Chapter 229 - Ch. 229 How Are You Two Together? (2) (1/2)

Ch. 229 How Are You Two Together? (2)

With the tournament over, Elena took off Derek’s armor and quickly changed back into her dress. She headed towards the safe room where her brother was resting. Thanks to Carlisle’s secret transfer, Elena was able to safely go to Derek’s side without being noticed by anyone else. Not long after she arrived, her brother began to stir in his bed.

“…Uhmm.”

Elena quickly approached him, her eyebrows knitted in anxiety.

“Brother, are you all right?”

Derek’s eyes opened a slit, and he peered at Elena in confusion.

“Your Highness? Oh, the match…!”

Derek remembered that he had lost consciousness and quickly tried to sit up. However, Elena grabbed her brother by the shoulder and tried to coax him back down.

“Don’t worry about the tournament.”

“How long have I been asleep? I have to get ready—”

“The tournament is already over.”

“…What?”

“And the winner is…is you, brother.”

He looked at her disbelief, and Elena spoke again.

“I…I ordered someone to take your place.”

“Y-Your Highness.”

Derek spoke in an uncharacteristically shaky voice. His expression was contorted as if he couldn’t believe the events that were explained to him.

“How did you find someone? What will you do if anyone finds out? It’s a violation of the rules for sometime to compete in another’s place.”

Elena frowned inwardly as she listened to her brother’s reprimand. He was a man of integrity, and would probably have been satisfied with a death in the battlefield. Derek was honorable to a fault.

Elena was different however; she could not lose Derek over something like honor. If he wouldn’t forfeit from a life-threatening tournament, then Elena was forced to stop him from competing.

“You told me you would be my most powerful ally.”

“…”

“You said you would fight for me in the future. Are you going to throw away your life just because of a tournament?”

“…Your Highness.”

“I want you to live. Please…stay by my side.”

In Elena’s previous life, Derek had sacrificed himself so she could escape. Many years afterwards, she blamed her brother for leaving her to survive by herself. Derek was the kind of man who would want a righteous death, and selfishly, she could not allow it to happen again. She would never lose a single family member.

“This may not be how you wanted to win. But please…don’t leave me alone.”

“…”

“I don’t want you to die an honorable death. Live your life and give me your strength.”

Derek listened to Elena’s words in silence, before finally speaking slowly.

“…I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

Elena’s heart sank. He seemed to be apologizing for not being able to do what she asked of him. However, his words continued from there.

“Even though I pledged to serve you, my foolish thoughts diverted me from my promise.”