NOVEL FROG Chapter 81: Evangeline (bonus chapter)
The journey passed by, sleeping at certain points during the nights and resuming the journey in the mornings. We had already crossed into the borders of the Tamerid Empire, and we were now a day and a half away from the capital on horseback. During this time, Evangeline and I grew a bit closer, but there was still a wall between us, which was normal. We are currently heading towards Evangeline's estate. According to her, she loves that place more than anywhere else, and she has never taken anyone there before, except for me.
We left the escorted convoy of knights heading for the capital and quickly made our way to Evangeline's mansion with a group of fifty knights.
"We've talked about many things regarding our potential marriage, but there is an important matter we haven't discussed yet. What will happen once we've both helped each other and both ascended the throne? Will we divorce? Or will we remain engaged until we both ascend?" I asked.
"I haven't decided yet," Evangeline replied, and as she spoke these words, her eyes sparkled for a moment, but, as always, she quickly regained control of herself.
We both fell silent, and it remained that way until we reached the estate. When we arrived at the estate, my eyes widened as I was momentarily stunned by the structure before me. Who would call this a mere estate? It was as large and even as magnificent as the main palace of the Kingdom of Asina. Where did Evangeline get this much money? Did she also have a secret identity to make money like I did?
"Let's go inside" Evangeline said. For some reason, I felt like she was giving me an order, but I walked towards the estate, anyway. As I approached the estate, I marveled at the incredibly large statues in the courtyard. A few statues stood in a majestic manner, while the largest one in the center depicted a victory pose atop a horse. The statues were a bright white color. In fact, the estate, or rather the palace, was also a bright white, and its design reminded me of ancient Greek architecture. Evangeline ordered the knights to all go to the small manor house next door
The palace rose on a high platform with a wide staircase at the front. The façade of the temple had a row of Doric-style columns supporting the roof. These columns gave the palace a solid and impressive appearance. At the top of the roof, there was a sculpted relief adorning the pediment of the temple. As I walked across the white marble, I couldn't help but think that this palace resembled the White House from my old world.
When I stepped into Evangeline's palace, the atmosphere inside was almost as impressive as the exterior. The wide and high ceilings, the golden decorations adorning the walls, and the white marble floor that sparkled… Every step I took echoed, reminding me once again of how empty and silent this place was.
Evangeline guided me to the grand staircase, and from there, we ascended to the upper floor. This hall, with its massive paintings hanging on the walls, was filled with grandeur that seemed to belong to the past. The long dining table in the center, though empty, looked as if it were set for a grand feast. When she turned to look at me, she saw my astonishment and smiled slightly.
"This was the palace of the first Tamerid king, but when I first came here, it was nothing more than a ruin. Sometimes, as Tamerid princes, we earn certain wish rights from our father in return for the successes we achieve, and I asked for this land. Afterward, thanks to many favors I did for the Servant Guild, I asked them to restore this place. So, in short, I put in a lot of effort to bring it to this state, but now, looking at it, I can definitely say it was worth it" she said.
"Now go take a bath, put on more comfortable clothes, and then meet me outside" she said.
Once again, she spoke as if giving an order. Honestly, I think this is her true nature, and it seems that she has slowly begun to show her true self to me. Whether she is aware of it or not, I don’t know, but the mask she wears to protect herself is slowly slipping off when she's around me...
I entered the room she showed me without saying anything and thoroughly cleaned myself in a luxurious bath in a luxurious bathtub. Afterward, I dressed in comfortable clothes and stepped out of my room. It took me over half an hour to find my way outside, and then I saw Evangeline lying by the lakeside. I approached her slowly, but she noticed me coming and stood up.
Before walking toward me, she drew her sword. My eyes widened in horror, and I quickly assumed a defensive stance. As I activated my Kaizer power, I regained my composure.
"What does this mean, Princess?" I asked.
"I told you before that I hadn't decided yet, didn't I? Now it's time for me to decide" she said and tossed a sword at my feet.
"I wanted to be sure of three things about you. One was your intelligence, the other was your character, and lastly, your strength. I learned you were smart even before you came to Asina, and after you arrived in Asina, I learned about your character, and you satisfied me in that regard, too. Now, your ultimate test begins, Ethan Asina Lenistark. If you want to marry me, you must prove your strength" she said with a wild grin on her face. She was far from the delicate smile of the beautiful princess I had seen before... Though for some reason, she still seemed beautiful to me.
"Why? Why should I show you my strength? Didn't the Servant Guild already inform you about my power?" I asked.
"They did, but it's not enough. Show me the special power you've kept hidden from everyone!" she demanded.
"Aren't you being a bit selfish, princess? Do you think I'll show you the power I've hidden from everyone just because you ask? And what will I gain in return?" I asked Evangeline, a slow smile spreading across my face.
"Me. If you attack with all your strength, I will be yours. It doesn't matter if you lose. Just attack with all your strength,And I'll belong to you with everything" she said.
I picked up the sword from the ground and looked at Evangeline. Her sweet pink hair tied up in a bun and her gentle blue eyes that didn’t resemble those of a hunter. The height difference between us was significant, and when I looked at her, I felt like I was seeing a child. Her sweet face and full lips could trigger the protective instincts of any man. But it was clear that she was dangerous. After all, who would challenge someone without fear, without even knowing their power? This wasn't arrogance; it was confidence.
"Before I accept your offer, I have one condition" I said, swinging the sword in the air a few times to test its weight.
"What is your condition?"
"You to must attack me with all your strength using the power you've kept hidden from everyone" I said.
Evangeline frowned slightly. "How can I defeat you without revealing my hidden power?" she asked.
"Is that a yes, then? Will you show me your hidden power?" I asked.
"Absolutely!" Evangeline replied.
"Then one last question, just to be sure, before we start. If we both use our hidden powers, how can you be sure that no one will see us fighting here?" I asked.
"Don't worry. The nearest town is quite far away, and even if you were to cast a seventh-level fire spell, no one would notice. Besides, I've placed magic stones around this estate, and if someone enters without permission, I'll know immediately. Now, are your boring questions over?" she asked.
"Oh yes, my boring questions are over,My sweet little princess. You belong to me now, in every sense of the word." I said, watching the wild grin on Evangeline's face mirror my own. We both activated our Kaizer powers. Anyone who saw the smiles on our faces would have thought we were about to make sex rather than fight...
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