"So, you want to get engaged, is that it?" Vined asked, leaning back against the sofa. Beside him sat his wife, Elena, smiling benevolently.
Meanwhile, Charlotte and Vivian were both sitting on the same sofa staring at them with different emotions in their eyes.
"Yes," Charlotte replied without hesitation. On the other hand, Vivian was nervously chewing his fingernails.
"It isn't difficult," Vined said with a wry smile, "but we'll have to keep it a secret. Otherwise, it might cause… misunderstandings. You understand what I'm saying, right?". He gave her a knowing look as if asking for understanding.
Charlotte nodded. She knew exactly what he meant. The royal family had three princes and one princess, and the Emperor doted on his only daughter. Yet, he still hadn't chosen a successor.
By imperial law, the three ducal houses were required to remain neutral to maintain the balance of power.
So if House Zenithara publicly announced the engagement, it would appear as though they were openly supporting the princess, something that could tip the scales dangerously.
"I don't want anything magnificent. I just want him to get engaged to me, that's all," Charlotte said firmly, her eyes locked on Vined with unshakable resolve.
"Honey, we should grant their wishes," Elena added gently.
She continued while exchanging glances with her son and the princess,"Vivian's health has also improved over the past month. Now that his condition is a little better, it's the right time to have him engaged." She gave her husband a soft nudge, meeting his eyes with quiet persuasion.
"Haa… fine." Vined sighed deeply. "I'll discuss this with His Majesty and arrange for the ceremony to be held at the church. We'll fix a date soon."
"Thank you." Charlotte bowed sincerely, her voice filled with gratitude.
Meanwhile, Vivian was lost in thought.
'What is this feeling I'm experiencing? Is it joy? His mind spun. Are these emotions even mine?'
He admitted to himself that he was still a virgin, but back in his past life, he had never felt like this, so this emotion didn't generate from lust at least that was clear to him.
Even when surrounded by beautiful nurses, nothing had stirred his heart this way. Could these emotions belong to the original Vivian?
He couldn't tell. What confused him even more was Charlotte herself. In his novel, she had been arrogant, cruel, and merciless.
Yet here she was, bowing respectfully, her voice free of pride or haughtiness. His mind was in a complete mess over this unexpected situation.
"Okay, do you have anything else to say?" Vined asked, noticing that Charlotte seemed to have something more on her mind. She straightened her back, gulped audibly, and nodded.
"Yes." She glanced at Vivian, then drew a deep breath. "I want him to attend Akron Academy with me."
"What?" The response this time came from Elena, the moment those words left Charlotte's mouth. Her eyes widened as she struggled to process Charlotte's words.
After staring at her for a moment, Elena finally found her voice, shaken, almost frantic. "No. Absolutely not. You're well aware of his health, Charlotte. The seizures he suffers every once in a while, what if one happens when no one is around to help him?" She shook her head firmly, her face instantly clouded with worry.
"I'm well aware of his health," Charlotte said firmly, her voice steady though her hands trembled slightly. "I worry about him all the time. But you do understand, don't you? He's the heir to the most prestigious family in the empire. He can't—"
"No!" Elena's voice cut through sharply before Charlotte could finish. Tears welled in her eyes as her words tumbled out, broken and frantic.
"It doesn't matter! Even if he never becomes someone 'worthy' of this house, as long as he stays alive….that's all that matters to me! And… and his father is here. He can teach him, guide him, anything he needs…"
"Honey." Vined's calm voice interrupted gently this time. He placed his hand over hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Let her finish first."
"But… but what if his condition gets worse?" Elena's voice cracked, the fear in her tone impossible to hide.
'Mom… sniff, sniff… she worries so much about me.' Vivian felt his chest tighten. His eyes grew teary, and his nose tingled from the overwhelming emotions pouring out of his mother, he was barely able to hold his tears back.
"No. His condition won't get worse. I promise you that." Charlotte spoke with firm conviction.
"I've already taken measures to safeguard his health. A high-ranking physician and a healer from the church have been stationed nearby, close to where he'll be staying. And my own room will be next to his. If anything happens, I'll be there immediately."
She laid out every detail carefully, hoping to ease Elena's fears. But despite her reassurances, Elena's expression remained clouded, her heart still unconvinced.
"Honey, I think she's right," Vined said softly. "We can't shelter him his whole life. And I'm not always here at the estate. He also needs to learn what life is like outside these walls." He paused, then gently added, "So please, calm down and try to understand."
"But…" Elena's voice faltered. She couldn't finish before her emotions overwhelmed her, and she finally broke into tears.
"It's okay, it's okay." Vined wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as he tried to soothe her trembling shoulders.
Seeing her condition she said, "Then I'll come back after Mother calms down." Charlotte rose to her feet, bowing respectfully.
"This will be for the best," Vined agreed quietly, still rubbing Elena's back. "She just needs time."
"Then I'll be going as well," Vivian said, rising to his feet.
After bowing, both he and Charlotte quietly left the room, leaving Elena to cry in her husband's arms.
****
After escorting Charlotte to her room, Vivian returned to his own.
"Sigh… today was hectic. And what's with her?" He flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. 'It's like she's someone completely different from the character I wrote. Was she truly in love with Vivian, and his death is what turned her into the so-called Villainess?'
That seemed the most likely explanation. Her emotions didn't feel fake. So why had she become so ruthless after his death?
"Haa…" He exhaled deeply before calling out in his mind, System.
Quest Completed: Get close to the princess.
Reward: Strength +1
New Stat Unlocked: Immunity (2)
Description: The more points invested, the more the body develops.
"Huh?" Vivian blinked at the glowing text before him. "It was… this easy? What the hell? I thought the conditions would be difficult, but… was it really this simple?"
He had expected something ridiculous, like in most of the novels he had read, harsh trials, absurd tasks, impossible conditions. Yet here he was, rewarded without any effort at all.
And then there was the Immunity stat. 'The more it grows, the stronger my body becomes?' Even now, he could already feel subtle changes.
A laugh burst from his lips. "Hahaha! If it's this easy, then nothing can stop me from becoming the strongest!" He raised his hands in triumph, grinning wildly.
But then… the memory of what happened that morning returned, draining the excitement from his face. Slowly, he lowered his hands, eyes narrowing as he reread the messages again.