Brooke's Priority
Chapter 38's

It's not easy to assuage other people's interest in bad rumors about you.

I walked straight ahead without noticing around me. I ignored those who looked at me with an irritating look. It started when I got word from Fanita that Carlo was looking for me and waiting for me in an old academy building that was usually used for storage of our weapons and protective equipment. Damn, Darshan chose books over accompanying me to meet Carlo. Lucas and Alex are also in the Kingdom's administrative office to begin their new duties. Those who have graduated will undergo training for one year in many positions before being inaugurated free from all affairs in the academy.

“If it wasn't for that nonsense, I wouldn't feel awkward meeting Carlo,” I muttered softly as I let out a long sigh. It felt strange to see Carlo just to straighten out the misunderstanding I was accused of.

I wondered if Carlo would ask me that later.

From a distance, I saw Carlo waving his hand at me. We've been pretty familiar the last few months and I don't want those silly rumors to make my efforts go to waste. I intend to make negotiations with him after gaining his trust. At least, that was my fifth priority.

Carlo's smile made my chest flutter.

“She should stop smiling,” I said slowly as I stepped wide closer to her. I don't want to be considered disrespectful for taking too long to make a Crown Prince wait for a long time.

“Why were you so long?” Carlo joked for a moment after I saluted him. “You're busier than me.”

“Don't look for me at rush hour,” I said casually. “What business is it?” I asked bluntly afterwards while observing a door that was held by Sir Oswald.

Normally, we were not allowed to keep our training equipment without his supervision or his assistant.

“Your nature looks like someone I know,” Carlo smiled again and opened the door. I was surprised to find that the door was not locked. “You both don't like to talk stale.”

“Sir Oswald gave you the keys?”

“Of course,” reply Carlo briefly. “Come in. There's something important I want to talk to you about. Fanita is also inside.”

“Fanita?”

As I recall, Fanita simply disappeared from the dining room after telling me about Carlo looking for me. He left without any guilt after putting me in a mess. How could he say the news in a strong voice without caring about the response of those around me. He really can't be my friend.

I followed Carlo into the room. Carlo then locked the door from the inside. Suddenly, I felt suspicious and hesitant to follow him.

“It's very secret, so no one should know.”

“The problem is people already know,” I said with a slightly irritated look. “Fanita as if announcing your arrival.”

Carlo laughed a little. “Other times I have to give a little order to keep the meeting place secret.”

Then I saw Carlo take down a picture of a horse and a sword as soon as we arrived at a room connected to the entrance. He knocked on the wall behind the painting and hit it until a secret door appeared

“Confidential room?” many surprised. Carlo nodded slowly.

I followed Carlo into the room. There was a light visible in the room. Carlo closed the door of the room before I realized who was sitting by the candlelight.

“Brooke,” Fanita called me.

I tried my hardest to penetrate the darkness of the room. The room was not much different from my secret expedition item storage at home. I then looked at Levin faintly.

“Levin,” says spontaneous.

I was stunned to see it. Levin just left me after driving me back to the market that night. He said he would not let me go north. Since then, I've been thinking about changing my plan where he's not included anymore (my patience is limited in terms of persuading others).

I turned around to find Carlo. He was already behind a chair right next to Levin.

He's not smiling.

“It feels good to see you confused,” Carlo looks haughty in my eyes. “Sit down, we can't be here long because of the announcement from Fanita.”

To me, right now Carlo sounds like he's insinuating Fanita. The three of them sat around a dusty rectangular table.

“What really happened here?”

“Girlpool deal,” reply Carlo. “Sit.”

Instantly I felt Carlo's voice unite with the air in the room and gave me goosebumps. Finally, I sat down next to Fanita.

“We'd better start talking about your plan to find Gordon Ficsher,” Carlo said.

“What?”

I looked at Carlo and Levin in turn.

Within a few seconds, I realized about their relationship. I then looked at Fanita who was staring at one of the candles on the dusty table. He just kept quiet and seemed to think. I have no initiative to explain anything to you.

“Sial,” I clenched my hand and hit the table. “Which ordered you is Carlo?” I asked while looking at Levin sharply.

“True,” replied Levin while looking back at me with his serious face. “I've clearly said I turned down a job offer from you. I don't like the idea that could provoke a war.”

Now, I don't care if he refuses or accepts the offer. I was more concerned with the anger and disappointment I felt after knowing Levin was Carlo's man. It feels like buying an item at three times the price of the one on the market and knowing it later. I also felt foolish for not checking Carlo and choosing to believe him according to my dream vision.

