"We.." Prince Fraser paused. "In the second round, since they will eliminate two representatives, we all need to be in the top five."

Rufus frowns. "Can we really surpass them if we do that? The score of the top five and the score of the top one will definitely be huge. If we keep doing that, wouldn't we lose against the Aeslaerean Kingdom?"

​​

Prince Fraser shakes his head. "It's the reason why in the third round, we need to be on the second spot."

Rufus frowns. "But it still won't be easy to surpass the scores of the first spot. Shouldn't we-"

Leander scoffs at Rufus. "If you find it difficult, then don't join the competition. If you're not sure you cannot win the competition, then don't even dare to compete. You'll just embarrass our Kingdom."

My eyes widen, and I look at Leander with disbelief. Although Rufus is a lowkey and almost forgotten Prince. He is still royalty. Doesn't he think his words are insulting for a Prince of the Kingdom?

Rufus just stares at Leander. I clench my fist. Why does Rufus lets Leander talk to him like that? I wait for Rufus to respond to Leander, but he just stares at Leander expressionless.

"Senior Leander," I even emphasized the word senior so he would realize I didn't like what he did. I raised my eyebrow at him. "Mind your own words. You are still talking to a Prince of the Vrawyth Kingdom. Is this how a future Physician should talk to a royalty?"

I feel Prince Fraser squeezes my hand. I glare at him. What? Does he want me to stay still and pretend that I didn't hear Leander insult Rufus, the son of the Duke and a Prince of the Vrawyth Kingdom?

Leander looks at me and sighs. "I'm sorry, Lady Csille if you think what I said is rude. However, I am just telling the truth. If he isn't confident about his knowledge, wouldn't it better to leave the competition to us?"

I look at Rufus, waiting for him to refute Leander's words, but he just shakes his head at me.

I don't understand why he doesn't want me to continue what I want to say. I am just defending him. Although I know, Leander just wants the best for our team. However, I don't think it's appropriate to insult someone. Not to think the one he is insulting is a Prince.

I glare at Leander. "I know you're smart and all. But it doesn't give you any right to insult Prince Rufus like that!" I stand up from my seat. Prince Fraser tugs my hand, asking me to sit down again, but I refused. I cannot let anyone bully someone in front of me, especially if it's someone important to me.

Rufus is one of the few characters that I have been friends too. He was there for me when I was looking for the writer. He becomes a real friend to me, and I cannot let anyone bully him in front of me.

If I need to stand up for him. I will do it, just like how he did when he and Csille were still young.

"Have you forgotten? He is the Prince of the Vrawyth Kingdom. How dare you disrespect him in front of his cousin? In front of us? Are you insulting the Royalties of the Vrawyth Kingdom? Are-"

"Lady Csille, that's now what I mean when I said that. I wa-"

I scoff. "That's now what you mean? Then what do you want to say, huh? You're basically saying that Rufus is an idiot, and he doesn't need to join the competition because he'll drag us down. And what? You're telling me that's not what you mean? Then-"

I didn't finish what I am saying when Prince Fraser suddenly stand up and hold my hand with his two hands. "Csille, stop it!"

I glare at him. "What? Are you going to say that I am wrong again? What?" I snap at him.

Prince Fraser sighs and places his forehead on mine. The words that I was about to say got stuck in my throat.

What am I saying again? What are we talking about? I think I forgot.

"Csille, calm down, okay? Didn't you said earlier that every argument could be talk in a peaceful manner? Calm down first, okay?" Prince Fraser coax me.

I nod my head at him. He looks so handsome this close. Why does he need to be this handsome? How can he expect me to think straight if a face like that was near me?

Prince Fraser sigh and move away from his forehead from mine. My face immediately follows his until my cheeks touch his chest. Prince Fraser puts one of his hands at the back of my head. He then starts to comb my hair while my cheek is still leaning on his chest.

Dayum! He also smells great. This is too much temptation for the Villainess.

"Leander Smythe, you should watch your words. You are still talking to the son of the Duke of Vrawyth Kingdom. He is also a Prince, and what Lady Csille said is true. You shouldn't disrespect Rufus or anyone in this group. Even anyone from the other Kingdom."

Prince Fraser sigh. "We are a team here. We should learn how to trust and respect each other." Prince Fraser looks at Leander. "Leander, I understand what you want to say, but you could have said it in a more respectful way. Even if Rufus is not a royalty or if he is, or even if it's Sir Farren you are talking about. You should still learn the word respect."

Leander nods his head. "I understand, Prince Fraser." He then looks at Rufus, who still has an expressionless face. "Prince Rufus, I'm sorry for being rude. I only want to say those words playfully. However, I didn't realize it becomes overboard." He then bows his head.

