[3rd person POV]

The personal study of his majesty the King was located deep within the royal palace, only a few distance away from the inner chambers where the bed chambers of the royal family members were located.

Similarly, the private meeting chambers meant to welcome close relatives and personal guests of the royal family, the grand royal parlor for the royal family and their personal guests, her majesty's study, her highness the princess's study, and the crown prince study was also located near the inner chambers, both for ease of access for the royal family members and to be more easily protected.

This morning, his highness Alexus was performing his responsibilities as the crown prince within his personal study. Stacks and stacks of documents piled up on his large, beautifully crafted mahogany desk as he sat behind them, looking down on the document before him with a pen in his hand.

The large amount of documents before him was not due to his inability to complete his previous tasks on time. In fact, he had finished all of them completely. However, a large pile of documents that needed his approval and various kinds of reports coincidentally arrived on his table at the same time.

His hand, which has been flowing through the surfaces of documents and signing them without pausing, slowly came to a stop as he fell into a daze.

He took a deep breath and sighed heavily.

"Your hand has stopped moving, your highness? I know you're not that easily worn out, so please continue to move those hands and finish up this mountain of papers."

A flat, deadpan voice resounded from his side, behind the stack of paper to his right.

"Lucas... How could you even see that my hand is not moving?"

"I can't hear the sound of the pen going through the parchment."

Lucas said without even looking at him and keeping his eyes on the documents he needed to review and filter before handing it to Alexus.

"...You and your monstrous senses."

Alexus put his fountain pen down with a heavy sigh and leaned back to his chair.

"What's wrong? This is not like you."

"...I haven't seen Risa since her birthday."

A moment of silence passed before a heavy sigh resounded, this time from Lucas.

"It's only been a few days..."

"I am aware of that. But a day without her feels like years to me. I finished all my work yesterday thinking I could visit the Lorya estate and surprise her. But now... all these paperworks came all of a sudden at once as if trying to stop me from meeting my dear."

"She's a busy girl. She might not even be at home. For all we know, she's hopping back and forth between her shop and the production site."

"I plan on going to those places in case I can't find her at her home."

"You plan on searching all her shops one by one? Why don't you just ask Kiara?"

"...Do you think she'll tell me?"

"Oh... That's right. Ahahaha!"

Alexus massaged the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply as Lucas giggled.

"That girl... She's a seriously cunning one, just like you. She's on par with even Evelyn."

"Well, I, for one, am glad that she's cunning enough to protect my sister. After all, she needs someone to protect her from wolves."

"...Am I also one of these "wolves" you're referring to?"

"You, Keith, Luke, and all male nobles around your age have all been entranced by her, you know? Not to mention the females as well. With girls like Kiara, Evelyn, Noir, Valerie, Celine, Stella, and Melissa to protect her, I can rest assured that she will be able to choose who she loves for herself."

"Hah... And you don't think they're wolves themselves? I've seen how they all look at her."

"Well if that is the case and if Risa loves them as well, then I will support them. Sorry, Alex. My allegiance to my sister outweighs my allegiance to you~"

"..."

"Alright, now stop dawdling and get back to work-"

Just then, a knock resounded from the door.

"Who is it?"

"Excuse me! I have come to deliver a message to his highness the crown prince!"

Alexus gave a nod towards Lucas, who responded in kind, and addressed the knocking.

"You may enter."

The two royal guards guarding the door to the crown prince's study opened the door for the messenger knight to enter. Immediately, the knight saluted and delivered the message.

"Your highness, Lady Alterisa von Lorya of the Lorya household has requested an audience with you! As per your orders, the lady had been escorted to the private meeting chambers and served by the royal maids while she waited!"

Alexus and Lucas's eyes widened before they turned towards each other.

"Eh? Why is Risa here? Lucas, have you heard anything about this?" "No... I never heard of this from her. I don't know what she's here for."

Alexus turned towards the knight and asked him.

"Did she explain her reason for coming?"

"I had not received any explanations from the lady herself, your highness! Only that she has come to seek an audience with you!"

A smile bloomed on Alexus's face as he immediately stood up and headed out.

"I'll leave the rest to you, Lucas!"

"Ah- Your highness! Hah..."

Lucas let out a deep sigh as he watched Alexus briskly making his way to meet his sister, leaving him and the knight behind.

The knight looked quite surprised by the actions of the crown prince and turned towards Lucas, who noticed his gaze.

"Ah... You may return to your post, now. Thank you for delivering my sister's message."

"Y-Yes! Then, please excuse me."

The knight saluted towards Lucas and left, leaving Lucas alone with stacks of papers beside him in this room.

"Hah... Just what are you planning to do now, little sister?"

