I was busy thinking of an excuse so I won''t apany Prince Fraser and Princess Paislee to visit the Great Ruler when someone taps my shoulder.


    I look back and saw Rufus smiling at me. I look at his back and sigh when I see no one behind him. As much as possible, I don''t want to talk to Prince Fraser. He broke his promise to me. He said he wouldn''te close to me, but he couldn''t even keep his hands away from me yesterday.


    "I''ve been looking for you. What are you doing?" Rufus sits on the chair beside me and checks what I am writing.


    I am writing possible excuses I can use to avoid our n of visiting Great Ruler tonight. Not that I don''t want to see Ruler Laird, I just think it''s a great opportunity for the male lead and female lead.


    Rufus frowns when he read some of the content. I immediately cover the paper with a book. However, I am sure he read some of its content.


    Rufus looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "Faking fever? Pretend you broke a bone? Allergy? Csille, can you exin to me what I just read? What is it all about? Are you nning something again?" He squints his eyes at me.


    I immediately look around to see if someone is around and heard what Rufus said. I sighed in relief when I didn''t see anyone.


    Thank goodness, the rest are busy training for the Physique category, or else I don''t know how can I exin things, especially to Prince Fraser. I know he will be disappointed and hurt because of this.


    "What are you doing in here, Rufus? Don''t you have any training to do?" I tried to change the question, but Rufus doesn''t want to let me off.


    He raised his eyebrows at me and nodded his head. "Trying to answer me with a question? Do you think I would be so dumb to fall for that tricks? Csille, what are you nning again?"


    I sigh. I thought he would let me off. I just finished my training in the tea ceremony and decided to spend my spare time reviewing my subcategory in the Intellect, but my mind got preupied with what will happen tonight.


    The Great Ruler already responded to the letter we sentst night and said he would definitely wait for our arrival. He already knows that we will be in disguise and already inform the guards of our arrival. The only problem is I won''t be joining Prince Fraser and Princess Paislee tonight.


    I sigh and look at the paper. "I was just writing. I got bored and tried to write a... short novel?" I smile awkwardly at him. I couldn''t think of any excuse now. Although I doubt if he will believe that excuse.


    Rufus squints his eyes at me. "Do you think I am so dumb to believe that? We both know you don''t like writing. Remember when you were in grade school? You cried because the teacher gave you a failed grade for the short story you write. And now you''re telling me you are writing?"


    I sigh, okay, okay! I know he won''t believe me. However, Rufus, I am really a writer. You will probably be shocked if you know that I was the reason why this world is existing.


    "Okay, okay. I am nning not to join Prince Fraser and Sir Farren tonight." I sigh. Rufus and Csille were friends since they were young. He knows when Csille is lying. So, I have no other choice but to say it to him. Also, I don''t think he would sell me out or Prince Fraser.


    Rufus frowns. "You''re noting? But the Great Ruler is expecting to see you. How can he give us the pill and the antidote if you''re not there?"


    I know there''s a possibility that Great Ruler won''t give the pill and the antidote to them. But I need to start distancing myself from Prince Fraser again. I need to make Princess Paislee see that my rtionship with Prince Fraser isplicated. So, she would start to fall in love with Prince Fraser. I need her to fall in love with Prince Fraser no matter what. Even if I need to stay away from Prince Fraser just to make her fall in love with him, I will sacrifice. I''ll just think I am saving this world from destruction.


    "But have you forgotten? Prince Fraser is also the Godson of the Great Ruler. I don''t think he wouldn''t give even one pill and one antidote."


    Rufus sigh. "But you do know that the Ruler Laird only epts Prince Fraser as his Godson because he is your fiancé." Rufus shakes his head and looks at me. "Tell me honestly, Csille, why don''t you want to apany them? Is it because of the Great Ruler?"


    My eyes widen, and I immediately shake my head. I admit I don''t feelfortable around Ruler Laird at first, but throughout our journey in the Saiven Kingdom, I have already be close to Ruler Laird. If given a chance, I would like to see him again. It''s just that I''ve noticed how often I interact with Prince Frasertely, and it scares me. What if, because of this, the world will copse? I cannot risk that. So, I need to do something before it bes toote.


    "What are you saying, Rufus!" I look around and sigh in relief when I didn''t see anyone. "Can you not make a big assumption like that? What if people heard you and told that to Ruler Laird? How can I exin myself if that happens?"


    Rufus scratches his nape. "I''m sorry. I just couldn''t think of a reason why you don''t want to apany Prince Fraser and Sir Farren tonight. You do know how important your presence for tonight, right? If it''s not about Ruler Laird, then what it is?"


    I bite my lips. Can I tell Rufus my reason? Can I tell him I am only doing this because I am distancing myself from Prince Fraser?


    "Csille, you can tell me your reason. I promise you. I won''t tell any soul. Didn''t you save me yesterday? How can I betray you after what you did for me yesterday?"


    I look at Rufus and sigh. "I''m avoiding Prince Fraser."