Rufus stares at me for a good couple of minutes before he sighs and nods his head at Leander. "That's okay. I understand what you mean. You shouldn't say sorry."

I try to move my head away from Prince Fraser's chest, but since his hand is on the back of my head, I couldn't move away.

Prince Fraser, aren't you getting too used to this? I only let you do this for a couple of minutes, but it looks like you don't want to let me go.

Prince Fraser sigh. "Rufus, you should learn how to trust yourself. Among anyone here, only you know your strength and capabilities. Do you think the Queen will choose you to represent the Kingdom of Vrawyth if she didn't see something from you? Also, you should start to trust us too. We are a team here. We should be trusting each other among anyone else. If we continue doubting each other, no matter how much we strategize and do rigorous training, we will end up losing the top spot."

Prince Fraser let my head go, and I immediately glare at him, but he just squints his eyes at me. "And you, you should learn how to control your temper. You cannot just slam the table and shouts at anyone here. We are a team. Why do we need to shout at each other just to understand each other?"

I almost scoff in disbelief at what I am hearing from Prince Fraser. What did he said? He wants me to learn how to control my temper? Is he kidding me? Really? Coming from him? Wow, I couldn't believe this.

"What? I'm just defending Rufus here? What do you want me to do? To just sit still and watch the show?" I scoff at him.

Prince Fraser sigh. "But have you ask him if he wants to be defended by you?"

I immediately got stunned by Prince Fraser's question. Does Rufus want me to defend him? I look at Rufus and see him looking at me. He then shakes his head at me. "I appreciate your concern Purplany, but you don't need to do that. I'm okay." He then smiles at me. An empty smile.

"You're okay?" I snort at his words. "You're telling me your okay, but why do your eyes tell otherwise? Rufus, we've been friends since we were young. Do you think you can lie at me without me noticing it?" I reached his hands that are lying on the table. "Why do you always need to endure all of this? Since we were young, how many insults have you heard from the other nobles? How long will you pretend that it is okay? When inside of you knows, it will never be okay."

Rufus bows his head. His shoulders start to shake. I immediately froze on the spot when I heard his soft sobs.

He is really hurting. Aww, poor Rufus. I'm sorry. It's also my fault why you are all experiencing this. I'm sorry if this is what I have written for you. You don't deserve all of this.

I move the chair and immediately walk to Rufus's seat. "Shh, that's okay. Just cry all you want. We are all here. We are a team, right? I am your friend, right?" I start to caress his back while Rufus continues to sobs.

Leander looks at me helplessly. It's as if saying he didn't mean what he said, and I know he didn't mean it. But Rufus' was still hurt because of this.

Leander holds one of Rufus' hands. "Rufus, I know I have hurt you with my words, but I hope you know that I didn't mean it. You don't know how much I admire how strong you are. Not just physically strong but emotionally strong, and I admire you for that." He pauses, and he looks at me. It's as if he is asking permission if he can speak. I nod my head at him. "Prince Rufus, cry your pain out. We are here for you."

Princess Paislee, who is beside Rufus, also holds one of Rufus' hands. "Prince Rufus, I might not know you for a long time, but I want you to know that I admire you for being a humble person. You're one of the outstanding university students in the Royal University of Vrawyth Kingdom."

I look at Prince Fraser, who is still standing in front of us. I saw him looking at Rufus expressionless. I frown. What is he thinking?

Prince Fraser probably notices that someone is looking at him. He stares at me for a good couple of minutes before he sighs. He then reaches his hand and puts it on Rufus' head. "Brother Rufus, do you remember how much proud I was for you? It's still the same. I am still proud of what you have become and will always be."

I smiled gratefully at Prince Fraser and mouthed my thank you to him. I lean my head at Rufus. "Rufus, you don't need to hide your pain. We are here for you. I am always here for you. So, stop taking everything on your own."

Rufus stops sobbing, but his shoulders are still trembling. I couldn't imagine how much pain he needs to endure throughout this year. He is a Prince of the Vrawyth Kingdom, but he lets nobles look down at him.

Rufus looks at all of us. He then smirks before shaking his head. He looks at me and holds my right hand. "You already grew up. Now you are the one defending me. Thank you, Csille." He then looks at the rest. "Thank you for all your encouragement. You don't know how much it means to me."

I pout at Rufus. "I remember how you defended me when we were young. Of course, how can I let someone say something mean to you like that." I squeeze myself in between Rufus and Leander. "I just want you to learn how to defend yourself. I was waiting for you to do that, but you didn't. So, if you still cannot protect yourself, I will be the one protecting you then. Just like how you protect me before."

Rufus looks at us before he smiles. But this time, his smile has happiness in it, unlike his first smile. I'm glad.