Davey silently shook the hands in front of him. He looked at the man calmly and muttered, “What if the tables were turned, and they decided to drag Illyna to their side to keep you in check?”

“That’s impossible. They are aware of the things that I will do if they tried to drag the neutral Illyna into this mess. And you have to know…”

Illyna had always found those people’s ideals to be repugnant. They were as unmixable as oil and water, since they stood on opposing sides from the very beginning.

“I know that you are good friends. That’s why I hope that you, the First Prince, would understand why I’m telling you this and not anyone else.”

Sullivan was hoping that Illyna’s friend could help him to keep his sister’s heart pure and innocent.

“If we could proceed with the royal marriage, then there’s nothing that I could ever wish for. But…”

Sullivan thought that it was better for Illyna to be taken away into another nation instead of being dragged through the mud and darkness of the empire. Of course, the best case scenario would be Illyna marrying a man who was a strong and sturdy pillar, being allowed to live freely, and not getting dragged into this political mess.

Davey was aware of the intention of Sullivan’s handshake, and still took the offered hand. After all, Davey could tell that this man would be a very dangerous person if they became enemies. He thought it better to be allies with someone as black-hearted...