"The Mo Family…" Rhea wanted to slap her own face. The Mo Family isn't really the current Ruling Family of the Empire. However, they are still considered a Royal because the previous Empress was someone from the Mo Family. The Empress had a son who wasn't able to win the throne.

This person became the Duke and had his own sons and daughters. Lily tried to rummage through all the memories inside Rhea's head. It seems that Rhea didn't even hear of the Duke's real name before? How useless.

​​

"So you are… how did you become a prince?" she couldn't help but ask.

"Merits."

Rhea nodded. It must be because Mo Li's grandmother is still alive? If Mo Li's grandmother was still alive, then does this mean there are two Empress Dowagers? How complicated!

"So… you went into the… did you visit that place to take me here?"

"It crossed my mind." Mo Li smiled. "But I didn't force you into doing anything."

Of course, he didn't. After all, this was all her choice. "What was your goal?"

"Bring you to the empire?"

She squinted. "And gain power?"

"Would you believe me if I say that I don't want power?"

"Then? What do you want?"

He gazed at her. "Would you believe me if I say that I just wanted to stay with the Sybill?"

"Of course not." Why would someone want to stay with her? Obviously, they wanted power. Now that she is slowly showing what she can do, the church would never let her go.

"Ah, I thought so too. So, I have a proposition."

"Proposition?"

"The church would never touch me. I am a Prince. Killing me would mean that they are waging a war against the empire. Meaning, if you are with me, this privilege would extend to you too." Mo Li sat on the chair opposite her. He then crossed his leg as he smiled at her.

"What do you propose?" she asked. Was he trying to tie her into marriage?

"We pretend to be lovers."

"Not marriage?" she confirmed.

"Not marriage. I don't want you to think that I am tricking you into something you don't want. We can just announce our engagement and that is it."

"That's it?"

"Of course. Did you want to become my bride?"

She glared at him, irritated. "Of course not!"

"See? I can't make you my bride as well, since I am still a prince. If I make you my bride, people would think that I want to become the next emperor."

"But being engaged with me would have the same effects, no?"

"Not if I give up the throne."

"What?" she asked.

"If we get engaged, I will announce that I am giving up the throne and just stay with you while you spread goodness in this world."

Goodness? More like schemes.

So he would follow her as she schemes against this world.

"I know you aren't planning to stay in this empire, anyway. So… I can just go with you wherever you go."

"Why?" This was making her suspicious. Why would a prince want to give up his claim to the throne just to follow her around? Surely, he had some motives, right?

"Well… I just want to enjoy the world." He leaned back as he gave her a boyish grin. "With you."

"That— "

"I can do magic."

"I know." What is this? Was he trying to list all the advantages of being with him?

"I can give you some warmth while we travel near the Lycan empire. Lycan have a stronger body and they can live in places with extreme weather. This time, their empire is located in a place with lots of snow and storms. It would have extreme summer too. Since I can use ice magic, meaning, I can help you."

On this trip, she discovered that Mo Li can actually use black flames and black ice magic. A dual-element is considered very rare. This was not even mentioned in the books that she read from the forbidden library! Sometimes, she wondered how did he manage to control it. Even if he isn't human, it would be hard for his body to sustain the coldness of ice and hotness of fire. Those are just polar opposites!

Logic would say that the presence of fire and ice in his body would have been enough to kill him.

"I can cook, hunt, protect, and attack. Aside from the fact that I am good-looking, I also have a very good physique. I am smart and powerful with a hint of the humorous side."

Why does it sound like he was trying to sell himself? Was he planning to become her slave?

"What do you think?" he asked.

"I will consider that."

"You really need time to think about it?" he asked, confused.

"Yes." This man was not part of her plans. Moreover, she couldn't see his future. Keeping someone who is powerful and unpredictable could put her in danger.

"Then… I shall give you a day to think about it. For now, I will leave you alone. This room is connected to mine. If you need anything …."

"I know," she interrupted him. "Thank you."

He smiled at her before leaving the room.

Now that she was alone, Rhea immediately let out a sigh of relief. She leaned back and rested her head on the couch. She then stared at the wooden ceiling as she wondered why Mo Li would suddenly decide to follow her. Surely, her character isn't that impressive, right? After all, she doesn't really act like the people in this place, especially when she was alone with Mo Li.

She thought of the current situation inside this empire and thought of her sister and her engagement with the crown prince of the empire. Her sister wasn't really that powerful. However, because Rhea was the Sybill, the empire had to find a way to make sure that the Larsen Family doesn't ally with the church. So, they immediately proposed that Sybill's sister should marry the crown prince.

Ah, this kind of life is too complicated. Rhea closed her eyes. Her mission doesn't involve the royalty, so she doesn't need to interfere. What she needed to do now is save the Larsen Family from the church. But why save the people who only bullied Rhea and only showed her love when she became Sybill?