The Third Prince Of Darkness

As I was heading to visit Evangeline, a thought crossed my mind. Authority. What was it that allowed a person to gain authority or power? Or more generally, how does a person obtain everything they acquire throughout their life? I'm talking about everything, not just money or power. This includes health or romantic relationships as well.

How does a person achieve all of this? The answer was simple: through bribery. Everything, from human relationships to making money, is secured through bribery. Take, for example, a person who can eat anything you want. would probably end up consuming the most delicious and therefore the unhealthiest foods.

So what happens next? That person's body will rebel against this freedom to eat and their standard of living will gradually decline. How can that person remedy this situation? Or rather, how can That person reclaim own stomach's freedom? Of course, by filling own stomach with healthy foods. In a way, that person regain power by bribing own stomach again.

And this is a situation that exists in every area of life. For example, if a person has a romantic relationship, that person need to give girlfriend love, attention, money, or satisfy her in bed. So, in a sense, that person need to bribe her to keep the relationship going. However, the word "bribery" might make what I'm saying sound sinister or evil, but that's not entirely correct.

I'm just trying to make sense of how human life operates. Since this situation is a part of human nature, it's best to accept it. But one could reject this idea and say that human nature is bad, becoming someone like Buddha. But honestly, I don't think I have the freedom to be like Buddha right now, and I don't actually want such a life.

And now, as I approach Evangeline, these kinds of thoughts are quite significant. What kind of bribe was Evangeline asking of me? Love? I don't think so. Or power? No, that's not it either.

The answer was simple. Through a series of mutual benefit, Evangeline got engaged to me. Moreover, I don't think Evangeline currently wants to turn this engagement into a serious marriage. But since Evangeline is someone I will need in the long run, losing her could lead to a huge problem in the future. But no matter how smart you are, not everything in life goes as planned.

But at least I need to approach Evangeline properly. Even though she is my fiancée, there is still a relationship between us that needs to develop, and this relationship needs to turn into a romantic one for my own interests. When I arrived at the unity building that Evangeline leads, I was faced with an extremely lavish building, in stark contrast to Catherine's unity building.

I wasn't surprised that it had such a building, as it is often emphasized in the traditions of the Tamerid Empire to appear strong and wealthy.

Since I visited this place occasionally, I entered without any issues. Upon entering, I asked a member next to the door if Evangeline was available. The man nodded slightly in greeting before quickly moving on to Evangeline. While I waited, my eyes scanned the surroundings. The golden-embroidered decorations on the walls emphasized wealth and power.

There was an air of grandeur everywhere; just like Evangeline herself. Before my thoughts took over, the man returned and signaled to me that Evangeline was available.

Slowing my steps, I entered through the large, ornate door. Evangeline was sitting at her usual spot, upright behind her desk. Her pink hair was perfectly styled, and she was focused on the files in her hands. When I entered, she slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes holding that usual calm and analytical expression. As her eyes locked onto mine, she smiled gently and gestured for the man to leave.

"So, you've come," she said, her voice soft yet authoritative.

"Yes," I replied as I slowly approached the sofa.

"What brings you here?" she asked.

Since Evangeline already knew my true identity, I didn't need to speak formally or conceal myself. "Isn't seeing my fiancée a good enough reason?"

Evangeline carefully closed the files next to her and placed them on the desk. The smile on her face turned more serious than I had expected. "Yes, seeing your fiancée is a reason, but I'm curious about what you expect from this visit," she said. There was a hint of mockery in her voice; she was looking for an opportunity to get to know me better.

"Actually, I came to talk about the upcoming tournament, but if you want to discuss my expectations... I have a few things to say about that," I replied, mirroring her mocking tone.

Curiosity appeared in Evangeline's eyes, but for some reason, The next moment she chose to ignore my words. Perhaps she thought that if she responded to my words, it could lead us into an unwanted situation. "What do you want to discuss the tournament?" she asked seriously.

"I plan to reveal my true identity during the tournament, and I wanted to inform my fiancée about it."

Evangeline's eyes froze for a moment, then she began scrutinizing me with a slight frown. "Are you sure it's the right time?"

"Yes," I said, looking directly into her eyes. "Also, I aim to make a kind of power demonstration during the tournament, and therefore, some people from your organization might get hurt."

