Chapter 270: She is the true villain
The moon hung high above the palace gardens, casting a silver glow over the neatly trimmed hedges and marble pathways. The soft fabric of her evening gown fluttered in the cool night breeze.
The scent of roses and damp earth filled her senses, grounding her despite the unease creeping up her spine. She had come here under the pretence of needing fresh air, but she had known Alfonso would follow. Here she stood. He gave her an offer that wasn’t as hard as the task before her, but by the system, it was going to be problematic.
She was thrown into deep thoughts and there he was, her brother-in-law, standing before her with that ever-present, unreadable smirk.
He was the dark present that haunted her. His hazel eyes keenly studied her waiting for her reply. Alfonso, in dark formal attire, looked every bit the noble prince, but something was unsettling in his gaze tonight. Something that made her pulse quicken, though whether it was from unease or fear. It might be both.
In the corner of her mind, he intimidated her like Cedric. They weren’t that different. "I will give you an answer later. It depends on if I can get Cedric not to go with me." Abrielle finally spoke. It wasn’t a finite agreement, but he could work with it.
Alfonso’s smile didn’t change, but there was something triumphant in his eyes. He reached into his coat and pulled out two red roses. Abrielle immediately recognized it from the rose duel
Her breath hitched, recognizing the ever-bright petal enchanted by magic. "A seal of our agreement," he said smoothly, offering it to her.
"You don’t have to," she said, her fist still balled. "But I want to; the petals never fade. It will be a quiet reminder of our agreement." He insisted.
"If you don’t accept, the deal is off," Alfonso added. It was a silent threat. Her smile went stiff. He was still playing the dangerous game