Will Not Change

Fortunately, the maids Flora Haggia had arranged to welcome her were all old hands who had witnessed Ryan’s cold period.

They quickly reacted, following the two and expressing their welcome in a relatively neat chorus.

The blue-haired young woman said nothing, holding her head high with an air of arrogance, and gracefully lifted her hand.

The old butler, being experienced, immediately stepped forward to offer her a supportive arm, guiding her towards the mansion.

Flora Haggia then directed the other maids to follow closely, turning to inform the sixteen knights that only two were permitted to enter the mansion, while the rest were to wait outside.

Having completed these tasks, Flora Haggia caught up with the blue-haired young woman with steps as quick as possible yet still polite, entering the house with her.

Upon encountering another warm welcome, the blue-haired young woman maintained her proud, almost disdainful posture, proceeding with Charlton and Morick, who was waiting inside, to the room specially designated for esteemed guests.

The two knights, along with the mansion’s guards, stood watch outside the door.

The welcoming duties concluded there.

The maids in the main hall dispersed, returning to their planned work.

But those maids not near the reception room, especially those working on the first floor of the mansion, couldn’t help but discuss the recent events.

“How pretentious. Is this the Highness’s fiancée? What a letdown.”

“And she even brought sixteen knights to make a show of it.

Who doesn’t know their Blue Lion family is in decline now?

That’s really pushing it.”

“Those are all fine, but she’s the same age as His Highness, only seventeen, right?

Wearing such old-fashioned makeup and such expensive clothes, I almost thought she was some noblewoman attending a banquet…”

“You don’t know, she even had a red carpet laid out at the main gate.

His Highness himself never had such a display… I can’t, I have to try not to laugh.”

“This is completely different from what we heard, Yara, are you sure you heard correctly? Could Miss Haggia have mistaken her for someone else?”

While the maids were puzzled, Flora Haggia, in the reception room, felt incredibly heavy-hearted at this moment.

Even with a very thick filter for her childhood sweetheart, she had to admit that the Blue Lion family had overdone it this time.

And this was clearly a misguided perception born from believing the rumors about the Crown Prince circulating outside.

If she wasn’t mistaken, after hearing stories of the Crown Prince constantly changing servants and mistreating them… the Blue Lion family had analyzed and come to the foolish conclusion that only by treating servants poorly and acting disdainfully could one please the Crown Prince.

At the same time, the Crown Prince also had a reputation for being greedy and extravagant outside, so the Blue Lion family had invested their limited financial resources in clothes and jewellery, packaging their daughter to look as imposing and aristocratic as possible.

As for things like laying out a red carpet, or sending sixteen knights at great expense, these were either idiotic decisions made out of rumors that the Crown Prince bullied people, or as a show of support from her family.

‘Still so averse to gathering information, making presumptuous judgments based on incomplete knowledge…

Sigh, it’s too late to think about these things now.

The top priority is to make amends as quickly as possible.’

Flora Haggia naturally didn’t think she was the only one assessing the situation.

The early arrival arrangement was Ryan’s way of seeing how Stella would behave in his absence.

But clearly, Charlton and Morick had already secretly given Stella low marks for her first impression—this was evident from their polite but distant treatment, treating her as a foreign dignitary, and standing silently to the side after serving tea.

This couldn’t continue.

“Miss Arlos, is the tea to your liking?”

Flora Haggia stepped forward and asked.

“It’s alright.”

Stella replied indifferently.

Charlton and Morick both looked at Flora Haggia, though not particularly surprised.

“This is a rare and precious tea brought back from the distant East. His Highness Ryan likes to drink it most.”

Flora Haggia intended to display a frank and familiar personality to capture Stella’s attention.

“Is that so…”

Stella took another delicate sip, finally turning her head to properly look at Flora Haggia.

But then she paused for a moment, and after a while, remembered to flash a gentle smile and asked,

“By the way, what’s your name?”

“Reporting to Miss Arlos, my name is Flora Haggia.”

“Haggia… I haven’t heard of it. Which family is that?”

“You honor me, Miss. It’s just an insignificant baronial family in the North.”

“I see… then you must be very favored by His Highness Ryan.”

Stella smiled meaningfully, scanning Flora Haggia up and down again.

“It’s not just me; His Highness Ryan is very kind to everyone.”

Flora Haggia didn’t detect the hidden meaning in her words, instead trying to subtly hint to Stella.

“Everyone…” Stella lightly bit her red lip, a flicker of resentment and hostility in her eyes.

Then she looked up, smiling warmly, “Miss Haggia, what do you think of me? Will His Highness like me?”

“Just call me Flora Haggia; ‘Miss’ is too much.” Flora Haggia gently waved her hand.

“As for Miss Arlos’s question, I think you are very noble, elegant, and beautiful. His Highness Ryan will definitely fall for you!”

Flora Haggia knew that deep down, Stella didn’t wish to be liked by Ryan.

Her presence here, her attire, her demeanor, were undoubtedly all compelled by her family and her sense of responsibility to protect her family.

Furthermore, Stella didn’t know that Flora Haggia had transformed into her current appearance.

Flora Haggia had no intention of telling her, so she could only continue to play her role, attempting to encourage Stella, reassuring her that her many compromises would not be in vain.

“If that’s truly the case, then that would be wonderful.” Stella smiled happily.

Charlton and Morick exchanged glances, then bowed to Stella.

“Miss Arlos, please excuse us. If you have any requests, please feel free to tell Miss Haggia.”

Stella was slightly taken aback, then replied, “Okay, I understand.”

Once the two left, she looked at Flora Haggia with interest, smiling, “It seems your position in the mansion, Flora Haggia, is quite high.”

“Not at all. Mr. Charlton and Mr. Morick are both highly valued by His Highness… They are leaving only to allow me to serve you better, Miss.”

“Is that so… Then tell me, what does His Highness like, and how can I please him?”

“Regarding that, I think the first thing Miss Arlos should do is not be so reserved.”

“Reserved, me?” Stella seemed surprised.

“Yes, His Highness Ryan is actually a very easygoing and tolerant person.”

“Are you sure His Highness isn’t only gentle with you?” Stella showed a slightly disdainful smile.

“Of course not. Just like earlier, when everyone welcomed His Highness Ryan back, he always nodded in acknowledgment to everyone—”

“Are you subtly implying that I was too cold just now?”

Stella glared at Flora Haggia coldly.

This was the second time Flora Haggia had seen her childhood sweetheart give her such an expression.

But she quickly pushed these two memories out of her mind and pulled forth more fragments from her memory.

Finally, the image settled on that moment when a lively, adorable, gentle, and kind little girl extended her small hand to a grubby little boy.

For Flora Haggia, this was the most important thing.

It was something that would never change.

So—

“Of course not. I just wanted to tell Miss Arlos that His Highness is not the kind of person you imagine him to be.

Please don’t be deceived by those rumors.”

No matter how many times.

She would always reach out to the other party.