Chapter 1173:

Louise fixed Elyse with a stern look. “I’m not a child anymore. Of course, I understand the horror of harboring romantic feelings for my half-brother.”

Elyse recalled the unsettling scene she had just witnessed outside the study, sending shivers down her spine. Rubbing her neck, she inquired, “What about your feelings for Edward? You’ve always wanted to be with him, haven’t you? So why have you shifted your affections to Garret?”

When Elyse mentioned Edward, Louise’s expression grew even sadder. She took a bite of her apple and answered gloomily, “I don’t know.”

After a pause, she continued, “I’m unsure about my feelings for Edward. It was Chesney who suggested I pursue him, claiming that if I married Edward, it would help him secure his rule.”

Elyse was puzzled. “Chesney is king yet, right?”

Louise exhaled deeply. “He believes he’ll ascend the throne sooner or later and is preparing by securing close allies now.”

Elyse pursed her lips. “Chesney is ambitious, but Garret seems more capable to me.”

Louise sighed. “It’s hard to admit, but Chesney doesn’t match up to Garret.”

After a moment, Elyse joked, “Maybe you’re better suited to ascend the throne than Chesney.”

Louise, caught off-guard mid-bite, responded, “You think I’d do better than Chesney?”

“Why not? You’re humbler than Chesney and equally brave. You could ascend the throne,” Elyse replied.

Louise chewed her apple. “I never thought about it like that.”

“Well, maybe it’s something to consider. You never know,” Elyse said, patting Louise on the shoulder.

Louise stiffened, then leaned back. “I never claimed to be compelling for the throne. Please don’t spur me on without thought.”

Elyse laughed and changed the subject. “So, between Garret and Edward, who do you really prefer?”

Louise ate her apple in silence for a while before she softly said, “I don’t know.”

Her tone lightened. “But I do have a crush on Garret, and I have strong feelings for Edward as well.”

Caught off-guard, Elyse asked, “Of the two, who do you prefer?”

Louise touched her cheek thoughtfully and replied earnestly, “I think I hold them both in quite high regard.”

“At least you’re fair,” Elyse said, unsure of what else to say.

She shifted the topic again. “Garret is, after all, your half-brother. Continuing to have feelings for him could lead to a massive scandal for the royal family, don’t you think?”