Chapter 23. The Crown Prince’s Plan

As a result of how rudely Rachel treated the Crown Prince, I was left in complete shock.

Turning around in fear, I realized with barely noticeable relief that there was no one in the corridor right now, and no one caught such a contradictory scene.

After Rachel hit him on the head with such force, Philip was still sitting on the floor and could not get up. I was horrified to see a trickle of blood on his face.

— Your Highness, how are you?!

I was going to rush to the guy to check how serious his injury was, but Rachel stopped me.

«Don't you dare go near him.»

The tone of her voice was so sharp that it sounded more like an order than a request.

I froze.

Before that, I had never seen such an expression on her face. Even at our first meeting, Rachel didn't look so furious.

I thought it was a bad sign that if I disobeyed her now, I obviously wouldn't get off so easily. There was blood on the girl's fist, too, but obviously not her own.

After weighing everything, I decided not to take any chances this time and not to argue with Rachel. Trying to smile tightly, she rummaged in her bag, and gave the guy a roll of bandages, which she took just in case from the school nurse.

— Your Highness, I'm sorry that it happened…!

My apology was more like a ridiculous excuse, but it was the only thing I could do in this situation.

After I apologized to the prince several times in a row, Rachel snorted impatiently and left first. I knew I should go after her.

— …I'm sorry again, Your Highness! — having thrown these words to Nakhod, I left Philip alone in such an awkward situation.

During the whole time Rachel had hit him, he hadn't said almost a word, and most likely he was in shock right now.

What can I say, I myself did not expect such a thing. Not only did Rachel violate bed rest, which I strongly asked her to observe, but she also came to the academy. As a result, this terrible incident occurred.

Of course, I knew that Rachel didn't care about the opinions of others, but… not to the same extent! Harming the crown Prince of this country is by no means the same as any other aristocrat. Another person would have been executed for such a thing long ago, or imprisoned for life. Therefore, I did not understand how a girl could act so recklessly.

When I caught up with her, Rachel was still just as angry. But I still dared to ask her a question.

— Rachel, stop!

Surprisingly, she still stopped.

— What do you want?

— You still ask?! — I breathed out indignantly, — What do you think it just happened?

Rachel shrugged her shoulders, completely unperturbed.

— I don't know what you're talking about.

— Don't deny it! I told you to stay in bed, so why did you come here?

The girl chuckled.

«As if I'd listen to you.»

And indeed. Just because of my illness, I couldn't blindly count on Rachel to start fulfilling my requests. After all, she had never done this before.

And yet, I hoped that at least this time everything would work out.

— You didn't answer the question. Why did you come to the academy if you're sick?

«I'm all right.

Despite the fact that Rachel told me this for the umpteenth time, she still looked tired. Obviously, she had spent a lot of energy getting here, and the temperature, although lower, was still making itself felt.

I sighed.

«Why did you hit the Crown Prince?»

— I wanted to.

— What…?!

«You said yourself that I should behave like your girlfriend,» she said with displeasure, «So what doesn't suit you now?»

I was outraged at how easily she perceived such a dangerous situation.

When I said that I wanted to create the illusion of a relationship between us, I didn't mean that she would get involved in such a showdown first!

— I'm not satisfied with everything! — I said, — Do you even know what the consequences of this may be? Do you think that the Crown Prince is an ordinary person?!

Rachel paused, looking at me intently.

«To me, he's just an ordinary imperial slug,» she said, «and he molested you, didn't he?»

— Well, not that…

I found it difficult to answer this question, because Philip really only took my hand. Although, even this was very unexpected on his part.

Noticing the puzzled expression on my face, Rachel finally relented.

— Don't shake like that. If this guy wants revenge, I won't let your father get involved in this.

I was involuntarily embarrassed that she interpreted my experiences in this way.

«That's not what I was thinking.

Rachel frowned.

— What about then?

«You…» I faltered, looking at her cautiously, «You didn't mean it, did you?»… That you're going to kill him?

The girl was surprised that I asked her about it. But the answer came immediately:

— Of course seriously. In this world, no one would dare to put a finger on what belongs to me.

***

Razor Blanche was sitting on the bed in the dorm room, packing up for the upcoming school trip.

When almost everything you need was inside the hiking backpack, the guy suddenly heard rapid footsteps in the corridor.

His premonition did not let him down, and the next second his older brother burst into the room without knocking.

Razor was surprised that Philip showed up so unexpectedly.

The Crown Prince's expression exuded fierce indignation, but what attracted the most attention was his wound. There were traces of blood on his temples, which shocked Razor. Who had the guts to hit him?!

— Brother, what's wrong with you? — the guy caught himself, immediately approaching him, — Are you hurt? Who did this?

Philip did not answer this question, because at the moment he was worried about something completely different.

Razor noticed a strange gleam in Philip's eyes when he suddenly grabbed him by the shoulders and made a request:

— Ray, you will always be on my side?!

Razor was surprised by this question, but at the same time immediately answered:

— of course… You're my brother.

— Then you have to help me, — said Philip, — You can do it, right?

— Help with what?

— I want to get rid of her, — he said hoarsely, — I want this damned girl to finally leave the academy!

Razor was taken aback, but didn't say a word. Of course, he immediately understood what was being discussed.

Philip let him go and began to walk from side to side around the room. He kept muttering to himself, but it was impossible to hear these words clearly.

Razor sat back down on the bed in complete disbelief. He watched his brother with only one thought: when did he change so much? Why recently, Philip has become more and more like an obsessive…?

Only one suggestion came to mind, what it could be connected with. It looks like Leriana Ashford has made her choice after all. Razor sighed heavily, realizing this.

Razor knew that the daughter of the Duke of Ashford and his brother were acquainted, and that not so long ago she refused to return his feelings. This is the reason for everything that is happening now.

Philip continued to walk from corner to corner, and more and more strange ideas were born in his head.

— This is all wrong… Wrong, do you understand? — Razor didn't know who he was talking to, but probably to himself — I felt from the first meeting that we were made for each other. What is it, if not fate? I could see that she was interested in me too!

Razor was silent while Philip addressed exclamations to the void.

«… But then, out of nowhere, this damned Cassia girl appeared! — the tone of his voice turned to rage, — It's all her fault! I messed up the brains of a kind-hearted aristocrat so that I could use her later! How does Leriana not notice this?!

The Crown Prince's speech was becoming increasingly paranoid.

«I have to save Leriana from this devil's clutches before it's too late!» — in the end, he summed up, — When she sees what this trash is, she will certainly change her mind!

Philip finally stopped when a clear plan was born in his head.

— Brother, what are you up to? Razor asked him cautiously.

The man slowly turned to him. After a couple of moments, he stated:

— You're not going anywhere.

— What…?

— We're both staying at the academy,» said Philip, «we'll take advantage of the fact that there will be fewer witnesses and arrange an accident.

— An accident?! — the dark-haired guy was even more shocked.

Philippe Blanche smiled strangely.

«If Rachel kills one of the academy students, there's nothing she can do to help her, right?»