“These are the people who attacked you, Your Highness. We can’t just leave them be.” Uriel said coldly.
Apollonia might feel sympathy for them, but his intentions was different from hers.
To Uriel, it was unforgivable to launch an attack against Apollonia.
No reason or excuses were needed.
After a moment of silence, Apollonia said.”Remember their names and faces. Let’s go back like this for today.”
Uriel sighed but still followed her orders, anyway.
It was better to do what she said than stay here for a few more minutes.
“Don’t even think about running away. If you leave this place before the lady and I give you permission, I will kill all of you without hesitation so know that and wait for our decision.”
He murmured to the five people who were still on their knees before turning around.
All of them nodded in horror.
“Are you okay?” Uriel asked Apollonia.
The two of them were on top of a small hill after leaving the alley from earlier. There were no tall trees blocking the view, so he could see the entire market’s flashing lights and lively people. However, on the other side was poverty and danger that the citizens would have to see every day. Apollonia said nothing, lost in thought.
Her expression wasn’t as dark as it was a while ago, but it wasn’t that bright either.
She was just deep in thought.
When the sorcery of her appearance had vanished, Apollonia’s hair was back to its original bright blonde.
The same was true for her sunset-colored eyes.
“You’re already doing a lot of work, Your Highness.” Uriel added.“The stronger the influence of the top merchant, Lady Idena, the better the people’s quality of life. Just looking at it——-”
“I know,” Apollonia spoke quietly.
“What?”
“I know that what they said earlier was exaggerated. That there are specific areas where citizens can live well. And that my company and charity work had contributed to their happiness in their own way.”
“Then what are you worried about?”
“I just thought I really didn’t have much time. Time to get the throne back from my father. Both Father and Petra want power. Not to mention Paris as well. If I don’t do anything, people’s lives will have no chance of improving over time.” Apollonia said this much and remained silent for a moment, her eyes still fixed on the people in the market.
Her expression didn’t change but her heart was confused.
The idea that people’s happiness was her responsibility didn’t leave her head.
“Don’t push yourself too hard,” Uriel spoke in a low voice. “You’re already doing your best, Your Highness.”
Apollonia sighed, realizing that what he said was true.
She hadn’t had a good rest in the last few years.
Even if her body was still, her head was busy concocting all kinds of plans.
However, it was frustrating that all those thoughts couldn’t immediately change the citizens’ lives.
Apollonia sighed again as she glanced up at him. “What about you?”
When their eyes met, Uriel suddenly looked away and stared at something from afar.
“What?”
“What are you thinking?”
Uriel bit his lip as if contemplating whether he should answer her or not.
“Why? Don’t you want to tell me about it?”
After a moment of silence, he answered. “I was worried about how you feel.”
It was clear that he didn’t intend to lie but he also wasn’t ready to tell her about it.
“And?”
“I wanted to kill them.”
Uriel’s beautiful face was devoid of emotion when he said that as if he was simply talking about his daily life.
“What?”
“Those who attacked you, Your Highness.”
He turned to face Apollonia.
His eyes, which used to shine like turquoise in the bright sunlight during the day, returned to dark blue.
Now, it resembled the cold sea, but she felt a burning anger somewhere.
“Uriel…”
“Don’t tell me to sympathize with them.” He spat out quickly.
“My thoughts and standards are different from yours. You worry about their safety, but I only worry about your safety, Your Highness. I’m not comfortable enough to feel sympathy for those who attack you.”
Revealing his coolness without hesitation, he reminded Apollonia of the time when she first met him a long time ago.
However, there was a burning anger underneath that ice.
“If anything had happened to you, Your Highness, they would have been in a state where they wouldn’t even remember holding grudges against the Emperor or the nobles by now because they would be dead or dying by now.”
His gaze looked surprisingly calm despite spitting such venomous words with blood-red lips.
However, the unexaggerated attitude rather showed that every word he said was sincere.
Apollonia felt a slight chill in her body.
He paused and examined Apollonia’s expression.
Despite the anger-inducing situation, Uriel couldn’t deny that he was still worried about her heart while uttering such cutting words like a knife.
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