Chapter 175

“Whether I want to bully you with the Emperor taming Priya or not, I will put you in front of her for now,” Apollonia said indifferently.

When she glanced at her, Evangeline bit her lip tightly.

“It’s not about hurting you. You think you can just die if you want to, but can you do that in front of Priya?”

Evangeline opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

“My aunt and my father specialize in capturing both family members, friends, and relatives. Just because you don’t see any sign of it right now doesn’t mean they’re not thinking about it. Oh, and——-”

Evangeline looked at Apollonia as if she was about to cry.

The image of the woman, who was confident of owning and taming Caelion, had disappeared a while ago.

“I’m the one who diverted you to Caelion in a match the crown prince had hosted. I mean, you would be dead or you would be a slave in Paris’ palace right now if it weren’t for my protection. Maybe Priya could watch you suffer by then.”

Apollonia turned away from Evangeline.

She heard Evangeline’s heavy breathing from behind, but she ignored it and continued to walk.

“She’s coming to the ball.”

Apollonia heard Evangeline’s murmur as she was about to cross the library door.

She looked over her shoulder and asked. “What?”

There was no desperation in her tone unlike earlier when she tried to persuade Rajan’s Princess in selling ’Milon’s eye’.

“If you have something to say, just say it. Who, exactly, do you mean?”

“You were curious about the person who changed Paris’ eye color and the one who supplied the enchanted goods to the Duke of Lipper,” Evangeline muttered as she looked at her own feet.

However, her words were clearly directed toward Apollonia.

“You know it very well.”

“She will come to the victory ball with the crown prince. Paris will take this opportunity to reveal the person he had kept hidden until now and put her in the Royal Court naturally.”

Apollonia stared at Evangeline without blinking.

A few seconds later, she walked slowly back to the table where she had left.

“Tell me more.”

“I don’t know what she looked like but it would be easy to recognize her on the day of the ball.”

“How would we know?”

“Paris will introduce her. No one had ever seen her before so she will be introduced as one of his entourage. Whether she was known as an escort or servant, she is still a brilliant sorceress.”

Evangeline confessed tearfully as if she was a child who had reflected on her mistakes after being punished although she was giving her information that a child could never handle.

“Why are you letting me know about this?”

“I want to negotiate with you.”

Evangeline held out her right hand and said, asking for a handshake.

In contrast to her relaxed appearance a while ago, she looked almost grim.

“Please protect Priya and me for the time being. You must find a way, Your Highness.”

“So, you changed your mind.”

“I understand that that information alone is not enough to prepare for everything. Even the fact that I’m here standing in front of you right now is according to your will.”

Apollonia slowly raised her right hand.

“I want to make a deal with you this way, Your Highness.”

“Are you going to give me important information from now on if I help you?”

“Until you decide what to do with us in the future. Well, it would be much better if you decided to give me the Grand Duke.”

A smile slowly spread across Apollonia’s mouth.

How could this be?

It was more than she expected.

At least Evangeline wouldn’t be able to deal with Apollonia’s enemies.

The two shook hands with the same expression of admiration and interest as before.

“Then, we’ll meet again at the victory ball.”

Apollonia left the library with a short greeting.

* * *

In his private study at the corner of the palace, Caelion sighed deeply.

“She’s a crazy woman.”

He had just heard about Evangeline’s demands from Apollonia.

Uriel, who had visited Caelion, had left his seat for a while, saying that he had left something in the Star Palace.

“I said no. But she’s not crazy.”

Apollonia slowly said, reflecting on the earlier encounter.

“Rather, she had a genius side to her——”

“Oh, you’re right. She is a genius. A crazy one at that.”

“She likes you.”

“I know, but——”

When she withdrew her hand from ruffling his hair, he slowly raised her head.

“Are you alright, sister?”

“What?”

“That there’s someone who likes your fiance.”

Suddenly, Caelion stared at Apollonia with a serious look on his face.

The drooping corners of his eyes reminded her of the old days.