Chapter 48 Cooked Rice

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Inside an office within the palace, a man in red robes and a crown on his head tapped his desk with a strange expression on his face. "So you are saying my daughter actually went and kissed a man in public!?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I do believe she did it on purpose, knowing you sent someone to spy on her. From the reports of what we know so far, she has already chosen this man as her husband. Your brother also confirmed this." A man in black replied.

"Humph!" The king, Alice's father, snorted before leaning back in his chair. "I hate the thought of someone stealing my daughter from me but then again, who am I to say anything? My daughter has been through hell more than once, and as a father, I can do nothing. If things do work out and they find evidence against Edward, then I will have no say in her actions. I already know she does not desire the throne. Keep watch over her. And get the name of those guards who are tracking her. Once things are settled, we will deal with them as well."

"By your word, Your Majesty." The man in black replied before disappearing, leaving the king alone in the room.

The king sat there feeling a bit depressed. "Alice, I hope you choose a good man. I will decide on this tomorrow." Knowing he would meet this daughter snatcher the next day, he felt more at ease. He would put the man through a test and see if he would pass. If not, he will never get close to his daughter again!

Back in the restaurant, Vance was looking at Alice, who was happily eating her meal with a questioning gaze. "Care to explain what that was about?"

"Hmmm? Oh, the kiss outside? That was to show my father and everyone else I am now taken. My father will not be able to stop me from leaving with you once things are settled. After all, our bodies have already been in contact." Alice grinned as she licked her lips.

"What Alice did was correct. If she did not make a show of it in public, the king could, if he wanted, send her off to be married to someone else. Although I highly doubt he would ever do such a thing, I do know he would oppose of her being with you, so by her kissing you as she did was to show she has chosen you." Sally explained in better detail.

Vance nodded in understanding. This was something he did not want. He had truly fallen for the little princess minx, so he was not going to give up on her so easily. "Then I guess I should brace myself for tomorrow."

"I am sure he will put you through a test. Like offering you riches and fame. Maybe even a title and land as long as you break up with me." Alice scooted her chair over next to Vance and put her hand on his thigh, and slid it up to his crotch before saying: "You wouldn't give me up for such things now, would you?"

Vance chuckled and moved her hand on his little brother as he leaned down and kissed her lips. "You only need to worry about taking care of the things that instigate."

Alice smiled and nodded her head before going back to eating. Sally looked at the two and felt kind of left out so she moved closer to Vance on the other side and placed her hand on his other thigh. Alice peeked at Sally and smiled without saying a word. She even reached over with her hand and placed it on Vance's crotch with hers. As for Vance, he was wondering how he was going to leave this place when he was done eating.

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The next morning Vance found himself kneeling in the throne room of the palace. There were knights on either side of the room, and only he, Alice, and Sally were in the middle of the room while a middle aged man sat on the throne. "Father, how long are you going to keep us kneeling here?"

"Hmmm? Tch…. You may stand." The king said while clicking his tongue. His eyes fell on Vance and narrowed as he asked: "You are the one who led my daughter astray?"

"If by astray you mean saving her life and cooking her rice, then yes, that is me." Vance answered. But after he answered, he kind of wished he never spoke. His mouth moved on its own, and because of how the king was acting toward him, his mouth slipped with a sarcastic remark.

Alice turned her head and did her best to stifle her laughter, but her shaking shoulders gave it away. Sally only held her head as she stared at the man next to her. She wondered if he meant to say that or not.

"You! Did you say you cooked the rice!?" The king's eyes widened as he turned to look at Alice, who was still trying to keep herself from laughing. But when she felt her father's eyes on her, she turned and smiled brightly at him. This smile was enough for the king's face to turn bright red. "You! You're not even married yet! There is an order to things! You should have waited until you were married!"

Vance suddenly realized this king had forgotten to be mad at him for stealing his daughter and was now ranting about him bedding Alice. He seemed more mad about the fact that they were not married than anything else! "I see…. I do apologize. But you see, when Alice looked at me with those eyes that were…."

"Stop! I do not need details!" The king yelled out with a sour face.

"Pfft! Hahahahaha!" Alice couldn't hold it any longer and bent over and held her stomach as she laughed. This completely surprised the king as he watched his daughter smiling brightly as she laughed. He had not seen her with such a smile since she was a young girl.