Benjamin stomped into my room, followed by Gonzalo and the guards. Not wasting any time, he shouted, “How dare you do this to me?! I trusted you!” 
I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath. That’s a good way to greet someone who’s been like your family for years. As soon as I faced him, I asked, “Is that your new manner of greeting a friend, Benjamin?” I stood and took a few steps forward. “Is that how you treat your brother now?” 
He scoffed before he raised a brow. “Brother? Brother?! You call yourself my brother after what you did to me?!” he continued ranting as he came closer to me. Gonzalo followed him closely. He made sure Benjamin was within his reach. “You took everything from me! You’re the reason why she didn’t choose me!” 
Upon hearing those words, Gonzalo looked at me, eyes wide open. Benjamin’s rant just gave confirmation to Gonzalo’s already built-up suspicion: I met a woman in the Mortal Realm, which became the reason for my frequent visits. Gonzalo’s expression slowly changed from shocked to furious. 
I sighed and replied, “Benjamin, I didn’t do anything to influence her decision-making. I didn’t tell her, I didn’t force her to choose me over you. Must I remind you that I supported you amidst my own heartbreak?” I took a few steps closer whilst I kept my distance. “I encouraged her to choose you. You, Benjamin, even though the sight of you two together broke me. Instead of competing with you, instead of fighting for her, I chose to be the friend and brother that you needed. And you have the nerve to claim that I betrayed you?!” 
“You did betray me,” he growled as he moved closer. We are now at arm’s reach from each other. “If you had any conscience, you would’ve never made any contact with her. I had a chance, Robert!” he stomped his foot as he threw a fit. “I had a chance but you,” he pointed at my face, “just had to ruin everything!” 
“I met her first, Benjamin! I met her first!” I screamed at his face, allowing my emotions to get the best of me. “I knew someone else was fighting for her affections. But I didn’t know it was you because she never told me who it was! All she said was another man was also courting her but she wasn’t interested in him.” 
“You’re just saying that because you don’t know how I feel!” Benjamin suddenly pushed me. Gonzalo quickly held him by the arms. But Benjamin was strong enough to push Gonzalo off of him. He sprinted towards me and grabbed me by the collar. “You don’t know how I feel because you never felt this way before. You’re not the one who watched the love of your life choose the person you trusted the most. You don’t understand!” He then swung a punch on me, making me fall to the ground.
As my fall caused a loud thud, the guards rushed into the room and helped Gonzalo hold Benjamin back. Gonzalo pinned Benjamin’s hands on his back. The guards stood before him, their hands on his chest as they kept him back. 
I stood up and wiped the blood from my mouth. I stared at him, catching my breath. “How dare you tell me I don’t understand?” I gritted. “How dare you say that when you’re the one who did that to me? How dare you!” 
Stunned, his eyes widened and started to water. 
“When you knelt down in front of Laura,” I stepped towards him slowly, “that tore me to pieces. And do you want to know why?” 
He stayed silent as he stared at me, never breaking eye contact. 
“It was because the woman I loved was pursued by the brother whom I loved. I had to make a choice. And who did I choose?” I stood close to him, my face meeting his. “Tell me, Benjamin, who did I choose? WHO?” 
A tear ran down his cheek and he turned away from my gaze. He then sobbed silently. 
“I chose you, Benjamin! I. Chose. You.” I poked on his chest as I pointed at him. Gonzalo, seeing that Benjamin was calmer, handed him over to the guards. Gonzalo then walked over to me, holding me by the arm and shoulder. “I chose you because you’re my brother and I didn’t want anything to come between us!” I cried out. “I was hurt. But because you were much more important to me, I gave up Laura for your happiness!” I took a few breaths in to calm myself. 
The room then stood silent. The only sounds that were heard were our muffled cries and staggered breathing. The atmosphere within the room got heavier. Gonzalo kept his hold on me whilst the guards lessened their grip on Benjamin, now sobbing. 
Once I regained composure, I looked at Benjamin and added, “How can I betray you? How did I betray you?” 
Still, he didn’t look at me. He continued to cry silently as he kept his face away from my sight. 
“I chose my brother instead of fighting for love,” my voice cracked as I put my hands on my waist. “And now, the person I stood by told me I betrayed him. I didn’t betray you, Benjamin. If anything, you betrayed me by doing this to me.” My chest stung as those words escaped my lips. Never in my life had I imagined that I would be hurt by Benjamin. He was one of the people whom I expected that would never do anything to cause me pain. But here we are.
I turned around and headed to the window. The moment my back was turned, my tears finally escaped my eyes. As footsteps left my room, I fell to the ground and Gonzalo rushed towards me. I knew that our friendship - our brotherhood - was destroyed because of love. 
I lost my brother all because of love. 
I chose him out of love. And it is because of love, he was taken. 
Gonzalo then leaned towards me. His hands sat firmly on his knees. “Would you like something to drink, Your Highness?” 
I shook my head as I took a deep breath in. I wiped my tears and replied, “You may take your rest, Gonzalo. That was a lot to handle.”