
Am I dumb Sleep deprived or stressed bcos I can't understand the start of the story. It doesn't make any sense in my brain ╥﹏╥

Alicia walked away from his proposal, partly because she thought he was acting and another part because she couldn't find a way to reply. Does she like him? About as much as we do reading harlequin romance (except she is living it now.)
Ares told Kai that he needed to wake up and smell the roses because she isn't just his sister and it won't be the last time her qualities as a woman will be brought to attention (AKA she's a hot piece of real estate that someone gonna want to have and he needs to come to terms she will leave him someday.) This is much more effective than the original plan and may have our fledgling king considering the qualities of his future queen more seriously (because even I suspect the original plot had him hooked up with someone the Prime Minister wanted to throw under the bus.)
Despite what Alicia told her maid, all of those men are just as invested in that gossip; George has no tact and acts like their inner monologe. Justin might try to become immortal to see his ship sail because he denies anything that doesn't get him a new mistress to take care of.
The Prime Minister wants to control the throne (big shock, not.) And he will do this whether it is through Kai or his niece. She is just dumb and greedy enough he may use her. Kai was convenient until Ares proposed. Ares will be very difficult to get rid of but if PM gets full reign, it won't matter.
I know the ML is so fucking toxic and the relationship is so healthy but damn I can't stop reading this shit ╥﹏╥