Two-Faced Princess

New Embers (17)

*BANG!*

Caelion hit the wall. The books on the shelves fell as the windows shook.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He told Uriel, who was standing in front of the door with a firm look on his face. “Does it make sense that you can’t find the princess when she’s gone? Isn’t it natural to mobilize the military to find her?”

“She got a letter saying that someone wanted to meet the businesswoman, Lady Idena, so she went out. To mobilize the army, she must reveal everything she had done in secret. Above all, there is no time.”

That’s what he said, but Uriel was about to go and do that himself. Apollonia had disappeared probably due to premeditated kidnapping. He couldn’t even guess who did it. When Uriel realized that, his world seemed to have turned upside down. Securing Apollonia’s safety again forced him to come to his senses. Adrian hurriedly called Tanya to the palace in case she could give them a clue, but neither did she know the kidnapper’s identity.

“You should’ve kept her here!”

Caelion snarled and grabbed Uriel by the collar. Even Tanya, who followed them while pretending to be Uriel’s servant, trembled in fear. Uriel chewed his lips until they bled. He was already dying of regret not being able to protect Apollonia.

“If you can’t find her by mobilizing the Knights, you should have jumped out and found her the moment you realized you lost her! Even while you’re looking for me——-”

“Your anger will not help us. And———” Uriel glanced toward the door, pushing Caelion away. “You’re mistaken because I’m not here to find you.”

Caelion’s eyes followed what Uriel was pointing at. At the end of his gaze were Adrian and Evangeline, wearing puzzled expressions.

“There is only one person who can find Her Highness now,”

Uriel said in a subdued voice. His eyes were earnest as he looked at Evangeline.

“Please find Her Highness, Princess. She’s been kidnapped.”

“She must have disappeared.”

Evangeline flung down on Caelion’s sofa.

“Hmm. She had lived well without being threatened by anyone for years.”

She murmured half to herself.

Unlike the four, who were slightly mesmerized, Evangeline remained cool.

“He wanted Lady Idena, the businesswoman, not Her Royal Highness. Perhaps, Luwan Company wanted to get rid of competition———” Adrian said, but Uriel shook his head.

“I don’t know who he is, but the person had a perfect grasp of Her Majesty. As you can see, he approached Laila Trion to set me apart.”

“If we call Laila Trion here then maybe we’ll know who’s behind it,” Caelion said with gritted teeth.

Evangeline tapped the table with her fingers and said. “She would have loved to be invited here. Still, I don’t think she knows anything when you last talked. The idea of her sending you a fake invitation must have already gotten through many people and into the lady’s ears.” Her face and body moved busily as she wrinkled and straightened her brows. Then, she bent forward and leaned back in contemplation, not letting something go. Caelion stared at her with an uneasy look before he spoke heavily.

“Can you… find my sister?”

Evangeline made no reply and avoided his gaze. Caelion scowled at her.

“Can you find her?”

“Well.”

Caelion’s eyes widened at the vague response and only then did Evangeline reply with a sigh.

“I told you last time, didn’t I?”

She slowly raised her head and this time she looked directly at Caelion.

I can’t help you unless I get the price I want.”

Caelion’s eyes widened. For a moment, the two looked at each other without saying anything. Soon it was Caelion who spoke first.

“Are you discussing your price in this situation?”

“Aren’t you desperate enough for the information that I can give you?” Evangeline asked him back. Her restless body had stilled but a little mischief had glittered in her cool reddish-brown eyes. She didn’t care about Apollonia as did the other people in the room. She didn’t mean to offer unconditional help. That fact was clear. Uriel bit his lip and glared at her but Evangeline didn’t back down and met his gaze head-on.

“Did you forget how my sister helped you? You said you’d cooperate.”

“I’m already doing as much as I promised. Don’t mistake me for being in her debt.”

“Without my sister, you would still be Paris’ slave right now.”

“No. I might have remained in the Rajan Kingdom if it wasn’t for Her Majesty. After all, she asked you to bring me here.”

Evangeline’s eyes shone coldly for a moment and Caelion could not say anything.

“It’s….”

When Caelion tried to argue, Evangeline shot him a cold look and even added, “It’s not that I don’t like Her Highness. I like her very much. She’s wise, generous, cool-headed, and deep. I think she’ll be a much better monarch than Paris for Rajan too. It’s just that our relationship is purely business.”

She stared at Caelion as if she wanted an answer.