[Club house] [10] [Ivan and Prince]

"Why did you tie your hair?" Oliver, walking in front of me, asked as he touched Aaliyah's hair.

"You don't like it?" She asked, frowning and glancing at her hair.

"Nah, it looks good this way." Oliver replied as he fixed her hair a little.

Aaliyah smiled at him, playing with her hair and clearly enjoying the treatment.

She truly is a lost cause....

She wouldn't have been a [Sub-heroine] in the game if not for Oliver's negligence.

"I heard about your aunt's marriage." I shifted my focus back to Oliver as he spoke to Aaliyah.

"Yeah, sorry, I couldn't invite you." She replied, giving him an apologetic smile.

"It's fine, but it's weird thinking she got married." Oliver replied nonchalantly, waving his hand, "She wasn't the type to get married off."

"Yeah....you and I will be married someday too." She replied, making everyone look at her, and ignoring all, I just focused on Oliver's reaction.

He... had his mouth wide open as he looked at her blankly.

"I-i m-mean we will g-get m-married w-with s-someone, s-someday." She stammered, covering her face with her hands to hide her blushing cheeks.

"Hahahaha.... Right, of course." Oliver replied, laughing awkwardly and scratching his head.

'Just fucking accept her already.' I mentally nudged him, kicking his butt.

He glared back at me but didn't say anything.

[....Is it just me, or is he pretending to not see her feelings?]

'He is just pretending.'

[....Why, though?]

'....He's burdened with something, and he doesn't want to involve others in this.'

[....Just like you.]

'....No, he will eventually open up to her; I will make sure he does that....unlike me, who will always keep my problems to myself.'

[....So he will be better than you.]

'How the fuck does this make him better than me?'

[...Do I need to explain that?]

'...No.'

"They look good together," Ashlyn whispered softly in my ear as we walked together.

"They do," I replied, nodding my head, glancing at her.

Ashlyn...

What should I do with her...

Tiffany will be sad if she dies...

[Having second thoughts now?]

'No, it's just the future events... all the things that will happen... they are messing up my mind....'

I know she will be one of the most important charac—....people—in the future who will help bring peace to this world.

She is one of the few individuals that even my mother sees as a nuisance...

If she dies here, things will be difficult for this world...

[So—.]

'I choose my life over the world, so shut up, El.'

[...Are you being selfish or are you pretending to be one?]

'.....'

"Hmm? What happened?" I questioned Ashlyn as she grabbed my arm, making me halt my steps.

"Who are they?" She asked, gesturing toward the front.

I looked in the same direction, finding a few seniors blocking our way.

"Something I can help you with?" Miley asked with a smile, looking at them.

"Azariah," the senior said, looking at me, "the prince is expecting you."

"...Why?" I asked calmly.

"He needs to talk with you... alone," he replied, glancing at the rest of the group.

"....Fine," I grumbled as I walked forward.

"I will come with you," but before I could take a step, Ashlyn grabbed my arm again.

"You don't need to," and Miley quickly interjected, jerking her hand away from my arm.

"But—."

"Ashlyn, it's the prince who is calling him, why would you be present there?" She reasoned, but I could clearly see she just wanted to separate her from me.

"It's fine, I will go with him," Oliver chimed in with a smile, patting my shoulder.

"Olive—."

"I will go with him," he repeated his words again, interrupting Miley.

"Fine, Aimar, come with me," she grumbled, grabbing Aimar's hand with one hand while Ashlyn's with another.

The idiot blushed as she was dragged away.

Fucker didn't even look our way.

"Stay safe, Azariah!" Ashlyn shouted, while Ethan walked close to her.

"Be safe," Aaliyah said, looking at Oliver.

"Register our names for the traveling club," he replied, messing up her hair.

"Alright, let's go," I said, looking at the seniors.

They nodded their heads before walking, and we followed them behind.

"Any idea why he called you?" Oliver mumbled, rubbing his chin.

