Chapter 316 The Prince Turns into a Frog

"I don’t feel like going to Flower Town today, dear. Let’s just stroll around Coral City instead."

Early in the morning after breakfast, when Liszt invited Ronasa to go to Flower Town, he received an unexpected answer. The girl who had been so eager to give herself to Liszt last night, standing next to him today, seemed as distant as if an ocean lay between them.

Liszt couldn’t tell why.

Why had things changed so much in just one night?

He simply put away his slight disappointment and smiled, still as gentle and sunny as ever. "Then let’s go to Coral City. I haven’t been to the city in a long time."

The servants brought two specially made dried tulips from the Tulip family, their strong fragrance enough to mask the pungent smell of Coral City. He also changed into tall boots with elevated soles, which could help avoid stepping on some disgusting things.

Taking a stroll through the city wasn’t a good choice, at least for Liszt, who wasn’t used to the stench that permeated the air.

But it seemed many nobles could tolerate such an environment, probably because they had grown accustomed to the city being this way since childhood—dirty and smelly.

The carriage, with a flag bearing the red tulip, traveled through the streets of Coral City. All the street vendors, serfs, and free citizens bowed to the carriage as it passed. In Coral City, the Tulip family was considered the king in the hearts of the common people, an unchallengeable authority.

Liszt lifted the carriage curtain, pointing out various shops on the street, telling Ronasa stories that were either interesting or not.

After circling Coral City, they went to visit Penelope, the lady of the small castle, and spent some time chatting with the old lady about her beloved potted plants.

During this time, Liszt went to use the restroom.

Penelope, holding Ronasa’s hand, said, "I’ve never met your sister, Gloria, but I like you, Ronasa. I can imagine what Gloria must be like. I hope you can enjoy Coral City, enjoy Tulip Castle, and convey an old lady’s expectations to your sister."

"I will, Madam."

"Liszt is an excellent young man. His grandfather, Marquis Merlin, highly values him. He will become the pride of the Tulip family. When I saw you two step off the carriage hand in hand, it felt like a perfect match." Penelope continued to chatter.

As an older woman, she enjoyed talking about the little details of young people’s lives.

Ronasa forced a smile and then asked with a hint of sadness, "Madam, should women sacrifice their lives for the family?"

"Hmm, that’s a serious question." Penelope made an expression of profundity. "The man of my dreams in my youth wasn’t Liszt’s grandfather, but when Liszt’s grandfather passed away, I truly wanted to follow him. Luckily, I got through it."

"Was your marriage also an arranged one?"

"Yes, as a noble lady, you either meet a prince charming at a ball or wait for your family to arrange a frog prince and hope he turns into a tall, handsome human prince." She touched the emerald ring on her hand. "If he doesn’t turn into a prince, at least you’ll have sweet memories to comfort you."

"I don’t know how to choose..." Ronasa frowned, a hint of sorrow in her expression.

"Then love without holding back and worry about the consequences later." Penelope said nonchalantly. "My girl, at least once in your life, for the sake of someone, forget yourself. No need for a result, no need to walk side by side, no need to have possessed, or even for him to love you. Just wish to meet him at the most beautiful time of your life."

"Grandmother, who are you going to meet?" Liszt returned to the living room just in time to hear the last few words of Penelope’s speech.

"Definitely not you, brat."

After chatting for a while, Penelope began to shoo them away. "Go, go, I know you young people can’t stand listening to an old woman like me nagging. Go, I’m not planning to keep you here for lunch."

Leaving the small castle, strolling on the country road, Ronasa said, "Lady Penelope is really charming; it’s always fun to spend time with her."

"Yes, she’s wise but also has a sharp tongue. As long as her old grudges with my mother don’t keep involving me, I quite enjoy chatting with her."

"Grudge?"

"Yes, just like in every large family, the mistress and the wife of the master always find it hard to get along."

"It seems so. My mother often argues with my grandmother over trivial matters."

"I suppose that's life."

In March, the country lanes were lined with wild grass, lush and green, soft underfoot. The escort knights, male and female servants followed at a respectful distance behind, leaving space for the couple. When two people of different genders spend time together, the atmosphere can easily become intimate.

So, what followed was kissing and caressing.

After a long while.

Ronas suddenly leaned close to Liszt's ear, breathing heavily, and whispered clearly, "At midnight, come to my room."

There was no reply, only more kisses.

...

At midnight.

Liszt stepped out of his room, feeling somewhat guilty as he avoided the servants, making his way to Ronas's door. Looking at the slightly ajar door, his thoughts were a whirlwind of excitement and confusion. Finally, taking a deep breath to calm his mind, he pushed open the door.

A soft, petite body immediately fell into his arms.

"Ronas..."

"Don't speak, kiss me."

It was all natural. An hour later, Liszt held the small frame of the young girl who had just experienced her first time, falling into a state of afterglow.

In his arms was a young girl with a dreamy gaze.

His mind was filled with scattered thoughts. Faces of women from his past life and this life flickered through his mind, but only briefly.

There were also completed and uncompleted smoke missions, as well as plans for the next steps in Flower Town and Black Horse Island.

He even thought about how, on Earth, whether it was black tea, green tea, white tea, dark tea, yellow tea, or oolong tea, all were fermented from tea leaves. But in this world, the tea used for milk tea came from the fruit of a non-tea tree, while the tea tree he received as a reward from the smoke mission, which he called the green tea tree, was the real tea tree used for brewing.

“Liszt.”

“Liszt.”

“Dear Liszt, what are you thinking about?” Ronasa, her face still flushed, touched his earlobe.

Liszt came back to reality, “Nothing.”

Ronasa nestled deeper into his arms, her voice soft and sweet, “I’ve fallen for you. I’ll never forget the two days since I met you. You’ve shown me what real happiness feels like!”

Liszt kissed her on the forehead, saying nothing.

Ronasa continued in her sweet voice, “Unfortunately, I have to return to Golden Island with my brother tomorrow. I don’t want to leave you. I want to be with you forever! Will you always love me?”

In his calm after the storm, Liszt’s mind was exceptionally clear. No longer clouded by desire, he knew he hadn’t truly fallen in love. So he replied calmly, “Ronasa, don’t overthink it. Neither of us can predict the future. Don’t throw around words like 'forever.' Just live each day well.”