"Don't tell me you fell in love with her or something?"

Viola raised her eyes with mischief.

She had never liked Rael's ex-fiancée, Seles.

Anyone with functioning eyes could tell the woman was using him but Viola and Lyra had stayed quiet… because even they could see the way he smiled around her.

Rael, the same guy who had almost forgotten how to smile after his mother's death, had finally started smiling again.

So they never tried to pull Seles away from him.

When Viola heard he had finally broken off the engagement with that sly girl, she felt happy.

She had even heard how Seles stole something from her own grandfather and got thrown out of her family for it.

After that, Seles was shipped off to some backward branch of the clan and engaged to the son of a baron.

A fitting downgrade for that bitch, honestly.

But she could feel the change in Rael.

For some reason… he seemed a bit distant when she met him on the sky cruise on his way to the academy.

She thought it was because of his breakup and that he needed some time to heal.

And then, just now, out of nowhere, he mentioned Seraphina as a friend.

Viola saw that as an opportunity instantly.

What if he falls for Seraphina?

The thought appeared in her mind as she remembered the promise she had made with Lyra before coming to the academy.

Two days before her departure, Lyra had come to visit.

Back then, Viola hadn't even wanted to face her, not after what her father had done to Rael. The guilt was crushing her.

But Lyra was… well, Lyra.

She barged in like she owned the entire estate and dragged Viola out to talk.

And instead of blaming her or even looking disappointed, she hugged Viola tight and told her to stay safe.

That day, Viola cried until she couldn't anymore and she made a promise to herself.

She was going to protect Rael and that started with making sure no woman like Seles ever touched his life again.

Afterall… he is just too innocent.

No matter how cold he pretended to act… he was always a big softie at heart and was too easy for any sly woman to manipulate.

She let out a quiet sigh.

With Lyra absent… it became Viola's responsibility to make sure their little brother wasn't used and tossed aside again.

Her eyes hardened with resolve as she looked at Rael because she had an idea about how to fix Rael's broken heart.

She was going to pair him with someone she trusted.

Someone innocent and someone who wouldn't break him.

Seraphina.

From what she had seen, Sera clearly had some deep feelings for Rael too, the way she talked about him yesterday made that obvious.

And that meant…

This was definitely something she could make happen.

Just then, she saw Rael's eye twitch.

"What the hell are you talking about?" he muttered with a frown.

"Now, now, you don't have to hide it from me," Viola nudged him with a smug grin. "You can tell me everything~."

"She is just my friend and nothing else." he refuted before she could say anything.

Tsk, this bastard.

She cursed, holding her urge to punch him in the face.

Why the hell are you so clueless, little bro?

—

[Rael's POV]

"She's just my friend and nothing else."

I looked at Viola's disappointed expression and once again I was reminded of just how far from alone I was in this world.

This girl… seriously.

I let out a sigh.

It wasn't hard to figure out what my lovely sister-in-everything-but-blood was trying to do.

She was absolutely trying to set me up with Seraphina.

I mean, it wasn't exactly subtle, especially with how terrible Viola was at hiding her thoughts.

She was an open book, readable by anyone who had lived more than a handful of years. And honestly, I couldn't even blame her.

If anything… It only showed how much she cared about me.

The previous Rael was a simping piece of shit who adored that bitch Seles and anyone with working eyes could see how unbearable she was.

Viola was no exception and she probably just didn't want me to turn into that guy again.

Well, if only she knew I wasn't the same person anymore…

Not that I could tell her that.

Still, normally I would've played along with Viola's drama… but I was a faithful man now and there was no way I was betraying my fiance.

After all, in my perfectly crafted imaginary future, I already had kids with her and her mother would absolutely murder me if rumors started spreading about me toying with another woman's heart.

I mean, I sold my act really well to Morvana… and it would be suspicious if some useless shit happened.

I was pretty sure she already had a few eyes on me.

Not that I would ever blatantly flirt with anyone but knowing Viola… she would definitely try to pull something that would make everything feel weird.

And I didn't want any useless variables.

So instead, I just smiled… and decided to drop the bomb I was bound to drop sooner or later.

"Actually, Viola… stuff happened and I already have a fiancée now." I said carefully.

Viola froze mid-step.

We had reached the front of her villa… and she just stood there, completely still.

"What did you say?" she asked, her eyes blank and voice flat.

"I said," I repeated with a bright smile, "I already have someone I love and I am engaged to her."

"...."

Viola didn't respond for a long moment.

Then, finally, her lips parted.

"…Who is she?"

"Her name is Arza Ashen Noctharion," I said calmly. "You know, the daughter of the Demon King."

I mean, if I was going to sell the act to Morvana whose threat level had skyrocketed to beyond the Demon King after that little cosmic incident… I might as well commit properly.

And if you want to fool everyone else… you have gotta fool your allies too.

Right?

—

Viola couldn't even trust what she was hearing.

Her head actually hurt just trying to process it.

She had just been planning how to protect her little brother from being manipulated by sly women… and before she could even take a single step in that direction—

This clueless idiot had already fallen in love again.

…And not just with anyone.

No.

He had gone and fallen for someone from the Demon Race.

And not even a normal demon girl, he had decided to fall for their most talented princess.

"…Rael… just what the hell did you get yourself into this time?" she muttered, half in disbelief and half in despair.

She couldn't accept it.

That Demon Princess was definitely using Rael.

There was no other explanation for why she would accept an engagement with him.

Demons were naturally sly creatures… and unlike the innocent Rael, that princess absolutely didn't do it out of love.

Maybe she wanted to use his position as the Demon King's successor…

…or worse—

No.

No, she couldn't let that happen.

I won't let that woman use you, Rael.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.