(At the royal family estate, the Bastios Kingdom)

‎Anastasha folded her hand fan as she listened to the mutters from behind her chair. She stared blankly at the door, sitting at her desk with the sunlight from the window behind her. She then looked at the scroll on her desk as she kept listening to the report.

‎”You may leave,” Anastasha muttered.

‎A gentle gush of wind blew her hair as the presence behind her chair disappeared. She slowly reached out to the scroll and stood up from her chair to look out at the sea from the window.

‎”I thought it was a mistake coming all the way here. No, it was a mistake, but this mistake somehow ended up benefiting me in a way,” Anastasha smiled softly as she leaned forward and stared out at the sea. “I wish we could see each other again, Count,” she glanced at the scroll in her hand.

‎Anastasha looked at the patrolling Marine ships and noticed a battleship coming toward the cliff. She decided to go there to check what it was all about since there had been so many Marine ships that patrolled near her area for the past week.

‎Arka had just unboarded the ship, and he noticed Anastasha approaching with a few of her personal guards. He glanced at the man beside her, holding a quarterstaff ready to eliminate any threat. He knew that he was no match against that man and would lose in the first two moves.

‎”It has been a while, and I believe I should address you as Commander now,” Anastasha smiled softly at Arka as she unfolded the fan and covered her lower half face with it. “What do I owe this pleasure, Commander?” She asked, her sharp gaze stared into Arka’s eyes.

‎Arka lowered his head slightly at Anastasha out of respect toward the Asghar family.

‎”May we speak in privacy, Your Highness?” Arka asked with a serious expression. “It’s something that nobody should listen to,” he added.

‎”Hmm, intriguing,” Anastasha chuckled softly, narrowing her eyes, still with the fan covering the lower half of her face. “Come, I wouldn’t let you talk while standing in the first place, Commander,” she said as she turned around.

‎Once Anastasha and Arka settled at the table with food and drinks on it, the maids and the guards left the dining hall. Arka looked at the food and drink, wondering how she got all that when the Bastios Kingdom struggled to get enough food because of the revolutionary parties.

‎”What? I’m an esteemed guest here, so it’s given that they’re giving me enough food for my stay here,” Anastasha chuckled as she rested her cheek on her palm, staring right into Arka’s eyes.

‎Arka got a chill down his spine, remembering how terrifying Anastasha was. She could read thoughts through behavior, and even a flick of an eyelash. He never thought to see someone as dangerous as Rasmus or the other way around.

‎”No, Your Highness. I didn’t mean to pry on this matter, and I came here for another reason,” Arka shook his head and reached out for a letter from his pocket. “I don’t know what it is, and I came to send you this from Archduke Thalior, a representative from the South Neva Union,” he slowly put the letter on the table where Anastasha could reach.

‎Anastasha glanced at the letter and slowly reached her hand to the letter. She broke the seal and pulled out the letter, reading it thoroughly as she drank her tea.

‎Arka sat there, waiting for Anastasha to throw in questions that he had been prepared to answer. However, he was dumbfounded when Anastasha put down the letter and didn’t ask a thing, only enjoying her tea in silence.

‎”What do you think of Count Blackheart, Commander?” Anastasha asked, her eyes were empty, and she stared blankly at the wall.

‎Arka was prepared to answer different types of questions from Anastasha, but he didn’t expect her to ask about Rasmus. To be asked such a question, he didn’t know what to answer, and it seemed that whatever answer he gave, it wouldn’t matter.

‎

‎”Dangerous, Your Highness. That’s something I believe,” Arka answered as he closed his eyes, sitting on the edge of the chair.

‎”Ah, but you saw me in him and vice versa. Does that mean I’m dangerous in your eyes as well, Commander?” Anastasha unfolded the fan and covered the lower half of her face, staring coldly at Arka.

“For Your Highness to use my statement and turn it against me, make me feel guilty for what I had said, that already speaks volumes,” Arka said as he avoided eye contact with Anastasha.

“Aren’t you an honest one for a young man?” Anastasha smiled with her eyes while she still covered the lower half of her face with the fan. “No wonder Rasmus wanted you to be a part of his fellows,” she chuckled softly.