“Shaeviro?”

“I will not accept any orders from ******* that.”

I saw there was more real anger in Levin's eyes. I fell silent and came to a conclusion.

I took a deep breath. I wanted to turn the table around and make a fuss but I came back to think of a special condition that I called the Brooke effect. I always wondered why I was so used to being around Levin and falling in love with Carlo's smile.

Maybe he already knows. But Brooke can't hate them.

So, I decided not to get carried away by my momentary emotions. I want to hear first what they want to talk about. If it doesn't make sense, I promise I will beat them to death.

“Observing the Duke's residence and trying to kill Lucas is your command?” I asked Carlo.

“You did respond as quickly as I expected,” replied Carlo. “The academy has two female students with incredible instincts.”

“Close your mouth,” Fanita's voice sounds terrible. “Tell me what deal you want to make.”

“You're not part of them?” many wonder.

Fanita glanced at me with the tip of her eye.

“You accuse the person who supported your plan so far?”

“Then explain,” annoy me. “I can't read someone's mind and heart. I'm not a fortune teller.”

Fanita then grumbled softly. “I've suspected you since the beginning.” Fanita points her finger at Levin. “It feels like you're very familiar. The man I saw with Carlo accidentally turned out to be a hit man. I was lucky to notice your figure while holding Brooke in the woods. Otherwise, I don't know to what extent this rottenness will continue.”

Carlo seemed to dislike the choice, Fanita said.

“Busukan? It was not a proper word to say before the Crown Prince.”

“I stay loyal to you even though I don't really like you,” said Fanita. “We agree in terms of improving the situation and negating the war.”

I saw Carlo smiling with satisfaction as Fanita made a pledge of loyalty to him.

“You've seen them together and said nothing to me?” ask me again while shaking my head in disbelief. “Alright, everyone does have a secret.”

Fanita hit me in the back of the head as if saying I have no right to be upset with her because I also hid the fact that Levin was a hit man.

“You must listen to the deal to be offered,” cetus Fanita.

I nodded in understanding. I'm grateful that Fanita wasn't one of those who planned the assassination attempt on Lucas.

Carlo offers a deal that always benefits the person who offers it.

“And I can't refuse it?” I glared at Carlo. “You made my life and Grace like being on a game board.”

Carlo is not a good person. He was only slightly better than the other Royal families. He does not want any more splits and will use every means to make them happen. No wonder he's planning a murder against me, Lucas and Grace.

“You pushed me at a crisis point,”. “Betting whether I can make it or not through it.”

I'm trying to understand Carlo's thinking. It's easier for him if he's done the plan before than to threaten me to bring Gordon back to Morrow Kingdom. No matter how he threatened me, I knew it wouldn't affect me too much. I have many ways to avoid that misinterpretation.

I'm sure he's desperate to get justice for the former Queen.

“I will accept this deal with one condition,” I said later. “Please promise me one thing. If I manage to take Gordon, you'll never be with Grace for the rest of your life.”

“You're afraid I changed my mind and killed your sister?”

I shook my head. “I just want you to stay away from my sister.”

I used to think that blocking it or not, those two choices would end up being unfavorable. As the situation turned around like this, I decided to keep away one of the people who caused the circle of bad destiny to Grace.

Carlo laughed cynically. “I'm not interested in you two. I don't know what about you. I'm so afraid the rumors are true.”

I can confirm that the rumor is not true.

I looked into Carlo's eyes. “What I'm afraid of is your feelings. Stay away from her. That's our deal.”

“My feelings?”

“You love my sister very much.”

The future I saw in Brooke's dream still gave me confidence that Carlo loved Grace even after I found out he was planning our murder. My gut feeling was that Carlo's tears at the time weren't fake. I also shed tears like that.

“I love him?” Carlo pointed to himself and snorted in disbelief. “Then what about you? I have suspicions about you too. You're planning an expedition north for me? You want to admit it?”

“Ya,” I said firmly. Initially, I planned a trip there to ensure Grace's safety and happiness in living with Carlo.

Hearing my quick, short and unquestioning reply, made Carlo look confused as well as Levin and Fanita.

“Good. We agreed,” Carlo shrugged his shoulders unconcerned as I just kept quiet as he asked again to get a clearer answer regarding my motivation to make that dangerous journey. “If you fail, I will get rid of your family. Not just Grace.”

“I will not fail,” I put my right hand on my left chest. “I swear. I won't give up.”

Giving up would be the hardest thing to do.

*****