie, this is the Duke's private box. Nobody will enter here but us." Sir Gregory calmly smiles while he helps to hide the evidence under the seats.

"What if the duke finds out then?" Robbie asks again while he finds their calm attitude a little bit too close for comfort.

"Ah, Don't worry. Father knows about it."

"Huh?! He does?"

"Yes, he even told me to put his money against Prince Leon as well."

"Huh??! What?!"

While Robbie continued to be stupefied by Ivy's words, she began to do her business presentation of the day (illegal version) to them, which she calls.

"B.Y.O.B - Boost Your Own Boy!"

"Even though I call it a betting pool, it's more like a reward game actually.

Since many noble houses are participating today, it will be fun to give them extra motivation to support their own representatives.

And the winning condition is as long as anyone who can hit his highness three times will win.

It's only one gold coin to enter, and you can either place your vote for

- the crown prince's complete win, or

- one victory from any of your favorite contenders of the day.

Plus, in honor of the crown prince, we will also give away a free limited edition (I♡prince) fan for every Prince vote you purchase.

If the crown prince does win every battle, you could get a limited edition (I♡prince) shirt, but if other contenders win, you can get 100 gold coins."

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In summary:

1 Prince vote

= 1x free limited edition(I♡prince)fan,

if win — 1x (I♡prince)limited edition shirt.

1 other contenders vote

= if win —100 gold coins.

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"1 gold coin for just a fan and a shirt, isn't that expensive? And to give away 100 gold coins if the other contender wins isn't that too much," Robbie asked as didn't understand how this is an attractive offer.

(Author: Robbie is right. It is expensive because one gold coin is equal to 1 night's stay at a luxury hotel.)

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk." Ivy sneered while she waves her finger.

"1 gold coin is just the right amount for nobles, especially if you are a fan of his highness. This is to attract mainly noble ladies.

The 100 gold coins are to make the gentlemen and their houses a little more excited, and that way, it will make the ceremony even more thrilling and fun.

And to think of such a brilliant plan, my grandpapa is the best!"

Ivy immediately hugs her grandfather, thanking him for helping her business grow because her store made all the above-mentioned merchandise.

"Hoho, it's all thanks to your book (how to make grandpapa richer) that you wrote for me when you were little. I just thought this was a great chance to use it."

In her past life, Ivy used to work as a part-time event assistant for idol events, so she knows how crazy fans can be when it comes to supporting their favorite idols, especially when you add the word *limited edition*. All of these ideas that help her made money in the past, she wrote it all down in her book.

(Author: Yes, that's what happen in chapter 6 - Special corner: The Hidden Side-Character, when she first met Mr.Omer, and she said, "Grandpapa, I have an idea that can make us even richer! Hehe")

After hearing how both of them manipulated the situation into a profitable business, Robbie finally knew where Ivy got her cunningness from, and his jaw dropped in amazement.

"But what if the crown prince lose? Don't you think the risk of giving away 100 gold is quite high?"

Robbie then raises his deep concerns.

"Hoho, don't worry. His highness is a lot more popular than you think. We make more money from his votes than against him.

On top of that, I know he won't lose. He will probably win it all without a single scratch on his face."

Ivy just confidently replied without a single hesitation. After watching Prince Leon train with her father every day for nine years without a single day of rest, she knew better than anyone what the crown prince could do.

"Huh?" Robbie tilted his head. "I don't know where you get your confidence from, but why did you vote for Prince Edgard then? Do you know him or something?"

"Haha... that is because..." She laughed awkwardly because she couldn't tell him the truth that <I actually just wanted to support my idol.>

So instead, she said, "well, there is no merit of me buying the crown prince's vote. I own the merchandise, after all. As for why I chose Prince Edgard is just because... I just like the way he looks.

I met him this morning, and he did look pretty strong."

While Robbie was raising his doubts and concerns, his three sisters finally felt annoyed and said,

"Why are you complaining, Robbie? Ivy's family was kind enough to invite us to their private box. We should be grateful for them. I'm sorry, Sir Gregory, for my brother's embarrassing behavior. By the way, are you still single?"

