Maximillan's view

"Hays. That girl." I muttered after seeing Lilian and Claude leave.

I was about to leave my spot someone pulled my shoulders. "What- Winter?"

He smiled at me brightly. "Hello, old friend. Haha." He greeted.

"I didn't see you earlier when we arrived." I said.

"I think I was at the castle garden when you and your sister arrived." He explained.

I raised my eyebrows. "I see. Ditching your girls, huh." I jokingly said and he just laughed.

"Nah, brother. People here keeps talking about political shits. You know I hate those. By the way, I met your sister earlier before his future husband interfered. She seems different." He said.

"How different?" I asked. "Her aura seems to be lighter than usual. Like, an angel possessed her body." He joked.

"And?"

"Just that. OH! I want to ask you a question that's why I came to find you after meeting your sister." He spoke.

"Sure, go ahead. What is it?" I said, waiting.

"Did your sister had an amnesia? Or maybe you and your father called a professional magician to forget me?" He asked.

I scoffed. "That's nonsense, Win." I patted his shoulder.

But in my mind, I'm nervous. Aish! I told her to maintain her poker face and avoid the son of Marquess Romanus because he is Maxlilian ex-boyfriend. Maybe when she saw Winter earlier, she was dumbstruck. Winter is handsome though and many girls fall for him. Can't blame Anne.

"Seriously, Max. Are you and Duke Agreste holding a grudge on me? Because when I approached her earlier alone because she doesn't look good, I saw her eyes similar when we first met 3 years ago." He explained.

"Win, you are still my friend after what you did to my sister and I told you to move on. Claude could kill you-"

Wait.

Oh no! Claude and... Shit! Why didn't I follow the two earlier?! I forgot she is not my sister spiritually and mentally. I'm too careless. She could be in danger.

"I know that Max. But her eyes-"

"Let's talk about it some other day, okay? I need to find my sister first. She's with the De Ville." I said.

He looked at me suspiciously. "Sure! Send me an invitation. I'm available anytime." He said the smiled at me.

I nodded and patted his shoulder. We both part ways.

As soon as I saw father, I approached him at the corner of the ballroom with the Marquess having a deep conversation.

"Good day Marquess Romanus, but can I talk to my father?" I asked for permission.

"Of course, Lord Maximillan." He said, smiling. He's just like Winter.

We both bowed to each other and the Marquess left.

"What is it, son?"

"Father, I lost Maxlilian." I hesitantly said.

He looked at me in shock. "What?!" He shouted quietly.

"She left with Claude. To be precise, they left 12 minutes ago." I said.

Father tsk-ed. "You slacked off, didn't you?" He placed his glass on the table beside him.

"No, father. I got too careless." I looked down.

"It's the same. I'll lecture you later. But first, let's find the two." He brushed his hair backwards.

I followed him while my eyes roamed everywhere. As we head upstairs, we saw a girl running towards us.

"Duke Agreste! Lord Maximillan! Help!" She shouted.

She almost tripped in front of father, but I stepped forward and caught her. Knowing father, he will just dodge this girl. The girl raised her head to look at me.

Its Count Henry's daughter.

"Lady Hilary, what happened?" I asked.

"Don't waste your time on that girl. We need to find your sister." Father said.

"I know where she is! That's why I came to find you Duke and Lord Maximillan." Hilary exclaimed.

Father looked at her. "Speak."

"They're at the terrace. Hurry! Before the Crown Prince could kill Lady Maxlilian!"

We widened our eyes. Father immediately ran away in full speed, leaving me.

"Thank you, Lady Hilary. I better get going too." I said and ran.

When I got there, I saw Maxlilian on the ground gasping for air and coughing. While Claude is on the ground with blood on his lips. Father must've punched him.

"Sis!" I hugged her. "Are you okay?!"

Damn, when was the last time I saw my sister had bruises. It hurts me.

"I'm f-fine." She said. Her voice sounds hoarse. "Don't worry, you're safe now." I put her arms around my neck and carried her.

"Tell me the whole thing later." I whispered.

I looked at father's direction. "Teacher." Claude said.

"You have the audacity to hurt my child, Crown Prince." I glanced at my sister. She looks confused.

"I voluntarily chose you to become my daughter's husband because I know you wouldn't hurt her. How disappointing." He removed his gloves and just threw it away effortlessly.

I think we should leave. "Let's go, I'll explain too later." I said and ran inside.

"Lord Maximillan! Is Lady Maxlilian okay?" I saw from afar its Hilary. "Yes, she's fine. Thank you again, Lady Hilary." She just smiled at me.

"Oh! You can use the guest room that I use. I insist." She said, leading the way.

Hilary is one of my childhood friend and my rival back at the Royal Academy. She is my rival when it comes to academics. She's very intelligent though. A geek. Hilary got it from her mother, Countess Gizelle. But one day, Hilary suddenly dropped out from the academy and never contacted me again.

As time goes by, I finally understood why she dropped out. Her mother always wanted her daughter to stay on top at the academy, but because of me she's always second. She got to the top thrice but only for the meantime. As we grow, our closeness disappeared.

I met her again, when sister arranged a tea party at the manor. I didn't know Hilary was invited that time. After their tea party, She approached me first, only to greet me. That's the first time she used honorifics at me. That day, she started calling me 'Lord Maximillan".

"We're here." Hilary said, opening the door for us. The room is big. I placed sister at the bed. She's still holding her neck.

"I'm going to call the palace doctor. I'll be back." Hilary spoke and left.

Suddenly, I felt sister's hand touch mine. "I-I'm sorry M-ax. I s-should've left with Claude e-earlier." She said, having a hard time to talk. Her eyes turned red and her bruises are very visible because sister's skin is pale as white. She can't go out in this state.

"It's okay. Don't force yourself to talk. It'll only make your voice box worsen." I patted her head.

She just nodded. What a long day.