"No."

"Hmm, Christina?"

"Most probably."

"....There is an ongoing war for the throne... I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid," Oliver mumbled, and I nodded my head as well.

The seniors quickly brought us to a quiet place at the end of a corridor, where a lone door was placed.

"Stay here." The senior instructed Oliver.

He glanced at me, and I nodded my head in reply.

"Just call me if you need." He replied, taking a step back.

Knock, knock.

The senior knocked on the door twice before opening it and walking in.

I followed their footsteps as I walked in as well, immediately noticing the two people sitting on the sofa in the middle, and fifteen other students standing around them like guards.

One of them was the blond-haired, handsome-faced Prince Johnathan Alea Pargoina, the second prince of the Pargoina empire.

Sitting beside him was a boy who looked more handsome than me, with light green hair and eyes.

Ivan Hampton.

Son of counselor Nevaeh Hampton.

The [Major antagonist] of the game.

Seeing him, a desire to kill him came from deep within me, the feeling of anger threatening to consume me entirely, making my breath come out ragged.

[Calm down!!]

'I am Clam!'

[What happened now?]

'This fucker...he will do things that will mess up everything that I have done till now.'

[Wha—.]

"Azariah," he called my name with a cold voice, looking at me.

"....What do you want?" I asked, without any courtesy or greetings.

"You sound angry, Azariah," Archie commented, making me glance at him.

"I don't have time for all this. Tell me, what do you want?"

"Stay away from Christina when she comes back," Ivan instructed sternly, glaring at me.

"Is this the reaso—."

"I am serious, Azariah. You will stay away from her," he replied, emphasizing his words.

I just looked at his face, hardly controlling myself from taking my weapon and rushing at him.

I glanced at Archie, who remained silent, not saying anything....

Looks like they made some sort of deal, otherwise, Archie wouldn't have remained silent.

"....Fine," I replied, nodding my head before I turned back.

And it's not like Christina will ever give a single sh*t about these two retards.

And I don't want to do anything right now; I am not strong enough.

I will kill him, but not right now.

"Did I say you could leave?" I halted my steps as I heard Archie's voice.

"What now?" I asked, looking back.

"Stay away from Ashlyn as well."

[Azariah...]

"...What did you say?" Turning around, I asked, my voice low.

"You know what she is, right? Lady Esmeray should have told you," Ivan commented.

Of course, I fucking know what she is.

My mother wanted her dead before you fucking retards even knew her value.

"They are the Emperor's order. He doesn't want things to get complicated with the church," he replied, shrugging his shoulders.

"The church is not interfering with her life because... their God told them not to, who are you guys to do so?"

"Do not question the Emperor's decision; just follow his order," Ivan firmly replied, making me frown.

Why should I follow that fucker's order?

He doesn't amount to anything in front of my mother.

Why should I follow his words?

"I am not doing anything like that," I replied as I walked towards the door."She can stay with anyone she wants; you are no one to interrupt."

"Then I can just ask for her marriage, right?" I halted my steps as I looked at Archie.

And for the first time in a while, I felt something within me snap.

I don't know why, but I felt rage...

A burning rage....

"...What?"

"It will be her decision, and surely she won't try to reject a Prince—."

"Try it," I interrupted, walking close to him.

"What did you say?"

"I said try it, Archie," I repeated my words as I stood close to him.

"Azariah—."

"Stup up, Ivan!" I shouted, glaring at him before shifting my focus to the prince.

"Just a warning, Archie...." I looked down at him as I continued with a cold voice,

"If you even thought of touching even a single hair of her... I swear I will burn down you and your entire empire."

A silence of a few seconds lingered in the air before every one of his guards took out their weapons and pointed at me.

I took a step back from him as I took my axe-hammer as well.

"You brought it upon yourself, Azariah," Ivan said with a wide grin on his face, "bring him to his knees."

And at his instructions, all fifteen of them launched at me.