Earlier that evening, before Elise was transported from the Temple of Light that was situated in the Emsworth to the border of the capital, she contacted the pope through the magic communication device.

"What did you say?!"

​​

Pope Nelson asked with glee as he heard the outstanding news that he got from Saint Elise, who reported what she knew using a video communication device.

Elise said what she found out. About a lady who looks like Lady Evelyn and the condition of the Duke of Emsworth.

"Are you sure about what you saw? The Duke? Is he really near the end of his fickle like?" He continued as he saw the face of Elis with the carriage as the background. Elise was still in the middle of transportation.

Elise nodded and replied.

"I'm sure Your Holiness, I just don't know if she's really Lady Evelyn. Hence, I already sent an assassin to their place. About Duke Keene, Allan was too sensitive and seems to be hiding the condition of the Duke. I'm sure that he's doing it for the sake of their family's facade."

Pope Nelson smiled. He was actually having a problem because Carsillion died and the supposed tribute of the soul of Duchess Monica for the temple was nowhere to be found even though they knew that it was somewhere within the St. Prisch Academy.

He also felt relieved that Duke Keene is showing signs that his time is nearing the end. The time has come for the Temple of Light to dominate the Kingdom of Levingstone and seize the military power of Duke Keene.

Pope Nelson, once again smiled at Elise.

"That's great… If the assassin didn't come back then it means that Lady has some powers to detect an assassin which also happened during the banquet of her brother."

"Yes, your holiness…"

"However…"

Elise tried not to gulp down the nervousness and anxiety of the next words that Pope Nelson would say.

'Even if this man was the Pope and was showing a benign smile like what a holy pope does, under the mask, he's extremely greedy and will do anything to gain power just like Prince Adley. And they will use every pawn that they have in their dispense' She thought.

Her hands trembled but the Pope didn't know and saw that as the video communication device can only see her face to her shoulder. Pope Nelson's blue-ish eye and the wrinkled corners of it became sharp just like daggers.

"Did you plan it carefully? You know I don't like careless people who would leave evidence if it didn't go the way it is."

"Don't worry, Pope Nelson. I've made the black magician at the branch of the temple of light in Emsworth swear on the curse of oath. The assassins will die if they say a word about their master or about the temple."

"Ohh…! Saint Elise, you have grown up to be just like how I taught you! You now use that head of yours!"

Elise didn't reply to that and only looked at her superior, the Pope. After that the communication ended and Elise thought about how she became this cruel.

"But this is fine… I'll sacrifice anyone as long as it's not me who will suffer. I finally achieved a position where people can't touch me and the nobles admired me. I won't let my hard work be in vain."

Elise looked out at the window as she noticed the citizens in the capital waving their hand at the carriage that she's in. She also waves at them.

"I won't let some country bumpkin who looks like that bitch be a hindrance to my future"

***

Evelyn and Gab who were left alone in Evelyn's room have continued their conversation.

"You're still a crybaby…" Evelyn said as she wiped the tears of Gab away.

"Eve, can you stop treating me like a child?!" Gab suddenly turns around at Evelyn.

"What do you mean?" She sweetly asked.

He knew that Evelyn's treating him special and like one of her family. However, what he wanted was for Evelyn to look at him as a potential lover, as a man and not the boy she picked up.

"I've had enough of you treating me like this always!"

Gabriel brushed his crimson hair back in frustration to Evelyn's denseness.

"Can't you see, Eve? That I'm not the same kid anymore… I always tried my best to make you see that I'm not just your childhood friend or aide or knight!..."

Evelyn looked confused and tried to approach Gab whose back still looked frustrated and the voice held anger. Gab brushed her hand off that touched his hand, he knew he looked pathetic right now, but he needed to let her know his feelings.

She didn't try to touch him again, Evelyn knew that people needed space especially when volcanoes were about to erupt such as Gab's frustration and anger which she didn't know where it rooted from. So, Evelyn stepped back and let only her voice reach him.

Gab brushed his face with both of his hands, he already told her hints every time that they are alone together however looking at it, she won't know until he won't say it.

He then heard her voice.

"Gab… I know that you're not the boy or the childhood friend that I used to know. You changed just like what you said and I knew that! But you can't let me just forget everything that I knew about you… I can't just erase those memories of the childhood friend that I have. I can't just act like you're just a stranger!"

Hearing that, Gab closed his golden eyes and also thought about the memories that he has with Evelyn but no matter what he thinks, he never thought of her as just a childhood friend… she was more than that.

"That's not what I meant, Eve!"

"So, What is it?!"

Silence swallowed the room, Evelyn wanted to snap her fingers and use fire magic to light up the room but thought that the situation wasn't the right time to do it. She wants to see him but thought that it would be inappropriate.

So, she lets the moonlight be the only source of light for the room.

Now that the tension in the air seems to have subsided, she tried to approach him again and this time Gab didn't retaliate or push her off. This time, he faced her.

They locked eyes and Evelyn broke the silence.

"You know… if there's something that you want to tell me… you can do that. I'm all ears."

Gab held her shoulder tenderly and every now and then, he would squeeze it like he was debating what to do.

Evelyn silently waited for him and looked up at him. He was two head taller than Evelyn and she thought that the four years changed a lot of his appearance and demeanor.

Slowly, Gab leaned closer. Evelyn thought that this looked familiar and she stiffened. However, the action that she thought Gab would do didn't happen.

He only slumps his head on her shoulder as he slowly speaks.

"Eve... "

"Yes…?"

"Eve…"

"Yes… Gab?"

She softly answered his call. Evelyn thought that Gab right now looks like a puppy. She tried to stop the smile that is etching in her face and Evelyn waited for a while before she continued to ask.

"What is it, Gab?"

"I like you…"

Gab slowly whispered. Evelyn smiled.

"I like you too." she replied cheerfully.

He knitted his brows. There was something off in her response that Gab instinctively knew.

"No…!"

Gab pushed her shoulder and he looked at her straight in her eyes.

"You don't understand! I like you as a woman! No! I love you, Eve… I love you ever since…"

Evelyn dumbfoundedly stared at his eyes. She didn;t know what to do. Her cherry lips opened and closed but no words seemed to come out.

She felt that her mind became a blank canvas. The Adelyn of her past life didn't have a boyfriend or what because she was busy being the top student that her family always expected her to be.

And now that she was confessed to, not only by Gab but also by Cabel, she didn't know what to do.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Eve…! Eve…!"

Evelyn and Gab turned their head on the door. A series of banging was heard from the other side accompanied by a hasten calling of her name.

"What is it? Come in…"

She felt relief as Gab let her go and keep a distance away. The frustrated look was ironed and the usual military like appearance was shown.

Gab then whispered.

"I don't need your answers right now, I just want to let you know how I feel…"

"...Alright."

Chrisfold then walked inside the room with bloodshot eyes and a dark aura surrounding his appearance. Gab and Evelyn felt alerted.

"What happened? Why do you look so angry?" Evelyn asked.

Chrisfold holds her shoulder and spins her around. Gab dangerously stares daggers at him but silently watches him.

"What is it?"

"You're okay, right?"

"I'm fine…"

"Thank Goodness…! But we have a problem."

Evelyn's smile earlier faded and her forehead wrinkled into a frown.

"What is it? Did something happen?"

"One of the assassins died… he was under a curse of oath!"