631: Everything comes with a price

Everything comes with a price

"Not so fast, Princess. I still need you to do something."2

Princess Agnes's heart thudded at Aries's remark. Another request? What was it this time? Princess Agnes already had to grit her teeth whilst giving out her ruthless order just to prove herself to Aries. But it wasn't enough, and she still had to do something.

Doing a request from Aries wasn't the problem, but the request itself. They were vicious. Princess Agnes was afraid the first request was just a warm-up or milder.

"Don't overthink." Aries chuckled as if she could read her mind. "I simply want you to attend the trial. The empire would surely investigate the matter."

"You want me to take the blame?" The princess's body trembled, knowing that would drag her reputation and honor into the mud. "They will kill me."

"No, of course not."

"How are you certain they won't?" Her voice shook as her hands balled into a tight fist. "The fire in the east district and the fact that I had endangered the people is enough to warrant me to stand on the gallows. Even if they banished me, my kingdom will not accept a disgrace like me."

"But, at least, you have your freedom," Aries argued with a smile, almost making the princess choke on her own breath. "Without the empire and your kingdom… you can run barefoot in a beautiful meadow and make garlands freely."

Princess Agnes stumbled back, her leg hitting the table nearby.

"That's not what I meant," she breathed out, looking back at Aries as if a mouse cornered by a hungry wild cat. 

"Princess, I think your desire for freedom isn't what you want if that is the case." A shallow breath slipped past Aries's lips, folding her arms under her chest. "You want to live a life with freedom, but you cannot let go of your luxurious life as a princess? Aren't you a little complicated and idealistic?"

Princess Agnes ground her teeth with a desire to answer her, but alas, she couldn't. All she could do was stare at Aries's nonchalant front. 

"To gain something, you have to sacrifice something. What you want isn't a desire to help this woman you are looking for. The way I see it, you're looking for her because of yourself." Aries didn't beat around the bush as she made a lot of thinking about this. 

She didn't know Princess Agnes, nor did she remember meeting her anywhere before the selection. Hence, she could only think that the princess heard her from someone that could bridge the two of them. Aries had a guess, although she hoped that wasn't the case.

"You want peace of mind, don't you?" Aries continued indifferently. "It didn't matter to you if she's alive, living a humble life or if she was dead."

"You do not know —"

"I think I do now, Princess." She cut the princess as her eyes grew icy. "And to be honest, I find this fake concern repulsive. You shouldn't have come for my help, Your Highness, for I hate people like you the most. You act all high and mighty, righteous and virtuous, but behind that facade, you sneakily put the innocent in danger to get what you want."

"Even though I cannot claim innocence, I will not take full responsibility as well. I could do it myself if I wanted to, but my priority is different." The side of Aries's lips curled up, playing with the tip of her hair with her finger. "I thought you'd do it differently, but what you did… is far more reassuring. It was a surprise, but it works well for me."

Princess Agnes gripped the edge of the table to keep herself from falling. She could only stare at Aries's cunning smirk while realization slowly seeped deep into her bones. Aries… simply asked her to take out Lady Ivory, so she didn't have to get involved once the trial started. 

Princess Agnes was certain she had left no tracks that would point the investigation to her. However, seeing Aries now, a part of her told her Aries had done something that would pin her. 

A total victory.

That was what Aries wanted.

And for her to achieve that, she used Princess Agnes to reveal Lady Ivory's incompetence, but at the same time, if the princess was proven guilty, not only she would get disqualified but her father, the king, wouldn't welcome her back. 

"What did I do to you?" came out a shaking voice after a full minute of silence. "For you to leave me with nothing in my name, what did I do to you to deserve this?"

Aries narrowed her eyes, showing zero hints of her answer. 

"You… lasted long," was all Aries told her since Princess Agnes would still share the same fate whether or not she tried to negotiate with Aries. It just so happened the princess approached Aries first and spoke things that gave Aries the reason to use her without mercy. 

"You should've purposely failed, Your Highness. If only you did, you wouldn't have to meet this side of me." Aries offered a subtle smile, but the harshness in her eyes remained. "Don't worry. I will stay true to my words and tell you everything I know once the time comes. And I will give you the freedom you sought half-heartedly."

With that being said, Aries turned to leave because she couldn't let Abel come find her. She had already said her piece, so that was already enough. As Aries walked away, her steps slowed down until she paused. 

"There's a reason people say be careful of what you wished for." Aries looked back at the princess and smirked when the latter faced lifted her eyes at her. "You don't know who was listening and they might grant it to you… with a price. Nothing is free in this world, and everything comes with a price, Your Highness."

"May you have a good night and see you in the announcement. You'll smile for me, yes?" Aries let out a weak chuckle, walking away in a much greater mood while Princess Agnes was left with nothing but regret. 

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