Vylun then remembered the story about Ella and Evan’s standoff. His manly lips turned into a smile. The way he saw it, Evan sometimes forgot Ella was a woman while she forgot her brother was the successor of the family. They sure were brother and sister.

“But he always loves you. Is that not the case?” asked Vylun.

“Yeah. I sometimes hated him when I was younger, but now I know how much he loves me. And thanks to you, I learned how much Eric loves me as well. Thank you for that, Vylun,” answered Ella. She made a warm smile, thinking about Evan and Eric.

Vylun, too, looked happily at her, then he sensed something was off and asked, “I thought Ethan looks after you as well.”

Ella’s face scowled right away. What happened at the Academy was because Ethan’s decisions were clouded by Clara’s Invited Guest buff. Considering that, it was understandable what happened. But he didn’t answer her question in the end. He chose Cladis over her. Ella clenched her fists. She looked up and turned to Vylun.

“Vylun, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“When Ethan comes back from the Academy, can you beat him up?”

“What are you..”

“I mean it. Don’t just hit him. Beat him up.” Ella seemed very serious, meaning Ethan must have made a serious mistake. If so, there was no reason Vylun wouldn’t do what she asked.

He was actually glad that she asked him about it. Vylun then distanced himself as if he was being ordered by a king and replied, “If you wish, I will do as you ask.”

Ella’s anger subsided after hearing his serious answer. She then made the most irresistible and alluring smile that she ever showed to Vylun. That smile was engraved into that man’s heart. Vylun, who became Ella’s loyal knight, became even redder.

***

“Eh-choo!!!”

“What, did you get a cold?” asked Cladis.

Ethan, who sneezed loudly, shivered. Cladis moved a bit further away from him, trying not to get his cold.

“What? What’s with that distance?”

“I can’t have your monstrous cold on me,” said Cladis.

“Wow. I think it’s a true king’s job to take the loyal servant’s cold.”

“How about some loyalty to go away in concern of his master’s health?”

Cladis shook his head in disappointment, and Ethan protested, “You can’t do this to me.”

“Why?” asked Cladis.

“I didn’t even answer Ella’s question for you. You shouldn’t do this to me.”

“Ella’s question?”

At Cladis asking back, Ethan became startled and closed his mouth. He didn’t want to say it, but his dull head failed him once again. “She asked me if I’m going to side with you or her.”

“What?” said Cladis.

“She asked me whose side I will be on when she tries to break the engagement.”

Cladis’s horse stopped at some point. As if his heart had stopped, his expression had darkened. The air turned upside down as if it was a lie that they had just been joking about a cold. Ethan looked at Cladis nervously and approached him but couldn’t talk to him.

“Ethan.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Ethan answered.

“When Ella asks you the same, say you’ll be on her side.”

“Your Highness!” Ethan tried to stop him for something he had not expected, but Cladis wasn’t finished.

“I’ll do my best so that she won’t need your help. But if she still wants to, then we have no choice. We should do as she wishes.”

“But Your Highness!” Ethan wanted to ensure that it wouldn’t happen, but his sister was an unpredictable kid. He could only call Cladis but couldn’t say anything.

Cladis just smiled at him. He knew the dilemma his friend had over both sides. They sometimes fought and blamed each other, but they were best friends. That’s why he needed to tell Ethan, for both their sakes. “When that happens, we’ll only think about her happiness. You and I both.”