Eva sat opposite Thalis Vallou, and they looked at each other without uttering a word. He sipped his tea slowly, closed his eyes, and groaned when he had had several gulps. He opened his eyes and placed the teacup back while looking at the ceiling.

“How about you have a cup as well, my daughter?” he said, finally looking back down.

“I would rather we get down to business, my lord.”

Thalis scoffed. “I don’t dislike this side of yours. Very well, let us discuss what has been going on, shall we?” He laced his fingers together on the table and cleared his throat. “You being here means that you already realize that I could thwart your plan with just a simple statement, correct? Even if you have evidence far stronger than Lena’s, with just a testimony from me, the lord of the territory, it all becomes irrelevant. I could spin the tales however I want, and there is nothing you can do about it.” He smirked. “You feel helpless, don’t you? You need me, don’t you? Well, I have a deal for you.”

Eva looked straight at him, unfaltering. He knew what was going on, and she expected that. “Please go on.”

“I want you to leave your identity as Eva Vallou and work for me. I can ensure your safety, then.”

“Do I look like someone who would abandon my fight and hide like some rats, my lord?”

“You have no choice. Either you work for me or I send you to the gallows. You are too dangerous to be left alone. Landing a deal with those greedy merchants proved that.”

Eva felt her anger simmering underneath. “Please allow me a few questions, my lord,” she said.

The earl nodded. “Go on.”

“If I had failed to negotiate with the guildmasters, would you still be willing to keep me alive?”

“Is that even a question?” He sighed as if she had just wasted his time. “I have no use for incompetent people.”

“Then, if I were one of those incompetent people, what would you be doing at this moment?”

Thalis frowned and leaned back in his chair, pondering. After a short moment, he said, “I would help Lena confirm your ‘crimes’ and name her my successor.”

“Is that so…” Eva unknowingly clenched her fists. “Last question, my lord. There is no way you didn’t know what your daughter had been up to. Why didn’t you stop her, but instead decided to turn a blind eye and help her in the end?”

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Thalis’s smile reached from ear to ear, his eyes becoming curved slits. “Why, isn’t this what being a noble is all about?” He leaned forward with his hands on the table. “Scheming, betraying, deception. The one who triumphs the other is obviously the one worthy of sitting in the seat of the lord.” He leaned back while glancing at his chair and then at Eva. “And since you couldn’t see what was going on, that means you are the loser, my daughter. Helping my successor clean up is only natural. I would even help Lena sell you off as a slave if she wished. That is the privilege of the winner.” He smirked one more time. “But you are fortunate that I have a need for your skills.”

Eva always wondered in her past life why the crimes pinned to her name were confirmed so quickly and why Thalis was persuaded seemingly overnight. It was not that Lena had sufficient evidence, but because he helped her in her plot. He was no less guilty than her.

Eva had heard everything she wanted to hear. She had to hold back no longer, so she smiled. “Thank you for your generosity, my lord. However, I would like to propose something for you as well.” This time, she laced her fingers on the table and leaned forward. “If I were to tell you that I can get the Ganakos Marquisate under you, what would you be willing to trade?”

He raised his eyebrows and stared at her.

“You know what has been going on in the territory, so you should know that the marquis of Ganakos is within this city, correct?” She smirked. “What if I told you that I already got ahold of his weakness? One that would make him answer to our beck and call no matter how absurd the order is?”

“Stop beating around the bush. Tell me what it is and be done with it.”

“If I told you, then I wouldn’t have any card left to play, would I?” Eva sighed. “I am not even requesting something grand. I simply request that you don’t interfere with my actions for a day. I will face Lena and clear my name before I abandon my identity.”

He grabbed his chin. “What if you don’t go through with your promise?”

“Oh please,” she said. “Why are you underestimating your status as the lord of Vallou? As long as you wish for it, my ‘crimes’ will surface for all the people to see with the help of my sister’s made-up evidence no matter how much I clear my name.”

He pondered for a moment. “Then why?”

“To prove you wrong,” she replied. “I am not inferior to my sister in any and all way. Not even in the way of deception.”

There was a moment of silence, then he laughed. “Very well!” he said. “I’ll see what my daughters have in store to the end.”

Eva bowed. “I will not disappoint you.”

“But,” he said as he slammed the desk with his fist, his expression a dark one, “if you had lied about Ganakos’s secret, then don’t think that I will let you off lightly.”

Eva smiled. “Please wait for the good news.”

Thalis laughed another time. “Good! As expected of my daughter!”

“Now, if you will excuse me, I have much work to do, my lord.”

He nodded. “Yes, go. I will be waiting for you, my daughter.”

Eva got up and bowed another time before leaving the room. She gave the personal maids who were standing guards a nod, and they bowed back. Sofia who was just outside followed her down the corridor, and they exited the estate with their cloak and robe on.

“Did you get what I asked you to, Sofia?” Eva asked as soon as they were outside.

“Yes, my lady. Those maids didn’t let me go at first, but after I pestered them long enough, they allowed me.”

“Good. Very good,” Eva said, smiling. She walked down the street toward where Minos should be. “We can proceed now.”