Third POV

Xander look at Calista with wide eyes. She, who look tired and sick, with no energy left and push all she has to come all the way there to block Xander from beating Brandon. Brandon also look at Calista with wide eyes, there's a hint of shock and disbelief in his eyes that his former master would stood up for him.

"...What.. are you doing.. Xander?" Calista asked while looking at Xander with a dissapointed expression. Her voice was soothing but you can hear the dissapointment she has.

Xander clench his fist and grit his teeth. He lost his patience because of Brandon and unable to speak sweet or croaked out a soft voice for Calista. "Beating him! He's a traitor! He's the one that makes you in this pathetic condition!" he shouted angrily while pointing at Brandon who is behind Calista.

"What are you... saying Xander....?" Calista look at him with a warm smile. "...There are no traitor... among my Knights..." she said making all of them widen their eyes. It's true that according to Calista, there are no traitor even though Brandon's latest actions made her feel more worthless as a master.

"...Lady Calista, he's the one who killed your parents!" Lance shouted loud and clear angrily while looking at Brandon with bulging eyes.

Calista turned her head slowly towards Brandon. "...Is that true?" she asked making Brandon widen his eyes in fear. She knew what happened around her, she knew, yet, she doesn't even have the slightest grudge against Brandon.

"...Y-yes....... I killed them... I killed your parents...!" he shouted as he confessed one of his crimes. He just felt like a weight on his shoulder has gone and he's kinda relief that he said it out loud.

Calista smiled at him. "..That must take a lot.. of courage.. to say." she smiled sadly towards him as Brandon look at her with wide eyes.

She completely understand how he feels. Even though if she didn't, she will try to understand and see everything on his perspective because it's the most important thing.

"Calista! He tried to manipulate you in order to change the Imperial Family!" Xander shouted towards her and look at Brandon spitefully. For Xander, he's blinded by rage and he doesn't need any reason to make himself to come and understand Brandon because he thought it's not important.

Calista look at Brandon and give him a pitiful look. "...I'm sorry." she apologised wholeheartedly to Brandon making him look at her, confused.

Why would she be the one who's apologising when Brandon should be the one to apologise?

"What are you apologising for!? It's all my fault!"

"...I'm sorry that I ...failed getting to ..know you... better..." she said as she lower her gaze. Yes, Calista felt like she's responsible as well. Brandon is one of her knights yet, she doesn't even try to know him better. He is one of her people and Calista treasure him as one of her knights.

"...but I'm sure in your perspective, what you did and... trying to... change the Imperial family... and if it's for the better..." she smiled as she raised her head to look at him confidently.

"Then... It's a righteous act."

Brandon eyes widen in surprised. How could Calista say all of that after what he did? He betrayed her and she feel responsible for that!?

"It's disgraceful! Please don't say anything anymore! I beg you!" tears start to form down from his eyes to his cheek. "...i killed your parents..." he doesn't want to hear anymore of it.

He's sick of himself the more Calista defended him. How guilt take over him becomes thousand times heavier.

Calista look at him with a sad look. "They're not my real parents though.. but even so, I feel warmth even just for a moment. I'm not really close with them as well... so it's not really painful when they're gone..." she thought with a sad smile. Thinking that she's grateful to have a wonderful parents by her side even though it's just for a moment.

"I'm sure ...you have a reason ...to come here..." she said while looking at him, implying that he has something to say that he comes to the Tresor Dukedom.

Brandon lower his gaze as he take something from his pocket. "...antidote.." he said with a quiet voice. "If.. you drink this... It will not hurt your internal organs and breaking spinal cord, instead, it's going to heal very fast." he explained, slightly panicked that she won't accept it.

"How can we trust you!?" Drake shouted at Brandon angrily as Calista smiled at Drake as Drake quickly shut his mouth.

It's to be expected.

They wouldn't carelessly just take the antidote and let Calista drink it, right?

"...I trust you Brandon... thank you.." she said while receiving the antidote as the others widen their eyes.

"Lady Calista!"

"...Brandon... If I get better... Would you be.. my knight again?" she asked as all of them widen their eyes.

"I... I committed unforgiv-" before Brandon could finish his lines, Calista beat him to it.

"...I don't mind."

She doesn't mind.

His eyes widen. Calista raise her head and look at Oliver. "Oliver, please treat Brandon's wound..." she ordered as Oliver give her a slight bow.

Without further notice, Calista fell on her knees because she couldn't stand any longer making them widen their eyes and rushed towards her worriedly as panic take over them.

-

"Brandon send the Viscount here?" Axel asked while looking at Kaleine.

Kaleine nodded. "Yes. He's not dead but he has some severe stab wounds. What should we do?" he asked while looking at Axel.