Arka straightened his back, mildly disturbed that Anastasha knew about his encounter with Rasmus. He wondered how many eyes and ears Anastasha had in South Neva ever since she moved here and took refuge from the power struggle in East Neva.

“Do you know why the South Neva Union suddenly became interested in my existence here in South Neva, Commander? We both know that nobody should know about my whereabouts here, in this continent, and yet suddenly Archduke Thalior and the South Neva Union wanted to protect me from this chaos,” Anastasha unfolded the fan and put it down as she grabbed her teacup.

Arka glanced at Anastasha and noticed that she knew a lot about Rasmus. He remembered that Rasmus had mentioned Anastasha a while back, and he assumed that those two had met each other in person.

“Because of Count Blackheart?” Arka furrowed his brows.

“I believe so too, but why?” Anastasha smiled gently as she tilted her head slightly and stared into Arka’s eyes.

“I don’t have the mind of a schemer, Your Highness. I don’t know what kind of scheme Count Blackheart is doing or what his plan on doing all this,” Arka answered, trying not to get too involved in the game that those two dangerous people were playing.

“How unfortunate, Commander. You don’t have the mind of a schemer, but you’re surrounded by schemers. Aren’t you too ignorant, or do you not value your life and your safety?” Anastasha rested her cheek on her palm, still staring into Arka’s eyes.

“With all due respect, Your Highness. I’m someone who’s watching the two snakes lurking, competing against each other. I’m not the prey that the snakes are targeting, even if I’m ignorant, that doesn’t affect me in the slightest,” Arka answered as he stared into Anastasha’s eyes. “Seeing that you’re so eager to make me understand, you’re wasting your time, Your Highness. I already know, and I’m aware,” he continued with a serious expression.

Anastasha chuckled and slowly covered her mouth with the back of her hand as she began to laugh. Arka was disturbed by her reaction, he could never understand the mind behind the schemers.

“Oh, you just made my day, Commander,” Anastasha smiled widely at Arka. “You said the snakes are competing against each other, and you’re not their prey? It doesn’t matter, Commander. The snakes need to stay sharp and in their prime to achieve their goal, and you are just one of the foods that will be devoured by the snakes to keep them sharp and in their prime,” she explained, still with the wide smile on her face.

“Now that the South Neva Union is under Count Blackheart’s influence, do you think you’re just standing there watching? He’s indirectly putting his influence on you and your whole fleet, Commander. You just haven’t seen it,” Anastasha pointed her finger at Arka with a smirk on her face.

“If you think that you’re not, then let me make you understand, Commander. Count Blackheart is out there saving humanity, and every move they’ve made, are making, and are planning to make, they’re orchestrated by him. Seeing you sitting here with me, giving a letter from the South Neva Union, do you still believe that you’re not being influenced by him?” Anastasha rested her chin on her palm, raising her brows.

Arka didn’t find her blabbering concerning in the slightest because he knew that it didn’t matter and didn’t affect him in the slightest. He was a fleet Commander, and he was being used in exchange for the safety of the people, it didn’t make any difference. However, he didn’t want to say those things because he knew it would be a waste of time.

Anastasha suddenly stood up from her chair and slowly approached Arka on the chair. She stood behind him and gently placed her hands on his shoulders as she leaned down to whisper into Arka’s ear.

“One more thing, Commander. The snakes aren’t competing for a goal, the snakes aren’t bothered by each other’s presence, they’re enjoying their time, feasting. We are sharing something in common, that the likes of you wouldn’t understand,” Anastasha whispered with a smirk.

At that moment, Arka felt a chill down his spine from both her words and her warm breath on his neck.

“The smart ones share while the greedy ones kill each other, Commander. I want you to remember that,” Anastasha chuckled as she pulled away. “Since you have delivered the letter, there’s nothing else that we need to discuss, Commander. Enjoy your food, and leave once you’re full,” she said as she walked away with the letter in her hand.

Arka sighed, not even once did he have the appetite to eat when meeting someone dangerous like Anastasha. He decided to leave without touching anything on the table.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep