You Think I Don’t Know?

After a long pause, the silver-haired girl stood up and gently bowed towards Philicia.

This was a heartfelt reverence, a respect for a person of noble character.

In the negotiation meetings around the conference table, most were battles of wits between various factions vying for benefits.

Here, there was no so-called morality, no so-called conscience. Everyone clutched their bargaining chips, hoping to extract more advantages from the other’s pocket.

It had always been so, from ancient times until now. Yet, the girl before her shattered humanity’s greed for profit.

She stood there like a sun, its radiance not for display, but merely to illuminate others.

Philicia remained silent, seemingly accepting the bow as a matter of course.

Avia, sitting back in her seat, suddenly felt a pang of guilt in her heart.

Even though her actions during the recent negotiations had garnered favor from most of the elves, only she herself knew that her motives were not entirely pure.

‘Emotions sometimes are truly a miraculous thing. When I was young, I could feel happiness.

As I grew older, only hatred remained in my heart. But when I met these two sisters, everything that had once been lost seemed to slowly return.’

‘Recently, the nightmares had slowly diminished, or even ceased. The torment and anguish from deep within her bloodline had vanished without a trace since her last feeding. Closing her eyes, the girl’s image always involuntarily appeared in her mind.’

Whether from a perspective of self-interest or emotion, Avia had to admit that she seemed to be somewhat inseparable from Selina…

Although their relationship had grown much closer after the last incident, the human heart was never satisfied.

To desire greater intimacy always required some action, and to stay by her side for a long time also required effort.

Therefore, Avia’s quickness in taking responsibility and signing the compensation terms was not only because she genuinely acknowledged her mistake, but also because she wanted to use this incident to plant a good impression in the hearts of many elves.

After all, no one knew that the current Elf Queen adored her two daughters immensely, and the entire Elf Kingdom regarded these two princesses as its treasures.

The general impression of vampires among elves was not good.

She couldn’t manage the entire vampire race, but she should first change her personal image in the public eye.

Thus, the current negotiation for compensation from the vampire race to the elf race was the best opportunity.

In contrast, her own thoughts versus Philicia’s considerations were clearly worlds apart.

However, this feeling of shame hadn’t brewed in her heart for long before Philicia’s words interrupted her thoughts.

“There’s no need for you to feel ashamed, Avia. I said, one thing at a time. We have already initially negotiated the compensation matters. But for what comes next, I ask that you tell me truthfully…”

As Philicia’s unusually emphasized words fell, a silent magical ripple spread throughout the entire conference room, and a silencing magical barrier enveloped the two.

Avia’s brows furrowed slightly, sensing something was amiss.

“Speak.”

“According to your own testimony, Avia, when dismantling the elf s*ave auction house, you were presumably with a member of the vampire dark department to complete this incident, correct?”

A new sheet of paper was placed over the old one.

Philicia seemed to have prepared countless documents today, and who knew how many matters she needed to address were recorded on those white papers.

“Yes.”

“After all, you are a great hero who saved the enslaved elves. I request that you personally thank this hero.”

Philicia’s gaze was fixed on Avia’s crimson eyes, as if locking onto something.

“That is probably impossible. Since the dark department is the dark department, the missions they carry out and their identities are necessarily classified. Moreover, most of the dark department reports directly to the Empress. Even as a princess, I do not have the authority to reveal the true identity of a dark department member to you. My apologies.”

Avia was not intimidated by that gaze and tone. She calmly recited the dark department’s terms and regulations, logically refusing Philicia’s request.

Before infiltrating the auction, Selina had already emphasized to her that she must absolutely not reveal her identity. Although she didn’t know why, Avia had taken it to heart.

Having caused such a huge commotion and left so many traces, Avia had thought a lot before providing her testimony.

To say that the entire incident was completed by her alone was completely unrealistic, so she had to create a companion who didn’t exist before.

And this companion also needed to withstand suspicion, or rather, withstand questioning when suspected.

Considering everything, the dark department was the best choice. After all, the dark department was a unit independently belonging to the Empress.

It was normal for her as a princess to command one or two. But for an elf, an outsider, to demand confidential information like the true identity of a dark department member, was impossible, both emotionally and logically.

As long as she did this, she could stand invincible…

Avia was just about to think this when Philicia’s next words cut her thoughts short.

“Actually, there is no such thing as a dark department. The one who infiltrated the auction with you that day was not a vampire. Her true identity is an elf… an elf with royal bloodline…”

The oppressive feeling brought by Philicia’s single sentence caused a few drops of cold sweat to trickle down the vampire girl’s forehead.

‘I’m drenched in sweat, man!’

‘No, how did she guess?’

‘Didn’t I have Hrothgar clear all the key traces?’

‘Could it be that he didn’t clean them thoroughly? But Hrothgar, as a former member of the dark department, shouldn’t make such a low-level mistake!’

“You, you… what are you saying? I’m a bit…”

“No need to conceal it, Avia. You think I don’t know? Although your statements are perfect, some things, once done, will leave traces…”

As she spoke, Philicia calmly placed an envelope on the table.

“This is my correspondence with my mother, and the letter describes a pair of elf sisters suddenly teleported to Emerald City by a Space Crystal. A Space Crystal that can bypass the barrier above Emerald City and directly pinpoint Emerald City… only royal descendants possess such.”

“And in the current royal family, besides my mother, there are only my sister and I. And according to the two sisters’ testimonies, the one who saved them was, coincidentally, an elf girl with silver hair and blue eyes, almost identical to my sister~”

As she spoke, Philicia slowly stood up, narrowing her eyes.

“Avia, I really didn’t expect it. Everyone else thought you signed the compensation agreement to take responsibility for your mistakes, but only I knew that what you truly desired was not just these…”

“You are indeed different from the vampires I know. However, what they desire is merely money and profit, yet you actually dare to covet my sister?!”

As her words fell, in that instant, Avia felt her heart suddenly skip a beat.

That feeling was as if something she had hidden for a long time was suddenly ripped open by someone, and shame and embarrassment instantly echoed in her mind like fireworks.