Daisy focused on Giulia, trying to keep calm as her heart spread anticipation. As Giulia made herself comfortable and opened her mouth, an arm coming from behind them spread around Daisy's shoulder.

"I see that you're getting along," said a dark-blond head, popping in between the young women. "That's great."

Daisy frowned as she gazed at Manuele. He couldn't have come at the wrong time. As she removed his arm from her shoulder, she sighed.

"Well, we're trying," replied Giulia, stretching her arm to grab the glass of drink on the small table not far from them.

"Hm," said Manuele. "Shouldn't have you gotten a drink for the person you're trying to get along with?"

"I tried," said Giulia, setting her eyes on Daisy. "But she said she's underage."

A chuckle escaped Manuele's lips.

"Really, Daisy?" he asked. "Are you a good girl?"

Daisy gazed up at him. He looked even taller as he was standing behind their seats.

"I just think it's wrong," she said. "We're still growing; we shouldn't ruin our developing bodies with alcohol."

"Correction, you're still growing," he said, trying not to laugh at her statement. "I'm turning twenty next year."

He looked up as if he was proud to reach that stage. Daisy frowned, wondering if he and Marcello were fraternal twins since they were both nineteen.

"You're still underage," she said, tilting her head. "Isn't the legal age for drinking twenty-one?"

Both cousins burst out laughing. Daisy knew that there were countries that had their legal age for alcohol consumption being eighteen. She wondered if she was wrong, and Italy was one of those countries where drinking was okay for people eighteen and over.

"You're so funny," he said, patting her head. "I like you."

Daisy wasn't sure if her heart sped because of her surprise upon hearing those words or if it was something else. As she turned around to distract herself, she saw his cousin staring at him thoughtfully.

"The good thing about that is," said Giulia, "that the poor girl you've been chasing, won't suffer at that girl's hands."

Daisy immediately felt left out by what Giulia was saying. The poor girl he'd been chasing, although he chased many girls, Daisy couldn't help but think of Martina. Was she the main girl whom he had planned to involve in his mysterious plan?

"I'm sure there must be some soft drinks or juice," he said, ignoring Giulia and looking around. "I'm going to see if that bar has any. Do you have any preferences?"

"Whatever you find is fine," said Daisy, surprised at his gentlemanly behavior. "As long as it isn't alcohol."

He resisted not to laugh and displayed a radiant smile instead. Daisy could feel every part of her being stunned. It was as if she was seeing a different person. She watched as he went to the bar in the corner of the living room.

"I sure hope you're not falling for him," said Giulia. "That would be terrible for you."

An awkward laugh escaped Daisy's lips. "Me? Falling for that guy? Never."

Giulia's face expressed disbelief.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you," continued Daisy, "but falling in love isn't in my plans. At least not until I'm eighteen."

"Hm?" Giulia frowned. "Why aren't you planning on falling in love until then?"

Because if I fall in love with someone in this world, it will cost me my throne. My family's bloodline wouldn't rule The Mystic Kingdom anymore, after hundreds of years of doing so.

I want to see my Grandmother happy. I can't allow a foolish feeling like love to get in the way. At least until my exam is over.

"Because I want to focus on my studies," said Daisy. "I want to get into a good university, falling in love now will just ruin my plans."

Giulia's brows arched.

"That's a great reason," she said. "You're an interesting girl indeed. It's good that you don't plan to do so. At least you'll escape from that witch's claws."

"Speaking of that," said Daisy, getting the precious opportunity. "You were going to tell me about your cousin."

Giulia tilted her head a little. "Ah, right. I was going to say that in reality, he's using you to piss off Sara."

Daisy blinked repeatedly.

"I mean," continued Giulia, "what kind of fiancée goes out with another girl when his future wife is out working?"

Daisy's eyes widened. So, Sara was Manuele's fiancée. Many questions surfaced in Daisy's head.

"A fiancée who is just going to get some air with a friend," said Daisy. "She doesn't have to worry; I don't have a slight interest in Manuele."

Except for the passing ticket to get my throne.

Daisy wondered why he wanted to 'use' her. She didn't want to involve herself in their quarrels.

"Why would he want to piss off his fiancée anyway?" she asked.

"So, she can give up on him and cancel the engagement," said Giulia.

Daisy released a deep breath, still trying to digest that arranged marriages were still common today. A bell rang in her mind. That could be Manuele's sign of unhappiness. She tried not to smile at her thoughts.

"Was this engagement set up against his wishes?" she asked to confirm her theory.

"Sort of," said Giulia. "Sara fell for Manuele on the night they first met. Although he was only having fun flirting with her, she ended up developing feelings for him."

Daisy gazed at Manuele in the crowd not far from them. He was laughing with another young woman. It seemed he had already forgotten about her drink.

What an idiot of me to think that he was being different.

She didn't know who in her right mind would fall for him. He didn't look like the type to be in a serious relationship.

"Somehow they ended up dating," continued Giulia.

Daisy's eyes widened as she focused her gaze back on Giulia.

Someone dared to date him?

"Of course, Manuele didn't take their relationship seriously," Giulia added. "Even his sister warned her to get away from him if she didn't want to get hurt by him."

Daisy placed her hand on her chin, wondering who this sister was.

"Sara didn't mind his playboy behavior, she's sure one day he'll grow up," said Giulia. "Besides, she took care of girls who had the potential to steal him away until he decided to break up with her.

"But Sara is stubborn, and she would do anything to keep her beloved. Apparently, due to her status, his grandmother grew a liking for her. Several days after he broke up with her, Madame announced in every media that her fifth grandson was engaged to her."

Daisy didn't know what to say as she blinked repeatedly. What kind of relative forced their grandchild into an unwanted relationship?

"Against his grandmother, he has no power," continued Giulia. "Ever since then, he's been trying to make a way for Sara to give up on him. Every day he's seen with a different girl, and you seem to be another one on his list."

"Like he has told you," said Daisy with a sigh. "I'm just a guest at his house."

Giulia gazed at her doubtfully and went on to drink her wine.

Daisy's eyes focused back to the crowd at the bar. Now Manuele was with some other girls. It was incredible how he attracted different girls like a magnet.

Despite her bitterness towards him, she now felt sorry for him. Behind that overconfident behavior, a shadow of unhappiness was hiding. She would have to do something to help him.