Aldrian did not answer, as what Pope Claudius said was true. He simply let Angelica stay close to him and did nothing, even though he knew that she liked him, because he felt there was no need to do anything about it.
He only followed the flow, waiting to see what kind of future events would occur between him and Angelica, along with her romantic feelings toward him.
If, in the end, their relationship remained as it was now, that would be fine.
If they became more intimate in the future, that would also be fine.
He was open to any possibilities for the future relationship that might be created between him and her.
If, from the beginning, he did not want Angelica to feel that way toward him, he could have done something to make her forget those feelings. He could have been more firm in showing the boundaries between them.
