“…What did you say?”

“Honestly, I don’t quite understand why you want to be Lady Bella’s bodyguard. Surely, there must be a reason why the Lord has assigned you to Lady Bella, but it doesn’t seem like it’s for the purpose of protecting her in the Rose Palace.”

“Mind your own business. It has nothing to do with you.”

“No, it does. Because I hold Lady Bella in my heart. As a fiancé and as a man.”

Facing Cain’s serious expression, Raven’s emotions became complicated.

In human age, they were both 12 years old.

However, considering the years they had lived, Raven was perplexed about how to accept the innocence of the vampire boy, who had a difference of more than six times in their lifetimes.

Although he thought he had matured more than his peers through various experiences, liking someone was something he had not experienced until now.

“So, please give up the bodyguard position, Raven. If there’s anything you want, I’ll do it for you. Just thinking about you being with Lady Bella all day long makes me sick to my stomach.”

“Sick to your stomach. Quite a fresh choice of words for a noble’s precious child.”

“I was just expressing my feelings honestly. What will you do? Will you grant my request?”

In fact, it was a problem that didn’t need much thought.

Bella and Raven were already in a situation where they couldn’t be separated, whether it was because of the binding magic or not.

‘What would happen if I told him about the binding magic?’

Maybe he would go to Bella’s father himself and ask for that magic to be cast on him.

Despite appearing as a polite young nobleman, Cain had a considerable tendency towards madness, and Raven had noticed it long ago.

“I don’t need anything in return. I didn’t volunteer to be Lady Bella’s bodyguard for such things.”

“…Are you refusing my request?”

“Yeah. I have no intention of giving up, so you better give up.”

With a firm response, Cain ground his teeth in frustration.

Raven watched him getting angry with a cheerful mood, as if enjoying the sight of his anger.

At this point, being under the spell of the binding magic felt surprisingly pleasing.

Cain, who seemed to have everything, had grasped an opportunity that he could never have.

“It won’t work. If I can’t persuade you, I’ll plead directly with Lady Bella. Ask her to hire me as her bodyguard.”

“That’s difficult. And here’s a piece of advice: you have to persuade the governess Sioné first. She genuinely cares about Bella’s safety.”

“Are you saying that I might harm Lady Bella?”

“Anyway, you’re an outsider. I live in the Rose Palace, and I’m close to Bella’s room. How about you? Can you give up your family and choose to enter the palace?”

At the question, Cain’s face turned red in an instant.
He seemed to open his mouth as if to counter something, but ended up closing it without saying anything. Apparently, Cain still had many responsibilities before leaving the house.

“…I’ve been thinking for a while. Raven, you’re truly detestable. Do you know that? I’ve always been jealous of you from the beginning till now.”

“What do you have to be jealous of me? I don’t have anything.”

“From my perspective, it’s the same as having everything. Because I can always be with her.”

Before Raven could respond, Cain quickly turned his back towards the secret passage through which Bella would return.

It was as if he wanted to catch another glimpse of Bella’s face even if it was just for one more second.

“I hope you fail the Royal Knights’ exam, Raven. If you pass in one go, my stomach might hurt too much.”

“Being honest like this weirdly makes me feel relieved. I wonder if Bella knows that you’re actually such a sinister guy?”

“Even if everyone else in the world knows, I’ll make sure she never finds out. I always want to be a kind and good person in front of her.”

“Do you want to impress Bella that much?”

“Of course. Rather than being hated by her, I’d rather become the kingdom’s greatest villain.”

Cain’s appearance as he spoke like that was so irritatingly cool.

Even if Raven hated him, it was an unchanging fact that Cain was quite an impressive individual.

In a way, he was even confessing his feelings for Bella to himself, who considered Cain a rival.

‘I want to become a better person than him. Someone who would be considered impressive by anyone who sees him.’

For Raven, who wasn’t a vampire or a noble, there was only one way to gain fame and honor.

It was to become a member of the Royal Knights, who could enter if he had the ability, and be recognized as the best.

‘Cain has already received an official appointment as a knight.’

Starting from a junior knight, there was a significant difference between him and Raven, who needed to start from the beginning.

Although he had talent with a sword, as mentioned by Walter, he would have to put in much more effort than others if he wanted to achieve his dreams, given the handicap he already had.

Raven clenched his fist and made a firm resolution.

He decided that he would become the kingdom’s best knight, not as a disciple of Walter or Cain.