Aiming to be the perfect butler for my lady

Alatia doesn't just adore Kyle, she is obsessed with him—Edmund discerned upon finding the numerous ice spears targeting him.

It was no surprise that Kyle had become such an important figure in her life that Alatia, such a simple and lovely child, would even attack her brother.

And Edmund knows that the thing he has done...or has allowed to happen, was not forgivable yet he couldn't do anything to stop it.

"My lady, no!" Collen yelled but to no avail.

Alatia dropped her hand and every ice spear advanced toward Edmund at a frightening pace....only to be destroyed before they could have reached him.

Edmund opened his eyes, only to see his brunette maid standing there, with her sword sheathed already.

"Cassie you..."

"Incoming!" Cassie informed as several more ice spears Alatia conjured and even froze Edmund and Cassie's legs at the place to let them feel the burn of her agitation.

However, Cassie wasn't placed as the guard of the second Prince, for nothing.

"Enhance!" Body enhancement was the skill she possessed which allowed her to temporarily increase her physical stats by several folds.

*Crack* Cassie broke out of her confinement with ease before she wielded her blade and deflected every ice spear without letting a single one reach her master.

The number of spears increased as well as the ferocity with which they were striking Cassie. The maid was now receiving damage from each wave of attack and her body was trembling as well.

Not to talk about Alatia's growing magic that was unconsciously affecting the whole mansion except for Kyle.

Edmund smiled helplessly as he told Cassie, "Move away."

"But, my lord!"

"Until Alatia doesn't harm me, she won't calm down so move away. This matter is between us two siblings."

Cassie's eyes were widened and reluctance was clearly could be discerned from her expression.

However, Edmund is well set on moving Cassie away before Alatia's patience wears thin and she ends up freezing Cassie to death.

"I am sorry, Cas."

"Ah!" Suddenly a purplish smog erupted from his index finger before it wrapped around Cassie's neck—rendering her unconscious.

Edmund didn't move to help her as Cassie dropped to the ground.

His legs were still frozen as he stood with his hands resting on either side casually. He had the means to stop her from attacking but he didn't. He knew if he directed a command, every guard around the mansion along with Collen would come to guard him, but Edmund didn't think about doing such a thing even once.

With a smile, he looked at his sister. Their eyes locked for a moment and in the next,

*SLING*

"Agh..." Edmund couldn't help but groan as the ice spear penetrated his left thigh and made his whole left leg numb.

Another one followed to the right one before Edmund was brought down to his knees. Although he was in pain he never allowed a single complaint out his throat nor he ever considered retaliating.

Another ice spear followed his left shoulder then another one to Edmund's torso.

"My lady! Stop or he will die!" Collen could no longer see Edmund in pain as he jumped to stand in front of him—not as a royal guard but as a friend.

Edmund wanted to stop Collen and tell him to go away...but his vocal cords had become useless at this point. All he could see was the blurry figure of his friend's back at the moment.

"My lady, if Kyle is your beloved friend, then he is the brother who has cradled you in his arms and protected you all these times. Please calm down and try to think why Prince Edmund would ever attack you." Maria also tried to persuade her.

The tears in her eyes didn't affect Alatia as she stood motionlessly while facing Collen. The rage she carried hadn't been subdued yet...until she didn't hear what Collen uttered next,

"If something happens to Your Highness, I am sure Kyle would never forgive you."

This time, Alatia's expression shifted. Her aura fluctuated and her mind suddenly created an image of Kyle—looking at her in disappointment.

'I never realized you were this horrible, Ala...' Those words, although she created them in her mind, were still quite impactful

All the color from her face faded and the ice spear she had conjured, turned into dust. The temperature of the room, which was nearing negative, suddenly returned to normal as Alatia turned away from Collen and commanded,

"Take him away."

Collen heaved a sigh before picking up his friend and walking out of the room.

"You as well. Go."

"B-But my lad-"

"Just go." Alatia didn't hear Maria's words and commanded in a heavy voice before she sat beside Kyle and held his hand.

Looking at her saddened visage, Maria felt her heart becoming heavy. However, she didn't insist on staying there for long before bowing to the lady and taking her leave.

Left in the room, Alatia took the cooling pad from the table beside the bed before squeezing the fabric a little and draping it gently on Kyle's forehead.

His warm skin interacted with her cold fingers which made Kyle move his face away in his sleep.

Alatia's heart trembled at that, as she subconsciously mumbled, "....please don't hate me, Kyle...."

*****

[Kyle's POV:]

"Mm...." My consciousness slowly cleared up but my head was hurting a lot.

My jaw was hurting and my lower body was paralyzed.

I took a moment to calm my nerves and collect my thoughts.

I was darted with poison while I was shielding Alatia. Although I noticed that someone was in the room, the said assailant was so well hidden that I couldn't attack them instantly. And since I couldn't have risked summoning Beta in front of Alatia, I was left with no option but to rely on Alatia.

However, she acted on impulse and after that...well, let it be.

Opening my eyes, I found Alatia resting her head on my chest and her eyes were closed. She was sleeping peacefully.

I didn't stir too much and slowly brought my hand to her head.

Caressing her hair I enjoyed this rare peaceful moment.

My eyes turned toward the door as I heard very faint footsteps approaching the room.

The person who appeared from the other side was Maria.

She was startled upon finding my eyes open, however, soon she composed herself and silently walked toward us,

"You are awake." Maria draped a blanket over Alatia as she said.

"Hmm, somehow. How long was I out?"

"Twelve hours."

I sighed. The poison didn't leave any lasting effect as I could sense but it surely was effective enough to put me in sleep for the whole day.

"What about the assailant...was he caught?" I asked; keeping my suspicions to myself about Prince Edmund's involvement in this.

Hearing my query, Maria's expression adopted a sorrowful look for some reason.

"...Kyle, I think you should ask about that matter to the young lady. A lot of things happened after you fell unconscious."

Maria was not a little child to show such sorrow and regret on trivial matters. If she looked so disheartened then something severe must have occurred.

....and I have a feeling, Alatia was involved in that.

Turning my focus on the young girl, peacefully sleeping on me, I couldn't help muttering,

"What have you done....?"

*******

A/N:- Tortured her brother and nearly killed him. Well, let's see how Kyle reacts.