When Olivia returned from the school trip, three of the love interests—Greg, Chris, and Brad—awaited her with souvenirs. They reserved one of the school’s tea rooms, where Kyle brewed and served them tea.
Greg threw his arms wide. “Man, was that a good time. I had a lotta fun. I thought every place out in the sticks was the same, but the sauna we got to visit was really amazin’.”
Greg and Brad’s group had visited an area rich in nature, and since the climate there was currently wintery, they’d been able to enjoy all kinds of seasonal sports. Greg had loved every moment of it, and even Brad took his own enjoyment from it.
“We were split into teams, and we all had our own duties in our cabins. It was surprisingly fun,” said Brad. “We even went camping in the cold, which wasn’t too bad, either.”
The souvenirs they’d brought back were mostly unusual sweets from their destination. There were also a few wooden carvings—presumably handcrafted by locals—within their haul. Those interested Olivia more, if only because she seldom saw anything like them.
“It sounds like you had a really good time.” She smiled at them.
Greg and Brad brightened, but almost as quickly, Greg’s eyes narrowed. “Did somethin’ happen on your trip, Olivia?”
“What? Why would you ask that?” She tried to feign ignorance.
Brad stared at her, too, his smile falling away. “You don’t seem like your normal cheerful self. If it’s just our imagination, then it’s fine, but still.”
Olivia had already warned Kyle against sharing what had happened during their trip. If the five boys found out, that would only cause even bigger drama. Besides, she didn’t want them to know about Leon.
Her lips moved into a stiff smile. “Maybe I’m just not used to traveling on a cruise ship like that. I’m a little exhausted after the whole trip.”
That excuse seemed to convince them.
“I learned a lot during my trip, too,” Chris said grudgingly, his nostrils flaring. “But I have some words for Prince Julius and Jilk.”
Olivia’s eyes moved to Chris. She could already tell this wouldn’t lead anywhere good. Still, she asked, “What happened between you and those two?”
“They intervened when the professors chose our groups. I was originally supposed to be in your group, Olivia.” Chris shook his head, jaw clenched. “They really stuck their noses in where they shouldn’t have.”
Greg burst out laughing. “Sucks for you, Chris. But maybe you shouldn’t hold it against them too much. After all, they couldn’t even go. They’ve been stuck attendin’ meetings at the palace this whole time.”
He obviously felt badly that Jilk and Julius couldn’t go on the school trip, and Brad and Chris shared his sympathies. They were all scions of reputable houses, carrying the kingdom’s future on their shoulders. It might’ve been Julius and Jilk who’d needed to sacrifice their personal plans for duty this time, but there was no guarantee it wouldn’t be one of the others next. They understood that.
A shadow fell over Chris’s face, though. “I still think I should be allowed to complain,” he muttered.
Brad snickered at him. “If I were you, I’d definitely grumble about it. Anyway, it was pretty pathetic that the prince and Jilk left Olivia all by herself.”
At that, the boys’ gazes turned to Olivia.
She smiled bitterly. “I still had fun. Connecting to a different culture like that was a valuable experience.”
“Y’know what? You should come on a trip with me during the winter break. I’d love to see the spot your group got to visit,” Greg suggested. It was exactly the kind of luxurious vacation a lordling like him would casually express interest in, as if money was no object.
Olivia’s eyes widened. “But you’ll have an opportunity to go next year, and the year after, right?”
“I wanna make memories with you,” Greg said. “If it makes a difference to you, I’m happy to let you choose a destination.”
She shook her head. “N-no, there’s no need to go out of your way like that for me.”
Greg started to say something but was interrupted when the door swung open. Julius and Jilk entered.
“We’d both be interested in joining you,” the prince declared.
Chris folded his arms and glared at them. “Seems like you two have been awfully busy.”
Julius and Jilk instantly sensed why he was so irritable.
“I apologize,” Jilk said with a wan smile. “Moreover, I have a suggestion: Why don’t we all take a trip together? His Highness couldn’t go on the school trip at all, so how about we make up for it by traveling as a group during winter break?”
The suggestion was sudden, but Chris perked up at the idea of a trip with Olivia. His cheeks colored. “W-well, I suppose I wouldn’t mind that much. A-and I don’t have any winter vacation plans yet.”
Greg shook his head. “Why can’t you just be honest and say you’d enjoy the hell outta goin’ on a trip with us all?” he scoffed. “You beat around the bush way too much.”
“I would argue that you’re too simpleminded and direct,” Chris shot back, launching the pair into a verbal spat.
“Like a cat and dog.” Exasperated by their antics, Brad shook his head, then inquired of the prince and his companion, “That aside, how did the discussions go?”
Julius and Jilk paused to exchange glances, as if silently asking each other how much was safe to disclose. When Jilk nodded, Julius turned back to Brad and said, “Duke Redgrave will, on the surface at least, offer the Roseblades and Bartforts his support.”
“But only on the surface, hm?”
“Well, that does put pressure on Marquess Frampton, but he doesn’t want either house to grow more powerful. So, yes, only on the surface.”
Essentially, they had Duke Redgrave’s approval, but he wouldn’t provide material support. It was hard to believe that days and days of discussions had produced such a trivial conclusion.
Greg sighed. “Was it really necessary that you two cancel your trip for that?”
Julius shrugged. “My sentiments exactly. Being surrounded by all those adults wasn’t terribly comfortable, either.”
Listening to their conversation, Olivia had a hard time envisioning what exactly had happened. When she heard Bartfort’s name mentioned, however, her face clouded.
Kyle shot her a worried look. He obviously felt guilty about not telling the boys anything about what happened on the cruise ship.
Startled, Olivia looked back at him with panicked eyes. Don’t tell them anything, she tried to communicate.
Bobbing his head slightly, Kyle refocused his attention on serving tea to Julius and Jilk.
Julius took a seat and smiled at Olivia. “Why don’t we discuss our upcoming trip, then? That would be far more productive—and enjoyable for me—than talking about politics.” After missing the school trip, he was understandably eager to start planning their winter vacation.
Olivia pasted a smile on her face in response, although she thought, I guess this means I won’t have time to study during winter break, either.