Chapter 205: Toast Of Treachery
Evelyn stood before him in the ravishing gown he had personally chosen for her, looking far more breathtaking than he had even imagined. His eyes travelled over her slowly, almost hungrily, taking in every detail of her alluring form as he swallowed hard.
As his gaze finally lifted back to her beautiful face, his frown deepened. Beads of sweat clung to her forehead, and her breathing was uneven, far too harsh, as though she had run all the way here.
"Princess Evelyn," Valen said, stepping slightly closer, his brows knitting together, "I’ve been waiting for you. What took you so long? I was about to fetch you myself when you didn’t show up."
Concern tinged his voice, even though beneath it lingered something darker. He couldn’t help but wonder what had happened before she arrived.
Instead of offering a snide remark or her usual sharp-tongued retort, she met his eyes and gave him a small, composed smile. "My apologies, Your Highness, for keeping you waiting so long."
She licked her lips unconsciously, her throat dry from the exertion of getting there. But that tiny, innocent gesture only sent Valen’s depraved imagination spiralling. His gaze dropped shamelessly to her soft, plump lips, and hunger gleamed in his pale eyes.
"Actually," she continued, purposely ignoring how intently he was staring, "Her Majesty came to my room earlier and had me meet my parents again. That is why it took longer than expected."
Valen’s eyes widened at the information, and he gave her an understanding nod, "Ah, I see. So Aunt Elara is finally here." He offered her a charming smile. "I hope your reunion was a pleasant one."
Evelyn recalled the moment she had shattered her father’s barrier, the look of shock on his face, the taste of long-denied freedom, and she smiled even brighter. "Yes," she said sweetly, "a very pleasant one indeed."
Valen was momentarily stunned by her brilliant smile, that for a fleeting second, he wondered if she had actually met his aunt at all. Knowing the tension between them, why would she smile like that? What exactly had transpired?
Before he could dwell on that thought, she asked, "So....shall we head inside?"
Valen’s mouth parted for a brief moment before he eagerly stepped aside, "After you, Princess."
She gave him another soft, sweet smile. "Thank you."
Evelyn stepped into the room and walked straight toward the side table where the wine and glasses had been prepared exactly as she had instructed.
She picked up the wine bottle and, with natural elegance, opened it before pouring the rich liquid into each glass. Behind her, Valen closed the door and turned his full attention to the woman he had spent countless nights fantasising about. His pale green eyes followed her every graceful movement, especially when she lifted both filled glasses and walked toward him.
Stopping right in front of him, she tilted her face up, her deep, alluring blue eyes meeting his. "I thought it would be fitting for us to share a toast," she said softly. "Since it’s your birthday today....consider this a peace offering between us, Prince Valen."
Valen looked at her for a moment before a slow smirk curved his lips. "Princess Evelyn, how very kind of you..."
He still didn’t take the glass; instead, his hungry gaze roamed her face, analysing her, drinking her in more greedily than the wine she held.
"But," he added with a faint chuckle, "may I know why you suddenly wish to share a toast with me....when only a couple of hours ago, you couldn’t even keep down the dinner you shared with me?"
Eve knew her sudden change of behaviour would raise suspicion, and rightly so, considering how hostile she had been toward him since yesterday. ’So the prince does have a functioning brain after all,’ she thought dryly before her lips curled into a small smirk of her own.
"Well, we’re going to be tied into a union that will last a lifetime," she said smoothly. "Since I have no other way out of it, I might as well make an effort to get along with you, don’t you think?" Her gaze sharpened as she added lightly, "Or would you prefer I try to slit your throat open with every chance I get?"
She looked at him fearlessly in the eyes that made Valen’s face break into a wide grin, one that greatly unnerved her, yet she held her ground without blinking.
"If you think this is poisoned, then you don’t have to drink it," she said coolly. "You can simply accompany me while I drink. Won’t you?" Her intelligent blue eyes stayed locked on his, and the smile on her lips faded into something unreadable.
Now, Valen was the one frowning at her unexpected suggestion. Before he could respond, she casually shrugged and walked toward the sofa near the unlit fireplace. She set one of the glasses down on the table, lifted the other to her lips, and without a moment’s hesitation, she downed the entire glass in one go.
Valen was gobsmacked!
He could only watch in stunned disbelief as she tipped her head back and chugged the wine completely, without flinching. And now, more than ever, he wondered what exactly was going on....and what this woman was truly planning.
Looking at her, he watched as she set the empty wine glass down on the table. Then she picked up the second one, the one meant for him and lazily swirled the dark liquid between her elegant fingers. Lifting her thick lashes, she looked at him through the glass, a gesture so subtly flirtatious it sent a jolt straight through him.
She then tilted her head slightly and gestured to the space beside her, "Please don’t just stand there. Have a seat."
To Valen, the way she lounged back on the sofa, wine in hand, her red lips brushing the rim of the glass while she invited him to sit beside her....felt like an unspoken invitation to do far more than simply take a seat.
His breath caught, his pulse thundered, and then he felt his pants tighten below.
’By the devils...She’s so f*cking beautiful. Even when she’s drinking like no princess ever would...she’s so different. She’s so damn different from any woman I’ve ever had. F*ck! I don’t think I can hold it any longer.’
His thoughts spiralled wildly, completely consuming him. In that haze, he failed to notice the hairline fractures in the ruby on her bracelet.
But he did notice how her breathing was slightly uneven....the faint exhaustion in her eyes...the subtle strain in her posture. Something had happened before she arrived. But with her sitting there, looking like sin wrapped in silk, Valen found it increasingly difficult to care about anything else.
So Valen walked toward her slowly, like a panther stalking its prey, his pale green eyes roaming over her as if devouring every inch of her. Evelyn met his gaze with a cool once-over of her own before lifting the second wine glass and taking an international sip from it...the very glass meant for him.
Just as the rim touched her lips, Valen finally reached her. He leaned down, closing in on her space, and without breaking eye contact, he took the glass straight from her hand. Then, tilting his head back, he downed the entire contents in one smooth motion.
As Eve watched him quietly as he drank, her lips curled ever so slightly into an icy, dangerous smile that held no warmth at all.
Just as he finished drinking, Valen looked down at her through a lust-clouded gaze. He dragged his tongue slowly across the corner of his lips in a way he must have thought seductive. But to Eve, it was nauseating. For a brief moment, she genuinely considered slamming his disgusting face into the table and ending this entire ordeal right then and there.
’Well... that’s always an option, I suppose, should things go south,’ she reminded herself dryly.
Pushing down the wave of repulsion, she forced her voice to sound normal, "Well, if you wanted the drink, you could’ve just asked. Why take mine?"
"It made my drink all the more delicious, Princess Evelyn," he smiled lasciviously at her before finally settling beside her, far too close for her liking. Then again, no distance in existence would ever make her comfortable around this man.
Eve’s blue eyes studied him carefully, searching for even the smallest signs of change. Because of the amount she had consumed, she could already feel her muscles beginning to stiffen, tightening little by little. Her plan was reckless, dangerously so. But it was the only window she had. Everyone was busy with the ball. No eyes were on them. No guards. No witnesses.
If she was going to act, it had to be now.
Noticing not much change in him, she offered him a small smile and asked, "Would you like another glass?"
Hearing her sweet voice, Valen felt as though she offered him poison at that moment; he would happily drink it too. Wanting nothing more than to stay close to her, he leaned in, lowering his voice to a seductive whisper. "So tell me, Princess... now that I’ve had the toast you wanted to share with me, what’s next? Hm?’ His pale green eyes devoured her as he added, "What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?"
