"Are you shooting a romantic drama or what?"
I came out of my hiding place and asked.
I had no choice.
Layla was going to reveal Milleia having Raphiel's bloodline in front of everyone.
If it somehow spread out and reached Ante-Eden, even I couldn't do anything to protect Milleia with my current power. Milleia couldn't defend herself either without awakening her bloodline or controlling Ceatah.
I didn't expect Layla to go this far.
I mean, it was a freaking state secret!
The few people who knew that were strictly prohibited to revealing anything.
Layla and other important nobles like Alfred and Lyra were made aware because they were told to keep an eye on Milleia. She had Raphiel's bloodline, one of the Gods protecting Eden.
Layla…
This girl is really unpredictable.
"..."
Literally everyone turned toward me.
""Edward!""
Milleia and Jayden called out to me.
I felt like a protagonist appearing in the right moment to save the bullied ones…
"Edward…"
Alfred muttered.
Thomas and Layla just looked at me.
"Tell me, Alfred, did you lose the little of your pathetic pride you had?"
My words rang out and shocked everyone around me.
Whispers started echoing around us because of the immense crowd surrounding us.
After all, I insulted Alfred, the prince.
I did that to only prevent Layla from speaking further but…it was a good feeling…
"What did you say?"
Alfred asked in a cold tone.
"Are you deaf, Your Highness? It must be treated with urgency then."
I snorted.
"E-Edward?"
Milleia was shocked at my way of speaking.
The others were quiet, unable to utter anything.
"You are going too far, Edward. You are not in the position to speak like that anymore."
Thomas said it in a threatening tone.
"And?"
I asked.
"What?"
"Are you deaf like your master, Thomas? What the hell is going to happen to me?"
I approached Thomas and met his green eyes.
"You are all freaking noisy here, so get lost and make a way for the others."
"Y-You!"
"Shut it Thomas."
I cut him off and glanced at Alfred.
"A royal prince chasing publicly after a girl. Pathetic and embarrassing."
All my disdain toward Alfred was released through my words.
And I know he felt it.
He was glaring at me.
The only thing keeping him from beating me up was his status and image as a prince.
Moreover, because I was the son of a Duke, he couldn't really try anything.
Yeah, I was clearly taking advantage of that to insult him.
"Life is unfair, Alfred."
I raised both my hands and smiled.
"You may have been born with many advantages, but they also come with drawbacks."
Alfred looked at me coldly.
"You know better than anyone here what I am talking about."
Without even uttering Milleia's name, I made him understand where I was going.
"Forget all the dreams or desires you might have harbored in the course of the last two weeks, 'Your Highness'."
"..."
"It's better for you to give up and enjoy what you currently have instead of looking for something you will never get in your life. "I will not allow it, nor will I remain silent if you attempt to play it rebellious."
"What? Ahaha!"
Alfred laughed a little at my words.
"Are you challenging me for her love?"
"..."
What is he blabbering about?!
Challenging who?! For whose love?!
[<You've just created a big misunderstanding…>]
What misunderstanding?!
'Tell me!'
[<Sigh…he thinks you are in love with Milleia.>]
What the hell?!
I never said that!
This dumb prince!
"Are you joking, Alfred?"
I glared at him.
Was he for real, or did he just say that to provoke me?
Alfred shook his head at my words.
"I've never been that serious. You've changed, Edward. I feel like seeing the 'you' of years ago but…it's' not enough anymore to intimidate any of us. Time has changed, and you will have to accept it."
"..."
Could someone be kind enough to explain to me what he was prattling about?
Alfred approached me and faced me.
His sapphire eyes, identical to Aurora's eyes, stared at my amber eyes.
Was that a show?
Move a bit, I can't breathe with you in front of me.
Still, I didn't yield and stared back at him.
"Edward. You are weaker than me in strength, and you know it but also in intelligence. In the last few years, you probably lost your keen mind, whereas I sharpened mine. I will put my class above all the others and transfer 'her' in my class. At that time, you will understand the gap between us."
"A gap?"
I stepped back.
"Can you first overcome the gap between your relation and mine with her?"
He was really getting on my nerves, so I decided to play at his game.
If he redirected his jealousy, anger, or whatever toward me instead of Jayden, then that was also good.
