I Don’t Want This Bad Ending

Chapter 124: KEEPING YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER: PART 1

Evelyn and Gab talked under the moonlight as they sat at the pavilion that they found near the fountain of the garden of the royal palace.

She let Gab ask a few questions and she also answered with all honesty and still let some things out from her answers if it included her memories.

And when they understood each other's circumstances, Evelyn stood up and smiled.

"How about introductions?" she said.

"I go by the name of Adelyn Dashton now. How about you?" she said sheepishly.

"I'm Gabriel Louise Denzell... " they both shake hands like it was their first meeting.

Gab started to scratch his face like he was shy and was back to the boy who Evelyn picked up. The always shy Gab when she teased him.

"About my past Eve, I mean Adelyn," before he can continue Evelyn spoke.

"It's fine you don't really need to tell me about it. We swear to not question our identity back then, that promise it still stands today. So, it's okay. You have your circumstances Gab."

She smiled and Gab mirrored it.

"You still didn't change while I..."

Evelyn is shocked at his assessment. So, she let a chuckle.

"That would be an understatement if you think that I didn't change for the past years I change too, like every human being, I change to adapt in my surroundings."

"You're right it would be weird if you didn't change after all of that." Gab replied.

"I'm relieved" She said that made Gab look at Evelyn who is looking at the moon.

"Relieved? To what?" he replied a bit later after he stared at Evelyn who turned her back at him.

"That you grew up into a fine man and are living with freedom." she explained and turned her head in Gab's way.

"We got what we wanted we got our freedom that we needed the most that time, and now, were back here again. Fate really has ways to meet the people we want to see the most in an unexpected way." she continued and Gab is still listening.

After a while, Gab replied.

"You're right, fate really can do wonders."

They stayed quiet for a while and decided to walk and head inside as they can't stay longer while the party is still not over. They have duties to do.

"So, how long will you be staying in the kingdom?" Evelyn breaks the silence and asks.

Evelyn is happy that she saw Gab, and felt like the decision she made to leave Gab was the right choice.

Gab is quiet when Evelyn asks him. She noticed the unusual stares that Gab are giving and also went quiet.

"Should I stay here with you?" he said. After that silence that filled the area, his eyes intensely staring at Evelyn, that it sent shivers to her.

The whispers of the night breeze swept her chestnut tied hair and she sweetly smiled at Gab.

Gab saw her smile under the moonlight and even though she's not wearing a dress like how the noble young ladies do, Evelyn's beauty under the black mask can still mesmerize him, like usual.

And that time, Evelyn speaks to Gab, her sweet voice that she makes to the young Gab, sweetly sip in his ears.

"How can you say that? You're the commander of the Bahalkii Kingdom. Besides, like what I said before, the Levingstone Kingdom still discriminates against the other races unlike the Perspiru Kingdom that are open to all. It's the first time that this kingdom has opened its gates to others and done this." she explained.

'Even though she said that she changed, the way she used to act with me is like always like a young brother' he looked down and mumbled.

"I guess I need to let her know that I'm a man and not her brother." He made a decision and he looked up to see the wondering eyes of Evelyn looking at him.

"Then, I will go back here" he said smiling at her.

"Hmmm? Okay, you can visit." She nonchalantly replied. What she didn't know is the meaning behind Gab's words.

***

The party was over and the envoys from different kingdoms are still at the castles of the Levingstone Kingdom as well as the side of Perspiru Kingdom, which is Crown Prince Silvester. 

They decided that they would be here for a couple of days before they go back to their Kingdom, the reason? Of course, because they seemed to feel the air that day at the party. 

It was heavy, the nobles were whispering to each other while they were careful around the envoys of every kingdom that attended which is the Kingdom of Perspiru and Kingdom of Bahalkii, the beast race.

Silvester caught one of their whispers and heard about Duke Keene.

'It said that the Duke is in critical condition and was stuck in bed for a couple of days now.'

He remembered this one sentence from the other nobles that gathered from one of the corners of the four walls.

He looked outside the windows of the second floor that he was staying in the Rose palace. He felt that something was brewing within this kingdom and also thought about the prophecy that they got after the Saint of the temple of Moon died, the religion of most of the people in the Perspiru Kingdom. And the reason why he was gathering the stones which are the keys to the forbidden cities.

He remembered the grimoire that he got in the Stygian Ruins. He still can't open it because his mana isn't compatible with black mana. And Sir Edrich said that he also can't open it because his mana isn't enough.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Your highness there is the butler of the Crown Prince outside. He said that the Crown Prince has something to say."

"Let him in"

Silvester looked at Evelyn who was with him in the room as she continued to do her job as his knight, accompanying him everywhere he goes.

"Greetings, your highness. May the moon shine brightly under your guidance." The butler bowed and Silvester acknowledged him.

The butler simply glanced at Silvester's room and saw Evelyn who is disguised as Adelyn, the knight, who is sipping tea. He found it odd that the knight was sitting comfortably. He dismissed the thought and said what he needed to say.

"The Crown Prince Edickart wished to see me?" Silvester asked as he heard what the butler had to say.

"That's fine you can schedule what time Crown Prince Edickart is available." he said and the butler bowed to exit the room.

Silvester looked again to where Evelyn is.

"What do you think he needed from me?"

"You can find out about it." she nonchalantly replied.

***

Afternoon tea and the people inside the luxurious room are sitting across each other. Crown Prince Edickart of the Levingstone Kingdom, Crown Prince Silvester of the Perspiru Kingdom, Commander Gabriel of Bahalkii Kingdom, Young Master Allan, the apparent heir of Duke Keene Emsworth, and Duke Cabel of the Sigrid household.

The people in this room are all powerful individuals from their respective kingdoms. One could say that this meeting seems to be important and the knights who are here are the most trusted knights or the right hand man of these important people.

And that's why Evelyn can sneak in and pretend to be his trusted knight.

'Wow the fishes are gathered in one room.' Evelyn thought.

"Cast a barrier around here" Edickart said to his knight who is also a mage.

"Yes, your highness"

They felt nothing and only saw a thin layer of shield who also served as a sound proof to prevent the people from spying in their conversation.

Silvester noticed the glances of the two powerful individuals. The gazes are passing straight to his back where her cousin, Evelyn is. Cabel and Gab seem to be looking her way. While Allan is just sitting there, not talking and wondering what he is doing here.

Silvester coughs to gain their attention.

"Ahem! So, Crown Prince, what is the occasion and you gathered us here with the excuse of spending tea time?"

The room became quiet. No, the atmosphere became heavy as Silvester was straight to the point like the prince that he is. Not wasting time.

Crown Prince Edickart who was sitting at the edge of the long table is pale and seems to be in pain but everyone in the room didn't comment on it as they knew also about the rumors. And since the Crown Prince seems to want to hide the situation, they also silently agreed not to mention it.

Edickart smiled whilst he replied to Silvester's question.

"You never change I was just trying to gather the people that I was closed to." he jokingly said while he placed his head in his palm to rest and a smug look pasted on his face.

Silvester remembered that time that he saw Edickart grabbing Evelyn's hands back in the Academy and he didn't get to stop himself and intervene as he saw the look of her cousin. And since that day, he saw the crown prince of the Levingstone Kingdom as a bastard.

While Silvester has the chilly aura coming from him, Evelyn saw that mischievous smile that she saw when she was a child.

'He still smiles like that' she thought.

Then, Edickart speaks again.

"It's been four years isn't it? Since, my fiance died." he announced.

The atmosphere seems to have been colder than before, that it can be compared to the north and south pole.