What The Decent Reasonings of the Wingman Led To

"What am I supposed to do when I meet him tomorrow? Ask about what 'we' are and expect a clear answer from him?" Emma asked somewhat jokingly as a way to try and lighten up the tense mood.

While she thought it was a joke and was too nervous to even dare do that. Lily thought differently.

"My thoughts exactly," she said, no hint of jest in her voice.

Emma was dumbfounded. She hadn't meant for Lily to take it seriously.

"You didn't actually take that seriously, did you? I don't expect an answer. I personally don't even know what 'we' are. Lil, I don't have that boldness to ask him of that. What am I supposed to do Lily? I feel like I'm nearing a dead end," Emma asked, getting quite emotional, yet also knowing she had to think straight and be more rational.

Lily narrowed her eyes.

"No, no you aren't. You're Emma Grey, you can do anything. You reached the top of the class without having a complete education, didn't you? You caught the heart of one of the most arrogant and cocky princes out there, and you're not willing to ask him what he feels for you?" She reasoned.

Emma knew that Lily had a point and that eventually, she had to ask him. She simply had to know.

"You're right. But when do I know when to ask him?" Emma asked, wanting Lily's advice.

This was the first-ever time Emma had ever asked her best friend for love advice, and this was the moment Lily wished would happen. And now that Emma actually asked her for love advice, she was content. For years, this was just a dream that she wished would happen. Now, it was a reality.

"I have been waiting for this moment. The day that you FINALLY ask for love advice. Em, I'm going to make sure you know everything there is to know about love before the end of the day, but before that, we both need to clean up. We literally just came from the jacuzzi and you just finished crying. We'll continue this right after we both change into much more comfortable clothes, 'kay?" Lily suggested.

Emma nodded, before heading to take a long-awaited shower.

After an hour or two, the two girls were sitting on the bed, as Lily told Emma everything there was to know about love, and what she thought would be the best way for Emma to possibly confess her feelings.

The two talked for hours before Lily decided to go to sleep, while Emma stayed up for an impromptu study session for tomorrow's lessons.

Meanwhile, in another dorm, someone else was worrying about something entirely different.

James paced around his room, as his brother watched from beside him.

"Brother, stop stressing about this. Emma never showed interest in any other man now, did she?" Connor reasoned.

James stopped pacing.

"And why would she ever show interest in anyone else when I'm around?" James asked quite arrogantly.

Connor ignored his question, still quite upset from the incident including Lily as well, he pondered for a while, before firing a question back at him.

"She's a student here at ZALE too, brother. She's prone to getting suitors because of her beauty and intelligence," Connor reasoned.

Since James kept quiet, he decided to continue talking.

"And there's a huge difference between the two of you. You're the Prince of Amaris, the heir to the throne. You're practically untouchable," he continued on saying.

James knew where this was going as he remained quiet, still wondering what he should do next.

"But what about Emma? Yes, she's a royal, but she's also a daughter of a deceased duke and as we just found out today, a maid. Unlike you, she's susceptible to others. She's vulnerable to other men, who will go out of their way to pursue her as well. She's susceptible to getting hurt by those who have ill intentions. You saw what happened to her best friend and what happened earlier on during our break. You have to think about this, James," Connor reasoned, while also watching his brother for any change in his reaction.

James sighed.

"You're right, Connor. Of course you are," he said nonchalantly.

Connor raised his brow.

"And what exactly are you going to do about this? The James Carrington I know would never give up, so are you going to leave her? Or are you going to never leave her side in case something like this ever happens again or do something else about this?" Connor asked curiously.

A hint of something unclear glinted in James' eyes. It seemed that he had come up with on a whim.

"I'm not giving up," he said calmly, which greatly shocked Connor.

The last thing James was was calm. And especially when it came to Emma, he'd lose all of his rationality.

As Connor stared at the changed man that was his half-brother, James spoke.

"And no, that's not necessary. I'd never leave her. That's not an option," he said, as a smile suddenly spread across his good-looking features.

It was then that he said the nine words that his half-brother totally didn't expect after his quite logical reasoning of suggesting him to reconsider Emma as the girl he'd choose to pursue. But of course, he had to keep in mind that this was a new James. This James had fallen in love and now actually thought like an actual human being. Nothing that could be said would change his mind on her, who was currently the only person who he truly cared about. If Emma could persuade him to change, he definitely would, and that itself was proof that he wasn't the cocky and completely indecent person he once was and was changing to become a better person.

James had seemed to have realized this because his next words were shocking. Connor's jaw dropped to the floor as he heard the words,

"I'm just going to have to make her mine."