Reinhardt

However, until Flora left, Ryan never told her what Stella had said the previous night.

And Flora didn’t ask.

Ryan chose not to tell her because he didn’t want Flora to get caught in the potential conflict between the Imperial Family and that man.

After recalling his mother, Ryan had a thought…

Ryan decided to have more secure escape routes prepared.

If the situation turned bad, he would send Flora away…

After all, he didn’t want to lose anything precious ever again…

Meanwhile, Flora left the study and went straight to Stella’s room.

“Miss Rose, please rest assured. No matter what, we will protect you.”

Setting aside all conspiracy theories and personal reasons, it was only right and proper that Ryan, as the Third Prince, should protect his own fiancée.

Given Ryan’s cold and indifferent behavior earlier, Flora was afraid Stella might misunderstand, so she made a special trip to inform her.

Of course, she had already informed Ryan of this and received his approval.

“I’m sorry, Flora, for causing you all trouble again…”

Stella lowered her head in guilt.

“It’s what we ought to do. It’s no trouble at all.”

Flora quickly waved her hands.

Stella still seemed unable to let it go.

After a moment, as if she had thought of something, she asked:

“Flora, you know how to bake, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, could you teach me tomorrow? I want to express my gratitude to His Highness…”

Flora could understand Stella’s thinking.

After all, no matter what treasures the Blue Lion family offered, they would likely mean nothing to Ryan.

After much thought, she could only rely on sincerity to win him over…

“No problem.”

Flora didn’t think Stella cooking for her was a big deal.

After all, even after everything that had happened, she was still willing to seek out Flora’s original self…

Besides, until Flora completely won Ryan over, Stella needed to maintain a reasonably good relationship with him.

The current situation, which was only slightly better than no relationship at all and sometimes dipped into the negative, required some drastic measures.

Of course, even if Stella succeeded in making something, Ryan probably wouldn’t eat it.

So Flora’s plan was to make it with Stella.

This would make it impossible for Ryan to refuse, and it would also allow Flora to boost her own presence and even his favorability a little.

No sooner said than done.

The next day after breakfast, Flora immediately took Stella into the kitchen…

Although Stella was surprisingly untalented, with Flora’s hands-on teaching, they still managed to produce a batch of rather tasty cookies.

Since Ryan was staying at the residence all day, the two of them quickly went to the study to find him.

“Your Highness Ryan, please have a taste… I’ve already eaten some, they’re not poisoned!”

Looking at the golden-haired girl before him, as pure as snow, holding a bag of crescent-shaped snacks, Ryan couldn’t help but say:

‘Where did the promised fairness go?’

But by now, Ryan was gradually beginning to understand Flora’s character.

When handling official business, she was serious, responsible, and reliable.

When dealing with important or private matters, she was resourceful, sometimes gentle and considerate, sometimes encouraging… always managing to help him well.

But aside from that, she was often just fooling around, always coming up with baffling and incredibly annoying things…

Although Ryan was somewhat aware that Flora was doing this to get on good terms with him.

But her methods were so awkward and speechless-inducing that he couldn’t bring himself to be happy about it.

Sometimes he even wanted to just pick her up and throw her out.

‘Didn’t you claim to be fair and just? Why use others as taste-testers for your own food?’

‘Isn’t this just an attempt to show off, prove you won’t poison me, and thereby curry my favor and improve your image in my eyes?’

‘And yet you push someone else forward for the crucial poison-testing step?’

Ryan inwardly looked down on this tactic.

However, he had thought about it carefully last night.

When dealing with this kind of person, one must not be angered.

One must remain calm, and then give them a taste of their own medicine.

You like to show off, don’t you?

Fine.

Then he would continue the test, but he would double the content and difficulty.

“I didn’t expect someone from the Blue Lion family would actually know how to cook.”

Ryan ate a cookie.

“It seems you all have some merits besides running for your lives.”

Hearing this, the blue-haired girl froze for a moment, then a look of immense sadness crossed her face, raising her pitiable appearance to a whole new level.

‘She’s quite the actress. Might as well add more fuel to the fire.’

Ryan ignored the gasp and shocked stare from a certain golden-haired girl and focused only on Stella:

“I forgot to ask you before, how is Leonhardt doing?”

Stella gave a small, subservient curtsy, “Brother is well, thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”

“Is that so? I heard he still hasn’t recovered from that crushing defeat a year ago and has been honing his skills… If he were to fight the Four Knights of the Azure Sky again, what do you think his chances would be?”

“My brother is indeed training, but it is only to carry the glory of the Blue Wolf Knights. He has no other intentions…”

Stella chose her words with extreme care.

Flora was no outsider; there was no need for such caution and restraint.

Ryan was using what he knew to rub salt in the wound, and his excuse was perfectly justifiable.

Ryan was taken aback, but he still shook his head.

“I cannot presume to know my brother’s will, but I can be certain of one thing… The Azure Knights will forever be the enemy of our Blue Lion family!”

‘You poor thing.’

Flora looked at the blue-haired girl’s expression and sighed softly in her heart.

She knew these were by no means the childhood friend’s true feelings.

But in this situation, it was the only thing that could be said.

“That’s good.”

Ryan didn’t ask any more questions.

Instead, he slowly ate the cookies and even shared them with the two girls.

When it was all over, Stella left, looking visibly saddened.

But Flora did not withdraw.

“What, you don’t think I was deliberately giving her a hard time, do you?”

Ryan asked.

“I wouldn’t dare.”

This time, Flora did not voice any questions.

“No, I did have that intention, but it was more to test her, and to continue the test that was previously paused.”

Ryan explained, feeling a little guilty,

“My requirement for a future wife is that she must have enough grace and composure…

Her performance this time has improved quite a bit compared to before.”

He said that, but Ryan didn’t mention whether she had met the standard.

Going from a 0 to a 1 is still progress, but the passing grade is 60.

Flora said nothing.

“As for the Azure Knights… I’m sure you’re also aware that, even if we’re unwilling to admit it, they are a potential enemy of ours.”

Ryan once again steered the topic back around.

“I know.”

Flora replied, her face expressionless.