True Alpha's Chosen Mate-Chapter 303: I’m sorry I fell asleep

For the past several days, I busied myself with what I had been doing all these years. I would constantly hear news regarding this particular guest of the duchy, but I stopped everyone before they could say further. After noticing my dismay and how repelled I was by anything about Sven, people soon stopped mentioning his name around me.

Although that wasn’t enough to hear zero news about Sven since the murmuring voices still reach my ears. From what I heard — which I hoped I didn’t hear — Sven had become Paris’ punching bag. Knowing my little brother and how he hadn’t bothered me for the past several days, I knew he would have done this much.

"My lady." I arched my brow when Lisha, who was walking a few feet from behind me, called. "Are you really going to meet the ninth young master?"

"Is there something wrong with that, Lisha?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder, slowing down my pace.

"Are you worried about His Grace’s guest?"

I laughed and shook my head. "Me? Why would I?" I raised my chin and smirked, keeping the poise I had even though no one else was around the great hall connecting to the knight’s training grounds.

Lisha didn’t answer anymore. I knew she was worried and wished me not to get involved with Sven, knowing how he stirred my emotions. Although I also wondered why Lisha was this concerned when this wasn’t the first time someone stirred my emotions.

"I hadn’t seen Paris for days now and knowing him, I need to make sure he isn’t doing something that will give me a headache in the future," I explained shamelessly, knowing it was a lie.

Last night, while I was having a peaceful night walk, I overheard a conversation between unsuspecting knights. According to them, Paris wasn’t holding back and would beat Sven until the latter’s bones were shattered. I knew Paris was strong and had no compassion for others.

It was a sad reality, but Paris, although a good little brother, scared me sometimes. He was someone who everyone would call a "real" Highmore. What I heard last night was surely something that wasn’t far from reality.

I needed to distract him for a bit to give Sven a break. Although I disliked the man and I had many reasons to dislike him, it wasn’t to the point I wanted him dead. It was strange when my hands were already sullied just to prove myself worthy of this position, but what else could I do? The Duke was probably letting this happen to benefit himself and using Paris and his explosive temper to gain from it.

I hate him... my jaw tightened as the entrance leading to the training ground came into sight. I never truly expressed my feelings towards my father. He was my father. It may sound contradictory to all my woes and how miserable I was because of him. Still, the duke was someone I didn’t hate to the point I wanted him dead.

He was my father. Whether or not I liked it, the reason I was alive was because of him. Even if the life he gave me wasn’t the life I wanted, the fact that he was my father remained.

That was why... I hated myself more than anyone in this world. I just couldn’t understand myself and why it was so hard to let go of someone, even if they were the source of this miserable life.

I stepped out of the exit of the castle and also the entrance of the training grounds, squinting my eyes at the strange light outside. It was oddly bright, or perhaps I had been stuck inside to avoid everything that my eyes had to adjust to the light.

It took me several seconds before my eyes finally adjusted to the light. Blinking ever so slowly, my eyes searched for Paris, only to see him in the middle of the training grounds. For a second, my heart pounded against my chest when my eyes fell on the figure lying near his feet.

Just a glimpse, despite the feet of the knights surrounding them, was enough for me to recognize the person lying on the ground.

It was Sven.

I marched towards them on instinct, picking up my pace to stop Paris from killing Sven. Although I couldn’t see properly with the crowd around them, my mind had already gone from bad to worst! However, when I reached their vicinity, I halted.

"God damn it... I’m sorry." Sven’s voice was as lazy as it got and was followed by a yawn. "I fell asleep."

"You...!"

Before Paris could explode from anger, my feet moved on their own, squeezing through the crowd until I reached the front row. To my surprise, all my assumptions were wrong. Although Sven was lying on the floor, all dirty and bruised, he didn’t seem hurt. Paris, on the other hand, although standing and didn’t have the slightest wound on the surface, looked exhausted. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

I had never seen my brother gasp for air like this, nor I had seen him sweat buckets. What was going on?

"Oh! A pretty lady appeared!" I flinched when I felt someone’s gaze from the ground. When my eyes fell to the ground, all I saw was Sven grinning from ear to ear. "Hello, my lady. Did you come here to cheer on me? Or are you going to ask me to spar with me?"

"Hey, stop fooling around..." Paris’ eyes darkened as he lowered his head, balling his hand into a tight fist. His aura grew darker and stifling, making the knights around them take a step back.

"Paris," I called on instinct, glancing at Lisha, who finally caught up to me. "You are not allowed to use your abilities within the castle. That is the rule."

My voice grew colder as I studied his demeanor. "If you insist on breaking this rule, I will have no choice but to impose punishments at my discretion."

"Callie, get out of here," were the only words that came out of Paris’ mouth, and I knew that instant I had no other choice but to stop him by force. However, even before that could happen, Sven suddenly appeared behind Paris and before everyone could grasp what he was planning, Paris’ eyes dimmed, and eventually fell to his knees.

"What a child." Sven clicked his tongue and shook his head. He looked at me and smiled charmingly.

"Don’t worry. He’s not dead. I just knocked him unconscious so he wouldn’t throw a tantrum."