Two-Faced Princess

Uriel asked her to play the same song whenever she visited.

Thanks to this, Apollonia learned to play the song quite well even though it wasn’t comparable to Tan’s performance.

The music, which started low and calm, rose splendidly and ended.

Uriel also opened his closed eyes.

“I’ll be going now. I’ll join the march and see you again officially.”

“Always take care of yourself.”

At Apollonia’s worried words, Uriel smiled brightly and disappeared over the window.

“I can’t even see him.”

She looked out of the window but couldn’t see if he was hiding somewhere in the shadows.

In five years, Uriel’s skills have increased, but to what extent, she had no idea.

His swordplay was far beyond Apollonia’s ability to judge, so it wasn’t clear exactly what level he was in.

Knowing his skills didn’t mean much because neither this Empire nor the whole continent had someone as good at swordplay as him.

Caelion grew quickly and surpassed Paris, but there was still a considerable gap between him and Uriel’s sword skills.

It would be hard to determine the winner if the two had a duel.

“He seemed larger.”

Putting the lyre back in place, Apollonia recalled Uriel’s image, which she hadn’t seen in a long time.

He looked tall up close but appeared to be a thin body on the battlefield.

The corner of his eyes crinkled every time he flashed a bright smile at her.

He was more manly than before, but on the other hand, he became more beautiful as well.

Apollonia wondered if she had always been aware of that.

Despite meeting him five years ago, Uriel was attractive, but his appearance never mattered to her.

In the first place, she wasn’t impressed by his arrogance.

But now Uriel——

Apollonia shook her head several times, pushing her useless thoughts away.

She had too much work to do.

A march would be held in a few days.

She must get ready, too. Get her hands on Milon’s eye.

As she emptied her head, Apollonia did not forget to put the hydrangea which Uriel had left in a small glass bottle.

* * *

“He’ll be there soon.”

Looking out the window at Paris’ residence in the Capital, Amoretta opened her eyes wide at the maid’s words.

The maid blinked a few times.

She saw this face often, but how could she not get used to it?

The lady’s face was gorgeous.

This wasn’t even the first time she saw a ‘Bella.’

It wasn’t just the simple fact that she was a ‘Bella.’

The woman’s appearance was indescribable.

Every eye contact felt like she had stolen a part of her soul.

“Your Highness?”

Amoretta once again asked.

The maid noted the heartfelt welcome in the lady’s seductive voice.

“The victory march will be held tomorrow. Your Highness, the Crown Prince, will arrive soon.”

Amoretta smiled broadly and murmured, “Finally.”

Amoretta’s face flushed red.

She always dreamed of Paris.

A day or so after arriving in the palace, he would always come and see her.

Amoretta loved Paris.

Having escaped from the Li Shan province five years ago, she soon met a thief and lost most of her money.

From a thief’s perspective, traveling alone made her a prominent target.

When she arrived in the capital, she was exhausted from a lack of money or food.

It was Paris who kept her.

He was her salvation.

He loved Amoretta from the moment he met her.

He gave her many things she had never had, such as food, clothing, and a comfortable bed.

He was more affectionate than any man Amoretta had ever met.

After recovering her health under Paris’ care, she wanted to find someone she had met in Li Shan Province.

The woman took pity on her even if she looked like she was trying hard not to.

She didn’t know what was happening, but the robed woman saved Amoretta, who was on the verge of death and let her escape.

Unfortunately, Amoretta knew nothing about her.

As time passed and her will to find her gradually diminished, Paris asked her to be his lover.

“Stay with me. From here on out.”

He was completely different from the rumors she had heard about him.

She couldn’t believe that he was violent with his subordinates at all.

He was considerate and gentle.

Sometimes, she had the impression that the servants in the mansion feared him more than necessary, but the way he treated Amoretta was always affectionate.

She also heard that Paris would expose his other lovers soon, but Amoretta hadn’t seen any signs of them.

Perhaps, she was the only one in Paris’ heart.

Above all, he strangely resembled the person he met in Li Shan.

It was difficult to point out, but the robed woman’s side profile that she had seen at first glance and her unique, elegant accent and gestures reminded her of Paris.

It gave her comfort.

“I’ll do that.”

Amoretta eventually accepted Paris’ offer.

As she lived comfortably in the mansion, Paris usually spent time with her whenever he went out.

To Paris, it felt like taking a prized possession to kill his boredom outside.