Chapter 226

New Embers (16)

“Come back soon.”

He left a word and ran away. As always. However, the difference was that his father has yet to return.

“The situation got worse after my father died. My mother managed to recover her health, but we now lived in a small estate as if we were trapped. The servants left and our close relatives distanced themselves from us. “Knox ended the story in a subdued voice but his hostile gaze remained the same.

“That’s what we got in return despite my father dedicating his life to the royal family. Our family was so ruined that we had to sell all of our titles and estates had it not been for all the ridicule from those who watched the royal family and my father’s downfall. We couldn’t even seek the help and support of my mother’s distant relatives. They would probably claim that they don’t know us at all.

Apollonia listened quietly to his story. She neither nodded nor answered, but she concentrated on his every word.

“My father was irresponsible. He sired me but he didn’t even know much about me. All of his attention was focused on Her Highness, a princess born around the same time as me. That must be why he had no interest in his son. He would forget my birthday every year and didn’t even bother getting in touch with me. But he would belatedly send a formal greeting that someone would have written instead, to the point that he didn’t even know how old I was, what education I had, or what I was good at. Well, he’s dead now.”

Apollonia looked up and faced him, her pursed lips slightly opening.

“Is this why you kidnapped me?” She asked in a clearer voice, her drug-addled mind finally returning to its senses. Knox raised his eyebrows slightly and continued. “I was used to seeing my mother suffer but at some point, I think it’s unfair. We had suffered from father’s absence, but he saved your life and lived comfortably in the palace. And when I found out about your top, I got even more annoyed.” He rushed on. “The successor of Pascal III. The mistress whom father had taken care of at the expense of his life. The descendant of Apollo. You disgust me. You might think that my father’s sacrifice was a good idea, but in the end, you and the current emperor are just the same. You use your subordinate’s life as a means to an end.” Knox’s voice trembled bit by bit. He sounded calm at first, but now he could no longer suppress his anger.

“How is Sid’s wife doing?” Apollonia asked. Knox’s breathing grew rougher, stimulating Knox even further.

“I find it funny that you’re worrying about my mother’s health now. I was going to tell you. That’s why I brought you.” Before she knew it, the hand on her lap clenched into a fist that the distinct veins in them showed. Apollonia felt anxiety welling up in her stomach. The atmosphere around her felt more dangerous than a moment ago.

“I recovered five years ago, but my mother’s illness recurred without a break. Not long ago, the doctor told me that she only had one year to live at the most.”

Apollonia bit her lip as she recalled the last time she had seen the countess a long time ago. Knox smirked at the sight.

“My father’s absence caused my mother’s illness. I just can’t see you live a decent life even after my mother’s death. I’m so furious that I can’t stand it.” Knox looked into the air and inhaled deeply. “So I won’t let it be this time.”

Knox fixed his gaze upon Apollonia again. His voice was even drearier than before. As soon as they made eye contact, a stream of cold sweat trickled Apollonia’s spine.

‘The Devil in the Battlefield.’n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Sid’s nickname suddenly came to mind. Enemies would run away in terror at the sight of his cold, blank eyes. Apollonia seemed to understand its meaning only at that moment. Those too-familiar grey eyes. There was nothing but hostility in those intense glowers. Sid’s eyes must have turned like that when he saw an enemy threatening his master. However, the object that those hateful eyes were looking at now was Apollonia. Once again, anxiety ran through her body, making her shiver.

“Before my mother dies, you just have to die first.”

As Knox pulled a dagger from his waistline and aimed it at her neck————

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