âIf you surrendered to take responsibility for the war, shut up.â
âYour Empire started the war. I donât know what you expect when you asked for tributes that we canât afford.â
The emperorâs face cooled, making Evangeline a bit nervous.
It appeared like he wouldnât tolerate her behavior anymore.
âBring me the leather bag.â The emperor ordered.
He took a few steps closer to Evangeline with the bag his servant had brought.
âYou see this?â
âYes. I see it.â
âCan you imagine King Rajan looking into his daughterâs half-rotten head in this bag?â
Evangeline turned silent at his cold threat.
âI will give you this leather bag so you can get used to looking at it before you speak.â The emperor said coldly, staring at Evangeline with fierce golden eyes.
Paris, who was quiet earlier, stepped forward and said. âFather, I have a request.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âWhat is it?â The emperor asked without removing his gaze from Evangeline.
âGive me the prisoner. Iâll make sure she will acquire the habit you speak of.â He smiled a cruel smile. âThat woman will never dare talk back to you again, Your Majesty,â
Evangelin said nothing, but Apollonia saw the fear in her eyes.
She wasnât that fearless, was she?
Pent-up Anger for Paris and the Emperor made her do it.
âThe more I see you, the more daring you become.â
Apollonia felt more and more interested in Evangeline.
She had a different spirit than anyone she had ever met before.
âThatâs a good idea.â
The Emperor, who could grasp other peopleâs feelings with just subtlety whether or not he read it in Evangelineâs eyes, remarked.
âAs of today, Princess Evangeline Riette will become the crown princeâs slave. Iâll leave it to you whether you plan to kill her, make her a spy, or give her to your subordinates as a reward. You can do as you please.â
âThank you, Father.â
The eyes of the two powerful men shone brutally when they witnessed Evangeline being dragged out of the throne room.
Caelion and Uriel looked at the figure quietly.
Having been trained for many years, they knew well how not to show their inner feelings to the Emperor or Petra.
* * *
âItâs too bad youâre just calling me now, sister. Didnât you miss me?â
âYouâve only improved your slyness in the meantime. They said you were a dignified general, but the rumor seemed wrong.â
In the Star Palaceâs study, Caelion teased Apollonia with a smile. âCanât a general desire to see you?â
He sat slightly on the desk and glanced down to meet her gaze.
As a result, several black hair strands flowed close to Apolloniaâs eyes.
âWere you hurt?â
âThere was no part of my body that wasnât. But Iâm all better now.â
âI didnât hear that you were injured.â
When Apollonia frowned, he purposely lowered the corners of his eyes to look tearful.
She was reminded of Caelionâs innocence when he used to cling to her as a child.
âWhat hurt me the most was when I heard you had another fiance. My heart canât take it.â
âAdrian handled it.â
âNow, I feel better.â He smiled deftly and pulled something out of his back.
âI brought this from the Kingdom of Panath. The moment I saw it, I couldnât think of anything else.â
âAre you looting now?â
âNo. The King gave this to me in return for stopping Paris, who insisted on asking for more tribute.â
What came into Caelionâs hands was a brilliant opal necklace.
The Kingdom of Panath had no great specialties, but the only opal found there was more beautiful than anywhere else on the continent.
He moved behind Apollonia and put the necklace on her.
âItâs too fancy so wonât look good on me right now.â
âYou look good in everything you wear. If you think itâs awkward, Iâll gift you a fancier dress.â
As he examined Apollonia a while ago, he didnât notice any fear in her eyes when she stood near the Emperor.
She acted like a child who wanted her fatherâs praise and kept it consistent.
âIt would have been nice if you give this gift to your lover.â
âThatâs why Iâm hanging out with my fiance now.â
âI told you we arenât lovers, to begin with. You can date someone else without deceiving them. Iâll divorce you as early as possible, so youâll be free of me.â
It was only for a moment, but something like sadness crossed Caelionâs eyes.
âNo woman will like a man who already had a fiance.â He quickly joked at Apollonia with a brighter smile.
âDo you think the maids who married three out of six of my fiancés are men and not women? Itâs a miracle that Adrian isnât going anywhere.â
Caelion laughed and shook her head.
âSix fiances? You and Adrian are amazing.â