i had a suspicion before but seeing the comments, i’m pretty sure i’m right- asher is without a doubt the crown prince. and that pine guy from before is his knight(?)
so this whole competition was to choose the weakest minded girl and make her princess so that the prince could have somebody to easily manipulate and control. Psyche’s idea was kind but completely unrealistic , and just voicing it out was her unknowingly saying that she’s an ignorant optimist...