    Rufus got silent for a couple of minutes before I heard him sigh. "Is it about what we talk before?"


    I smile bitterly. It''s not about that I don''t want to be in his shadow. I am pushing him away because I don''t want them to die. I don''t want to destroy this world just for my own happiness. I might be selfish at times, but I''m not that selfish to risk everyone''s life just for my happiness.


    "Yeah, we talked about it before. I even thought we''ve already had a deal about it. I don''t understand why he is breaking his promise to me now. So, I''ll be the one to one to stay away from him."


    I take the book that is covering that paper I''m writing on. On the paper, there is a list of excuses I can use for tonight.


    Rufus takes the paper from my hands. "I really don''t understand why are you doing this, Csille. I think this is futile. No matter what you do, as long as you are the fiancée of Prince Fraser, you will always be in his shadow. So, I don''t understand why you are doing all of this. You''ll just end up hurting yourself and Prince Fraser."


    I pout at him. He said the same words Prince Fraser said to me. "No one understands me. So, what''s the use of exining to all of you." I slump my head on the table and look at the paper he is still holding.


    Rufus shakes his head. "You''re the same as my cousin. The two of you are both stubborn and won''t listen to others." He then raises the paper and reads its content again. "Faking fever? Pretend you broke a bone? Allergy? Are you nning to use this excuse to avoid Prince Fraser tonight? But what about Ruler Laird?"


    I sigh and close my eyes. "I''ll probably just send him a letter tonight. I can use the messenger bird, right?"


    I heard Rufus hums a yes. He got silent for a few minutes. "Csille, do you need help?"


    I immediately open my eyes and stare at Rufus. I didn''t expect him to ask me that question. Although Rufus is my friend, I didn''t expect him to help me with this. I actually thought he would even persuade me to stop what I am doing.


    "Are you serious? You would really help me?" I ask him hesitantly. I trust Rufus and all but Prince Fraser is his own cousin. And I am the fiancée of Prince Fraser. Shouldn''t he side with Prince Fraser like he usually does? What change?


    Rufus puts the paper down and smirks at me. "What? Why do you sound so shocked? You are my friend, of course, I will help you. What so shocking about that?"


    I get up and look at Rufus. "Have you forgotten Rufus?"


    Rufus frown. "Forgotten what?"


    I roll my eyes at him. "Have you forgotten that Prince Fraser is your own cousin? Between the two of us, shouldn''t you side with your own cousin and not me?"


    Rufus shrugged. "If I persuade you, will you listen to me?"


    I shake my head as a response to him.


    He smiles at my response. "See? It''s the reason why I just side with you. Because no matter how much I persuade you, you will not listen to me. So, instead of forcing something that I know you wouldn''t listen to, I would rather help you."


    I smirk at Rufus. "What will Prince Fraser say if he hears you say those words? I''m pretty sure he''ll feel betrayed because of that."


    "Hey!" He looks around to see if anyone is around. When he was assured we are the only person inside the library, he looks at me. "I already volunteered to help you, but why are you selling me out?"


    I justugh at him. Even though Rufus is three years older at Csille, it seems like there''s no age gap. Rufus isn''t the serious type, and more like the happy go lucky type of person, unlike Prince Fraser, who is always serious. It''s probably the reason why Csille and Rufus click. Because they are both spontaneous and happy, go luck persons.


    I take the paper from Rufus'' hand. "So, what do you think? What excuse should I make that will surely work?"


    Rufus sigh and shakes his head. "I don''t really advise you to do this, Csille, especially right now that we need Great Ruler''s help. Maybe you should do this after tonight?"


    I sigh. That''s what I am thinking too. However, this is an excellent opportunity to make the male lead, and the female lead have interaction.


    "You know I''m already decided, right? Just help me with this, Rufus. If something didn''t go right tonight. I''ll be the one to visit the Great Ruler and ask him a pill and an antidote. Would it make you feel better?"


    Rufus shakes his head. "You really remind me of my cousin. Stubborn." He chuckled. He then looks at the list of excuses I have made. "I don''t think using your allergy will work this time. Remember, we have apetition right now. Can you dare topete looking like that? Imagine the number one beauty among the Kingdompetes in the Gran Exemry Competition with rashes all over her face. I bet that would be big news."


    I pout at Rufus'' word. I take a pen and cross out the allergy word. The only ones left are fever and pretending to break a bone. "So, what would I choose then?"


    Rufus looks at the paper. "I don''t think pretending to have a broken bone doesn''t work too. You''re representing the Vrawyth in the Etiquette category, right? What will happen if the Queens know that you broke your bone? I''m sure they will withdraw you from thepetition."


    I pout. He''s right. So, my only choice no is fever? I look at Rufus. "Fever?"


    Rufus nods his head. "Hmm. It''s actually a good option. Fever won''tst week long and doesn''t affect your countenance. This is also not enough reason to withdraw you to thepetition."


    "I only have one problem. How can I get fever?"


    Rufus winks at me. "Let me be the one to handle that."