ED'S EXPLANATION

REAS looked at the direction where the laugh was coming from.  And then there, he saw something that was so unbelievable he might as well be seeing things.  There, in front of the room where his brother supposedly be, were two figures.  One tall and the other slim.  It was Astrid and that annoying prince. 

His brother was laughing.  It was not a laugh of mockery as he expected.  It was one of his more genuine laughs.  Like he really was delighted about something.  The prince, on the other hand, was just staring at Astrid as if completely mesmerized. 

He frowned seeing that and no longer hesitated.  He ran towards the two at the fastest speed and put himself between them, pulling his brother behind him.

Astrid was startled suddenly seeing Reas' broad back.  But unlike him, Wulfric was not surprised at all seeing the other.