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DevilDarkness#0506

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"What have you been trying to hint at, your majesty? I'm sure this story wasn't just for my history lesson, but you, meaning to say something. So why don't you clear the air and explain what you meant?"

Rio's words made the king burst out in a laughter as he spoke "And they say, you are just a kid. Rumors weren't lying when they said the heir of Blake's is a genius."

Rio kept silent about the praise he received, and Maximus nodded his head and continued his words.

"I had a talk with your mother this morning and apparently she doesn't want to agree to the engagement between you and my daughter."

"I don't know what you're trying to say, your majesty?""Won't you act surprised or ask about the reason why she refused." Maximus asked, but Rio just shook his head.magic

"Why bother? Mother's decisions are final and I'll follow them." Rio replied clearly not interested in what excuse Artemis came up with to cancel the talks.

He had already noticed how Artemis was aware of his hesitation regarding Rebecca. That's why he stopped trying to hide his expressions completely. Knowing fully, that if she got a hint, then she'll probably avoid all his risks herself, without him doing anything. She probably said how they were still kids and should just focus on their future instead of families. Even though most noble childrens get engaged early or at least have some selected options for marriages while they're young, but who can argue with Artemis since she already decided.

"See that's what shows you still have a lot to learn. Your mother told me, it was you who asked to choose your own partner in life, clearly not interested in some arranged fixed relationships." Maximus chuckled and informed him.

Rio took a moment to think over his words and could guess that the king was lying to him. There was no way Artemis would ever push his name forward to get out of an argument. "Well that's a good joke your majesty. But there's nothing like that."

"So you have no problem with this engagement."

"I never said that." Rio clarified.

Maximus narrowed his eyes as he questioned "Do you have someone else who caught your attention? Or do you not like Rebecca." If the young heir of Blake's got infatuated with some other girl, that could explain why both mother and son were against this engagement, but Rio shook his head burying all King's thoughts with his words.

"There isn't anyone in this world whom I found interesting enough yet, your majesty. And as for Princess Rebecca, well I simply don't know her well enough to form an opinion of liking her or not."

"You've spent your childhoods together. You both meet each other every year, and play around daily. Isn't that enough to know someone?" Maximus pointed out the facts about their close relationship, which is true seeing how Athena would always bring Rebecca with her when she visited her family or Blake house. The same was the case for them at every celebrations and holidays. That's why Rebecca and Amelia became best friends with each other, cause they kept meeting each other.

But hearing King's words Rio just smiled in return-"You've just finished telling me a story about King Casimir, your majesty. It is never enough to know someone in so little time."

King Maximus kept silent for a little while, thinking what he meant with his words, he then asked Rio about something he thought of "You think Rebecca would change her mind in the future?"

"She's still a child, your majesty. She might like me for now, since unlike other kids around her, I don't pester her daily or follow her around like her guards. She hasn't seen the world yet and if she found someone else who can act more indifferent towards her, I bet she'll be happily influenced by them. She can be easily swayed, fooled or manipulated." Rio said knowing full well how just some rumors about him being the villain of the world was enough for people to form an opinion about him in the novel. Rebecca, too, was the same. That's why she betrayed him, his family and her own too.

"She agreed to this engagement when I asked her about it. She didn't even need to think much for it." King said, as he thought about the time when he mentioned this topic to his daughter. Unlike Rio who seemed to think about everything, she accepted it easily and showed no resistance.

King was hoping to see if Rio would be happy learning about Rebecca's eagerness towards the matter, and Rio did smile hearing that, but totally not because of the reasons he hoped for. His doubts were cleared when he heard Rio's words as he quoted what he said to him before. "That just shows she still has much to learn, your majesty."

Rio remembered some events of the novel and his lips curled into a slight smile, his expression was of someone who had thought of some joke. "As I said your majesty, she likes me cause I'm different. If she met someone in the future who's acting more indifferent to her than me, then she'd be easily enamored by that person. That's how her brain works now."

King Maximus narrowed his eyes trying to see what he meant by those words, he knew his daughter was a little naive yet, but it isn't on the level where someone can fool her with a lollipop right.

But deep down he knew the words held some truth in them, as being the only daughter of his & sole princess of this empire, everyone really doted on her.

Since childhood Rebecca never even had a need to ask for anything, because whatever she wanted or needed was presented to her before she could even think about it.

King's thoughts were stopped as Rio continued his words, "We're talking about the engagement between nobility, your majesty. Yes, it is easy to form between our families, since we've known each other for generations, but you all are forgetting how troublesome it gets to get out of them if something went wrong. Or if one party decided to back out. The profits and partnerships aside, the damage to the reputation alone is enough to thwart everything."

"For someone who said he'll follow his mother's decisions, whatever it may be, you're awfully aware of all the downsides about agreeing to this engagement."

Hearing the king saying what became obvious from his words, Rio didn't clarify anything and just smiled "Maybe I am, as the rumors say, a genius."

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A/N - so what r ur thoughts about this. Yes, Rio is planning to refuse the engagement with this princess, as he said why take risks when you can avoid it. There are some other reasons for Rio's actions too but those are spoilers and will be explained over time.