"A rumor about us?" she asked as she looked around to see the other students picking up the boxes with the weapons inside.

"Yes…! Another rumor! So, is it true? Evelyn?" the Crown Prince asked. Gripping her small shoulder with little force.

​​

She looked up to him.

"That's not a rumor… It's true though? We've been spending time and having tea… Why?" she asked, perplexed about his inquiry.

His eyes glow dangerously. "What?" he said. His voice was dangerously low.

"You're still a candidate for the Crown Princess, why are you spending time with that b*stard?!" he asked.

"What? What's wrong with making friends with the Second Prince? And Another rumor wouldn't affect me, your highness and besides, sooner or later, I'll be eliminated to choices…" she replied.

"That's not it, Evelyn! What you're doing is ruining your own reputation! Can't you see, he's using you?!" he explained, his voice was getting a pitch higher, close to shouting.

"He's using me? Really? How?" Evelyn asked, trying to look innocent and naïve as much as possible.

Edickart scratched his golden hair with his right hand in annoyance. Then, she looked at her again, his arms are now on his waist. He bit his lips and he continued to talk.

"You don't know his true nature, Evelyn! That's why I'm telling you that you must be careful around him! That guy is worse than me!' he explained, trying to make some sense out of it without giving her details.

"Then, tell me why he is dangerous to me? What did he do to be that dangerous even for you?" she said, still acting naïve with her sunset eyes.

"Ahh…! Seriously!" Edickart was too frustrated to explain to Evelyn that he can only sigh.

He grabs her shoulder again and when he had enough, his domineering voice echoed to the storage and his emerald eyes glowed dangerously. This is his warning.

"Don't go near him, or I'll proceed to announce that you'll be my bride!" he threatened, his emerald eyes were bloodshot, and his white smooth face was changing to the hue of crimson. He's really angry.

"What?" Evelyn was shocked and confused.

'He's threatening me with the marriage?! As if I care?!' she thought.

"You're going to reason it out with the political marriage?" She said her brows were raised because of irritation.

"Then, do it?!" she said in her voice that was full of displeasure. Her sunset eyes were full of determination.

He looked at her, he saw her how she was resolute about what she said but there was something deep within her eyes that he cannot read. And he was sure that Evelyn wouldn't agree without plans.

Deep inside him, he starts to feel millions of needles stabbing his little heart at the same time, a surge of hatred and annoyance resurface through him. Edickart can't understand Evelyn. If this was a scheme, what kind of plan is she making that she decided to let Adley cling to her and use her for the benefits?!

He doesn't understand but her eyes that shine with determination and resolute decision sparkle like the ocean that was dipping in the bask of sunlight. He decided to let go of this matter.

Knowing Evelyn, she wouldn't say anything unless she was sure that her plan would work, or the work was done, and she saw the result. He decided to trust her, though it wasn't safe to let her be alone with Adley, if what he guessed was right, that Evelyn needed the Second Prince for her plan then she would let her be.

His always observing Evelyn since he knew that she changed, and now, what he needed to do was wait and protect her from the back.

He sighed a deep sigh.

"I'm just…" he trailed before he continues.

"Fine…! but you need a guard! I'll give you some of my guards that protect me from the shadows" he said, after measuring how the argument would go if he didn't back down.

"What? I don't need a guard. I have Gab with me…" she paused before whispering another word, "… and the shadow knight of Cabel." She said in a small voice.

'Besides, my plan was to go alone… I can't let anyone know what I'm about to do!' she deeply thought.

"No! You're still my fiancée in name, if anything happens to you, your father will kill me…!" he confessed that made Evelyn jolt and snapped her consciousness and focus to the discussion. She stepped back and crumpled her face in what he said.

She scoffs, "… ha! Don't worry, the Duke wouldn't kill you if something DID happen to me…!" she said.

Edickart thought that Evelyn emphasized the word "did" that made him stare at her face that she was displaying with a smile.

'What is it that she really plans?' he thought.

Then a knock on the wooden door caught their attention. He's silver hair was shining against the room, while his face was covered, the two knew that it was Cabel.

"What do you need?" Edickart asked, back to his domineering, scheming, and mischievous self that he always displayed with the nobles.

"The representatives were asking if there were enough fireworks for the night event where the first and last banquet will take place…!" he asked as he moved his head to the right to look at Evelyn who was at the back and was covered by Edickart's figure.

"What are you doing there?" he continued to ask as he saw the hair of Evelyn and her knitted brows that welcomed him.

"I'll check! The fireworks, right?" she answered avoiding Cabel's eyes. She felt awkward.

"Ah, right! Your highness, the royal family arrived earlier and is summoning you." Cabel informed him.

"Is that so…? I'll go after I help Evelyn here." He said.

"No, Your highness! I think it's urgent and besides, I can help Lady Evelyn with that." He said that made Edickart question why he was rushing him to get out of this place.

"Why do I feel like you want to be alone with MY fiancée?" Edickart asked, as he enunciated that Evelyn was still his fiancée in every one's eyes.

Cabel smiled. Although his sapphire eyes were not.

"Of course not, your highness, how could I do that?' Cabel replied, his voice was playful but dangerously alarming.

"I'll believe you, Sir Cabel. The house of Sigrid was always a loyal supporter to the royal family. There will not be an instance that the loyal Sigrid family will try to pluck a rose from the royal garden… am I right?" he said, his words that were double edge.

"Of course not, your highness… but a rose flower will try to escape and spread it's spiky stem outside of its cage. When that happens will the Royal Family get rid of the flower because it was not properly trimmed?" he said, smirking.

"That's sad for the rose who dedicated her whole life to be a beautiful flower…" before Cabel can continue, he was interrupted by Edickart.

"I only need to cherish it then, pour water and bask the flower with the sunlight that she needs… I can also give a whole wide garden that the thorny stems can extend as much as the beautiful flower wants…" Edickart said as he was now the one with a smug look.

Evelyn was just listening silently to the words they exchanged that were full of beautiful words but had different meanings. And their topic was her.

She folded her arms and looked at the two who were unleashing their sharp tongue.

She coughs gaining the attention of the two.

"I wonder if that thorny flower will decide to grow in any of the gardens you guys mentioned? I'm sure that rose will pick the side road or in the wild where it can grow freely without restrictions and without grooming or trimming to the shape the Royal family wants." She said as she looked at the two who were speechless.

"If you're done with the topic of that flower, get out from here. You're hindering my work!" she said as she pushed the two out of the storage room.

Cabel and Edickart were in deep thought. What Evelyn said was true… She's the only one who can decide whether she will agree to be tied to the Royal Family or not. Though the consequence of that will harm her reputation, she got nothing to lose now with all the stupid rumors surrounding her.

Edickart decided! He will openly express his sincerity to be with her. While Cabel was thinking about something else.

The two didn't look at each other and Cabel bid him goodbye to Edickart as he was still the Crown Prince and soon, he walked away with his head hung long and deep in thought!

"What's wrong with him?" Edickart mumble as he stares at Cabel's white cape, the same cape that he also has.

***

Evelyn, who was left alone after she shooed the two who were acting and bantering like elementary students, heaved a sigh of relief.

"I need to finish this task and wait for the last day of the hunting event… I also need to get rid of the shadow guard that Cabel made to spy on me…"

*sighs!

She needs to have a lot of time for herself as she needs to plan things perfectly and stage a play that no one would know.