The tension in the air was stifling that made Evelyn think about what to do as she saw them glaring at each other.

"I told you that I need to talk to Eve!" said Silvester.

​​

"And I also told you that I got here first! Are you deaf?!" countered by Edickart.

Both men seem to be talking with informality and Evelyn assumed that because both of them are princes from their respective country then it is sure that they've seen each other in social occasions.

"Get your hands off of her!" Edickart said through gritted teeth.

"Didn't you see that Eve was getting uncomfortable with you?! And what's up with just holding her wrist?" said Silvester, who's veins will pop any moment.

But what she doesn't know is why the two looked like t*m and j*rry fighting each other. They're basically like small children whose toy was stolen by the other, they're supposed to be the representation of how noble their Kingdom is!

'This needs to stop!' she thought.

"Sil, let go…" she said that made Edickart smirked at him.

Silvester clicked his tongue while he slowly let go of her pale thin hands. He looked at her and tried to appeal to her.

"…but Eve, this guy is bothering you right?!" Silvester said in a whisper as he leaned to Evelyn's ear.

Edickart heard him and he was getting more angrier than before "What did you say? This guy?!" the Crown Prince shouted.

"Seriously… "she said as she swept her hair that came loose.

"Don't shout! Do you guys want to garner attention and make another rumor about me?" she continued as she eyed the two with her cat-like sunset eyes.

Silvester scratched her face and looked embarrassed while Edickart looked away while mumbling words he only heard and knew.

"Stop acting like a child, both of you! The two of you are the future of your country so stop acting like some 5-year-old kid!" she explained as she sighed.

Silvester was shocked about her comment "the future of your country". He looked at her with wide eyes. Questions were visible in his eyes.

Evelyn who saw Silvester's face with a question mark that says, 'how did you know?!'

'Oops…! It was supposed to be a secret. Oh well" she thought, and she changed her line of sight and came upon the emerald eyes of Edickart whose gaze was focused on her.

She took a deep breath before she talked.

"Your highness, I think we should talk about this some other time. Though I won't change my decisions." She whispers the last sentence before she looks up again to him.

He stares at her before he glares at Silvester who was in deep thought, and back to her again. He sighed in surrender. He also said what she needs to know, he thought! So, he thinks that she also needs time to think this through.

"Evelyn, just think about what I said. I'll wait for your answer. I sincerely hope that you think this through!"

Edickart left after he glared at Silvester.

***

After Silvester interrupted Edickart and Evelyn's serious talk. He manages to invite Evelyn to change their location. It was a precaution to people who love to gossip and, he wants to know about what she said, "future of their Kingdom".

He was sure that no one knew about his identity as he discreetly hid his origin. When they have settled in one of the training rooms where he swings his sword while Evelyn is sitting at one of the chairs located near the wall while she watches her hands fiddling with each other.

"So, what do you want to talk about? You didn't invite me just so I can watch you swing your sword, right?" She asked, still looking at her thin long hands.

"Well…" he paused. He didn't know how to start it.

"hmm?"

He stops swinging his sword and walks and sits across from her.

"Eve, can I ask you a question?" he said.

"Sure~ what is it?"

"Why did you ignore the rumors that were baseless and ruining your image?"

"What's the point of clearing my name if in the first place it was already damaged?" she said that made Silvester confused so she continued to explain.

"People won't change their mind as long as they see me as some spoiled brat from the Duke's house. And as long as I'm the Evil Villainess of this Kingdom, nothing will change."

Silvester crumpled his face, he no longer understands what she means.

She laughs.

"You're not a villainess, Eve!" he said.

"right? ~ I'm not… but that's the way the world views me." She said with a melancholic smile.

"Eve, if you want to clear your name then…" he was interrupted by Evelyn.

"It's fine. I'm not really concerned about how people think of me. A few people who know who I am will be enough for me."

"That's right… I know you are not what they said but still�� I can't let them tarnish your reputation!"

She laughed heartily when he heard his annoyed voice.

"It's fine really… I have plans, so I just need to endure it a bit."

"Plans?" He asked as he wiped his sword while talking to Evelyn.

"yeah~ I just need to wait a little longer before it happens."

"Now, I'm curious what plan you're cooking…"

"Haha… cooking? yeah~ I plan to burn everything." She said that made Silvester stop his action.

He stared at her, and when he saw her playful smile, he thought that was maybe a joke… or is it?

"Anyway, why do we need to talk here? What? You're trying to be considerate of me?" she asked, shifting the topic to another.

"Why is it bad? I'm just worried you know~ My lovely Eve was getting bullied by everyone in school."

"Now, you can joke around? You're really something… you don't need to be like this. Talk to me if you want, you can do it publicly. It's not like we're doing some indecent acts~"

"Hmm… indecent acts?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Don't act like a nice sheep! We both know you know what I'm talking about."

"Haha! You really…! Sometimes, I wonder how you can act so brazenly!"

"Remember my title, Sil. The Evil Villainess Evelyn! Or so they say…!" she said as she laughed.

Then Silvester looked at her straight in her eyes. She abruptly stopped her giggles and asked.

"What is it? Hmm?" she asked. Her face resting on the back of her hands.

"We've known each other for a few months and… I still don't get it." Silvester said, still staring at her eyes.

"Why do you hide your abilities?" he continued.

The smiling Evelyn stops smiling for a second before she snaps from stupor.

"What do you mean?" she asked in bewilderment but she's having a war inside her head.

'What does he mean that I was hiding my abilities?'

"Child, did you absentmindedly chant a spell without checking the surroundings?" asked Gil.

'Are you kidding me? Aren't you always with me? You know I won't do that…!'

"I'm not always with you, Child." He said.

'Wait what? I thought you're my contracted spirit?! You're supposed to be with me everytime right?'

He sighs as he hears her contractor. "You're so ignorant, Child." The only thing he said before he let go of the link and Evelyn focused again on Silvester who called her for a while now.

"…Eve? You okay?"

"Yes… SO, what are we talking about again?" she asked, trying to look ignorant.

"You don't need to act ignorant, you're actually one, Child." Gil chimed inside her head that she hissed internally.

"Do you really need to hide it, Eve?" he asked as he saw Evelyn looking at him.

"Then, should I have asked too? Why are you hiding your identity?"

Silvester flinched!

"So, my guest is right…!" he said.

"How did you know?" his playful voice changed to a serious voice, void of the sweet tone he usually made for Evelyn.

She smiles when she sees this. "So, let's not talk about each other's secrets, right?"

He then changed again, he knows what she means. 'Stop prying to people's secrets…huh!'

"Then, I guess I should stop asking about that." He was quick witted that he knows what she wants but he warns Evelyn.

"But… Don't utter words that were also unnecessary about me. Mind your own business… right? That's what you want to say…" he continued.

"Yup! You really know how to read people's minds. That was what I wanted. Don't mind my business if you don't want yours to be exposed." She said her tone also changed.

"Is that a threat?" he asked, his blue eyes shining dangerously.

When she saw this, she burst into laughter.

"You're too serious, Sil! Chill…! What's the point of exposing your identity for me?" she asked as she wiped her non-existent tears.

He only stares at her silently and as a result she sighed. She stood up and walked to the door, she turned around to talk again.

"You can relax, I won't tell anyone about your identity… I'm not interested to know why you're doing that and I respect your decisions if you thought that hiding it was the best for you," She said as she reached for the doorknob.

*clicked!

She continued her words. "…and try not to be too doubtful towards me… I'm your lovely Evelyn… right?.... Cousin ~"

*thud!

The door closed and Silvester was left alone, dumbfounded about what she just exposed.