I was busy writing in my diary when I heard someone knocks on my door. A second after, Brother Pascal walked inside my room.


    "I''m sorry if I''m interrupting something. I just want to check on you. I heard from Mairenn that you didn''t visit the za to check the feeding. You didn''t even visit the school. Csille, is everything okay?"


    I put the pen down and smiled reassuringly at him. "I''m okay, Brother. Thank you for asking. I just took a break from working today. Also, I already checked on them yesterday, and I have seen that everything is going okay. As for the feeding, Mairenn already knows what to do with that. Mister Vulso also said he would take care of everything from here. My presence is actually not needed today. Did I worry you? I''m sorry, Brother ."


    What I said is true, but it''s partially true only. I just want to avoid Prince Fraser and Rufus, who are always arguing with every little thing.


    Rufus feels irritated with Prince Fraser because of the way he treats Princess Paislee. After he knows Princess Paislee is a woman, he feels the need to protect her.


    However, because of this, Prince Fraser always gets mad at Rufus. He gets jealous with how Rufus protects Princess Paislee. It''s also the reason why those two princes are constantly arguing.


    I could bear with it at first, but I got fed up seeing how they wanted Princess Paislee''s attention. That''s why I decided to take a break today. I don''t want to see those three as much as possible.


    I heard Brother Pascal sigh. He then gently caress my head. "Is everything okay, Csille? I heard from everyone that Prince Fraser and Prince Rufus are always arguing every day. Are they okay?"


    Even the people know about their petty little fight. I shake my head. "Don''t worry, Brother, it''s not a serious fight. Prince Fraser and Prince Rufus sometimes act like that, but it doesn''t mean that they are not okay. That''s just how they interact with each other. You shouldn''t worry, Brother. Everything is okay between Prince Fraser and Prince Rufus."


    "How about you? Should I be worried about you, Csille? Is everything okay with you?"


    I look at Brother Pascal. What does he mean? Is it evident that I am not okay? How can he see it?


    I shake my head and smile at him. "Brother, how can I not be okay? The western region is starting to get better, and we are about to return to the capital. How can I not be okay with this?"


    Brother Pascal stares at me intently as if reading what is on my mind. A moment after, I heard him sigh. "Csille, don''t lie to me. Not because I was busy, it doesn''t mean that I don''t know what is happening in your life. I was just waiting for you to approach me, but you didn''t. Is everything okay between you and Prince Fraser?"


    I avoid Brother Pascal''s eyes. I don''t know how he can see it, and I also don''t know how to answer him. I cannot tell him that we''re not okay because this is what I have written. That I am the viiness of this world, and Prince Fraser will not marry me in the future.


    I feel him gently caress my head. "Csille, I know I might sound nosy for asking this, but I''m just worried about you. I''ve noticed that after you got wounded in the northern region, you and Prince Fraser be distant. Is there something we need to worry about, Csille?"


    I didn''t expect Brother Pascal would notice those things. I thought no one noticed that there was something wrong between Prince Fraser and I. I was toocent. Now, how can I exin things to Brother Pascal?


    "We''re okay, Brother. We just have a little argument, but everything is okay. So, there''s really nothing to worry about."


    Brother Pascal stared suspiciously at me. It seems like he still doesn''t believe what I am saying. He shakes his head. "Okay, I won''t force you to say what''s wrong, but I just want you to know that I am here for you. Aunt and Uncle are also there for you. You know that, right?"


    I nod my head at Brother Pascal. "Thank you, Brother. I really appreciate it."


    He just smiles warmly at me. He then looks at his watch. "I won''t disturb you anymore. I know you''re busy too and I still have to check the situation in the za. And oh, by the way, Csille, I heard you hadn''t eaten anything for today. I will prepare a soup for you. Just ask someone to reheat it if you want to eat, okay?"


    I nod gratefully at him. Brother Pascal ensures again if I''m okay before he leaves my room. I just look at his back and sigh.


    Brother Pascal can already see that there is something wrong between Prince Fraser and I. Does it mean the other people can see it too?


    ________________________________


    "Purny, you havee today? I thought you were taking a break today too. Is everything okay?"


    I look at Rufus and sigh. "I apologize if I wasn''t able to help you for days. I wasn''t feeling okay these days. That''s why I take a break. I hope you understand."


    Rufus walks towards me and checks my forehead. "You''re temperature seems a bit higher than normal. Are you sure you can work today? Maybe we should call for Doctor Pascal so he can check on you."


    I shake my head. "No, I''m okay. Brother Pascal is currently busy helping some people who are sick. I didn''t want to disturb him, and he had already checked on me before I went here. He gave me permission to work today, so there''s nothing to worry about."


    Rufus nods his head in satisfaction. He then helps me to sit on the chair. "You should sit here first, the chairs will arrive today, and we can start to arrange everything after. So, while waiting, you can just sit here first."


    The chairs, tables, ckboards, bookshelves, and other things needed for the school opening are going to be delivered today. So, the four of us, Prince Fraser, Princess Paislee, Rufus, and I, and some volunteers, are currently waiting for the delivery.


