The Evil Emperor's Fragile Heart

The next day, Mars and Astra turned up at the dining hall around lunch time, hand in hand and looking very harmonious together.

Mana and Raven shared a pleased glance and gave each other a mental thumbs up.

King Jaren, who was sitting at the head of the table with Azar in his lap, looked at the couple with a slight frown.

"Are you planning to join us for lunch?" he asked flatly.

Astra beamed at him. "If we may, Papa," she said sweetly.

Mars pulled Astra close and kissed her temple. "With your permission, father-in-law, I, too, would like a chance to interact with my lovely Astra's family," he said.

King Jaren raised an eyebrow at seeing them being so lovey-dovey together. However, he didn't object, and invited them to sit next to Grandpa and Grandma.

Jules and Bella, who had yet to take a seat, immediately pushed Mana and Raven ahead, so that they would sit facing Grandma and Grandpa instead of Mars and Astra – Jules had heard about Mars's ridiculous proposal to Raven, and he had almost taken his sword and gone off to fight the other Crown Prince.

Raven and Mana had held him back with great effort and Raven had assured this protective big brother that he already had an excellent plan in place – and if it didn't work out for some reason, then he and Mana would come to Jules right away and then he could challenge Mars to a fight and beat him black and blue before shipping him back to the Amber Kingdom.

And thus, last evening, Jules had been the first person informed by the two youngsters that the plan was in progress and the rest depended on Astra.

And now it looked like Raven's plan had been very successful, if the doting expression on Mars's face was anything to go by!

King Jaren's brow cleared during the meal as he watched Mars being extremely caring and attentive over Astra, and not even bothering to cast a look at Mana and Raven.

The meal passed peacefully, and Mars and Astra made small talk with Grandpa and Grandma, and occasionally, Jules and Bella as well.

Mars's changed behaviour was quire conspicuous, but it made everyone quite relieved.

After the meal, Mars took the initiative to apologise to Mana and Raven. "My behaviour over the past few days was terrible, and I apologise if I have offended both of you," he said politely.

Mana waved her hand generously. "We'll forget about it as long as you treat Big Sister Astra whole heartedly from now on, and are fully devoted to her," she said.

"Yes, you must cherish your own fiancée," Raven said.

Mars nodded and cast a loving glance at Astra. "Indeed, you're right, little Mana and little Raven," he said. "I must have been out of my mind not to pay attention to my beautiful Astra these few days." He turned back to Mana and Raven. "Please rest assured, your Big Sister Astra is and will always be the dearest flower of my heart and I shall try my best to keep her happy for the rest of my life," he promised.

"That's all we want," Mana said.

"Yes, that's all we want, Crown Prince Mars," Raven echoed his own fiancée's words.

Astra's eyes sparkled with joy. "There's no need to be so formal with us, Mana and Raven," she said. "Since I'm your Big Sister Astra, Mars is now also your Big Brother Mars!"

"Yes, absolutely," Mars said, slipping an arm around Astra's waist. "You two little ones must call me Big Brother Mars, and I'll try to be as good a big brother to you as I can." He glanced at Astra with stars in his eyes. "Would that make you happy, my love?" he asked hopefully.

"Very much so," Astra replied.

King Jaren clapped his hands in delight. "Good, good," he said cheerfully. "I'm glad to see that you are finally giving my Astra the affection she deserves, Mars. Keep it up, keep it up!"

Astra beamed at her Papa. And seeing her so happy, Mars followed suit.

"Papa, may I take Mars out for some shopping?" Astra asked. "We wanted to coordinate our outfits for all the banquets."

King Jaren was in a great mood by now. "Of course, go ahead, you two," he said easily. "You can have a nice day out – do your shopping and have a nice romantic meal and watch a performance if you finish early," he suggested cheerfully.

Astra smiled shyly and Mars caressed her face tenderly. "Would you like to do as Papa says, my love?" he asked.

Astra nodded, blushing a delicate shade of pink.

"You can try the luxury couple package at Rose Pavilion," Mana spoke up, not missing a chance to make some money (and some free advertising) for her restaurant. "They have roses and music and nice private booths and very good food," she elaborated.

"That's true," Bella agreed immediately. "Jules took me there last week, and I absolutely loved it. If we weren't already engaged before we went there, it would have been a perfect spot to make a proposal. I heard they even have a proposal package," she said.

Jules and Bella were aware that Mana owned the Rose Pavilion – and they'd naturally step in to help their little sister make more money – especially if it was coming from the purse of the annoying Crown Prince of the Amber Kingdom. They could happily consider it to be compensation for the mental trauma they all had suffered for the past few days!

Mana nodded. "Yes, Fox and Vanilla had the proposal package," she said. She was the one who had booked it for them, after all.

"You've been there, too, Mana?" Astra asked curiously.

Mana nodded. "Raven has taken me there a few times," she said, taking Raven's arm and placing all the liability on her fiancé without an ounce of guilt. "The food is amazing, and the ambience is very nice for couples."

"It's become something of a go-to place for couples," Raven said. "It's very difficult to get a booking on short notice, actually – sometimes you need to book weeks in advance."

Astra was suitably impressed with all the hype and looked at Mars with great expectations. "I'd love to go there with you," she said shyly.

"Of course, my love," Mars replied immediately. He turned to Mana and Raven. "How do I make a booking for us for this evening?" he asked. "I'd be willing to pay five times the price if required, but I must take my Astra there tonight and have the best and most exquisite package they have!"

Raven hesitated. "I know the owner personally and they owe me a favour," he murmured, squeezing Mana's hand surreptitiously. "I could speak to them about your generous offer, Big Brother Mars."

"Please do," Mars said. "I'll pay them ten times if needed!"

Astra beamed at Mars when he said this and he became very happy and even more doting than before.

"I must always have the best for my beautiful fiancée," he said.

"I will speak to the owner and let you know in an hour, Big Brother Mars, Big Sister Astra," Raven told them.

"Yes, do tell them that my Mars will pay them ten times the price," Astra said in a clear attempt to show off.

Mana frowned slightly. "But Big Sister Astra, the luxury package is quite expensive, you know," she muttered.

Raven nodded in agreement. "Yes, Mana is right, the luxury package costs five thousand normally," he said. "And I heard that they even have an ultra luxury package which costs fifteen thousand, which no one has ever booked before because it is too expensive!"

Mana cheered for her devious fiancé in her mind and squeezed his hand encouragingly. Who was she to stop Raven from making more money for her?

"I want the ultra luxury package for my Astra, then!" Mars said immediately. "Tell them I'll pay them two hundred thousand!"

And thus the deal was settled.