The Antagonist: The World Ends Theory
Chapter 99 - Return the Prize

After a while, Clara let go of her embrace from Hellen. He smiled faintly at how red Hellen's face had worn out crying. Clara wiped away the tears flowing down Hellen's cheeks.

He was well aware that this cry was intended for his father. The old man who was the most troubled with Freesia, of course Hellen was afraid if his father was all right. Because even though it sucks, he is the best father figure for his children.

Clara took off the necklace that had been perched sweetly on her neck. He put the necklace with the sapphire gem on Hellen. Hellen was confused by Clara. Because his best friend even returned a gift that became a symbol of their friendship so far.

"Why?" Hellen asked, still punctuated by sobs.

"I thought Allen was the best person for me to leave this precious item." Clara's smile grew thinner, she stroked Hellen's head for a moment then stepped before Duke Wayne.

Hellen held Clara's necklace tightly. His gaze was fixed on the narrow back of a girl who had been his best friend for 6 years, even though 3 years earlier had a chance to bicker.

Duke Wayne stared intently at Clara, as Clara's gaze turned serious it meant that something was about to happen.

"I'm lazy to say your farewells." Duke Wayne said tightly.

Hearing 'goodbye' made Hellen shocked. But before Hellen protested, Clara chuckled. Duke Wayne is very sensitive with him. Clara can only apologize for not being able to answer her feelings directly. After all, Duke Wayne himself never said anything, so Clara was relaxed - just relax.

"You are still sensitive when dealing with me. I just wanted to say that I'm going with you. Allen's here with James. Because someone said he was on the neutral side." Syndical Clara.

Rovers and James almost applauded to see the Emperor who did not dwell despite being insinuated by this young girl. It seems like the rumor that Clara is an antique in Hortensia is true.

"And His Highness the Crown Prince must also return home." Clara said, now her gaze was on the young man beside Hellen who had been just watching.

Rovers smiled wryly, "My intentions are so."

"Rara?"

Clara looked at Hellen and returned with her sweetest smile. Unlike the Emperor who began to careless with the tough attitude of Clara. Hellen almost cried again because of it.

"Prince James." Call Clara.

James who had been silent was shocked when someone called out to him. Moreover, the focus now is the sapphire necklace that even Clara returned to the owner. Hellen had already given it as a gift of their friendship.

"What's up, Rara?"

"Please take care of Allen. And of course yourself. Young Master Cheltics won't necessarily protect you."

James was honest. A pretty cruel and sadistic tattoo on her. So there's little chance that the Jade will protect him. But all of that could not be true. Because they're basically cousins.

Clara looked at the Emperor who seemed reluctant to follow the conversation. He always took distance and made a wall between himself and the people around him. Clara smiled as thinly as possible, but the Emperor knew that Clara was smiling at him.

Clara bowed half her body to the Emperor, as a tribute that Clara did not really need. Because he always acted arbitrarily - mena even to an emperor though.

Clara rides a horse with Duke Wayne. This time he sat behind Duke Wayne. While Rovers was on the other horse, he drove first.

When Clara glanced back, she could see Hellen shedding tears again. I don't know who those tears were for. To him who was Hellen's best friend. Or for Rovers who is his lover and fiancee.

See you, Your Majesty.

...❀...

"I thought you'd hug her." Duke Wayne said tightly to someone who was hugging him tightly from behind.

The horses they rode did run fast because they themselves were in a hurry. So Clara who was said to be afraid of falling chose to hug Duke Wayne very tightly.

"Hugging? Wh-wh-what for? I don't intend to die there either." Clara replied, her forehead wrinkled in confusion.

Clara knew who Duke Wayne meant when he said hug. Of course it was the Emperor. In contrast to Hellen who got his warm embrace as well as James who had a little talk with him. The Emperor said nothing and Clara simply gave a faint smile.

But for Clara, who has spent two months with him in the workspace, this innuendo is nothing. Maybe Duke Wayne's ability to insinuate others is quite dull because it is not sharpened. It would be impossible if Duke Wayne honed his skills on random nobles. Clara's absence makes a huge hole in Duke Wayne's life.

Clara glanced at the Rovers who were in front of them. To be honest he felt calm and anxious when reminded that he was Hellen's fiancee. In the novel, he has two faces. The good ones are masks and the other ones are originals.

"Mr Hendrick, how's Allen and his fiancee doing?" Clara asked in a whisper. It's not nice if Rovers hears this absurd question.

Duke Wayne grimaced, obviously the relationship between Hellen and Rovers is fine. That's good news for Clara, but not for Duke Wayne.

Clara remembers that Hellen came to Agapanthus with Rovers. I don't know what the business of these two people coming there is. Might want to catch up with Duke Wayne. No. gabe. Rovers wouldn't have been that crazy to come here with a reason just now. Moreover, his relationship with Duke Wayne is not that good. Duke Wayne still likes to be insinuated here and there when faced with the Crown Prince Ranunculus.

The brave thing to do was only by the male members of the Wayne family. Because even the rogue still shows his manners except when Rovers and he are in a non-formal situation.

"Why doesn't Duke Wayne like the Crown Prince?"

Duke Wayne's gaze sharpened on Rovers. Even though the man was focused on looking ahead. However, Duke Wayne realized that what they were talking about was heard by him. Duke Wayne smiled with a grin, then just let him hear more clearly.

"I hate two-faced people."

...❀...

"Oy old bangka. Are you really sure of your blunt instincts? If we die, Vinca and Freesia will be killed. I'm gonna make your death unsettled."

Frederick ignored the chirping of the bird next to him. He is more focused on waiting for the arrival of people who are expected to exist.

Now Frederick and Count Cheltics are on the border, where the Vinca's army guards no one in and out. Frederick wanted to give way to his son and Clara if they arrived. He had already expressed his intentions to the King, and the King ordered the Count Cheltics to help him.

The most annoying thing after working with people who hate you is that he always says unimportant things out loud. Intending to satirize his rivals in the past.

Even though what Count Cheltics says is true. Not necessarily they will come. And if it were to come, it would not have been possible until they had passed through the path that Frederick and Count Cheltics had overseen.

If my prediction misses, it's true what Gerald said. I'm an old man.

Count Cheltics gazed at the vast orange sky with bluish angel. It feels so free and wide. He was suddenly envious of birds that could fly freely across the horizon. Without being limited by anything.

Count Cheltics was quite curious about the state of his son in Agapanthus with his brother-in-law. Actually Count Cheltics felt bad forcing his son to become a royal advisor in place of Grand Duke Harold. All of this was because Grand Duke Harold was unable to produce a male child.

Originally Count Cheltics felt the rebellion of the Rakes was very obvious. But for some reason after his pursuit mission against fugitive Ranunculus. Instead of continuing to rebel, the Jade gradually accepted its state and destiny.

Has someone changed their way of thinking or something like that. Count Cheltics doesn't know. But it seemed that it was true that there was the interference of someone that the Count Cheltics did not know who. Count Cheltics should thank him.

SRING

The Count Cheltics' daydream came to a halt upon hearing the sound of sword friction being ejected from the scabbard. Count Cheltics looked at Frederick who was suddenly on alert. Unknowingly the Count Cheltics also took a similar position.

"Why?"

Frederick smiled triumphantly. "Prediction is right. Then you're the old one."

"Huh? Talk what you-"

Faint - faint Count Cheltics heard the roar of horse footsteps. Count Cheltics squinted his eyes trying to sharpen his vision. His eyes were filled with something he saw. Well, this time let Frederick taunt him old man.

"They're really back..." Whisper Count Cheltics.

TB