TO THE RESCUE

"I haven't done anything wrong, your Highness," Felicia answered firmly, trying to take her hand away from the man that she hated. Seeing how she rejected him, only made him even more frustrated with the way she was acting right now. 

"Oh really? Could you at least behave while in the presence of the Goddess? Seriously, Felicia, you're making this hard on yourself. You could've just behaved well despite them attacking you. You are a princess, after all." He whispered, with a lot of contempt in his voice. 

Automatically, Rachelle cocked her eyebrow, in disbelief with his words. He's pointing out that she should've stayed calm and allowed them to disrespect her. Has he gone insane?

Her palms curled into fists as she suppressed the feeling of wanting to punch this damn dumbass. To think that this is his way of calling for discipline when he couldn't even discipline himself. 

"Felicia? Why are you silent? Answer me." He demanded, trying to take her attention. Shit, can someone save him just now because she might let these knuckles of hers hit his face. 

"Is something wrong?" Someone asked, deliberately approaching the two of them which made Rachelle look towards where the voice came from. Seems like the Goddess heard her prayer and she immediately sent Liam to help her. 

"Oh thank the Goddess for sending you here," Rachelle uttered accidentally, letting out her thoughts as she forcefully took back her arm even if it hurt from Constantine's grasp. 

She winced in pain as Liam pulled her gently to his side, frowning over Constantine's actions. it's rude for him to pull a lady that hard, it must have left a mark on her skin. 

"What seems to be the problem here, your Highness?" Liam asked as he bowed his head, to show respect despite wanting to disrespect him right now. His aura suddenly changed, as if he was threatened because of it. 

Constantine flinches, it's the first time seeing Liam acting like this. Like he's mad because of something in which he didn't know what he did. "Liam, this is between us, the lady and I as a couple. You do not have the right to interfere with our talk." Constantine fought, sighing as he put his hands on his waist. 

"Come now, Felicia. We're going back to your family." Constantine once again demanded, extending his hand to reach for Rachelle who just stared at him, eyes filled with loathing and hate.

It wasn't the first time that Constantine felt the wind creeping in his every skin, it was not also the first time for Constantine to receive such hate from Felicia. Since the very beginning, she clearly hates him. 

"I don't think the Lady wants to be with you, your Highness. Please don't force her to do something else that clearly goes beyond her boundaries." Liam responded, taking Rachelle' 's hand and hiding her behind him. 

"It's unbecoming unfit for you to try and force her. You are after all the Crown Prince of this great empire. Have some respect and decency for the Princess. She's not something that you can just command." He added, spewing bullets towards Constantine who turned like a tomato after Liam just insulted him. 

He was gritting his teeth, his nose scrunching, while his eyes grew red in anger. Clearly, it was an insult that could've put Liam's life in danger. If it's not for his achievements and his title as a noble then he would've been thrown in jail for insulting a member of the Royal Family. 

"Liam... You're overstepping your boundaries. The woman is my fiancee, she is mine." He growled at him, trying to enforce her power over Liam and Liam wasn't fazed at all. He didn't step out and let Rachelle take a step forward. 

He stared at her, letting Constantine know that he was not scared of her power. If anything, he should've been the one being careful around him. The Marquis's power is almost the equivalent of the Duke's political and economic power. 

If he wants his full support being the Crown Prince then he has to behave. If he has the mind to think about it, considering he's somewhat brainless. 

Constantine bit his lip, looking at Rachelle while trying to communicate with her through his eyes. But Rachelle just stared at him, hiding the smirk that crept into her mouth, wanting to show it towards Constantine to double his embarrassment. 

But seeing that Rachelle didn't want to move or join him, he rolled his eyes, frustratingly letting out a growl. "Fine!" He glared, leaving the two of them alone in front of the crowd. 

"Well, that was something else," Rachelle commented as she stepped out from hiding behind Liam's presence, chuckling while looking at Constantine prancing his way towards his family. 

How funny, running away after the defeat. To think that Liam stepped in for her, protecting her from that man. She could feel how her cheeks went warm after realizing what Liam had done. 

