“Just as I said. You won’t see Diaman’s face anymore, and you won’t have to obey his orders. You’ll be able to take Tanya anywhere.”
The room went quiet after Apollonia spoke. They looked at her- half-doubtfully, half-hopefully. To them, getting rid of Diaman was an impossible task. But the voice underneath Apollonia’s dark robe had an indescribable power and conviction. The power to change their lives– she’d had it from the start. It had always been her.
“Let’s eat the food together. We can put the blankets on the floor and walls to block the wind.” Sid jumped up to obey before the last word even left her mouth.
“…How can I believe you?” The woman, who’d been blinking incredulously, asked Apollonia. Her voice trembled, but her eyes were filled with hope.
Apollonia gestured to Sid, and he pulled a pouch out of his pack. It was much larger than what she’d given Tanya before. Apollonia took the pouch from him and opened it. It was bursting with gold coins.
“Take this as collateral. I’m entrusting it to you. You can do whatever you want with it.”
“This… this is enough to buy a noble title!’
“If I don’t come back, you can use that to get out of Lishan. And before I forget…”
Apollonia pulled a hairpin out of her robe.
“Just a few of these pins is worth a hefty sum. I’ll pay you for guiding us with these.”
All five of them–the old woman, Tanya, and her brothers–gaped at her.
“Could you give me a meal now? I have a busy day tomorrow, so I need to get some rest.”
There was another silence. However, this time, the air was filled with an overwhelming hope. Still blank, the old woman slowly dragged her feet and moved the groceries into the kitchen. Tanya’s brothers moved to help her.
“I’ve never met anyone like you… so I have no idea how to repay you.”
“As long as Tanya shows me the way to Mt. Calt, I don’t need a reward.”
The old woman was lost in thought, and she didn’t seem to hear her reply. Then she slapped her knees as if she’d realized something.
“Wait a second– do you perhaps like handsome guys? Why don’t you take one of my grandsons with you?”
“Puah-!” Apollonia choked on her water. But the old woman was serious.
“Look at them! This one… his face is boring, but his long hair is beautiful. This one… is skinny but handsome. And the last is good at singing.”
The men smiled at Apollonia. They didn’t seem to have any issue with what their grandmother had said.
A Bella’s way of thinking was difficult for ordinary people to understand. Apollonia sighed. She could only think of one way to get out of this.
“Uriel, untie the fabric on your face.”
–––––––––chapter division here–––––––––
The young knight with hair that seemed to be made of moonlight obeyed without hesitation. As the soft fabric wrapping his head slowly fell away, it revealed a face that looked like it had been carved by God. His deep blue eyes resembled those of angels, and his delicate jawline could make anyone fall in love with him.
The Bella youths paled in comparison to Uriel. Next to him, they might as well have been strange animals from the depths of the ocean.
“This is the face I see every day. Do you understand why I’m not interested in other pretty men now?”
The old woman, her grandsons, and Tanya, who instinctively tried to reach out to Uriel’s face, stared dumbfoundedly, and hurried out of the room.
She had a hunch that Uriel’s ears had flushed red.
After everyone had left the room, Apollonia didn’t follow them. She pulled the old woman aside. Something was bothering her.
People in the imperial palace were eager to disguise Paris’ brown eyes as the imperial golden eyes. If they succeeded, Apollonia’s position could become unstable.
“About the drug to change eye color… is there anyone who can make it besides you?”
The old woman stared at her for a moment and smiled.
“It’s very rare, but there are people who can make it. But don’t worry.” She peered at Apollonia’s eyes. “Deep red eyes with a golden tinge… I don’t think anyone could imitate those eyes.”
Apollonia froze. The old woman smiled again.
“The only person who could replicate your eyes would be a genius sent from heaven.”
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