"I am certain for a long time already."

Stunned, Charles let his brain works while staring quietly at Carlisle. He would definitely support his friend if they have this talk before discovering the people from the future, and the truth about Carlene's ident.i.ty and his reincarnation Levi and Carlisle are Quinn. But after learning what the future awaited them, he must stop Carlisle for what he was about to do.

He heaves a sighed. "Okay, but think about it first, Carlisle. You know the risk and danger. Your mother has the capability of destroying anyone."

Carlisle looked up and gave him a perplexing gaze. "Wait, isn't supposed that you will support your friend?"

"I do! But I am just worried, especially about Marivella… the two of you are my very good friends. I just want nothing to happen to both of you." Charles attempts to change Carlisle's mind. He has to do it to avoid changing some things in the future.

"I will talk to her, yes. I will do this if she agreed with it."

Charles takes silence. He needs help. He has to talk to Carlene to stop her parents from running away, also, Quinn and Levi must know Carlisle's crazy plan.

In the attic, a tense Charles entered the room.

"Did something happen? It is safe for us to show up to Captain Carlisle?"

"We have a problem." He instantly announced.

"What's wrong?" Levi who raised the question as Quinn must pretend as mute the whole time now Carlisle was here.

"Carlisle told me he will run away with Marivella tonight at the Gala."

"What? No. That can't be! If they do that, then what will happen next? Everything will change in the future!" Levi stressed.

"Hold on, myself—" since Charles learned that Levi is his reincarnation, he called him myself when no one is around. 

"If Carlisle and Marivella successfully run away, then the future will change, right? And could it be possible that they won't reincarnate by then?" Charles presume.

"Or, they will be just like a stranger to each other in the future," Levi concurred. "You are correct, Charles. And we are uncertain if Carlene ever exists—" Charles and Levi looked at each other.

On the sideline, someone peered at them dumbly. Quinn stared stunningly, as he feels ignored by them. Having two Levi's in one place will create a super genius. Having two brains of Levi is too much to handle for him, and the two of them have wild perceptions about everything, however, there is a huge advantage.

Having two Levi means two brains to work together, not so bad… he thought.

Then the two looking at his direction. "How about you, brother Quinn?" Levi asked him.

"Hmm... if Carlisle and Marivella ran away tonight and this lead to huge changes in the course toward the future then, I won't allow it. If in the future, no Ca.s.sandra is waiting for me, then I won't mind waiting for hundreds of years," Carlisle stated.

"I need this reincarnation and immortality to find her. It is important for me to remember the past," he added. "How about you?" he then returned the question to the past and future Charles.

Charles and Levi glanced at each other. "I want to love her," they answered at once.

"If I cannot love her in the past, then in the future," Levi continued.

"It's decided then?" Quinn a.s.serted. "We won't allow Carlisle to take Marivella away tonight?"

"We must watch Carlisle, yes." Charles pondering something. "I need you two… you have to be there at the Gala… as Montfort's official guards."

Levi and Quinn looked at each other. They grin in a secret. This is what they are waiting for…

* * *

Inside a bedroom, Marivella gradually sat up on the bed. She glances at Carlene and peered at her. She had smooth skin, an ordinary person cannot have if you are doing labor. There are no traces of hard work in her hands. However, she feels so strange around her.

Carlene moved from her sleep and turned around, giving her back at her. She wondered, they allow which country for a lady to cut their hair? The aristocrats are having a lot of care to achieve a beautiful long hair. But Carlene's family are travelers. They must learn a lot from their journey. It looks exciting and wonderful to discover new things each day. She felt envious though.

Marivella stepped out of the bed. Slowly, she closed the bedroom door, then went downstairs. She's stepping the staircase, and she notices Carlisle's frame on the corner. He seems lost on his thoughts, not noticing her presence at all. She's glad he was all right after they separated to lure the royal guards.

Carlisle heard the creaking of the wooden stairs. He looks up and sees her, "Marivella—"

"Captain Carlisle, you're here now." She tries to be calm and act formally. She avoided meeting his gaze because Carlisle is peering at her pa.s.sionately.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked her, more sounded like begging.

"All right. I also wished for a conversation with you."

Carlisle nodded. She headed to the kitchen and quietly sat in one of the empty chairs around an old round wooden dining table. Carlisle is about to pull her a chair, but Marivella is doing it for herself. He sighed. He quietly takes a seat across her.

"Marivella, come with me. Let's leave this country," he began. "Let's go somewhere away from everyone! Somewhere no one knows us!"

Marivella heave a lonely sighed. Asking running away, she's not surprised anymore. This is not the first time Carlisle asks her to elope, and it is not the first time it put here in danger because she has a relations.h.i.+p with him.

"Let's end it," she replied that shocked him.

"What?" Stunned, Carlisle can't have a grasp of the words he wanted to say.

"You knew, that it is better we treat each other like a stranger from now on, Captain Williams." Marivella grabbed her skirt and hold on it firmly. It was like she's trying to seek strength from the fabric.

"Marivella, listen to me, —" Carlisle paused after Marivella raises her right hand.

"Please, enough. Let us do what is right," her response bravely.

"What is right? Can't you see? My family treating you badly, and I am ashamed on behalf of them! But I won't let my mother do whatever she plotted," he proclaimed.

"It is already from your mouth, Captain. Your mother won't stop harming anyone if she thinks, a sore to her eyes and is not worthy. So please, let's stop here."

"Marivella— why can't you fight for me? All I am asking is you to stay by my side, then let me protect you even if against my family!"

"You are powerless. You can't protect me or take care of me." she reasons.

Dumbfounded, Carlisle hurt from her words. He understood in the past that Marivella was only forced to give up on their relations.h.i.+p, but now, she wanted to end everything between them completely.

Just acting like a stranger to each other?  There is no way he could do that.

"Do you know how much I love you, and I will do everything for us."

"I'm sorry. I can't return anything to you and there is nothing awaits us." She's holding the tears in her eyes and tries to stay firm, she got up from her seat. Because anytime soon, she can no longer stop her tears.

"I'm sorry, Captain Carlisle, but I cannot see a future with you." She told him, then made long strides leaving the kitchen.

But before she could reach the kitchen door, Carlisle locked her inside his arms. Carlisle holding her from behind and she wanted to wither. 

"I love you! Please, don't do this to us."

He begged and Marivella biting her lower lip not to sob at the moment, right here, right now.

"I can't see any future without you."

Carlisle's arms tightening around her. He even buried his face between her right shoulder. She could feel the warmth of his embrace lingering deep down inside her chest. However, she must do what's best for them both...

Holding her voice not to shake, Marivella gathered the courage to speak.

"Let me go, Captain Williams. Let's stop this now."