"I thank you for doing that to me even though it's not necessary. I can handle him." Rachelle said as she scoffed, trying to push away this strange feeling inside her. 

Liam then just smiled at her, shaking his head, disapproving of what she said. "That's not it. I mean, I'm not trying to make you look like you're a damsel in distress but I feel like you were trapped in that situation so I came and helped. Besides, wasn't it fun roasting him?" He chuckled, smiling comfortably around Rachelle. 

What's with him, smiling like a fool whenever she's around? "But that's still very disrespectful, Liam. You would've been sent to jail because of your insult. You know that the Royale family doesn't like being insulted." She commented, worried for him. 

It may not be going to work for her since she's a Princess from a Ducal household, Liam can still be harmed by Constantine knowing that he only had the Marquis' title protecting him. 

"Calm your horses. Nothing is going to happen. I can handle myself, I'm strong after all. There's no reason for you to fret. Unless," he suddenly said, cutting off his words while throwing her a side glance. 

"Unless what?" She asked, curious about what he was going to say. Liam had this sheepish grin, it was as if he was teasing her suddenly which made her feel confused about the way he acted right now.

"Unless you care for me. Because if you do, then I would be damned." He answered, his eyebrows cocking twice. Rachelle chuckled at his antics, "Of course I care for you. You're my friend after all." She replied. 

Suddenly, the smile on Liam's lips fell, alongside his emotions tore up on his face. Liam felt like his heart suddenly shattered after hearing the term which she called him. A friend? A friend?!

"Are you okay?" Rachelle asked, concerned about his well-being as she tried to look over if he was feeling under the weather. He was frozen in his place, in disbelief as if he couldn't believe what just happened. 

"I-I of course... I'm fine. I really need to work hard, shit." He suddenly cussed but not enough for Rachelle to hear him mutter it. 

"Well then Liam, thank you once again for saving me. If you ever need me, just contact me. Because I don't know how to repay you after what you helped me multiple times already." She said, smiling at him and performing a cursty before taking a step to leave. 

"Wait." Liam suddenly called, making her take further steps away from him. She turned around, looking at him as if she was waiting for what he was going to say or add. 

"You don't need to repay me but if you feel like you must, then I'm not going to stop you." He said, looking at her with his eyes shining earnestly. "But if I call you, will you come?" He suddenly asked. 

Rachelle blinked twice, what's with the question? She finds it weird but she just brushes it off. "Of course, you are my friend. If you have a problem, then contact me. I'll be there." She said showing how sincere she was with his question.

Liam let out a smile, a genuine one without mixing it with a coy expression. He was glad that Rachelle was sincere with how she answered his question. But at the same time, he felt annoyed with how she kept on referring to herself as a friend. 

But aren't they just friends though?

"See you later, Felicia." Liam bid his goodbye. 

"See you later, Liam." She replied and turned around, walking back to her family. It seems that the Duke is having a conversation somewhere and all she can find is Alexander who seems to be talking with Helena. 

"Alexander..." Felicia muttered to steal Alexander's attention, which worked because Alexander immediately looked back and smiled upon seeing her walking towards him.

"Well? How was your first socializing?" Alexander asked as he raised his arm for Felicia to hold him. Seeing how close their bond was, just made Helena feel even more jealous with Felicia to the point that she wanted to yell. 

Felicia didn't even greet her and acted like she was invisible! 

Meanwhile, her knight scowled at Felicia's brazen action, personally ignoring the Saintess right in front of her. This woman, it must be what the Saintess told him, the woman who kept on bullying her. 

"It was alright, I met a lot of people. It's interesting how the rumours about me were... Exaggerated if I say so myself. It's as if someone has been trampling me over the days." Rachelle answered as her eyes then met with Helena who gasped and tried to act normal. 

Talk about being a pretender. It's not working, sister. 

"Looks like there's a new face being welcomed in our presence. How presumptuous of him not to acknowledge me." She added, her eyes like a snake, glancing towards the Knight who went still with how her voice rippled coldly. 

He couldn't even control the fear circulating him. As if he was being compressed by an unbearable invisible weight. What is this?!