Arthur gently spoke up. “Ms. Nina, your guards are just doing their job. It’s for your safety. Don’t be hard on them. We’ll stop here—you go get some rest.” He took Ashley’s hand, ready to leave. But before they could go, Nina grabbed Ashley’s hand, stopping them in their tracks. With her cheeks puffed out and eyes full of longing, she looked up at them. “Ashley, Arthur... I want to invite you to my house.” That little pout, filled with frustration and disappointment, tugged at Ashley’s heart. Arthur chuckled. “If you want to play with Ashley, why not come visit her another time?” Truth be told, he wasn’t too keen on Nina clinging to Ashley—he was hoping for more one-on-one time. But seeing how innocent and pitiful she looked, his heart softened, and the words slipped out before he could stop them. And the moment he said it, he regretted it. Nina’s eyes lit up instantly.Her puffed cheeks smoothed out into a joyful smile, and those bright, hopeful eyes fixed on Ashley. “Really? I can come find you whenever I want?” Ashley practically melted. My god. How is this little girl so ridiculously adorable? Unable to resist, she pinched Nina’s chubby cheek. “Of course you can! Come play with me anytime you want. You’re always welcome.” Nina’s face lit up even more. “Really?!” She suddenly leapt forward and hugged Ashley tight. “Ashley! You really mean it? I can come see you whenever I want?” “Nina, be careful!” Startled, Ashley quickly caught her. Nina was much smaller, and the sudden jump nearly knocked them both over. If Ashley hadn’t reacted in time, Nina could’ve fallen flat on her back. And just like that, Nina had shifted from come play with you both to come play with Ashley. Poor Arthur was now completely forgotten.Watching them embrace so tightly, Arthur felt a pang of jealousy rising in his chest. He had a sudden and overwhelming urge to pry the two of them apart right then and there. And then, Nina dropped the real bomb. She looked up at Ashley, still clinging to her neck, and asked with all seriousness— “Can I just live with you guys?” Ashley’s hands twitched, nearly dropping her. She instinctively turned to look at Arthur. There were plenty of rooms in the courtyard—it wasn’t a big deal to her. But judging by Arthur’s expression, he didn’t feel the same way. Nina was still looking at Ashley with big, hopeful eyes, waiting for an answer. Ashley was getting a headache. Arthur, without hesitation, spoke up at the same time as the head guard nearby. “No!” The two voices rang out in perfect unison—firm and final.Nina was stunned. Ashley blinked, startled by Arthur’s forceful tone. Before anyone could react, Arthur strode forward, grabbed both Nina and Ashley by the arms, and yanked them apart. In an instant, the two girls were no longer hugging. Everyone froze at his sudden move—except for the guard captain, who quietly gave Arthur a big thumbs up from the side. Finally, someone did what I didn’t dare to. Before Nina could even get angry, Arthur quickly said, “Nina, you’re a big girl now. Ashley and I are engaged. We live together, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to move in with us.” He tried to keep it vague—after all, Nina was so innocent, he wasn’t even sure she’d understand. Most girls her age—sixteen or seventeen—would grasp what that meant. But Nina clearly wasn’t most girls. Even Ashley, raised in a sheltered home, understood these things.But Nina… Arthur had no clue what kind of environment she grew up in. Based on their two encounters, it was very likely she had no concept of male-female boundaries at all. She didn’t even blink when Arthur hugged Ashley. To her, it was just a sign of affection—not something to avoid or question. Sure enough, Nina blinked her big round eyes and said with complete sincerity, “I know you two live together. That’s why I want to live with Ashley too!” She was completely serious. Not a trace of awareness that anything was wrong with what she’d said. Arthur and Ashley looked past her—to the towering palace she’d just come from—and found themselves utterly speechless.