I will not die a Villainess's death

There was a moment of silence between Adam and Eve after their conversation ended. It just did not feel right to say anything anymore now that their feelings about this topic were out in the open.

However, before the atmosphere cleared up, Adam decide to move. All Eve could do was to keep on looking before she realised what had happened.

"Hey, where are you going? Are you going to storm back in with such an engry expression? You will make people misunderstand what is happening."

Eve cried out, her hand raching out to try and stop the Crown Prince from making a mistake.

However, her strength was no match for the dragon prince who dragged her along for the ride.

"Adam, what are you planning on doing?"

Eve asked again, wanting just an answer to make her worries go away. She had a bad feeling about what Adam was about to do.

"What else can I do? I will confess how I feel to Elysia and make it clear that she's the one I like. After all, weren't you the one who said that she would not get it until I make things clear to her?"

Eve opened her mouth but closed it like a fish the next second.

Yes, she was the one who had said all that but she had never expected Adam to take her words seriously.

He had never taken anything she had said seriously before so why was he considering them now? Eve could not help but feel like she had struck her own fortune.

'Calm down. There is no guarantee that Elysia would agree to Adam's proposal even if he confesses. I still have a chance with her.'

It no longer seemed possible to stop Adam from confession but Eve was not going to give up. As long as Elysia did not say 'no' to Eve, she still had a shot of stealing her away from Adam.

But the atmosphere in the Charity Ball was something entirely different than what Eve had left it as.

There was a certain tensity in the air that increased once everyone spotted her and Adam entering back.

But before Eve could ask what this was about, she felt Adam clucth her hand in a crushig grip. Her had a ferocious grip on Eve's hand and it felt like it would break apart under that force.

"I think it would be better to end this engagement. Neither I nor Adam is in love right now, nor is there a political gain here. It would be better for us to end this relationship. Besides, I feel like Eve and the Crown Prince would make a better pair."

Elysia's words hit Eve's heart like a nail. They had a certail finality to them and her eyes looked swollen and ready to cry as well.

It might not be obvious to everyone watching but Eve could see that it hurting Elysia to speak those words.

"What is going on here-"

"Ah, Adam. You and Lady Eve have the perfect timing possible. You see, we have something to announce that will make you happy. You no longer have to hide your relationship with Lady Eve."

Those words felt like sharp knives to Eve's heart. She tried to catch Elysia's eyes but the other girl was not looking at her.

Instead, Elysia had her hands fisted at her side and her face had a bitter but resigned smile on it.

'Does Elysia believe that we are in love as well? Why and how did that happen? How long has she thought that for?'

Elysia could feel Adam's disblief as well. His hand in Elysia's felt cold which caused Eve to subtly let it go.

But she could tell that Elysia and everyone else had seen that as well.

"What do you mean 'hide our relationship'? We don't have any relationship outside of being acquanitces."

Adam's denial was sharp but Eve could see that no one believed him. Did everyone believe thay she and Adam were in love with each other?

"Now don't be shy. After all, you both are getting engaged now. I was just having a talk with the Head Priest and we agreed that it would be better to have you get engaged to Eve rather than Elysia. It also takes into account the promise that was made by the temple to the Royal Family. Isn't this a happy occasion for us all?"

Adam looked devastated at the news. His eyes moved from the Head Priest to his father and then even to Elysia in a questioning manner but no one seemed to answer him.

Eve could feel the rage bubbling in his magic. If nothing was done soon then he would erupt.

"Adam, calm down. We can still talk it over and then come to a conclusion."

Eve tried to calm down while also shooting helpless looks toward Elysia's direction. The other girl was beginning to look sick as well.

"Mother, did you agree to this ridiculous outcome as well? How could 'you' of all people do this to me?"

"Don't look at me like that. I had nothing to do with this and I was not asked this either. I am just as baffled as you are at what happened."

The queen did looked uncomfortable and angry at what had happened as well. The hall was already full of rumors about what was happening.