The people around us were completely lost in our conversation, despite the fact that they were hearing us. They knew it was about a girl…but who?
Only three other people knew which girl we were talking about.
Thomas, Ronald and Layla.
I went in front of Milleia and Jayden, but from Alfred's point of view, I was in front of Milleia.
"Can you get that close one day? Huh?"
I cocked my head slightly, clearly intending to provoke him.
"You could have all the gold, knights, women, privileges, strength, and legacies, and you would not beat me, Alfred. We are not in the same league. Don't get cocky for a few years of growth."
His attitude of perfect prince really irritated me, so I spoke my true thoughts.
"....."
The whispers stopped at my words.
I don't see my words as arrogant.
I just said the truth.
I know the game.
I know that if Alfred insists on getting Milleia, it will not end well because of Layla.
As a result, for this world.
I will never let that happen.
Alfred's smile twitched, but he clenched his fists and recovered his smile.
"Soon."
Saying that, he walked off.
Thomas looked at me.
"I'm not into guy."
"Edward, you will regret it. It's not about His Highness anymore. I have had a personal grudge against you since before."
Thomas glared at me before following Alfred like a good mistress.
"..."
Then Layla.
She looked at me with an unreadable expression on her face.
"You should not act cocky with me, Edward."
Ronald, for the first time since long ago, spoke to me.
I shifted my gaze to him.
"It will not work with me."
"With you or…"
I widened my smile.
"Your sister? You will not call Big Sister to help you, Ronny?"
"!"
"I'm leaving."
Just when Ronald was about to jump at me like a wild beast, Layla spoke out loud.
I didn't believe in coincidences.
She clearly did that to stop Ronald.
Ronald came to a halt as soon as he saw his crush leave.
"You will regret this, Edward."
Throwing a third-rate line to me, Ronald followed after Layla.
Isn't Layla tired of this guy?
I mean, he was basically a stalker.
Any normal girl would be creeped out by him.
Layla, on the other hand, was not your average teen.
If I had to guess, she wasn't rejecting him because he could be useful to her in getting Alfred's affection.
Could he be still considered as a [Pretender] now?
I feel like Layla's control over him is stronger than in the game. She probably did that because of Alfred's growing feelings for Milleia. She felt danger and was trying to put everything useful on her side.
"Edward…"
I sighed and turned around.
Milleia and Jayden were looking strangely at me.
"U-Um, why did you speak like that? It's not like you…"
Milleia stated with an uneasy expression.
I always behaved a little strange, but my way of speaking to Alfred, the prince of the kingdom, might have seemed too brazen.
[<Disrespectful, arrogant->]
[Twisted.]
Yeah, brazen…
"Yeah, it was a little off."
Jayden laughed awkwardly.
Oh Eden.
Just a little more time, and I could let out all my pent-up stress from hiding and acting like a coward. Jayden and Milleia were looking at me like I was a good-natured guy like them, but I wasn't. The fact that they thought I was such a goody two shoes irritated me.
"Oh? You are finally here?"
As I thought about brushing her off with a pathetic smile, I heard Lyra's voice.
"Lyra!"
Milleia went toward Lyra.
"Hm? What happened?"
"A lot of troubles."
Jayden joined them with an exhausted smile.
Well, he faced the Prince and even replied to him without shuddering. It was good progress.
How do I say this?
I was like a proud father seeing his child walk alone for the first time.
The next step would be insulting Alfred.
"Alfred? Wow, it must have been hard. And Edward helped you again? What a good friend-"
Before she could finish blabbering gibberish, I grabbed Lyra's hand.
I felt her whole body tense up when I touched her out of nowhere.
"He-"
"I have something to tell her."
I smiled and dragged Lyra away.
"Edward, I warn you."
While walking away, I heard Lyra's angry and calm voice.
Completely different than the one she was using with Milleia and Jayden.
"Don't try anything, or I will reveal everything to Milleia."
"..."
Arriving in a long corridor, I opened one of the random offices.
"Hey!"
A man was working behind his desk and stood up angrily.
"Out."
"Y-Yes!"
When the man saw my face, he obediently nodded before running away.
I closed the door and threw Lyra against the wall.
"H-Hey!"