Julies tilted his head, watching her with eyes that seed to pierce through every defense she built. "Strange, then. You push Alice away to run straight into my arms."
The words dripped with mockery, but there was sothing heavier beneath them—sothing Alia hated herself for noticing.
Alia wanted nothing more than to freeze this bastard demon with her magic, to end that sly smile once and for all. But she couldn’t. Not after the deal they had made. Not after knowing, deep down, that he was stronger than her.
"Don’t play with ," she hissed, trying to keep her voice steady. Her eyes flicked to the side, finally noticing the man slumped beside him. "And who’s this drunken bastard next to you?"
Julies followed her gaze and gave a lazy shrug. "Oh, him? Just an acquaintance. An uncle who insists on giving a hard ti. Nothing important."
The man was clearly drunk beyond reason, mumbling incoherently while swaying in his seat.
Alia narrowed her eyes, not convinced for a second. "What’s your sche this ti?"
Julies’s lips curved into that infuriating grin. "Nothing serious. Just so business with this friend here. But what about you, Lady Frost? What brings you to such a dark little corner? This isn’t exactly where nobles usually stroll."
Her mouth snapped shut at once. She knew better than to give him even the smallest thread to pull on.
The gaze behind that ever-shifting mask of his lingered on her, scanning her expression as if peeling away layers.
Be careful. I can’t read this Parasite either.
Velra’s voice—her ntor’s advice—echoed sharply in her mind.
"What does it matter to you?" she finally muttered.
Julies chuckled softly. "Why so cold? I thought we were partners in cri."
"Get your hand off ," she snapped, batting away the touch of his fingers as he brushed aside the drunkard. "Partners in cri, my foot."
"Tch, touchy." He smirked. "So? Why are you here?"
"I ca for the auction," she answered curtly, folding her arms. "And to guide Alice."
"Really now?" He tilted his head, amused. "That’s surprising. I didn’t take her for soone who’d willingly walk into a place like this."
For a brief mont, he rubbed his chin, as though genuinely pondering. Then his eyes glead.
"Shall we talk a little?"
Alia arched a brow. "...About what?"
He leaned in, close enough that she could feel the faint brush of his breath against her ear. His voice was low, conspiratorial.
"How about we swipe sothing from the auction?"
"...What?"
Her heart dropped like a stone, blood rushing to her ears.
He wasn’t joking. She could see it in the way his smile never wavered, the way his eyes glittered with reckless delight.
The auction wasn’t so shady street deal—it was an underground gathering of nobles, guarded by private soldiers and rcenaries handpicked for their loyalty. Security was tight, ruthless.
If anyone was caught... punishnt would be swift, and unforgiving.
And yet, Julies was grinning as if he’d just suggested a casual stroll in the park.
Alia’s fingers clenched around the fabric of her dress. "You must be out of your mind," she whispered harshly.
Julies only chuckled, tilting his head like a mischievous fox who had cornered its prey. "Out of my mind? No, no. Just... ambitious. And I thought, perhaps, you were the sa."
"I have no interest in your reckless gas."
"Oh?" His masked face leaned closer, his voice smooth, taunting. "That’s strange. I was under the impression that Lady Frost was clever enough to understand opportunity when it’s dangling right in front of her nose."
Her chest tightened, but she forced her expression to stay neutral. "You’re insane if you think I’d help you steal from nobles."
Julies smirked, resting his chin on his palm as though amused by a child’s tantrum. "Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t need your help. I just thought... wouldn’t it be fun if we shared the spoils?"
Her jaw tightened. "Fun? Do you have any idea what happens if we’re caught?"
"Of course I do," he said, his tone light, almost playful. "But that’s the difference between you and . You see punishnt, I see possibility." His fingers drumd lazily on the table, then he added, almost mockingly, "Though, if you’re that worried, I could always tell Alice about this little conversation. I’m sure she’d love to hear how you and I have been... negotiating in the shadows."
Her blood ran cold. "You wouldn’t dare."
His grin widened, sharp as a blade. "Wouldn’t I?"
The drunk beside him let out a loud, incoherent groan, slamming his head against the table. Julies barely spared the man a glance before turning his full attention back to Alia.
"You should think carefully, Lady Frost. You and I... we’re bound, one way or another. You might hate , but you can’t shake off. And the sooner you realize that, the easier it’ll be."
Alia’s nails dug into her palm until it hurt, her magic itching at her fingertips, begging to be unleashed. But she swallowed it down. Not here. Not now.
He had her cornered, and he knew it.
Still, sowhere deep inside her mind Alia couldn’t help but thought.
What if we succeed?
The thought slid into her mind unbidden, poisonous and seductive. Alia gritted her teeth, trying to shake it off. But it lingered.
The underground auction was filled with artifacts, tos, enchanted relics—things hidden away from the world. Treasures that even nobles whispered about but rarely touched. What if, among them, there was sothing that could give her an edge? Sothing that could make her stronger... stronger than him?
She hated herself for even entertaining it.
Julies seed to sense it instantly. His grin widened, sharp and knowing. "Oh... I see it now. You are tempted."
Her eyes snapped to his, icy and furious. "Don’t delude yourself."
But his chuckle cut through her denial, lazy and mocking. "You’re trembling, Alia. Not from fear. From possibility. You want it just as much as I do."
Her lips parted to retort, but no sound ca. That smug look on his face made her chest burn with anger.
"I don’t want anything from you," she hissed.
"Liar." He leaned closer, his voice a velvet blade. "You’ve wanted to beat from the mont we t. Admit it. You want power—enough to crush , enough to keep Alice from ever... slipping into my shadow."
Alia’s breath caught. For a second, her carefully built composure cracked, and she hated that he saw it.
Julies chuckled again, resting his elbow lazily on the table. "Oh, Alia... you’re so transparent. That jealousy of yours—it’s delicious."
Her nails dug deeper into her palm until she almost broke skin. "Say another word about Alice, and I’ll—"
"You’ll what?" His grin sharpened. "Freeze here? In front of everyone? In front of your precious Alice, none the wiser? You wouldn’t dare."
His words twisted the knife. He was right. She couldn’t. Not yet.
But her silence was already an answer.
Julies leaned back, satisfied, his sly smile refusing to fade. "That’s what I thought. You’ll play along, Alia. Not because you want to... but because deep down, you’re terrified that I’m right."
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