Third POV

Soon after that, Lady Tresor and the Crown Prince's Engament was annulled and spread through the whole Empire. Many aristocrats take this chance to let their son or daughter marry either Calista or Axel.

But the moment Axel announce his new Engament with Carla Darinne, every aristocrats targeted Calista to marry her to their son.

Of course, everyone would assumed all of this information is unpredictable and Axel's change of attitude confused them.

-

"She doesn't want to get out from her room?" Xander asked to Anne with a raised eyebrow as Anne sadly nodded.

Xander sigh as he burst into the room making Anne surprised. "Y-young Master Grimes!" she shouted to stop him but it didn't affect him as he walk towards Calista who is sitting hopelessly on the floor.

Xander look at her as he knelt down, matching the same height as her. "Good day, Calista." he greeted her with a light smile.

Calista lift her head to be greeted by his warm look. "..Xander...?"

"Yep, it's me." Xander said while pointing at himself. "So, did you get this depressed after Axel dump you?" he joked with a wide grin.

Calista's gaze directed downward. "...I don't know... what to do anymore..." she said hopelessly making Xander sigh.

"Show me your right fingers." he said making Calista look at him confusedly. "Just show it to me." he said as Calista nodded and handed out her right hand.

Xander sigh as he look at the ring on her ring finger. "If she's angry, she can just throw this stupid ring somewhere." he thought and look at her.

He suddenly pull out the ring from her finger making Calista's eyes widen.

"W-what are you doing...!?"

Xander stood up and look down at her. "Look at this, Calista." he said with a serious expression and throw the ring towards the window direction that is opened.

"A-are you crazy!?" Calista shouted crazily as she stood up and look at him with wide eyes.

Xander observe her for a moment and burst into laughter making Calista furrow her brows.

"I didn't really throw this ring." he said between laughter while showing the ring.

"It's just a fake act." he wink at her playfully as her jaw dropped.

"W-why did you do that!?"

"Axel is not the type to say 'I love you' to someone wholeheartedly and act as nice as he can around them." he explained while looking at her.

"B-but-" before Calista could finish her lines, Xander beat her to it.

"Trust me. Axel really loves you."

"........."

"So are you telling me he did all that bad things to you without a reason?" he asked with a sigh while looking at the confused Calista.

Then, his lips form into a smile. "Why don't you see things from his perspective and wait for him?" he asked as he grab her right hand. "You have to chase him again and beat him up to make him realise that the only way to get through the problems is..." he put the ring back on her finger.

"To face it together with you."

Calista's eyes widen in realisation as she realise that everything didn't always flow like how it should be. Just like the original novel.

Xander wipe her tears and look at her with a smile. "So stop crying and move forward to face them head on. You're not alone, I'm here for you." he said while patting her head gently.

"Axel is trying to fight for your love. And you should do that for him too."

Calista look at him with wide eyes and as tears start to form again on her eyes. She hug him tightly as he just smile and pat her back to comfort her.

"That's right... I won't be fooled. Axel must have a reason and that reason didn't support him at all!"

"Yes, yes. You know Axel better than anyone, make sure you knock him off and makes him realise or I'll gladly do it for you!" Xander said confidently as Calista laugh.

"Thank you, Xander." she thanked him. "Xander, I want you to do me a favour."

"What is it?" Xander asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Can you access all messages that goes to Axel and copy them?"

"Easy."

-

Xander exit Calista's room and notice that Vincent is standing infornt of Calista's door. Xander smiled at him.

"You heard everything right?" Xander asked casually with a sigh while putting his hands on the back of his head.

"Yeah. But don't you think this is a perfect timing? For you to talk bad about Prince Axelion and make Calista hates him?" he asked bluntly as Xander widen his eyes and chuckled.

"You know... her happiness is my top priority. She'll be more than happy if she's with Axel. That idiot Axel must have a good reason why he caused this big drama. Or he just used his feelings too much and forgot to use his brains."

Vincent sigh in defeat at Xander reply. "Don't you feel jealous?" he asked while scratching the back of his head. "Don't you ever feel jealous or something like that?" he asked to Xander again as Xander look at him and smile.

"Everyday."

Vincent just look at Xander questioningly, confused of his reply.

-

Calista's eyes widen at Oliver's presence. "Oliver!? You're here!?" she asked with wide eyes.

Oliver walk towards her and give her a basket of chocolate much to Calista's pleasure.

"...this is ....delicious." he said, probably trying to make her feel better after Axel annul their engagement.

Calista look at him as tears threaten to fall down from happiness. "Aweee, thank you so much!" she give him a side hug while holding the basket.

"...don't worry, I'm on your side."

Calista smiled at him. "I'm glad to hear that. Are you coming over to help me with my work?" she asked him with a toothy smile.

Oliver's eyes widen in surprised and did not expect that at all. He want to decline it but after he look at her tired figure and the dark circles under her eyes, he couldn't bring himself to reject her offer.

He slightly nod as an answer.

