Imperial Advisor's Junior Apprentice

Leon Zane smiled. "May I ask who you two are...?"

Oh my! You're even better at pretending than I am...

Grace Lawrence cleared her throat and said seriously, "We're from the Zhu Estate. I'm Grace Lawrence, daughter of Prime Minister Zhu, and this is my aunt, Princess Maya Summers."

Maya Summers bowed. "General Evan, Advisor Zane."

"What brings you both to my residence?" Evan Xiao asked.

Grace Lawrence replied, "I've come to deliver a letter to General Evan."

"What letter?"

"General Evan, may I speak with you privately?" Grace asked mysteriously.

Evan Xiao nodded.

"Aunt Maya, please have a seat. I'll be right back." Grace said to Maya Summers.

Maya Summers nodded.

So Grace and Evan Xiao stepped outside, leaving her alone so Advisor Zane could carefully check whether she was affected by a magic talisman.

Once outside, Grace Lawrence sneakily asked Evan, "Who was that beautiful woman? She's gorgeous!"

"That's Advisor Zane's junior apprentice, Bianca Whitefan," Evan replied. "Advisor Zane isn't very skilled with magic talismans, so he specifically invited his junior to help."

"So Miss Bianca is really good with magic talismans?"

"Yes. She's a Rune Master."

"I see... Well, we really owe Advisor Zane a big thank you! He even went out of his way to call his junior here. Once this is over, I have to properly thank them..." Grace said, touched.

Her clueless, innocent look was utterly adorable. Evan Xiao reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Grace Lawrence looked up at him.

"Did you miss me?" Evan Xiao asked.

Grace Lawrence nodded.

Evan Xiao smiled, then leaned down and kissed her.

His lips were soft yet commanding. Grace felt her breath stolen away, her heart tingling and trembling...

The sensation was intoxicating and wonderful. Grace Lawrence closed her eyes, losing herself completely...

A sudden "ahem, ahem" sounded from behind them.

It was a woman's voice!

Grace jumped, whipping her head around—thank goodness, it wasn't her aunt!

It was Bianca Whitefan, Advisor Zane's junior.

Evan Xiao calmly let go of Grace and asked, "Whitefan, how is she?"

Bianca Whitefan nodded seriously. "She's definitely under a magic talisman—specifically, a Proximity Rune."

Just as Grace Lawrence suspected.

She forced herself to act casual and asked, "So, can you remove the magic talisman from her?"

"I can," Bianca Whitefan said, giving Miss Lawrence a once-over and smiling. "But Miss Lawrence, you have to agree to one condition."

"Another condition?"

Last time, Advisor Zane also made her agree to a condition.

These two are definitely real siblings in spirit.

Bianca Whitefan nodded with a mischievous smile.

"What condition?"

"Let me visit your Zhu Estate and collect blood from the women there," Bianca Whitefan said.

"What! You want our... 'blood'?" Grace Lawrence thought she must have misheard.

"That's right. Every woman, from the servants to the matriarch, even the old lady of your house—I need to collect from all of them."

"You're not joking with me, are you?"

"I'm not," Bianca Whitefan replied. "Oh, and don't worry! I only need one drop of blood from each person. Just a tiny bit!"

"...What do you want our blood for?" Grace Lawrence looked at her like she was a monster.

"I can't tell you what it's for, but you have to trust me—I'd never harm any of you," Bianca Whitefan said.

Seeing she wasn't joking, Grace Lawrence glanced at Evan Xiao, hoping he'd speak up for her.

But Evan Xiao sided with Bianca. "Grace, I can vouch for her. Whitefan has her reasons, and she'd never hurt you."