Said Kourtney while she clings around Gregory's arm tightly.

"Yes, Robbie, Didn't father taught us to be thankful? Can't you see you are disrupting the mood here? Sir Gregory, if you like, I'll be happy to go to someplace quiet with you..." Said Kim while she squeezed and snuggled herself on Gregory's other arm.

"ahh... You feel so warm," said Khloe, while she hugs Gregory from the front as she was just happy to encounter another handsome man like Prince Leon.

Even though the three sisters were showering their love on Sir Gregory, his expression remained unfazed as his mind was thinking deeply about urgently letting the Prince know that their target (Ivy) might have found out about their plans.

Then when Ivy notices Gregory's blank expression where he showed absolutely no interest in the three beautiful women, it gradually reminded her of the harsh truth again about her two boys.

<*sobs* my poor son, even with the three most beautiful women from Ester Lake clinging onto you and still showed no interest whatsoever. Do really like small girls that much? Is there hope for after all?>

When Ivy looked at Gregory with sad eyes, it caught Gregory's attention, and it made him thought.

<Why is she looking at me so sad like that?< p>

Is it because of what we talked about earlier? About her question on Prince Leon's plan to marry her?

We haven't talked to each other since her uncle showed up, so that must be it.

But why is she sad?

When she came to me for advice, I've tried my best to be a supportive friend and support their love, but she looks sad as if she was very disappointed with my answer.

She didn't like it that I support Leon's decision to marry her, but why?

It was the same back at Ester Lake, Leon proposed to her, but she rejected him.

She didn't believe it was true love, and she thinks Leon is only marrying her because of wanting to take responsibility for her scar.

I haven't got the chance to tell Leon about that since we have been busy planning the ceremonies.

But since Leon said Ivy wasn't sure about her feelings, I thought it would be better just to keep it a secret and help him in his plans to make her fall deeply in love with him during her stay at the palace.

And judging from the way things are, we were sure that she is falling deeper for him.

So I thought if she knew that Leon would be asking for her hand in marriage this time, she would be happy about it, but she is still sad for some reason.

At this rate, does this mean that... she plans to reject him?! Again?!

But why would she do that?

I know she loves the prince.

From what I've seen, I'm 100% sure about that.

So why? Could it be because of what her uncle said? >

Gregory held his chin up high while he tries his best to remember the scene of their conversation and analyze it slowly.

Back then, when her uncle said

Uncle: ~ as a responsible adult, I would never let any man marry an underage girl ~

Greg.Analysis: She responded quite positively to that statement, which means she thinks a man would look irresponsible if he marries an underage girl.

Then when she questions him back.

Ivy: ~But what if they say it's true love? What if both of them truly love each other? What should we do about it then?~

Greg.Analysis: This means inside her heart, she does not deny the fact that she loves him, and maybe she even had the thought of marrying him.

But when her uncle said

Uncle: ~If it's true love, then he can surely wait.~

Greg.Analysis: She definitely cried here when she heard his answer. She did agree with her uncle's advice, but she still cried because she felt terrible that she had to make the prince wait.

So that means,

Greg.Conclusion: she wants to marry him, but she doesn't plan to until after her debut because she is afraid it will make the Prince look like an irresponsible man!

Sir Gregory then widen his eyes with revelation while he let out a wide grin, looking as if he just hit the nail on the head.

<Yes! Yes! It finally made sense now.< p>

She did seem pretty concerned about how the people would think too, and based on her personality, and she hates it when people bad mouth the people she loves, so even if she didn't want to reject him, for his sake, she has to! That's why she is sad! >

After finally gotten his conclusion, Gregory let out a smirk as he thought

<I guess I didn't have to worry about them after all. They will marry each other sooner or later, but the Prince is probably not going be happy hear this.>

In an instant, Gregory was awake from his thoughts when he heard the sounds of the loud crowds yelling

"HURRAH!!!"

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Next Chapter

Battle for her heart