Submitting to My Lycan Prince Mate

27 I Will Marry You

My brain hadn't caught up with their conversation yet, and I picked up a freshly baked butter cookie from the plate Prince Louis had handed me, mechanically chewing it.

Indeed, Alfred's cooking was delicious...

Wait a minute!

I suddenly realized what had just happened and looked down at the warm cookie in my hand. Then, I glared at the side of Prince Louis's face. Did he think I was impatiently hungry, so he brought these things for me?

I couldn't help but find it both funny and exasperating. Did he really think I was a three-year-old child?

Regardless, I had indeed been comforted by the gesture.

Furthermore, I hadn't expected that while he was conversing with Maria, Prince Louis had been paying attention to me all this time. Did he notice my subtle changes in thoughts and emotions?

However, this was just a minor episode, and apparently, Prince Louis didn't take it seriously. After casually giving me a plate of butter cookies, he continued speaking to Maria, "My time is precious, Maria. Some things should be clear to you even without me saying them. But if you continue to play dumb, then there's nothing I can do."

"Liam has just passed away. At this sensitive moment, if I were to appear in public with Chris and you...," he trailed off.

"Louis, are you worried that they will misunderstand the relationship between us?" Maria interrupted, appearing very anxious. "I don't care!"

"I do," Prince Louis said coldly. "And don't forget, I already have a mate, Maria."

The focus of the conversation suddenly shifted to me. Caught off guard, I felt the weight of both of them staring at me, and my chewing of the butter cookie slowed down.

"I'm sorry," Maria forced a smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, looking fragile and pitiful. "I forgot Claire is also here... Do you love her, Louis?"

This question was too sudden, and I couldn't help but furrow my brows. However, I heard Prince Louis respond, "Of course."

"Even though you've only known each other for less than a week?" Maria asked again, her tone uncontrollably rising.

I was surprised at how she had suddenly steered the conversation in this direction. But it seemed like Maria was oblivious to it, as she was fixated on Prince Louis, her gaze burning with intensity.

She seemed desperate to get an answer from him, I thought.

And I suspected the reason behind this sudden shift in the topic had something to do with their past relationship.

I picked up another butter cookie, lowering my head. Honestly, this was incredibly awkward. All I wanted now was to escape from here and go back to my room upstairs.

"It's none of your concern," Prince Louis said, crossing his hands in front of his abdomen, sounding displeased. "Even long-term lovers can betray each other. Does it matter how long we've known each other?"

Upon hearing this, Maria seemed to lose her words for an instant.

She forced out a dry smile and said, "Yes... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that question."

"I will marry Claire," he said, his tone so decisive. But this sudden statement startled both of us. I widened my eyes, looking at him, while the butter cookie in my hand dropped back onto the plate.

Yet, Prince Louis seemed completely unaware of our shock and continued calmly, "So, if you want me to accompany Chris to the Parent-Child Activity Day, you should ask my mate's opinion instead of coming to me."

Maria stared blankly at him, then glanced at me.

My mind was still preoccupied with the idea of marriage, and I was completely out of focus. Therefore, when Maria tremulously asked for my opinion, I had no idea how to react. In the end, I nodded, and Prince Louis addressed Maria, "When does the activity start?"

Was he really planning to go? Just because I nodded?

My dazed state persisted until after Maria had left. Watching her figure disappear through the mansion's gates, Prince Louis's demeanor lightened considerably, "It's already this late... Looks like we'll be going directly for lunch, mate."

I finally snapped back to reality. I stared at him with mixed emotions, but countless questions remained unspoken. I nodded gently, "Okay."

..............................

"...So, you just went for lunch like that?" In the school playground, Olivia tugged at my arm, shocked, and asked the same question again.

Actually, when we parted, Prince Louis had given me a passionate kiss right at the mansion's front door. In the end, I left blushing in the face of Alfred's smile.

Of course, I didn't tell Olivia.

"Yes, Olivia. But can we change the topic, please?" I said helplessly.

Because I hadn't graduated from university yet, I had brought up the idea of going back to school for classes to Prince Louis on the afternoon of Maria's visit to the mansion. Of course, I also hoped that this would be an opportunity for me to calm down my chaotic feelings.

Prince Louis didn't object to my idea. He respected my decision and only asked when my classes would end so that someone could come to pick me up.

In fact, I only had one class this afternoon, but I wanted to see Olivia after the class to talk about recent events. So, I told him that the class would probably end around 4:30 pm.

It was currently 3:15 PM, and we had wasted almost half an hour due to Olivia's overwhelming curiosity. To sort out my confusion, I had to interrupt her inquiry, "Olivia, do you think he's sincere?"

This question seemed to stump Olivia. So far, she hadn't been in a relationship, not because no one liked her. In fact, with Olivia's face, she had always been quite popular among boys since childhood.

But her brother, Kyle, scared away all her pursuers. When Olivia confronted him in anger, he casually said, "Those losers are so timid, and you're interested in them?" This left Olivia at a loss for words.

As a result, she remained single and miserable until now, and it seemed like she would continue to be single for a while.

"I think... it's fifty-fifty," Olivia hesitantly replied, "Kyle told me that the sweet words spoken during the honeymoon phase are like water plants."

I was surprised by the metaphor, "Why water plants?"

"You can admire them from the shore, but once you bring them up, they become stinking garbage." Olivia answered, then pouted, "He talks about it as if he isn't a man. There are so many men in the world, and he's the most annoying one."

I couldn't help but smile, "Kyle's not entirely wrong. But I think you have a good relationship with him, don't you? He hasn't been bickering with you lately, right?"

Before we started college, Olivia and Kyle were like enemies. Almost every day, I could hear Olivia ranting about Kyle's excessive behavior in front of me. But those seemed like signs to show their close sibling relationship.

However, after starting college, especially in recent months, for some unknown reason, Kyle had started avoiding Olivia. I didn't know what conflict had arisen between them, but I knew that Olivia was both angry and upset about it. After several attempts to question him, she became calm and stopped trying to reach out to him.

They still went to school together every day and sat at the same table for breakfast and dinner. However, they no longer played and teased each other as before. Kyle even offered to give us rides!

He seemed to have truly become the perfect elder brother in Olivia's eyes, but this made her feel even more lost. At that time, because I was about to be engaged to Joe, she didn't share much of this frustration with me.

"No." As expected, Olivia started to become dejected again, "Now, when we meet in the school hallway, he doesn't even want to make eye contact with me."

Seeing Olivia looking so depressed, I didn't know how to comfort her. Maybe I should talk to Kyle privately later? Ask him why he was acting this way.

I sighed, looked up at the sky with its floating white clouds.

My confusion wasn't resolved, and now Olivia was getting upset as well.

I couldn't help but feel a little down. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves and shone on the ground. I squinted slightly, gazing at the sky's deep blue color, and once again thought of that man who had shaken my heart.

He, too, had a pair of beautiful blue eyes, like the clear sky.

So charming, so intoxicating.

I closed my eyes, feeling the gentle breeze on my cheeks. Neither Olivia nor I said a word, we quietly enjoyed this serene moment.

A series of chirping noises came from a distance.

"Look! She is the girl from the party..."