17 Captain

"And why are you treating the Princess so casually?" Vaughn said as his face darkened. I stepped between the two of them and faced Vaughn. "I do not mind it at all, Vaughn. We became friends after being acquainted before," I said and smiled awkwardly. He glared daggers at Noah and looked at me, "Is that so?"

"Of course, Your Imperial Majesty. What else could our relationship be, besides being friends?" Noah said. I glanced at him and saw that he was smiling at Vaughn, as if he was provoking him. "What's with that pestiferous smile on your face, then?" Vaughn said as his forehead creased. "What do you mean, Your Imperial Majesty? This is my normal smile. Don't you know that it's impolite to say that to someone's smile? I'm very hurt, Your Imperial Majesty," Noah said sarcastically as his facial expression changed to mock Vaughn.

I laughed nervously and said, "Noah, Vaughn, that's enough of your squabbling." Noah pouted and said, "But Your Majesty, he started it." What? I did not!" Vaughn scowled at him.

"Will the two of you please stop?" I said as I glared at both of them. "Hmp!" Vaughn looked away with a sharp look in his eyes, while Noah chuckled and shrugged.

Haa... Why are they even fighting?

"I'll take my leave now. It seems like I might disturb the two of you," Vaughn said and immediately left the garden in a hurry without even waiting for my response. "Vaughn, wait!" I said as I went after him. Noah grabbed my wrist and said, "Why are you going after him, Your Majesty?" I glanced in the direction where Vaughn went before answering him. "That's because... he was upset," I replied as I looked at him with an uneasy expression on my face.

"Well, I do have something to say to you. Will you please hear me out before going after that man?" Noah said and smiled. "Yes. Go ahead," I said as I waited for him to speak again. "Well, you see... His Imperial Majesty, Crown Prince Nikolai, told me to guard you starting today so I can't really leave your side. But I will make an exemption for now, since it seems like you have to discuss something private with the Crown Prince from Rosiello Empire," he explained as he played with his hands. "And..." He cleared his throat and smiled. "Actually, never mind. Please go your way, Your Majesty. The Crown Prince is probably waiting for you," he said, still smiling.

"Alright. Thank you, Noah. Please do not tell my Brother about this," I said and smiled apologetically. "Of course, Your Majesty," he replied with a smile still plastered on his face.

I immediately went out of the garden to look for Vaughn. I ran through the halls without minding the attention I'm getting from the maids. I stopped running and glanced at every corner to see if Vaughn was there, but to my disappointment, he wasn't there.

Where is he?

NOAH'S POINT OF VIEW:

Well... it's not like I could do anything about them. The Princess clearly likes the Rosiello Empire's Crown Prince. What right do I have to interfere between the two of them? Should I just give her up? It's not like I stand a chance against an actual prince who is soon to be an emperor of a powerful empire.

I laughed bitterly and sat on the grass.

"I might be a knight in shining armor, but I will never be the prince charming she's looking for," I said to myself as I looked up to the blue sky.

Ahh... It's getting warming out here. Should I just head inside?

"Sir Noah?" I looked in the direction where the voice came from and saw a beautiful woman standing by the door.

She had red hair, beautiful black eyes with long eyelashes, a narrow nose, red lips, a small face, and pale skin which perfectly matches her features.

I immediately stood up and raised my right arm sharply, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm facing down, and the tip of the right forefinger placed on the rim of the visor, slightly to the right of the eye. "Good afternoon, Captain Castiello," I greeted as I saluted to her.

She saluted back to me and walked towards me. "What are you doing here?" She asked as she walked straight towards me.

I have to admit it. Although she looks absolutely terrifying when she's on the battlefield, I can't deny the fact that she is a gorgeous woman. People say that the color of her eyes is due to the many enemies she has killed and is the very reason why her gaze feels so grim and heavy, and her hair has turned red because of the blood of those she has slaughtered. But if they have seen her like this, wearing her normal clothes, they wouldn't be able to slander such a beautiful woman.

Well, even though she is a beauty, the princess' beauty can't be compared to hers.

"I just wanted to get some fresh air. I thought this was the perfect place to take a break, Ma'am," I replied and smiled. "You do not have to be so formal when it's just the two of us, Noah. I've told you that countless times before, haven't I?" She said as she frowned at me. "Forgive me, Elliana," I said and bowed my head a bit. "I just told you not to be so formal, didn't I? You didn't have to bow" She said and sighed. "Still, you are the Duke's daughter. I can't just treat you like an equal," I reasoned out and shrugged. She shook her head and sighed again.

Elliana Isabella Castiello—Duke Castiello's Daughter. She is 18 years old and is the youngest Captain in the history of the Mortcombe Empire. She is known to be a terror captain within the Military Knights, which makes her one of the most feared officers in the military. She did not get to her position because of her connections, instead, she has proved her capabilities during training and even during the battles she has faced. She has a twin brother, Adonis Leandro Castiello. He is stronger than his sister, but he refuses to be part of the Military Knights of the Mortcombe Empire.

"I love you, Noah," she said as she smiled at me with sparkling eyes.

And this terror captain, the youngest captain in the history of the Mortcombe Empire, and the daughter of the Duke... is helplessly in love with me.