“Why? Why would Brother come all the way to this place…?”

After taking a wobbly step back, Theodore looked at Rishe.

“No way, for you?”

“Your Highness Arnold. I’ve been expecting you.”

When Rishe bowed to Arnold, Theodore’s face got distorted abhorrently, then he looked up at him with a bitter expression.

“It’s all a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding, Brother! I didn’t mean what I said earlier. I just wanted to get along with Sister-in-law and that’s why I tried to scare her a little!”

“Theodore.”

“!”

He called out his brother’s name with a low voice.

Theodore kept his mouth shut at that, gulped and shushed.

“I ordered you to stay away from Rishe, didn’t I?”

“…”

Arnold’s eyes that were looking down on his brother were cold to the core.

Not a single hint of emotion lurked in them, yet that gaze was terrifying. The tension, smacked of the tip of a sword pointed at his throat, made even Rishe, who was only watching, breathless.

“I’m sorry, Brother.” Theodore bowed deeply with a shudder racking his entirety. But even with such a display, to Rishe, Arnold looked uninterested in any of it.

“Rishe, let’s go.”

“Please wait, Your Highness. I just need to talk to your brother for a few more minutes.”

“There’s no need.”

“But…”

What exactly was going on between them?

Based on his earlier excuses, Theodore didn’t seem to want to totally break ties with his brother. On the other hand, Arnold showed no signs of concern for his brother.

His Highness Theodore wanted to make me fear Arnold Hein. What for?

“Rishe.”

“Yes?”

It was unlikely that she could keep Arnold back any longer.

She was about to give up and walk towards the door where he was, when something happened.

“Ha…”

In a tiny little voice, Theodore muttered.

“I knew it. I was right, wasn’t I, sister-in-law.?

“What?”The moment she heard that, a chill ran down her spine.

Rishe looked at Theodore as if she had been played. And for the first time, she realized that the reason he was shaking all over wasn’t out of fear.

He was laughing?

It was a beautiful smile, somehow bewitchingly dim and lovely.

“I’m really sorry, Big Brother.”

Theodore looked up, and this time, he looked at his brother seriously.

“I’ll be gone from this place. I don’t think that’s going to be enough to convey my remorse, though.”

“Your Highness, Theodore…”

“I’m sorry to have startled you, sister-in-law. I won’t say anything mean like that anymore.

Then, after thanking Rishe, Theodore said to his brother, “Good night, Brother. It’s a pleasure to have seen you up close after a long time.”

“…”

Theodore walked out of the chapel, past Arnold.

Rishe remained a little perturbed, replaying the smile Theodore had shown her earlier.

With only the two of them left in the chapel, Arnold spoke first.

“I’ve warned you the same way, Rishe.”

He should be pertaining to that same “Stay away” warning.