going to the WN oneshot version of this i mtl'd it with chatgpt since google chromes auto translation was horrendous to read but from what i gather the prince never claimed it was to test Sylvie he just wanted to hear her true feelings.heres a bit of it
I was scared—there was no doubt about it. I must have made him hate me. I couldn’t take it anymore.
Just as I lowered my head, bracing myself for the worst… I felt a gentle hand on my head.
I hesitantly lifted my gaze, only to find Prince Gilbert smiling at me more gently than ever before.
"I’m sorry, Sylvie. It’s okay. I understand. I just had to do this… because otherwise, you would have kept bottling everything up."
Then—he pulled me into his embrace.
"You’ve been holding back for too long, Sylvie. If you keep everything inside, you’ll break. I wanted you to lean on me. But you kept carrying everything alone."
"You can rely on me, you know?"
"…! But as your fiancée, I can’t let my emotions get the best of me."
"That’s why… in front of me, you’re allowed to."
"…Is that really okay?"
"Of course. It’s okay."
Then, he whispered softly in my ear.
"I love you, Sylvie. From the bottom of my heart."
My heart overflowed with joy.
He had told me he loved me before—but deep down, I had always doubted it.
But now… for the first time… I believed him.
His voice—his voice was so full of raw emotion.
"Then… we don’t have to break off the engagement?"
"Of course not. I only did all of this because I wanted you to show your emotions."
"I’m so glad…!"
"Aren’t you angry? I said such cruel things to you."
"Maybe so. But it wasn’t how you truly felt, was it?"
"Besides… I’m just so happy that I finally have your love."
Gilbert’s eyes widened slightly—before he smiled so warmly.