"Pardon?"

"Hanz. Do you want his head?" Yulis inquired sincerely.

My mind buzzed momentarily as the corner of my eyes twitched. Please tell me I misheard him?

"Ah, I think I misheard you, your highness," I replied, along with an awkward chuckle.

"You didn't. I said what I said. I'll give you his head or his other eye if that will make you feel better," Yulis affirmed, nodding at me encouragingly as he looked at me straight in the eye.

Wait.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, propping my elbow on the armrest as a sudden headache struck me. A sigh slipped past my lips as I grasped what he meant by that.

Was he proposing this because he felt bad for judging me unfairly? He would kill his brother as an apology?

"If you do that, wouldn't you be in a predicament?" I queried in distress, casting him a look.

"Does that matter?" He tilted his head to the side, furrowing his brows innocently.

It was a tempting offer, honestly. However, I didn't want to get indebted to him or cause him trouble. And even if I agree, my problem remained the same; I'm still sired to Stefan.

Fighting amongst themselves was an entirely different case. But if Yulis murdered Hanz because of me, what punishment would I have to bear?

"Your Highness." I inhaled sharply and released it from my mouth. "I appreciate your offer. But there's no need for that, really."

"Are you sure? This is once in a lifetime offer." He frowned, resting his jaw on his knuckles. "I won't apologize for what I said before if that's what you want from me instead."

A vein on my temple protruded under my skin upon hearing his last remarks. It was easier for him to act in violence than apologize. Really… Sivi should've told me I had to throw rational reasoning out of the window as well.

"Yes. You don't have to do that." I replied, sporting a forced smile.

"Well, if you say so." Yulis shrugged as he sprawled his arms to reach for the teacup. "But then again, Hanz will surely lure you into one of his illusions. I can't protect you if I'm not around."

Yulis elegantly sipped tea in silence. His demeanor was just as proper as Fabian's. But that wasn't the reason I was staring at him. What he said just now piqued my curiosity.

"Your highness," I called out when he placed the teacup back on the saucer.

He arched his brow, slowly raising his eyes to me as he leaned back. "Hmm?"

"About what you said, are you saying that illusion of you last night is not part of Hanz's plans?" I asked, raising both my brows as I anticipated his reply.

"Yes. Why would he stop himself if he sincerely wants you dead? That doesn't make sense." He answered, tilting his head, sporting a genuine wonder. "If you're wondering how I entered the illusion, I did what Hanz' did. I entered your subconscious mind."

Do you mean you invaded my subconscious mind?

"Hanz can still harm you, even if it's just an illusion if I didn't stop him," Yulis added in the same indifferent tone.

"But, you weren't you sleeping that time?"

"I am." Yulis raised his forefinger, tapping his temple as he clicked his tongue. "But I'm subconsciously awake."

I kept quiet momentarily. That's how it happened; the same as that night three months ago.

"What will happen if I died in that illusion?" I perked up and blurted out. I pursed my lips in a thin line as I raised my hand to cover my lips.

"You'll be trapped in it, obviously." Yulis didn't mind answering my question, fortunately. "And if you're trapped in it, you'll eventually wither away in reality. It's a slow, painful death."

Yulis added indifferently. It was as if such a thing didn't terrify him.

In other words, if I died in that illusion, it would be my reality without knowing I was asleep all along. I would eventually die as my body deteriorates without proper care.

"Then…" I raised my gaze once again and set it on him. "What will happen to Hanz if I fight back?"

"You mean if you fight back and defeated him?" Yulis raised a brow, gazing at me with mockery in his eyes. He didn't have to say what he was thinking, as it was written all over his face.

"If you defeat him, it will affect him a little. Because putting up an illusion and fighting in it are two different cases. To put it simply, it's exhausting." He lectured in a knowing tone, waving his forefinger at his side.

"Ohh…" My lips formed in a circular shape as I nodded in understanding.

"Won't you going to ask why Hanz wants you dead?" He asked, as if he had been waiting for me to ask about it all along.

"He already said it; tit for tat," I answered, as I furrowed my brows. "That means Sam did some... thing. Come to think of it, how did Sam do it?" We've been in Cunningham for the past three months.

"You only realized that now?" Yulis let out a faint scoff. "How can you not appreciate the abilities of your groom?"

"..."

"I don't know if you already know this, but Hell holds the purest blood among us. In other words, he is that strong and precious. That's why it's an insult that he wants a human as his bride."

"Huh?"

"I mean, even if he's in Cunningham, if he wants to pull someone inferior like Hanz into an illusion, Hell can do it from that distance. So, sometime three months ago, Hanz pluck out his own eyes and blindly caused a ruckus."

Yulis explained, adding his comments in between. The side of his lips curled in amusement, as if talking about something commendable.

"Hanz... did it?"

"He did and did not. Hell's illusions are real hell. Hanz plucked out his eye, probably as a ticket to leave the illusion." Yulis shrugged, sounding unsure of the actual cause. "Anyway, tea time is over."

Yulis snapped, brushing his lap with his palm before he stood up.

"Ah." I raised my head, blinking as I gathered my thoughts. "Alright."

Yulis walked to my side, offering his hand for me to grasp. I raised my brows in confusion, darting my eyes from his hand to his eyes.

"Let's start over again, sister," He said, smirking at me. "I won't apologize to you, but I have to admit I misjudged you. Although we don't trust each other, I'm certain we're on the same both."

I stared at him straight in the eye. "You have a point, your highness," I said as I placed my hand on his.

"Until our interest conflicts, let's be ally for now," He uttered as he escorted me in the middle of the room.

"Until then." I performed a curtsy and added as I raise my head, "I'll trust you."