"Hang his body infront of the Imperial Gate until he starved himself to death. He would be a good example if someone dares to do something like this again." Axel sigh tiredly, dealing with the recent problems. "How is Calista's condition?"

"...Brandon came to the Dukedom and Sir Grimes create quite a scene with him. To cut it short, Brandon give Lady Calista the antidote and-"

"He gives her the antidote!? How can you all trust him after what he did!?" Axel asked as he stood up from his seat.

Kaleine sigh. "Lady Calista is he one who believed him. And surprisingly, after she drink that antidote, she's slowly recovering. We also know what kind of poison that went through her body just by observing the antidote. And what the Viscount said was true. It's a real rare poison and the antidote is really hard to find." he explained as Axel nodded, sigh of relief, signing him to continue.

"The poison can make the body hurt internal organs and breaking spinal cord, causing intern bleeding. That's why it explains why Lady Calista always having a nosebleed. And that antidote did otherwise and her condition is getting better."

"So, where is Brandon?"

"Oliver currently treating his wounds from Sir Grimes beating."

Axel's eyes widen in surprised. "Treat his wounds!? I want him to have the same fate as that Viscount Darinne!"

"...Lady Calista is the one who ordered Oliver to treat his wounds. She even said that if she recovers, she want Brandon as her personal knight again." he said making Axel facepalm and sigh afterwards.

-

Axel and Calista meet for the first time after their argument. It's quite awkward but at the same time, comfortable.

The awkwardness didn't last long though.

Calista give Axel a high five as the two of them smiled widely at each other. "Our plan worked...!" she cheered and wink at him.

Axel just sigh as he pat her head. "I'm just glad that you're getting better and I'm terribly sorry for your lost."

Calista smiled back. "...That's alright."

That's true, all they did in the complicated process was finding information without anyone knowing.

The truth is, Axel told a day after his argument with Calista the whole truth and Calista understand very well that he's using his brains. He just wanted to find out who is the traitor, that's all. But if they failed, then it's game over for both of them.

Axel sigh as he scratch the back of his head. "Thank you for trusting me." he said with a light smile.

Calista return the smile. "Your welcome."

It's their little drama, but it's a story for another day.

-

*Months Later

Axel look at Calista with a smile. "Are you feeling better?" he asked worriedly.

Calista chuckled. "I'm a lot better. You already ask this a thousand times." she said while looking at him with a toothy grin.

"Well, I'm guilty." he said with a slight sadness. Then, he pulled Calista into a side hug. "I'm sorry." he apologised again for who knows how long.

"What are you apologising for?"

"For making you mad at me and for everything that happened."

"I was never angry with you. I'm just trying to figure out what went wrong. And you told me what happened the day after you annul our engagement with a secret informan." she said with a smile, indicating Xander.

"But thank you for making your feelings the first of all. But use your brain next time." Calista said making him chuckled.

"Yes, yes~" he nodded nonchalantly while leaning himself comfortably on her shoulder.

Calista smiled. "You know that I tried hard to survive those days." she said with a playful sad smile. "I even sleep through the whole day to get better but it's pointless." she laugh as he look at her questioningly and smile afterwards.

"And...! I'm quite excited that our marriage is 14 days more." she cheered as Axel nodded.

After that day, everything's getting better. The Darinne Household fall into ruin, the Tresor Dukedom was temporarily dismissed until they have a heir to continue the Dukedom but Calista is currently managing them together with the help of Oliver.

Oliver is helping Calista managing the Dukedom until her marriage.

Lance become the captain of Tresor Ducal and train the new knights for the better.

Nathan is training under Kaleine to gather more valuable informations and managing fiances or documents. As well training his swordsmanship for the better.

Drake is on his training ground as usual as the Royal Knights, training the new knights that is going to become a Royal Knight.

Brandon was thrown in jail for his crimes and contemplate his faults but that only last 1 year because of Calista. Nonetheless, Calista ask Axel to give Brandon regular meals and treated him like a human being when he's being arrested.

And like Axel said, the Viscount was hung at the gate of Imperial Palace until his death.

Eventually, Calista and Axel got married 14 days after that and when Axel turned 20, he ascended to the throne and become the new Emperor, Calista the new Empress.

Let's just say that everything goes well.

Surprisingly, Catherine married to Vincent but it's a story for another day. Vincent is also the current Marquess that manage the Ward Household.

What makes them more surprised, Xander got engaged to Aliza by political marriage. They often argue and fight each other though. Even though Xander treat her more like a little sister than a wife.

But a happy ending doesn't always last long.

___________________

See ya all on the Last Chapter.