Chapter 171
There weren’t many times when Eugenie was at a loss for words.
Naturally, she had nothing to say in front of Professor Racquet—lab slaves shouldn’t speak unless spoken to. And when her mother was dying, she’d kept quiet as well.
Even if her mother’s last words had been nonsense, it was only right to listen to a dying person’s final wishes.
But now, with a man over several centuries old declaring, “The reason I want to live is you,” Eugenie truly had no idea how to respond.
She pulled herself together and, ignoring the little tree branch holding flowers, pushed it away.
“I’m a married woman.”
“Would it really be so terrible to take another lover?”
“Adultery is a line I won’t cross. Polygamy, maybe, but I won’t cheat.”
The rejected tree branch wilted in disappointment, but the tree pervert himself just shrugged.
“A shame. Anyway… let’s get back to the contract.”
“Fine by me.”
“I need magic to break my contract with the Schroder family.”
“Aren’t you already strong enough?”
“I’ve lived too long, and my magic is running dry. To break that contract, I’d need even more power than I had at my prime.”
Eugenie crossed her arms and listened. Insane old man or not, she was beginning to get a sense of where this deal was going.
“So, I want you to lend me your power, Eugenie Norton.”
“And what do I get in return?”
“Anything I can tell you—whatever information you want.”
“….”
“I’ll give you time to think, if you need it.”
Time to think. Honestly, she already saw how the deal would play out.
‘If it’s to my benefit, I can just dig up any dirt on the Schroders I want.’
If he was really sick of the Schroder family, that is. But the risk of the deal was obvious and massive.
‘I still don’t trust this guy one bit.’
That fact outweighed all possible advantages. The risk dwarfed any potential gain.
Alokes saw the look on her face and flashed another wide, toothy grin.
“Still don’t trust me, do you?”
“Can you blame me? But, hmm…”
Eugenie chewed on her lower lip, but finally came to a decision.
“Give me your wrist.”
“Want me to cut it off? You’re bolder than I thought.”
“Shut up and just give me your hand.”
Alokes obediently offered his left hand, seeing she wasn’t in the mood for jokes. Eugenie gripped his wrist tightly and channeled her power into him.
Magic shimmered along his fingers, and Alokes lifted his brows in surprise.
‘Guess I can manage this much, even now…’
It was the same spell she’d used on Percival—a magical shackle, to bind the other person.
If I want his information but don’t trust him, I’ll just give him a penalty clause!
Soon, a chain-shaped mark, just like the one she’d put on Percival, formed on the man’s wrist. She expected him to be annoyed, but Alokes just looked at it with an almost rapturous smile.
“You’ve left your mark on me…”
“….”
Eugenie’s brow twitched. Does he have to make everything feel so creepy, even when she was just being practical? The way he traced the shackle with his other hand, as if delighted, gave her chills.
“You said you wouldn’t take another lover, but isn’t this more eternal than a wedding ring?”
“That’s not a token of affection! It’s to make sure you don’t try anything funny—otherwise you’ll lose a hand!”
Eugenie snapped, annoyed at his completely wrong interpretation. The fact that he seemed to like the threat only made her mood worse.
But Alokes nodded, his face clearly pleased.
“I see. A gesture to build mutual trust, then.”
He knew it would be hard to win Eugenie Norton’s trust. Especially since, thanks to Tristan, he’d been the one to dump her in that hunting ground.
He had few regrets in his long life, but almost killing his ultimate goal—her—was something he could actually regret.
‘Guess it’s time to show her what I can offer.’
He held out the hand now marked with her spell, ready to prove himself.
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