"Really!? Thank you!!!" Calista thanked him cheerfully.

Oliver just glad that Calista is still Calista.

But then, his eyes widen in surprised as blood starts to fall from Calista's eyes and run down her cheek.

"...Lady Calista!" for the first time, he shouted loudly towards her, panicked.

Calista look at him confusedly and touch the liquid that run down on her cheek. Her eyes went wide as soon as she realises that it's her blood.

-

Axel asks whoever knock on his door to come in. Lance walk towards him as Axel sigh.

"What do you want?" he asked with a tired expression.

"I like Lady Calista." he blurted out bluntly making Axel's eyes widen in surprised.

Axel stood up from his seat and grab his collar angrily. "...can you repeat that again?" he asked with bulging eyes as Lance smirked at him.

"She's not your fiancee anymore, so why bother to get angry?" he asked making Axel's eyes widen in realisation. Lance forcefully slap Axel's hand away from him and look at him with a serious expression.

"Prince Axelion, I just visit Calista days ago and her condition worsen." he said making Axel look at him with wide eyes.

"But do you know what she talked about that day? She only talked about you, Axel here, Axel there, Axel this, Axel must have a reason." he said while looking at Axel.

"I can't say that your decision was right neither wrong nonetheless the reason. And you know better than anyone if you truly loves her, then the two of you should get through this alone!" he shouted as Axel look at him as guilt take over him.

"What did they say to threaten you huh!? If they threaten something like they would kill Lady Calista tomorrow who cares!" he shouted angrily. "You don't have to care about that! You're the Crown Prince of this Empire! If he threatened with something that you desperately want, then threaten them back and torture him or whatsoever until you get want you want! That's how politics work!"

Axel's eyes widen in realisation on Lance's words as he clench his fist and chuckled. "You're right..." he sigh of relief. "If you're Xander, you would probably punch me to make me realise, but I think I'm too stupid and ashamed if he come see me now." he look at Lance.

"I guess I have to forgot and stop worrying about my feelings and start to use my brain." he said as Lance smiled satisfyingly.

"53 days." he said making Axel look at him questioningly.

"Calista said that it's 53 days again before her marriage with you." he smiled as Axel laugh inappropriately and his lowered his head down in guilt. "She remembered..."

"I'm waiting for that day to come so don't screw everything's up." Lance said while looking at him.

Axel nodded. "I should send Calista a letter." he thought with a sigh. And look at Lance."Geez Lance, if you're the traitor here, I'm sure I can forgive you 0,5%."

-

Axel's eyes widened in surprised. "A-all herbalist and doctors from the Wachers Town was killed!?" he asked with wide eyes.

"Yes. Their death was quite tragic and inappropriate. But we already have them a better burial. It seems that Viscount Darinne knows that you're searching for best herbalist and doctors to cure Lady Calista." Kaleine explained.

"He knew!? But I ask Kaleine to investigate it and leave the 5 Knights alone. Damn it! Who's the one that gives secret information as he please...!?" he girt his teeth and torn the papers into pieces.

"Find any herbalist or doctors that has the talent or the antidote! I swear I would chop that Viscount's head off!" he shouted angrily while slamming the table.

"...Actually..." Kaleine started as turned his head towards Axel. "...From what I got, one of the 5 Royal Knights movement is quite suspicious. Yesterday night, he send this message to unknown someone but I manage to get the message." Kaleine explained as Axel stood up from his seat.

"Where?"

"This." Kaleine give him the message as Axel take it and read the short message.

╭───── • ◆ • ─────╮

If you achieve your goals, Please give the antidote to the Crown Prince immediately.

╰───── • ◆ • ─────╯

....

Axel found out who is the traitor.

He clench the papers on his fist and laugh inappropriately at the news. "Haha... him. The least unexpected." he grin widely follow by another laugh. "fucking... traitor.....!"

"......"

He sigh tiredly and sit on his rightful place. "Whoa..." he faked his gasp and turned his head towards the night sky. "I guess betrayal goes everywhere. Pfft- the one who stab behind my back is my own trusted comrade. Well, what would I expected..." he shrugged and narrow his eyes.

"Maybe I should put him into the list of people I should kill, I never imagine the traitor would be......"

-

"Drake?"

Calista asked with wide eyes while looking at Drake. Her body is getting heavier to sit up so she just lay on her bed while looking at his figure. Drake give her a 'shshh' and Calista nod in understanding.

"Lady Calista, are you feeling better or anything?" he asked.

Calista look at him with a broad grin because her mood turns better after she read the letter from Axel and their relationship get better.

"Hahaha! Even though some parts of my body hurts and it's getting harder to do something or blood were to run down my eyes, I think I'm fine." she chuckled. "Actually, according to Axel, the poison is running through my body and one of the 5 is a traitor..."

Drake just look at her pathetic state. Even though she's sick, she still smiled like nothing happened and she look a little skinny.

Then, Calista look at him with a light smile. "So Drake, what are you doing here?"