As Reinhardt extended his hand and urged her, Etienne quickly approached and firmly shook hands with him.

She held on, but with Fernando’s concerns, Etienne didn’t know what to do. When left alone with Fernando, Etienne couldn’t say anything.

All she had hidden from him was that she was dating Reinhardt, but since Fernando knew about it, there was nothing else to say.

Rejecting him wasn’t because she was dating Reinhardt; she never intended to reconnect with Fernando from the start. Those emotions were laid to rest when she died, and there was no reason to revive them.

While holding Reinhardt’s hand, Etienne fidgeted with her fingers. When Reinhardt pulled her hand, Etienne ended up behind him.

It was as if she was hiding behind Reinhardt’s back. Looking at Reinhardt and Fernando, Reinhardt spoke to Etienne, who held her breath.

“Etienne. Would you go back to the room for now?”

“The room?”

“Yeah. I’ll come to whichever room you’re in. So, go ahead.”

Etienne realized Reinhardt’s intention to leave only Fernando and her alone. She hesitated for a moment before slowly stepping back from the two.

Later, she turned around and ran away entirely. With Etienne gone, Reinhardt and Fernando were the only ones left.

Reinhardt spoke first.

“The atmosphere between those two seemed quite tense earlier. You’re not upset that I’m dating her, are you?”

“That’s correct, but.”
Fernando didn’t deny it. Reinhardt, sensing that this composed response might shake the precarious situation, cut in sharply.

“Give up on Etienne.”

“I can’t give up.”

Reinhardt frowned at Fernando’s neat response.

“Why can’t you give up?”

“I find it unfair for all the time I’ve liked Etienne until now. So, I just can’t give up.”

“Is it unfair?”

Reinhardt laughed as if Fernando’s words were absurd. However, his eyes showed no signs of amusement.

“How long has it been since you liked Etienne? Well, regardless of the time, what’s important?”

Reinhardt smirked, openly taunting Fernando as if he was trying to hurt his feelings.

“It can’t compare to the time Etienne liked you. But what’s there to regret?”

Fernando squinted his eyes. It was because he couldn’t understand Reinhardt’s words. However, Reinhardt had no intention of explaining kindly.

“The time you had a one-sided love is over. It’s your fault for not seizing the opportunity back then.”

“What are you talking about?”

Fernando sharply glared as if telling Reinhardt to speak properly, but Reinhardt spoke mockingly.

“Think about it. And don’t touch Etienne anymore.”

“I will take Etienne away from you.”

As Reinhardt turned away, Fernando defiantly declared. He glared at Reinhardt as if he would never accept the relationship between the two.

“Are you challenging me?”
“Even if it comes to that, I will do whatever it takes to take Etienne away.”

“What about Etienne’s feelings?”

Reinhardt turned to face Fernando again, throwing a sharp question.

“Seems like her feelings are indifferent.”

“Etienne’s feelings can be soothed later.”

Reinhardt chuckled as if he found it amusing, then tilted his head.

“So, you’re going to snatch it because she doesn’t accept your feelings? Pushing feelings aside until later? Oh, you, betrayed in love, are quite a pitiful bastard.”

Reinhardt mocked, touching his forehead, and spoke with a cold expression.

“I hope that feeling is manifested through action. The moment it happens, the gap between you and me will become insurmountable.”

Reinhardt warned Fernando not to act recklessly and left the place.

Left alone, Fernando clenched his fist tightly. He shivered as he glared at the spot where Reinhardt had been.

“Tsk.”

At that moment, someone’s voice was heard. It was Rudby, whom they thought had left. He approached Fernando, murmuring while looking at the spot where Reinhardt and he stood together.

“There’s no need to hesitate, right? If you just endure it, Etienne will be yours forever.”

He gently smiled and placed his hand on Fernando’s shoulder.

“You like Etienne, right? No, you love her. So, there’s only one way to possess her. Take her away from him.”
“…Etienne will resist coming.”

“Just now, he acted like he could handle Etienne’s feelings by soothing them later. What’s the problem? Rather than the feelings, what’s more important is keeping her by your side.”

Fernando turned his head for the first time and locked eyes with Rudby. As if Rudby knew he would be seen, he smiled slightly and spoke.

“But it won’t be easy. After all, the opponent is the Crown Prince.”

Rudby shrugged his shoulders and continued, and Fernando listened carefully, furrowing his eyebrows.

“If you make a surprise attack… or something.”

Rudby’s very faint remark quickly disappeared, but Fernando heard it clearly. His pupils were shaking.

“Now is the quietest and noisiest time. So, don’t miss this opportunity.”

Rudby tapped Fernando’s shoulder a couple of times, then approached him closely and whispered in his ear.

“Don’t forget. The only way to take Etienne from the Crown Prince is to kill him.”

If you can’t kill him, you’ll have to handle the rest yourself.