Chapter 54 Taking the Initiative
"What a coincidence, Elena."
"Your Highness Elena, from the perspective of mutual benefit and assistance, I hope you will marry me."
Antonio didn't get down on one knee. Instead, he pulled out a box from his bosom. Inside was not a ring but a brooch carved with a wolf's head. "I believe we will be good partners. Your talent is amazing."
Elena looked at the brooch and sneered, "Because of dragon blood?"
“That’s part of your talent.”
He answered very frankly that the bloodlines handed down from ancient times were also divided into different levels. Most of the bloodlines were useless after being diluted, and at most they would change the physical characteristics.
Dragon's blood is dragon's blood, and even the most diluted form of it has the potential to rejuvenate one's ancestral home. Greece nominally lacked a royal family, but like the Roman royal family, consuls were often chosen from families with rare blood. Even though it was an aristocratic republic, there were still some nobles among the nobles.
The family would surely be happy for him to marry a dragon-blood princess.
Antonio had never thought of choosing a marriage partner based on personal preferences, and he believed that Elena was the same: otherwise, such a beautiful princess with an awkward rank would have found a backer long ago.
They both needed decent and excellent collaborators, and a marriage would achieve multiple goals at once.
Elena closed the box and pushed it back: "I need to think about it."
"Of course, you are a decision maker who will not regret it." Antonio put away the box politely. He shook hands with Elena and left tacitly, as if he was just chatting with a friend here for a while, without even disturbing the roses.
"Huh...marriage." Elena sat at the stone table with a deep expression.
Antonio was a good marriage candidate: her father was a Greek consul, and her family was powerful in Greece but unable to influence Rome. As long as Antonio did not succeed her as consul, she would retain her royal inheritance.
He is tall, handsome, and not annoying. He shouldn't make too many enemies for her, and the benefits he brings will far outweigh the disadvantages.
It would be hard to find a better marriage partner, and she is really in urgent need of help now, so why not?
What am I still hesitating about?
“Meow—”
A little white cat fell from the sky, landed on her head, and waved its claws desperately: "Don't be with him—you won't be happy, meow!"
The cat's long hair was shaken into a straw ball by its claws. Elena hugged the kitten, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and held her waist and dragged her down: "So you were talking about him last time. I thought you were talking about Melia."
As soon as she said that, she bit her lip. "What's going on? Why did you think of Melia? Does it have anything to do with her?"
Fortunately, the kitten didn't notice and kept meowing, "Don't agree, don't agree, you, you don't like him..." As it meowed, its voice became lower and lower.
Really? How could the destined hero and heroine of "Rose Princess" not like each other?
"I wouldn't say I hate it." Elena frowned slightly. Marriages based on love were often touted, wasn't it precisely because they were rare? She didn't dislike a good marriage partner; that was enough.
So... why not just agree?
Elena was once again at a loss: she didn't need to display her nobility in this way; efficiency was paramount. "I need to think about this" was truly a decision she was making.
Antonio is the most suitable candidate, why hesitate?
On one side of the scale are wealth, status, connections, stable alliances, and marriages, but on the other side? What's the bargaining chip that makes her hesitate?
"Elena, Elena!" The kitten scratched her knee anxiously. "Really, Antonio married you to control Rome!"
"I know he wants to influence Rome." Elena patted the cat's head. "I want to influence Greece too."
Only one of them could reach the top; the other would become a stepping stone. She believed she wouldn't be the one.
Woohoo...it seems like no amount of persuasion is enough.
The kitten's ears drooped in despair. Is the main plot of "The Rose Princess" absolute? Is Elena always going to marry Antonio, gain his support, and finally become enemies?
She fell limply on Elena's thighs, meowing: "Then, what should I do with Melia, the one I'm rooting for? Meow... You two are getting married, right?" Although it was a funny fairy wedding.
The gentle caressing stopped, and the sea-blue eyes fell into memories:
She saw the girl's face under the veil again. The moonlight softened her smile and shyness. The momentary joy broke through her guard against the goblin, and it blew away quietly like a dandelion, flying all over her heart.
"Meliya she——"
【What is she?】
What does she have to do with me?
【Will anything happen to her?】
In the past, she would have said this without hesitation, and even added a few mocking remarks. But she thought about it for a long time and couldn't say anything.
She hesitated, there's hope!
The little white cat arched its shoulders to its ears, its fur almost digging into its neck. "Really, she, she likes you too!"
Boom! It was as if a violent explosion came from the bottom of my heart.
"How, how is this possible?" Elena tried to be calm, but her teeth almost bit her lower lip.
The meowing turned into an ear-filling demonic sound: "You'll know if you investigate. Melia rejected the Second Prince's advances for you! She hasn't been to any dinner parties these days."
The most powerful lie is nine true and one false.
Titus's estate was very close to Muala's estate. He probably judged that Melia was going to make a comeback, so since the rumor about the gold mine spread, the second prince had people invite Melia to visit him many times.
Of course, she highly suspected that Titus and Shula wanted to sneak her out, so she never went there once.
Melia rejected Titus?
Regardless of whether the gold mine was real or fake, Caesar would not allow Melia, who had inherited a large fortune, to marry abroad. To please Caesar, her best option was to marry a prince, a prince who could not inherit the throne.
My father was still young and would rule Rome for many years if nothing unexpected happened. Before his death, marrying a prince would be much safer and more respectable than marrying a senator's child.
Elena silently brought the little white cat back to her lap and nudged its butt: "I'll find time to persuade her."
"What are you trying to persuade her to marry Titus?!"
"I don't know." Elena suddenly felt dizzy and completely irritated. For the first time, she raised her voice in front of Kitten: "It's still early, you should go back first."
