Using Acting to Counter Acting

Frollie didn’t know what to say.

Stella’s intention was clearly to gain sympathy by playing the victim, show her determination to turn over a new leaf, and piece together those past misdeeds… at least to make Snow not have any prejudice against her.

And the method Stella adopted was actually based on successful experience.

Stella often lied to others and played tricks when she was young, and when she got caught, she would admit her mistakes and beg for forgiveness.

The first two times, people still believed her, but by the third time, they didn’t believe anything she said.

Seeing that she was about to get spanked, Stella immediately launched a similar self-blaming, self-isolating tactic.

“It’s probably saying things like ‘I did so many wrong things before, it’s right that you don’t believe me, I know I’m not worthy of your trust anymore’,” or something like, ‘If doing this can make you forgive me, then punish me as you see fit, no matter how painful, I will bear it’.”

The main goal was to make those who blamed her feel guilty and unable to bear it, or to mistakenly believe that this time it was really different, that she had truly repented.

It has to be said that at that time, many adults, considering that Stella was still young, chose to back down and trust her.

But Stella was seventeen now, no longer the little girl, the little princess, that adults would care for her age and make concessions to her.

Frollie and Snow were also not the elders of the Blue Lion family.

Combined with the other Blue Lion students’ terrible acting skills, and the long-standing prejudices, Frollie estimated that Snow’s heart must have been extremely dissatisfied with Stella at this moment.

(‘What should I do…’)

Frollie couldn’t help but feel that she wanted to say something like breaking off the engagement.

Even if it was just a momentary impulse, after saying that, Snow would definitely express such a tendency without any concealment on weekdays. If it was noticed by someone with ulterior motives, then things would be terrible…

At this moment, Snow moved.

Frollie quickly turned around, wanting to stop the other party from acting up.

But she was surprised to find that the expression on Ryan’s face was so gentle and warm.

Even giving off the feeling of a big, sunny boy.

“I’m sorry, Stella, we scared you…”

Ryan’s voice was also filled with concern and apology.

Frollie had never seen Ryan with such an expression and using such a tone.

It was also the first time she had heard Ryan directly call the blue-haired girl by her name.

“We actually didn’t want to blame you either, we just hope you can protect yourself better, after all, we can’t always come so timely…”

“……”

Ryan kept comforting, “I don’t think this is your fault either, who in the world can make no mistakes, knowing your mistakes and being able to correct them is the most important thing.”

“But I made so many mistakes back then…” Stella hesitated, looking as if she couldn’t let go.

“Those are all words that others are smearing you, right?

But I know that you are actually just protecting the glory and reputation of the Blue Lion… You must have been through a lot.”

Stella couldn’t help it anymore and cried out of grievance.

Ryan gently stroked her head to comfort her.

This scene was exactly the same as when Frollie was scared by Stella back then.

The difference was that the elders were more or less somewhat sincere, but at this moment, all Frollie could feel from Ryan was 100% hypocrisy.

“Stella, leave it to me next, I will definitely help you smooth things out.”

Finally, Ryan left this sentence and left the plantation with Frollie.

On the way, the two were silent for a long time.

Finally, Ryan spoke first.

“Don’t get me wrong, those were all acted.”

“I know.”

Frollie was very sad, “But Your Highness Ryan… have you completely lost all expectations for Ms. Yaros?”

This was a very simple principle.

If someone gets angry and admonishes you, it means they still think there’s hope for you and still want to help you.

If someone deceives you and deliberately allows you to fall into the mud… then they almost regard you as an enemy or want to see you fail.

But, in Frollie’s opinion, Stella actually felt regret for what she had done in the past, and that’s why she was so worried about Snow’s opinion.

If it was just because her methods weren’t smart or sincere enough that Snow regarded her as an eyesore, that would be too pitiful…

“In your opinion, what would I have done just now?”
Snow didn’t answer directly.
…

Frollie wasn’t particularly stupid either. The Snow she had imagined was impulsive, easily angered, and didn’t care about the big picture.

“If I did what you thought I would… the result should be very bad, right?”

Snow looked at her concernedly, “How do you feel now?”

Frollie was stunned for a moment, and then she understood.

Angry? Regarded as an enemy?

Snow’s choice was to directly ignore Stella.

Even though he deliberately put on an act for Stella, during the whole process, he didn’t have even a sliver of thought focused on the actress opposite him.

His attention, and what he wanted to please, was always a certain audience member on the sidelines.

Because that audience member didn’t want things to develop to an irreversible point.

Because that audience member felt sad and miserable.

That’s why he did this.

“Thank you, Your Highness Snow…”

Even though this completely fit Frollie’s desire to surpass Stella in status, and the plan of not breaking off the engagement for the time being.

But she really couldn’t be happy at all at this moment.

Because this method only postponed the problem.

“You’re welcome, like you said before, maintaining a relationship with the Blue Lion family is beneficial for expanding my power and solidifying my position as the Crown Prince… I’m just doing what’s beneficial for myself.”

Ryan clearly didn’t defend himself too much for what he had done, and what to do next, as well as the consideration of repaying evil with evil, so he casually made a promise… “I’ll leave it to you then.”

He was still working hard to pull himself to the same level as Stella, and handed over the authority to resolve this matter to her.

Obviously, Ryan, just as she had guessed before, regarded her as a small transparent person of the Blue Lion family or something else, considering her feelings as much as possible, and even caring about Stella.

(What am I doing?)

Frollie couldn’t help but feel self-blame and shame.

She had clearly said that she would put herself into Ryan’s role as a loyal maid, but until the previous moment, her mind was still more focused on Stella’s affairs…
…

But she was no longer a person of the Blue Lion.

Even if she broke the engagement, she had no face to accept Stella’s feelings.

In fact, she only regarded Stella as a younger sister, and she felt more gratitude and guilt.

She had only been avoiding it, and once she wanted to atone for that matter, she would subconsciously side with Stella.

But if the price of doing so was to wrong Ryan and give Ryan more trouble… then she also couldn’t accept it.

So—

“Yes, Your Highness Ryan, please rest assured, I will handle this matter properly.”

Frollie said with an expression of confidence that was completely different from what was in her heart.

But whether it was against her will, she would do it.

Do it with a desperate energy that can’t let people feel at ease.