26 Marry Me

Having left the garden, the two of them returned to the Residence. Something heavy was on Laura's mind and she was lost in thought.

A maid respectfully bowed and greeted them as they approached the entrance to the building. "Your Highness, lunch has been prepared."

"Really? Great, let's go!" The mention of food snapped Laura out of her daze and she started running off. Watching Laura hop away, Austin was left standing there with a feeling of deja vu, but then he felt a soft cushion in his hand. Laura came back, grabbing Austin and dragging him away with her.

In the dining hall, there was a spread of meat, pastries and other sumptuous delicacies presented on the long trestle table. It was an inexplicable amount of food for a child, but somehow Laura was always able to fit all of it into that tiny body of hers.

Laura eagerly brought Austin to the middle of the table, not wasting another breath of time.

She had become more comfortable with holding Austin's hand. His acts of intimacy over the past week were weird and wonderful to Laura, who quickly got addicted to it like a dangerous drug.

Sitting down in her seat, Laura picked up the clean, white napkin on the table and tied it around her neck. As Royalty, she had learned some basic etiquette in dining. Actually, this was not normal but Laura always dirtied her clothes with food. Because of this, Austin told her to start doing so and she, of course, obliged.

After Laura was done, she excitedly extended her small arms outwards to grab her favorite foods. One by one, her plate filled up with a combination of different flavors, but they all shared one thing in common - sweet and colorful.

When it was full, she turned to her side with an expectant look on her face.

Austin sat beside her, watching the young girl in amusement. He showed a funny smile when Laura looked at him. "What?"

"Feed me!" Laura had a grin on her face as she held a spoon up, gesturing for Austin to take it.

Austin's brow creased. "I told you I would only do that until you got better." He chuckled, "you look perfectly fine to me now."

Laura curled her lips, childish anger shone through her eyes. She was indignant. 'How could he stop all of a sudden...'

For the past week, Austin fed her for every meal because she did not have the strength to eat herself in the beginning. However, as days went by and she became healthier, it became something she would look forward to for the whole day. Laura could not believe what she had been missing out before and was determined to make Austin feeding her a tradition. It felt ten, no, one hundred times better than when she ate herself.

Having tried in the past, she knew anger would not help against Austin like it did towards Elizabeth so Laura changed her tactics. She became timid, sinking down into her seat and looked at him with puppy eyes. This was the only way Austin would give in so it became her strategy for whenever she wanted something. Alas, Austin did not let her wish come true. How could he keep on feeding her forever? "Eat." Ignoring her, he started plating his own food.

Laura was aggrieved by Austin's lack of a reaction. But she was more upset about him rejecting her. Different from his usual attitude, Austin had started taking care of her and it gave her a happiness she never felt before.

'What should I do...' Laura did not give up on her attempts to coerce Austin, leaving the food in front of her untouched.

"If you want someone to feed you so much, ask your mom or one of the maids."

Laura slammed her hand on the table and glared at him. "That's not the same! You have to do it Austin."

Austin was biting on a chicken leg, muffling in a confused tone. "Huh? Why me?"

"Because, Because..." Her gaze became unfocused as she tried finding an answer. "Austin, marry me!"

"Pffft" By reflex, Austin spit out the food in his mouth. He warily turned to look at Laura with the chicken leg still in his hand. "What-what did you say?"

Laura had a completely serious expression on her face. Eyes blazing in passion, she looked earnestly at Austin. "Marry me! If you marry me, you can take care of me for the rest of my life!"

Austin was bewildered by her sudden request. "Uhh, where did you hear that from Laura?"

"From the maid! She said after marrying, the man and woman can do anything like sleeping with each other. Also! They will be together forever, so I can come with you to travel the world! That's why we should just do it. I will ask Mom, she will definitely agree." Laura was becoming more and more excited, getting ready to run away and look for Elizabeth.

Austin helplessly smiled. 'This girl, isn't she too naive?'

"Hah, it doesn't work like that silly. Marriage isn't such a simple thing that anyone can just do." Thinking of the other statement Laura made, Austin became a bit concerned. He told her with a stern face, "and don't think about traveling the world with me." The places he will go would definitely not be safe.

Laura did not back down. "Why not? I want to go to a magical place too, it sounds fun!"

Seeing her attitude, Austin became gentle and patted her head, informing her, "what you are thinking of is not the same thing. You don't know anything about the world yet, it is far more of a dangerous place than you think. What about your Mother? And how will the Royal Princess suddenly leave and never come back?"

Hit with the barrage of reasoning, Laura did not question why Austin knew so much even though they were the same age. He had always known everything and she just assumed it was natural in her mind.

Laura did not know how to respond...

"Then... why can't we get married?" Her enthusiasm died down, somewhat knowing Austin was right, but she did not stop picking at straws.

Hearing Laura still not giving up, Austin was amazed in his heart. "Maybe when you get older we can talk about it." He did not want to totally destroy her hopes and put her mood down in the slumps after she had just recovered, so he made up a line to wave it off. Of course, Austin did not really mean it. 'Marriage? Didn't I just say I will be traveling the world? And how is to possible for the Royal Princess to marry a servant with no status...'

"Really!?" Laura was thrilled.

"Yea yea." Not interested anymore, Austin went back to eating.

He wasn't aware that his casual words ignited a spark in Laura that could not be put out anymore.

Beside him, Laura was remembering all the things she heard from the maid when two people get married, fidgeting with excitement. 'Once we get married... Austin will take me with him.' This thought reigned above the others and she had never felt so happy before. Although it wouldn't make sense for Austin to take her with him to travel the world considering everything he just said, Laura blocked all of it out, her imagination running wild.

Out of nowhere, a tremendously loud, manly voice rang through the residence.

"HAHAHA! ELENA! SON! I"M BACK!" Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.