The cat didn't care! She blocked the way with her tail: "Wait, where are you going? Are you going to tell Melia now?"
"No." Elena grabbed the kitten by the scruff of the neck and hung her on the tree trunk. "I want to go to the bathhouse and rest. As for Melia... I'll find a chance later."
Looking for an opportunity? Looking for an opportunity to break up! Ugh, uh, uh, uh.
The little white cat slumped angrily on the treetop, its eyes wide open, staring until Elena was out of sight. Humph, given her personality, she'd definitely spend a long time convincing herself, waiting until she'd completely "calmed down" before making a decision based on her own interests.
【We can’t delay any longer.】
The little white cat stuck its head out and took a deep look at the place where she disappeared: this direction was definitely not the Royal Palace Baths. If she was not lying, the target should be the Central Baths of Rome, which was located next to the central Colosseum.
Phew~ I won’t give you time to think it through!
…
Swoosh! Melia pulled back the blanket and ran out in her slippers: "Mili, Taffy, come help me find some clothes!"
There was a clatter of slippers at the door, and the maids came in one after another. They were usually forced by Melia to take turns to go to school and do homework, and when they heard the master's call, they immediately ran over to slack off.
Mili was the quickest and she immediately took out a skirt that Melia often wore recently from the closet.
"Hmm... this is too plain." Melia shook her head. Today was the day of the final battle, so she had to dress nicely. Even if she was given the "nice guy" card, she would do her best to stop Elena's marriage!
Plain? The master's hobby is back.
Another maid came running over with an armful of robes, dumping them all onto the bed and spreading them out. The bright red and green stung Melia's eyes.
She picked up a green headscarf with some disdain: "I actually like this color?"
"Yes, Master, Egyptian green was very popular back then!" the maid enthusiastically recommended. "It's dyed with the most precious minerals. Anyone can spot you in a crowd."
Yes, it’s all glowing green.
Maybe it was a psychological effect, but Melia felt a slight stomachache as she twisted the green headscarf. She quickly threw it aside and said, "No, no, none of these will work. Didn't I have a more elegant dress before?"
The maids looked at each other in bewilderment, and finally it was Ani who came to the rescue: "Yes, Master. I helped everyone pack up all your clothes, and there is a box that best reflects your nobility."
That's good. Melia breathed a sigh of relief: "Huh~ Where is it?"
"It is said that it was left to you by Muala Master." Ani quickly explained: "It is not an inheritance, it is your wedding dress."
…
Elena walked on the street, and from time to time new acquaintances wanted to come forward to say hello, but were scared away by her pale face.
"What are you going to do? Persuade Melia to marry Titus?"
That's how it should be. Since she had agreed to get to know each other again, she should persuade her "new friend" to make the most appropriate choice.
Titus wasn't a good man, but he wasn't much worse than the other princes. If Melia was smooth and wealthy enough, he could be a generous husband.
But—she didn't want to do that.
Even if there is no reason to object.
For a moment, Elena, who hated lying, even wanted to perfunctorily fulfill her agreement with Meimei Kitten and ignore Melia's affairs.
Yes, you don’t have to care about it. People are free. It is Melia’s freedom to marry Titus or not.
What's more, the darkest corner of my heart was still whispering: Melia doesn't like Titus, she won't marry him.
"Because she likes you!"
The kitten's righteous voice traveled through time and space, hitting the heart hard.
No, how could that be possible?
She tried her best to search for the memory of Melia. Although it was vague, there was no doubt that Melia in the past hated her the most. She tried every means to trample on her self-esteem, and when she failed, she howled and cursed loudly.
In her chaotic mind, the smile of "Meliya" gradually became clearer. She was shocked to realize that not a single smiling face was ugly. Everything that remained in her memory was so beautiful that it seemed unreal.
Because she likes me? Could it be that I like her too?
Can't.
This kind of relationship is useless. Is it possible to marry Melia?
Elena shook her neck vigorously, stepped into the bathroom door, and forced herself to forget the image in the fairy garden. The shy girl under the veil seemed to be imprinted on her heart, lingering.
They are impossible, like a sword and a rose, always placed in different scenes. Calm down, as long as you stay calm, you can make the best choice.
Breathe… I'll go find Melia in a few days, maybe a month. She'll just hide during class. She's so lazy, she won't leave the house easily.
Snap, snap, snap.
The sound of water rang in my ears. This was a bathhouse, and slippers always made a wet sound when stepped on the floor.
I didn't expect anyone to come and soak in the small pool at this time of day. It's early morning now, and there's usually no one here until the afternoon.
Elena looked down at her attire: she had wanted to spar with Antonio in swordplay, or practice on her own if that didn't work out, but instead of practicing swordplay, she ended up in the bathhouse.
I need to change my clothes first...eh?
The hem of the dress caught her eye and she was slightly stunned: How could someone enter the bathhouse in a dress? Did they forget to change clothes?
She slowly raised her head, and for a moment her ears were filled with a suppressed buzzing sound.
It was a beauty different from the fairy dress. Light gold was permeated with thin red, and tiny gems were arranged in an orderly manner, forming beautiful floral patterns.
Such a dress can be worn to any dinner party, but the veil with a crystal laurel crown on the head is only suitable for a limited number of occasions.
For example, a wedding.
"Meliya, you..."
"Me? I'm here to take a bath." The girl smiled brightly: "What a coincidence, Elena."
The author has something to say:
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone! I'll update three times today and tomorrow!
Thanks to Lei Lei from Luchen_piuma~
Thanks to Doubi Xiao Mushroom, Wu Chu, and Boyan for their support~
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