Despite her reddened cheeks and misty eyes, Violet managed to maintain an air of authority. Yet her words sounded less like a princess giving orders to her knight and more like a sulking little sister trying to assert herself.

Aph sighed, her concern for Violet evident. “Your Highness, let me handle this. Protecting you is my duty. All you need to do is focus on your studies and prepare to become the great queen you’re destined to be.”

“This kind of business negotiation is my responsibility,” Aph insisted, her tone gentle but resolute.

But Violet was equally determined. After everything she’d already endured, there was no way she would let all her efforts go to waste.

Feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment with Aph’s presence, she couldn’t help but wonder: did Aph really think so little of her?

“Aph, I think it’s better if I handle this,” she countered firmly. Her voice was laced with a rare seriousness, but Aph, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension, continued.

“Do you not trust me anymore?” Violet pressed, her silver-gray eyes shimmering with suppressed emotion.

Her words carried the weight of her royal status, a clear attempt to assert authority over Aph.

Though she rarely used her position against her elder sister figure, the current situation left her no choice. If Aph didn’t leave soon…

Violet’s trembling worsened, and her flushed face made her appear more frustrated than ever. To anyone else, it might have seemed like anger, but the truth was far more complicated.

The tension in the room was palpable, and though it seemed like the two women were having a disagreement, to Shia, it looked more like… a fight for his attention.

The warm afternoon sun filtered through the drawn curtains, casting a dim glow over the room. Aph, sitting so close to Shia, unintentionally pressed against him. Her voluptuous figure, barely concealed by her casual attire, created a stark contrast with Violet’s slender frame on his other side.

Violet’s gaze wandered downward, taking in the disparity between her and Aph. Despite her own delicate curves, she couldn’t help but feel inadequate when compared to Aph’s more prominent assets.

Her frustration grew. Was Aph flaunting her advantages on purpose?

The thought only deepened Violet’s indignation. After all the effort she’d put into securing Shia’s cooperation, was it going to be undone so easily?

Fueled by a mix of jealousy and determination, Violet made a bold decision. Under the desk, her black-silk-clad legs suddenly clamped together tightly, radiating a sense of defiance.

Shia, startled by her sudden movement, glanced at her in surprise. Violet’s eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, held a silent command.

'Get rid of her. You promised me.'

For a brief moment, Violet’s demeanor returned to its usual proud and commanding self. Her silent determination was as clear as her trembling under the table.

Yet there was a vulnerability in her watery gaze, a plea that only made her all the more alluring.

“Mmph…” A soft sound escaped her lips as she fought to suppress the reactions bubbling within her.

Shia met her gaze, his expression unreadable, but the hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

Aph, noticing Violet’s unusual behavior, grew even more concerned. “Your Highness, are you alright?”

“Leave!” Violet snapped, lowering her head to hide her tearful eyes.

Her voice, though trembling, carried an unmistakable authority.

“Aph, stop treating me like a child,” she continued, her voice soft but firm. “I’m the princess of the Silvermoon Kingdom. I can handle this.”

The contradiction in her demeanor—her soft, quivering tone paired with such resolute words—only made Aph more worried.

Before Aph could respond, Shia interjected, his voice calm and steady.

“She’s right, Aph. You should trust her. She’s already spoken to me about this, and I’ve agreed to share the distillation techniques with her.

“In fact, I’m willing to offer an additional exclusive product for the Silvermoon Kingdom to produce.”

Shia’s words left Violet stunned. She looked up at him, her wide eyes filled with disbelief.

But under the table, she felt his continued “negotiation,” as if emphasizing his sincerity.

Shia turned to Violet, his warm smile matching the gentle tone of his voice. For a moment, it was almost enough to make her forget the turmoil of the past hour.

"We're good friends, aren't we?"

Violet's heart raced wildly at that moment.

It thumped like a drum.

Even though she clearly heard Shia's voice, it felt like it was coming from a distant horizon.

Her whole body seemed submerged in water, floating in a secluded, isolated space.

She nodded frantically, unable to remember anything that happened afterward.

By the time she found herself slumped weakly over the desk, she still hadn't snapped out of it.

Her body and mind were utterly drained, her figure trembling slightly.

Her breathing alternated between shallow and heavy, as though it might stop at any moment.

Violet was truly exhausted.

The classroom was silent, except for the long, tranquil sound of cicadas chirping through the curtains.

It was only after a long while that her breathing stabilized, and Violet, lying prone on the desk, finally returned to her senses.

Her reason regained, and she finally realized something.

Lowering her gaze, she looked at her legs wrapped in black stockings under the desk and sighed softly in her heart. 'Ugh, I can't wear stockings again!'

On top of that, she still had to clean the room.

Looking at the messy classroom, Violet felt a tinge of embarrassment.

With her reason restored, she couldn't help but feel shame when recalling her earlier actions.

She couldn't believe what she had done!

'But at least, all the effort was worth it.'

She managed to get what she wanted from Shia, after all.

'Distillation techniques!'

With this, she was certain she could resolve the kingdom's pressing crisis.

A smile crept onto her face unconsciously.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com