Aslan was reading a book in his office when there was a knock on the door. Howland came inside. Aslan got up from his chair to give the prince some space to sit down. Then, Howland took the chair Aslan had prepared for him.
"Howland, about the party you planned, could we just cancel it?" Aslan asked. He wasn't interested in holding a party.
"Why? Didn't you agree to it before? I had already sent out the invitations to other nobles. Why did you suddenly change your mind?"
Aslan just needed peace of mind. He didn't like crowds, and he was not someone from a pure noble family. Although inviting the nobles was useful for raising his name, so other nobles would know him better. However, Aslan thought it was unnecessary.
Besides ... that meant Rosie would stay in his castle longer. Let's just say that Aslan was wicked because he wanted the girl to return to the palace as soon as possible. Her presence disturbed his life. Aslan couldn't do anything without thinking about Rosie.
Aslan thought this was just the result of his worries. He was afraid that that particular princess would do something crazy, and Aslan couldn't prevent it. That girl was very unpredictable, and she did things randomly. Aslan could never figure out what she planned behind her little head.
Even Aslan couldn't analyze what the girl wanted. Rosie was like a surprise box for him, and he didn't like surprises.
"I think the princess needs to return to the palace immediately. I'm worried that the person who tried to harm Princess Roseanne will try to do the same thing at the party later," Aslan gave his reason.
"You don't have to worry. I will always be with my sister then. I also have to keep an eye on Rosie, so no men will try to flirt with her at the party ."
Aslan glanced to the side. He could see the view outside from the glass window. There, he saw Rosie carrying a picnic basket. Her maid was bringing her book while the knights followed her behind.
"Oh, is Rosie having a picnic?" Howland asked, who suddenly appeared beside Aslan while waving his hand at his sister.
"Rosie posie!" Howland shouted from the window, making the girl turn.
"Brother!!" Rosie exclaimed happily.
"Are you going on a picnic?"
"Yes! Do you want to join?" she asked.
"May I?"
The girl glanced at Aslan, who stood beside Howland. Rosie pointed at Aslan.
"Take the man beside you too!" shouted Rosie, to which Howland gave a thumbs up.
Howland turned toward Aslan.
"No, thanks for the invitation. I don't want to interrupt your time with your beloved sister," Aslan said before Howland asked him.
"Oh, come on… you heard it yourself. Rosie invited you too."
Aslan tried to find an excuse not to join the picnic because he knew he would just sit there listening to the stories of the princess and Howland.
"I'm a little busy," he replied, making Howland burst out laughing.
"Busy what? Come on… don't make my sister sad because you refused her invitation."
Howland put his arm around Aslan's shoulders and dragged him out of the room. In the courtyard, Rosie was still faithfully waiting for them. Her smile widened as she saw Aslan, who looked half-hearted, was dragged along by Howland.
When Aslan arrived, he stretched out his hand to help the princess carrying the picnic basket, and Rosie happily gave it to him.
"Thank you, Duke Aslan," Rosie said, then Aslan nodded in return.
Howland took his sister's hand. They went to a plain near the river. Rosie chose a spot under a big tree to protect them from the sun.
Rosie helped the maid unfolded their cushions, and she accepted the pillows the two knights brought. Inside the basket, there were a few snacks, teacups, and a teapot.
Aslan sat leaning against the tree, and Howland laid near Aslan to enjoy the fresh breeze. Although after breakfast Howland had rested quite a lot, the breeze made him feel sleepy again. Meanwhile, Rosie sat up straight with a book in her lap.
The wind blew gently, making Rosie's long hair flutter beautifully. Aslan took a glance and he could see the girl tied her hair with the accessories he bought yesterday. Feeling someone's gaze, Rosie turned her head. The girl grinned as Aslan quickly averted his gaze.
"Howl," Rosie called, causing Howland to open his eyes.
"Yes?"
"Um… don't you think that I'm of the age to get married?" the girl asked, closing her book.
Howland woke up, and he shook his head.
"I knew this day would come. Honestly, I really want to give you the happiness you want. I want you to find your loved one and marry the man you want," Howland said with a serious face.
He added, "But Roseanne… you know we live in an age of war, and a way to find peace is to form alliances. You know what kings do to increase their alliance, right?"
Rosie nodded. The rulers formed alliances by conducting political marriages. Either married off their daughter to someone from a potential alliance or added another wife.
It also happened in her world. So Rosie wasn't too surprised. She was born as a royal princess. Marrying the man her father chose to build a new alliance was one of her duties.
"I know, but have you ever heard of our father's plans about who the man I will marry?"
Howland thought for a moment. "This isn't a final decision yet, but yesterday I negotiated with the neighbouring kingdom. It is possible that our father… wants to form an alliance with him to fight the Kingdom of Savodia."
"A prince?" Rosie asked.
"I thought so. That kingdom doesn't have a princess, so there's nothing to tie me to. Ah… but it's hard to talk about this because to me, no man in this world deserves you, Rosie."
Rosie was touched by her brother's words. She knew Howland was sincere. The man could always make her amaze every time she read his interactions with the female lead. Howland was a male lead that Rosie rarely found. The man was kind and sincere, with no flaws.
Usually, Rosie liked to read stories with a cruel male lead, who then fell in love with the female lead and turned into a soft boy for his lover. However, Howland was different. The man was a soft boy from the start. His gentle demeanour made Rosie feel warm.
That was why Rosie really liked Howland in a different way than she liked the other male leads. Rosie wanted to love Howland like a child, protecting him well from the cruelty of the world… and from Aslan's later cruelties.
However, Rosie's true identity had not completely disappeared. The other side of her still liked the villain, especially when she was with Aslan.
Now, Rosie knew why the teenagers loved bad boys so much. They were really hard to deal with, but that seemed to be a fun challenge.
"Then, what about Aslan?" Rosie asked.
(Please, don't involve me in this conversation.) The man said while closing his eyes.
"What's wrong with Aslan?" Howland asked back.
"Earlier you said that I was too good for all men. Does that include Duke Aslan too?"
Howland watched Aslan for a moment and thought. "Well, Aslan is a good man, but he's too cold. If he could just be a little gentle, maybe I could give you up for Aslan, because I know Aslan is a man you can depend on."
"Then, how about I just marry Duke Aslan?"