    "Do you need to help her? She already said she''s okay, Rufus. Why do you need to act like she can''t walk on her own? Does she have broken legs, or did she be invalid that you even need to help her?"


    I felt my hand shake when I heard Prince Fraser''s remarks. It''s one of the reasons why I don''t want to see them. It''s because Prince Fraser always criticizes me even if I''m not doing anything wrong.


    I ignored Prince Fraser''s remarks and pretended that I didn''t hear anything. It''s best to act that I didn''t hear anything instead of arguing with him because it''ll be an endless argument, and I''m too tired to argue with him.


    In his eyes, I am just a nuisance that he wants to get rid of.


    I look at Rufus, and I find him clenching his jaw. After making sure that I had already settled on my seat, he looked back at Prince Fraser.


    "Your highness, haven''t you heard what I said? Dame Csille''s temperature is higher than the normal temperature. Of course, I will help her because isn''t that what a person should do when they see someone who is sick? Actually, you should be the one doing this because she is your fiancée, right? Have you forgotten about that?"


    I tug Rufus'' hand and shake my head. Here they go again with their endless argument. It always happens every time I am here, and usually, the thing they are arguing about is something connected with me.


    I guess Prince Fraser hates me that much.


    Princess Paislee, who is standing behind Prince Fraser, steps up. "Your highness, Prince Rufus, please don''t misunderstand Prince Fraser. He is just concerned about Dame Csille''s condition. He just wants to know if Dame Csille is okay or if she has broken legs. So, ple—"


    Prince Fraser looks at me and cuts off Princess Paislee. "If you don''t feel okay, you should have stayed at home. Do you think you can help with your current condition? You''ll just worry everyone here. Why can''t you think of other for once, Csille?"


    "Fraser!" Rufus'' snap at Prince Fraser.


    I stand up and stop Rufus by holding his shoulder. Rufus looks back at me and frowns. I just shake my head at him before I look at Prince Fraser.


    Prince Fraser just red at me in return. I really don''t understand why he seems so mad at me every time I am around. It''s as if I have done a terrible thing to him before, and now he wants to get even.


    But as far as I know, I didn''t do anything or say something wrong to him. So, I''m still clueless why he is doing this.


    I bow my head at him. "I apologize if you think I''ll only bring inconvenience to everyone. However, as the Founder of the Hope Foundation, it is my responsibility to check the progress of our project. If you still think I''ll be an inconvenience, then you can be assured that I won''t be around you, so you won''t need to feel irritated when you see me. If you''ll excuse me, your highness."


    I bow my head again and immediately walk inside the school. Everyone is waiting outside, so when the tables arrive, they can immediately help in putting them inside the ssrooms.


    However, a hand suddenly stop my arm. I look back and find Rufus holding my hand arm tightly. I was expecting it''s Rufus because Prince Fraser is irritated with me. Even if I get mad, he wouldn''t care.


    "Csille, why are you leaving? You didn''t do anything wrong." Rufus red at Prince Fraser. "Fraser, don''t you think you''re being too rude and disrespectful to Csille? You already knew she is sick, but the only thing you noticed is the inconvenience it could bring to anyone?"


    Rufus scoffs. "She''s your fiancée. How can you embarrass her in front of everyone? Also, can''t you see Csille''s efforts? She isn''t feeling okay but looks where she is? She''s here wanting to help us arrange the chairs, and all you can do is criticize her? You didn''t even consider that there were other people around. What did Csille do for you to hate her this much? Because I don''t understand why you keep treating Csille like this while you treat other people with care."


    Rufus shakes his head. I can feel him tremble. It seems like Rufus is really enraged with Prince Fraser''s behavior.


    I admit, I still feel hurt when I hear Prince Fraser say those words to me. But I just pretended that it was nothing because I didn''t want him to see that I was affected by his words.


    "Csille doesn''t deserve what you are doing, and I''m making sure that what happened," Rufus shakes his head. "That what are you doing to Csille will be known by the Count and Countess. I won''t let you treat, Csille like this again. I can forgive you with other things, Fraser but not this. Not this."


    Rufus then pulls me to the carriage waiting for him. I tried to stop him because I still had things to do today, but because Rufus was in a bad mood, he won''t listen to me.


    But even in his angry state, he still gently help me get inside the carriage before he gets inside. He then asked the coachman to get out of the school.


    I look at Rufus. He still looks enraged. This is the first time I have seen him this mad. He is usually happy and smiling when he is with me. It''s the first time I have seen this side of him.


    "Rufus..."


    Rufus looks at me before he heaves a sigh. "I''m sorry, purny. I know you don''t want to see me arguing with my cousin, but I just couldn''t help it. I can bear with anything he does but not this." He looks at me. "I cannot let him treat you like that. You don''t deserve that, Csille. And I will make sure that the Count and the Countess will hear about this when we return to the capital. I won''t tolerate this behavior of Prince Fraser.


    My eyes immediately widened when I heard what he said. He is nning to tell it to my Mother and Father!!