Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Landen's face was flushed with anger as he stormed out of the Prince's Palace.

I turned to Tonya and asked, "Why do you think he's so mad? We're good friends. If his sister marries into the Prince's Palace, wouldn't that make us even closer?"

Tonya sighed softly. "Your Highness, you should consider someone else. Miss Yates has already mentioned that she has someone in her heart."

I pondered for a moment before saying, "Alright, call Phil over. Let's see if he has a sister who's willing to marry me."

Tonya was speechless.

"What else can I do? The only friends I have are the two of them!" I continued, "Mother has given me an ultimatum. She wants to see someone by next month. I have no choice."

Tonya walked to the side and brought out a pile of scrolls. "Let me help you choose slowly."

We spent the entire afternoon looking through the portraits, but we couldn't find a single suitable candidate. Eventually, all the beautiful women in the pictures started to look the same to me.

Frustrated, I said, "Forget it. If it doesn't work out, I'll just let Mother give me a piece of her mind!"

I checked the time. It was just about time for my martial arts practice with Phil. I stood up and picked up my sword.

"Tonya, stay here in the Prince's Palace. I'll be back soon."

Phil, the son of General Harper from Nuver, was an excellent martial artist. He was five years older than me and my martial arts instructor. He was already twenty-five but still unmarried.

When he was seventeen, he said that such matters couldn't be rushed and that he had to find a girl he truly loved. Eight years had passed since then.

If I weren't the crown prince, pretending to be a man, I would have pursued Phil myself.

We practiced in the training yard until we were both drenched in sweat. Phil's moves were fierce, but I wasn't far behind. As the saying goes, a student can surpass the master. He taught me everything he knew, and I learned quickly, keeping up with him effortlessly.

Finally, exhausted, we called a truce. Phil, panting heavily, asked, "I heard Landen came to the palace today. Why were you practicing martial arts instead of studying? What did he want?"

Wiping the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve, I replied, "It's Mother again. She insists I choose a bride."

"I took a liking to Landen's sister, but she didn't feel the same about me and left."

Phil raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes filled with emotion. "The emperor is getting old. You really should settle down to ease his worries."

I immediately frowned. "Why are you pressuring me too? Do you think I don't want to get married?"

"I can't tolerate ordinary women, and the ones I like don't like me back. What can I do?"

Phil was silent for a moment before casually tossing his sword back into its sheath with perfect accuracy. His voice was deep. "I'll think of something."

I scoffed. "Why are you pretending? You're not Landen. You haven't read as many books as he has. What could you possibly come up with?"

As soon as I finished speaking, Phil's expression darkened. The temperature around us seemed to drop as he looked at me.

I nervously said, "Why don't you tell me your idea first?"

"If you don't want to hear it, then I won't say anything," Phil replied coolly, his eyes as cold as a winter pond.

Shivering, I took two steps forward. "Phil, I was wrong. You may not be well-read, but your martial arts skills are unmatched."

He continued to adjust his clothes, ignoring my apology. Clearly, my words had no effect.

I kept trying to appease him, saying all sorts of nice things, but he remained unmoved. It wasn't until I offered to give him the treasured sword he had always liked that his expression softened slightly.

Even so, when he left, his face was still stern.

I sighed. Men are all alike. Landen is so much easier to please.