And all Eve could do was to look at Elysia who was looking more and more uncomfortable by the second.

"I reject your proposal. I will not dissolve my engagement with Elysia."

Adam's words were loud and clear but they were not well received.

Most of the people in the hall were leveling Eve with looks of pity while glaring at Elysia. They were not happy at Adam's refusal to dissolve his engagement with Elysia.

Eve had always known that people preferred her over Elysia when it came to be the queen but she had never known that the friction was this much.

"Why are you being shy now, Prince Adam? We all know how much you love our Eve. Even Lady Elysia sees it and has agreed to this break-up. Isn't that so, Elysia?"

Eve had never heard her adopted father sound like that. She had not even known that he could sound that forceful.

'Would Elysia have any other choice but to agree if you froce her like this?'

This was what Eve wanted to yell out but she showed restrain. One madman was enough on the scene.

"I…don't feel so good. Brother, can we go home now?"

Elysia really did not look good. Even her voice was barely hanging on and she was clutching her chest in an awkward way.

Eve wanted to run over and held Elysia but there were too many eyes on her.

However, Adam seemed to have no such restriction. He pulled Elysia's arm and forced her to face him.

"Elysia, I want to hear what you say. Is this really something you want to subject me to? I promised you that I won't-"

"MOSNTERS. SOMEONE HELP. MONSTERS WERE SPOTTED NEAR THR BORDER."

'Now of all times? What is going on here?'

The yelling snapped through the tension causing a mass panic to break out. As soon as the nobles heard about the presence of mosnters, they begna panicking.

Even the crown and the temple did not know what to do.

However, even among all this Adam and Elysia did not bulge and Eve finally made her way to the pair. She needed to hear what they had to say as well.

"Adam, let her go. Elysia, it's alright now. You can say what you want to and we will listen to you. You don't have to be afriad of what will happen next."

Eve's voice was gentle and kind. She could see Elysia's worry melting into relief and she finally opened her mouth when she was interrupted again.

"Lady Dirac, we need your presence at the south gate with your brother. Kindly hurry up and come."

Eve had a feeling what would happen next and so did Adam.

The Crown Prince reached out toward Elysia to stop her but she was much more slippery than he expected her to be.

Before the pair knew it, Elysia had disappeared in front of thier eyes.

"This is not the end. I said I won't let her go and I mean it. I won't lose her to anyone."

Adam sounded pissed off and Eve knew he would do something foolish soon. He always had been like this.

"I know you don't want to let her go but it is what she chose for herself. Even if it was something that was not of her own violation, I don't think Elysia would change her mind."

Eve knew how Elysia thought and how pressure affected her. Eysia was afraid of something and Eve was now sure that it involved both her and Adam.

"I don't understand why she's convinced that there is something between us."

That was a good question to ask. Eve had observed that as well but she had never drawn attention to it before.

But it made one thing certain for Eve and that was that Elysia would rather not chose any of them than to chose one of them.

"Hey Adam, don't kill me here but I have a suggession for you. You said you don't want to lose Elysia, right? And I don't want to lose her either. So how about we share her? It would be easier to reel her in like that."

Eve had to admit that her idea sounded crazy at second hearing but she was serious about it.

But from Adam's expression, he seemed to find it excessive as well.

"Have you hit your head? Why would I agree to share Elysia with the likes of you?"

Adam sounded repulsed but not entirly off board. Eve had a feeling that she would be able to convenience him if she played her cards right.

"Well, it won't be any trouble off your skin and Elysia won't have to chose. Besides, the only baby Elysia have this way is yours. I have no intention of having a relationship with you so it's a win-win for us both."

Adam looked intrigued and Eve could see him perking up at the mention of 'baby'. He really was like an animal sometimes and having those instincts.

"I never said anything about being interested in getting Elysia pregnant."

"Good, because Elysia is still to young. I would be worried if you were interested in that for now. So, what do you say? Do we have an agreement?"

Adam scrowled but he did not refuse Eve outright. That was as good as an agreement from his side.