"What do you mean by that?" she asked after staying silent for a few seconds.
Rolando smiled in response. "As I said, Harper: I want you to be my empress, and I will do anything for that to happen. I know that Matthew is now in the Imperial Capital. He wants to take you away from here, but that isn't an easy task. But let me ask you one thing, though—which do you think is more important to him: the whole world or the one he loves?"
Harper didn't answer because what Rolando said troubled her immensely. If she remembered correctly, Rolando was supposed to hold the coronation ceremony tomorrow. 'What is he going to do?' she just thought silently.
When he realized that Harper had stopped being responsive to any of his advances, Rolando decided to leave. After he had gone, Forsythia bemoaned with resentment, "What should we do, My Lady? It seems like he is set on making you his woman while Prince Matthew isn't by your side! I think it's better if we escape this place as soon as possible!"
"Escape?" Harper repeated, laughing almost hysterically. "There are so many guards outside, Forsythia. It's impossible that we beat them all. There is nothing we can do—we can't get out of here."
"Even if I can't defeat all of them, I will still fight for you!" Forsythia said with a determined face.
Harper had no choice but to smile helplessly at Forsythia's unparalleled stubbornness and dedication to her. "Don't be ridiculous, Forsythia. Matthew is still alive, yet there is already someone who wants to snatch his wife away. Of course I wouldn't want that, but if he wouldn't do anything, I'd be incredibly disappointed. In that case, I don't think marrying Rolando is a bad idea."
"My Lady! What are you talking about? I doubt Prince Matthew can remain calm if he knows what's happening!" Forsythia said. Even though she had already been serving Harper for a long time, she still considered Matthew as one of her masters. What was more, she witnessed the blossoming of their beautiful relationship. Because of this, she was one hundred percent sure that Matthew would never allow Harper to be taken away by Rolando.
"I know. Of course he wouldn't. We'll just wait for him to come. What's the rush anyway?" Harper said calmly. From what Rolando had said, Harper guessed that he was planning something for her that would put her in a difficult situation. 'But what would he do?' she thought. Despite thinking hard, she couldn't think of anything.
"My Lady! We should at least tell His Highness that Emperor Rolando is trying to make you his empress!" Forsythia said. She was starting to feel annoyed by Harper's seemingly nonchalant attitude. Since they were trapped inside the Harmony Palace, they had no way to tell Matthew what was happening. Now, if Rolando indeed forced Harper to be his wife and Matthew had no idea about it, things would undeniably go very, very wrong.
Looking out of the room, Harper said, "Don't worry, Forsythia. We both know that Matthew is very capable. How could he not know what's happening here?"
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