Cheryl had been drowsy for a long time. Eugene sat in front of her, replacing Edgar, and she had no idea.
When Cheryl saw Eugene's face, she quietly shifted her gaze and resumed her daydream.
Eugene, as usual, was always smiling. His smile was different from Edgar's, which was mocking. Eugene's smile was gentle and affectionate. Eugene's face is also the type that Cheryl prefers. If Eugene had forced her to marry, she would have agreed without hesitation.
"What are your thoughts, Cheryl?"
Eugene's gentle voice jolted Cheryl awake from her absurd daydream. What makes that absurd? Because she wished to marry Eugene! Eugene was standing right in front of her. Isn't that embarrassing?
Cheryl averted her gaze, feeling guilty. She is unaware that Eugene refers to her as Cheryl rather than Claudia.
"No, I didn't come up with anything."
"Is that correct?"
Eugene cast a quick glance at the half-empty teacup. There was an uneasy thumping in his chest. He clenched his fists, attempting to contain his raging emotions.
"Did Edgar Baldwin come to see you?" Eugene inquired.
Cheryl replied with a nod, "Um."
"Has he told you that the king has given his blessing to your marriage?"
"Yes." Cheryl snorted angrily. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs that she didn't want to talk about Edgar at all. But she didn't dare to be rude in front of Eugene.
Eugene was still smiling, but it was a hollow smile. When he noticed the girl was hesitant to marry Edgar, the devil in his heart told him to choose selfishness. Simply divide them and have this girl all to yourself.
Eugene's heart was always teetering on the verge of breaking. But the smouldering fire was extinguished by the flashes of the past. He was certain that the girl and Edgar were in love. He was selfish once, and he ended up doing bad things. So he endured this time in order to prevent the same tragedy from happening again.
Simply bury it in your love. Allow the girl to be with the person she adores. If you truly love her, you will want her to be happy.
That was always what his rational side said.
Yes, that is how it should be.
Eugene inhaled deeply.
"Have you talked about marriage?"
Eugene's question resurrects Cheryl's bad memories. She cursed the Demon General once more in his heart.
But all she could do with her face was make a pitiful expression for Eugene to see.
"In fact, I don't want to marry so soon. Can Your Highness the Crown Prince say a few words to the Marquess to persuade him to change the bride?" Cheryl said, her voice artificially shaking. Don't forget to pinch her thighs to make two lines of tears appear on her face.
Of course, the acting is excellent. Eugene stared at her, helpless. He extended his hand and touched Cheryl's head.
"You can't be like that, Cheryl. The marriage is set in stone, and the king has also agreed. After all, the Marquess of Northland is a decent individual. You will be blessed to marry him."
Eugene's patient words of advice got Cheryl to stop crying. She was taken aback and immediately realised what had happened.
Eugene calls her by her given name!
"Why did you call me, Your Highness?" Cheryl didn't finish her sentence.
Eugene understood what she was saying. He stated, "When we first met, you introduced yourself as Cheryl. I assumed that name was special to you, so I decided to address you by it."
"Oh, I see..." Cheryl simply nodded.
Eugene paused for a moment before responding.
"You are welcome to stay at my house until the wedding day."
Cheryl doesn't mind living in Eugene's castle. She agreed without hesitation.
"Okay."
--
Eugene and Cheryl relax on the terrace in the afternoon, reading a book. They talked about everything from the history of the Zizvania Kingdom to how many different types of flowers were planted in the Zizvailles Palace garden.
Eugene occasionally responds and speaks in an amusing manner. Cheryl couldn't stop herself from laughing.
They got along fantastically well. That's what Harold, Edgar's personal servant, saw when he arrived with his group, carrying a stack of gifts.
Eugene, who had also noticed their arrival, immediately assumed the role of a serious prince.
"Your Highness Crown Prince, please accept my greetings. My name is Harold, and I work as a servant at the Baldwin Mansion. I've come at the request of the Marquess to deliver a gift to the Fifth Princess."
Harold's words were polite and respectful, but also cold.
Cheryl stood off to the side, her gaze measuring. She imagined that if she truly became mistress of the Baldwin Mansion, she would have to deal with this man named Harold. Cheryl subconsciously compared his somewhat arrogant demeanour to Simon, Eugene's personal servant. Cheryl prefers Harold to Simon.
Eugene's demeanour toward Harold was no different. Eugene muttered, half-sneering, "Madam-to-be, huh?" especially when Harold said the last sentence.
Eugene's heart darkened unexpectedly. Edgar, despite not remembering the past, is just as impatient with Cheryl as he was in the past. Perhaps it is true that lovers will have an invisible bond even if they cross space and time.
Harold cast a glance at the young woman who stood quietly beside Eugene. This was his first encounter with the fifth princess, and to be honest, he was a little disappointed. Especially when he noticed how familiar that woman was with Eugene, as if they were siblings, joking and ignoring etiquette. The uncultured fifth princess, in his opinion, was completely unfit to be the Marquess' companion.
Because of this dislike, he only gave Cheryl a cursory greeting.
"Greetings, future Madam, Fifth Princess." With a bitter taste in his mouth, Harold said the word "madam."
Harold's dissatisfaction was obvious to Cheryl. In her original world, she was frequently met with condescending stares. Just like Harold right now. But why, exactly?
Cheryl responded to Harold's greeting.
While Harold appeared hesitant to stay. He immediately requests Eugene's permission to drop the gifts and specifies where they should be placed.
"Place it in the living room."
Then, one by one, a dozen servants entered Eugene's house, each holding a gift box.
Harold didn't need to bother because it wasn't his responsibility. He looked at Eugene and Cheryl in turn while the others were busy.
"The servants in the main palace informed me that the Fifth Princess lives in your residence, your Highness crown prince. Is that correct?" Harold inquired, his brow furrowed.
Cheryl raised an eyebrow. She wasn't sure why this person was asking, but she thought it was rude. Whatever the answer is, it will almost certainly result in slander. Cheryl slapped a 'poisonous' label on Harold's head right away.
Eugene detected pettiness in Harold's question as well. The man responded calmly, but his face tightened. "Yes, she does live here. But only recently because the house needs to be renovated."
Harold gave a nod. He excused himself as soon as the servants who had brought the gifts returned.