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Alexus quickly made his way to the private meeting chambers, earning a couple of bewildered looks from maids, knights, and palace officials along his way who immediately saluted right after.

The four royal knights who guarded the door into the private meeting chambers where the future crown princess was in immediately recognized the crown prince's presence and immediately saluted.

Alexus stopped before the door, raising his hand at the knights who were about to open the door for him, and calmed his breath.

He fixed his tie, suit, and hair, making sure he was at his best appearance to meet with his beloved, before nodding to the knights.

The door opened before him, and the moment her figure entered his sight, a smile of pure delight bloomed naturally on his face.

She was sitting on the couch, gracefully sipping her cup of tea as the two maids he was familiar with, Anne and Maria, stood by her side.

Her eyes turned towards Alexus the moment he entered, and a brilliant smile appeared on her countenance, blinding Alexus with her beauty.

"Ah, good morning, Alexus~ I'm sorry for coming this early~ Were you busy?"

His heart melted when he heard her voice, the voice he had missed very dearly for the past few days, and smiled at her affectionately.

"Good morning, Risa. Don't worry, I'm not that busy at the moment."

Alexus knew that if Risa was to know how many stacks of documents there are currently on his table, she would've immediately told him to return and work on it and reschedule the meeting. It was yet another reason why he believed that no one other than her beautiful Alterisa would be worthy to be his partner in this life.

But, it would also mean that he would need to wait even longer to meet her again. So he told her a pure-white lie. He could easily finish those documents once he had received his dosage of his beautiful love's presence, so this meeting with her was arguably more important than his work.

"I see~ Phew, I'm so glad~ I thought you would be really busy~"

"Your brother is helping me at the moment as well, so you don't have to worry."

"Really~? Then I guess it's fine~ Don't hold back and work him hard~! Kekekeke~"

"I will."

Alexus giggled softly at Alterisa's mischievous side. It was a side she'd only show to the people she trusted and very close with. In other words, he was an existence that she trusted deeply and feel very close to. That thought in of itself brough much joy to him.

"So? What do you wish to talk about?"

"A-Ah... I-In truth, I actually wanted to ask you for a favor..."

"A favor...?"

This was the first time Alexus had ever been asked for a favor by her. From all the years he had known her, Alterisa was the kind of girl who would get the thing she wanted with her own hands, may it be money, influence, power, reputation, or achievements.

Alexus had always been the one who had to rack his brains whenever he wanted to give her a surprise she would like, because anything she would want, she'd already have it.

But now, she was asking him for a favor. And... she looked very nervous. He could also see her blushing as she looked timidly towards him.

While the look alone was utterly and devastatingly adorable to him, the notion of what she could have asked for that caused her to look this way was even more exciting!

For Risa to have that kind of look... C-Could it be...?!

A myriad of hopeful thoughts flashed across his mind. Having a romantic date together, having a romantic dinner together... Or perhaps even sharing a night...

His heart began to thump louder and faster as he saw Alterisa trying to find the right words with redly blushing cheeks. And finally, she began.

"U-Uhm... W-Would you like to appear on a poster w-with me-"

"Yes."

"E-Eh?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. I got a bit too excited... What was that?"

Alexus shook his head and looked at Alterisa seriously, trying to hide his own embarrassment for thinking such inappropriate, yet delightful, thoughts.

"Uhm... Would you like to appear on a poster with me."

"A poster? For Eden?

"Yes! It's to promote our limited edition product line called the "Spring of Love". I-I thought that since it's called that, it'll be a good idea to have the two of us in there... You know, because I just recently became an adult and because we're engaged..."

Alterisa looked down as she blushed nervously, causing Alex's heart to skip a beat at her actions and words.

The "Spring of Love"... And she chose to be with me...

"O-Okay... I think... That would be fine..."

"R-Really?!"

"Y-Yes..."

"Yaaaaayyy~!!!! Thank you, Alex~!!!"

Alterisa raised from her seat and jumped onto Alexander and into his embrace.

"R-Risa?!"

"Hehehe~ I'm so happy~!!! Thank you, Alex~!!! I'm so glad you agreed~!!!"

"A-Ah, R-Risa-"

Before Alex could even react, Alterisa separated from him and stood with vigor in her eyes.

"Now I'll have to get Lily, Evelyn, Celine, Valerie-chan, Noir, Illya, Kiara, and Lu-nii to agree and it'll be the greatest marketing ever!!!!"

"Eh...?"

"I'll be going to Lily's now so see you later, Alex~!!! Bye bye~!!!!"

"Eh? Ah, wa-!"

"Please excuse us, your highness."

"Please excuse us~"

Anne and Maria followed after their mistress with a helpless smile, leaving behind the frozen, wide-eyed crown prince who slowly slumped back down to the couch, silent...





AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please vote and comment your thoughts~!