“Sister, would you please always stay by my side?” The sweet endearing voice that Nether had for his sister couldn’t be help but show in his actions as well. He held his sister’s hand and caressed them carefully.

Celia was taken aback for a second before she thought that Nether had been acting weird for the past few days and yet, she only shrugged off the possibility that he could think more for her. Instead, she looked at him with a smile and patted his head.

Though even if she wanted to comfort her little brother, she looked at him with sad eyes.

“I would love to, Nether…” Celia paused seeing how Nether’s smile grew wider from that response. Celia’s hand went to his forehead to see if he has any fever but then he had none. So, she only sighs seeing Nether’s face becoming red.

She just thought that it was just the event’s effect and how her little brother seemed to go to his first event.

Sadly, she wouldn’t be able to stay with him a few longer since she had been told to come to specific rooms within the palace by one of the servants earlier.

“But, for now, just stay a bit close to Jacob, okay?” Celia was about to loosen her hold on Nether’s hands but the young boy grab hers before she could walk away. Celia’s eyes widen because the grip of the little boy seemed strong and yet it softened after a few seconds.

Did she just hallucinate how Nether glared behind her? But then, when she blinked her eyes, Nether was smiling. Celia sighed as she closed her eyes for a moment before sighing once more.

She must be tired because of all the planning in her head that needs to be done this night. Certainly, she would never miss a chance to get a close look at the crown prince and know more about him and explain that she no longer holds feelings for him.

If that is possible because in the first place, she wasn’t the original villainess of the novel.

“Nether? Is everything okay?” Celia said in her sweet tone and Nether only shook his head. He pouted for her and yet all she does was chuckle and pat Nether’s head once more.

“Jacob, would you be able to assist Nether this time? I just have somewhere to go,” without looking toward her little brother, Celia smiled at Jacob. Yet it made her flinch since Nether’s grip became tightened again.

This time, Jacob intervened with the two. He nodded and grabbed hold of Nether’s hand.

Jacob leaned in over to the young boy and whispered so that Nether willingly let go of Celia’s hand.

“Nether, people are looking around. You don’t want to embarrass your sister, right?”

With those words alone, Nether looked towards the floor with tight lips while sucking his bottom lip as if he was about to cry and yet, his eyes widen after realizing that Celia is kissing his head.

“Be a good boy this night, Nether, and I will reward you afterward,” Celia couldn’t help but smile at the thought of disciplining her little brother.

When Nether’s face lit up, he chuckled and laughed and even was the one to drag Jacob out of Celia’s eyes as they went to the other table. Since the duke and duchess were busy with their friends, Celia knew she could trust Jacob in handling Nether’s actions for the night.

As soon as Celia was already out of the people’s sight and went towards the narrow hallway, her eyes narrowed. She felt as if there was this figure following her around and when she turned, there was none.

Could it be that this is another form of her hallucination? But then if it was, why does she feel as if she’s being followed?

That’s when she thought.

Slowly, she walked a few steps and after a few more seconds, she ran faster as she can until she heard someone panting from her behind she appeared from the other wall she hid.

“There you are, intruder! Show yourself!” But then her eyes only widen to know that it wasn’t an intruder or a stranger that she didn’t know, it was the young master of the Corest’s household.

“Deim? What the hell are you doing in here?” Celia asked while walking to the boy that is barely breathing and holding to his knees.

“What the hell am I doing? I should be asking you that question, Celia…” Celia’s eyes narrowed. She thought that if Deim had followed her towards the hallway then he must have seen her enter the hall and is just waiting to greet her.

Shaking her head. She couldn’t help but look at him.

“If this is all about the greeting thing, you could have waited until I return,” Celia said almost rolling her eyes out but then, she waited for the little boy to respond before taking his last inhale with the run he made just to chase her.

However, instead of responding with words first, he puts his hands up in the air while shaking his head and then maintaining a good posture that raised Celia’s eyebrows.

“If that’s what you think…” Deim paused as he looked behind Celia and to their sides as well as behind him. When he found that the coast is clear, Deim narrowed his eyes and didn’t continue his words until he grabs a hold of Celia’s hands and turn them to the other hall.

When they were nowhere to be found in that hall, Deim motioned for Celia to keep quiet, and although puzzled, Celia managed to gulp with a gap in her mouth.

When the lady decided to finally speak, Deim halted her with his hands almost touching the edges of her mouth. Now, instead of narrowing her eyes, Celia’s eyes became wide and she almost held her breath if it wasn’t for Deim sighing and backing away for a few feet.

“Then you’re wrong…” he spoke as if he didn’t interrupt himself earlier. When he finally know that they were on the farthest side of the room where he had known what it was, Deim looked at Celia’s eyes intently as if he was communicating something that aren’t even measured with words.

Celia could barely understand him and the only thing that he would have given her as a hint is the fact that there would be an unnecessary thing to happen.

One thing that would be dangerous enough like the one where they almost got caught by those people.

“Deim, I’m not here just to beat around the bushes. Well, I’m not even here to entertain the likes of you this time…” Celia sighed as she said those words as if she was tired of Deim’s plotting and what they got out of it.

Deim, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes for a moment, taking his time to observe the lady even though he knew what the place is. He had been in the palace for most of his life, and Eran was even the one who told him about that room.

Yet, even though he knew, or the others as well knew what it would mean, he didn’t even hesitate to stop Celia.

“That pathway you’re taking is a dangerous area, Celia…” Deim’s words got even deeper to the point where the tone sent shivers to Celia.

Celia couldn’t help but widen her eyes since she felt as if she had remembered something about Deim and his personality. In the novel that she had read, Deim was the person that is serious when it’s time to be. He would be the one to warn the others.

However, he’s also the one who would go to such lengths just to satisfy his curiosity and when he finds out what he needed to find out due to that curiosity, he would be saying something pretense excuses for the others.

Celia knew well who the others were. That’s why all she could do for now is to narrow her eyes as she thinks of certain possibilities.

“Why?” Celia asked as if she couldn’t help her words come out despite the urge of her mind to control it. Her hands started to clench, while her eyebrows started creasing. Deim, upon seeing Celia’s expression couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

“Damn…” he whispered and take a deep breath as he held his hair swaying them away from his forehead and nearly stamping his feet to the ground if he hadn’t bit his lower lip.

Shaking his head, he stayed acting like that for more than a minute which made Celia shake her head as well.

Not minding the weird actions of the young boy, Celia was about to take her first step away from Deim when Deim suddenly grab her hand but this time, it was too forceful that Celia even flinched.

“What’s the problem with you, Deim? First, you made me guess the wrong answer why you’re here, second, you wouldn’t even tell me the reason why this place is dangerous and third you’re acting very weird right now!” Although Celia wanted to shout completely, she controlled her tone because it would seem that she would create a hysterical if things would go awry for the two of them, and yet, when she looked at Deim, he seemed… calm?

It questioned her why she ever even made him her friend in the first place…

“You know what? Forget it Deim---”

“Don’t go there, Celia. That place is dangerous”

“How do you even know?”