Chapter 25

"Step aside." 

"NO, YOUR HIGHNESS!" She yelled and hugged even tighter. 

Tears started to flow out.

"Your Highness, please! She's my friend!"

"Get out of my way." 

"NO!...sniff...sniff." Tori hugged even harder.

At this point, crying is the best option.

"WAH!!!" I cried and hugged Tori back. "TORI!!!"

"Get out."

"No... heup... no..." Tori sniffed. "If Y/n dies! I'll go first... sniff..."

Both of us cried and at a point, Rupert just laughed and frowned a bit.

All of a sudden, the shitty raccoon popped out of nowhere and entered through the door.

'What the hell...?'

'Don't know.'

'Let's just cry.'

Rupert heaved a sigh and placed his gun back on its holder.

He walked towards us. "I don't have to kill you. Don't cry."

"Sniff... Really?"

"You're too stupid to be killed. Killing you really isn't an option."

"Damn it." He tsked irritatedly as he finished putting on the dress.

I can't stop crying.

Shit.

A book got thrown and I dodged as it flew passed my head.

"DAMN IT! IT WON'T EVEN STOP?!" He yelled.

"Waaah....." I cried even more as Tori stood in front of me and defended me when Rupert was marching to me, sleeves rolled up.

He glared at me clearly with a look of 'You're-the-reason-why-Tori- rebelled'.

Hey, don't look at me. She did it.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!" Tori gathered courage.

"WHAT!"

"D-don't be mean..." 

"When was I ever mean to you?"

"I mean Y/n!"

"She's making a lot of noise."

"Your Highness made her cry." Tori reasoned.

Rupert sighed and massaged his temples. "I won't say a word."

I finally stopped crying and then wiped my face with the hem of my skirt.

I got up slowly and then a neck grabbed the back of my neck.

"Smile." He ordered.

That shithead.

How dare he.

"Look. She's not crying."

So much humiliation.

I started to cry again.

"Why are you crying?"

"Your Highness, she's crying!" 

"Does it hurt?"

Rupert was concerned.

He was sure he didn't grip that hard.

I didn't reply and kept crying.

"Your Highness. Don't hold her neck like that!" Tori reprimanded.

Rupert became startled and let go of his grip thinking she was crying because it hurt.

"I didn't even grip that hard!"

"Stop bothering Y/n!" Tori placed her hands on her hips.

"Don't kill her. Don't beat her up. Don't you think it's so much for nothing?" He listed. "And I said I'll spare her. You." He pointed at me. "Answer."

"Y-You can hit me and scold me."

"What do I get from hitting you?" He laughed. "I'm not going to hit you. So don't cry. The dumpling (Y/n) will explode."

Tori comforted me.

"Ha," Rupert breathed out. "You said you're on my side, right? Until when?"

"As long as Your Highness is in power," I spoke.

When I pledged this, what I meant was until my death. 

Rue reminded me so much of my life in the dark.

He needed light.

And I wanted to give him that.

"Are you blind?" He mocked. He plopped himself on the couch. "I was slapped by Arnulf. My position here is that low. It's no surprise if I ever die. I'm alive because the Empress judged it wasn't worth killing me."

He crossed his legs and rested his head on one of his hands.

"The Empress misunderstood," I said. "I believe you will be Emperor."

He looked at me with widened eyes as if I said something mad.

Who wouldn't be?