"That's not a problem. If you've decided to proceed down this path, I can accept any outcome," Evangeline said, maintaining her serious demeanor.

"It's good to know I am not alone in this," I said, filled with a momentary sense of trust.

I briefly glanced at Evangeline's beautiful pink hair. At that moment, I thought about how I could get closer to this woman. I had been engaged to Evangeline for over a year and a half, but I wasn't very familiar with the details of her life. Of course, I had spent most of the past year and a half developing my Kaizer power and my control over other elements.

I had been looking for ways to expand my unity or grow my companies during the rest of my time. For all these reasons, I can't say I had much time. Even though Evangeline is my fiancée, I could only visit her a few times a month. Therefore, I can't say that our relationship has developed much.

"Evangeline... When everything is settled and our plans come to fruition, would you like to get married?" I asked.

Evangeline's eyes sparkled with surprise at the unexpected question. For a moment, she focused on the files on the desk, then turned back to me. The expression on her face indicated that her thoughts were complicated.

"How brave it is to suddenly propose," she said with a slight smile. "But behind this offer, do you really want to marry me? Or do you not know what you truly want?"

"I know what I want," I said, emphasizing the determination within me. "When everything falls into place, and both of our dreams come true, I want to formalize our marriage. Also why not? Do you have a better alternative? We are both talented, strong, and our characters are compatible with each other. And you can be sure that I will show you my love.

So what's the problem? If there's no one else you love, why wouldn't you accept?" I said in a slightly sarcastic tone

Evangeline's eyes flickered for a moment in response to my mocking tone. Her smile seemed to struggle to conceal the uncertainty within her. She remained silent for a few seconds, as if weighing the gravity of my words.

"It's interesting how certain you are," she finally said, though her voice reflected her indecision. "Marriage means forming a strong bond, but the intention behind that bond is very important. If you're only thinking of a strategic move, you can achieve what you want without us having to marry."

"This isn't just a strategy, Evangeline," I said, increasing the determination in my voice. "This is a step that will create a change in my life. I want to be with you, and we can grow stronger together while doing it. We need each other to reach our goals."

The thoughtful expression that appeared on Evangeline's face indicated that I was beginning to influence her. "We will need some time to see how our goals align," she replied, this time with a hint of softness in her voice.

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Evangeline's words felt like a door had been opened; still, there was an uncertainty within me. I wondered how much influence I could have on her decision. With determination and stubbornness, I wanted to reassure her.

"I understand, Evangeline," I said, keeping my voice as calm as possible. "But I know that everything takes time. That's why I want our engagement to move one step further. While uniting our lives, we need to get to know each other better. We can spend time together; this could strengthen the bond between us, or it could have the opposite effect.

But at least we would have some idea about our relationship. So, after the tournament, I want to ask if you'd like to spend more time with me?"

Evangeline's gaze suddenly sharpened. My words had come as a challenge to her quick wit. "So, you want me to spend more time with you, right?" she asked, her tone a mix of mockery and inquiry. "What a lovely proposal! But don't think it'll be so easy for me to understand the intentions behind it."

I carefully observed her expression to see if my response was as effective as I thought. With an arrogant demeanor, she traced her fingers across the table, waiting for my answer. "Do you just want to spend time with me? Or is this part of a deeper strategy? Who knows, maybe you have a purpose for getting so close to your fiancée so quickly."

"It's not about strategy, Evangeline," I said, maintaining my calm. "But strengthening our communication is important to me. Maybe when I spend more time with you, we can deepen our relationship even further."

Evangeline nodded slightly with a smile. "How naïve of you," she said. "Spending time with you could be fun, but that's definitely not enough for me. If you want to establish a bond between us, you need to prove yourself. Your words shouldn't just remain words. If you really want to impress me, you need to take steps that make me feel."

Why does her character change so quickly? Sometimes I really don't understand this woman. But I will endure this situation because I definitely need her.

"I understand this," I said, pretending to increase my determination. "Then I'll take my leave. It's already dark, and I only have a few hours left before returning home."

As I walked out the door, the thoughtful expression I left behind on Evangeline's face reflected the complex nature of my desire to take our relationship a step further. The uncertainty within me combined with the weight of the steps she expected from me. But ultimately, I would do everything I could to win her over. As I walked out of Evangeline's unity building, I was heading toward my own.

Now was the right time to talk to Ellera.