Chapter 327 The Villain Lady Arrives 156
The appointed time soon arrived, and Princess Andrila, accompanied by Tariq, came to an elegantly decorated reception room in the palace. She was dressed in a gorgeous dress and a dazzling crown, but her eyes were shining with determination and courage. She took a deep breath and opened the door of the reception room.
Albert had been waiting there. He was dressed in the unique clothes of the neighboring country, handsome and tall. When their eyes met, time seemed to freeze. They looked at each other, trying to read more information from each other's eyes.
"Hello, Your Highness." Albert broke the silence first, his voice gentle and polite.
Andrilla nodded slightly and responded with the same politeness: "Your Highness, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Princess Andrila's eyes stayed on Prince Albert for a moment. It was not just an examination of a distinguished guest, but more like she was looking for some resonance, something that could touch the softness deep in her heart. She gently stroked a strand of hair by her ear, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. The smile contained complex emotions that were not easy to detect - both recognition of Albert's elegant demeanor and protection of her own firm emotions.
"Your Highness, we are honored by your arrival. Please allow me to express our warmest welcome to you on behalf of our country." Andrila's voice was soft and clear, and every word revealed her upbringing and demeanor as a princess.
Prince Albert's eyes flashed with admiration when he heard this. "Your Highness, your beauty and wisdom have long been renowned. Seeing you today, I can see that your reputation is well-deserved. The opportunity to communicate with you is the greatest gain of my trip."
The conversation between the two was polite and courteous, as if they were performing a carefully choreographed play. However, beneath this superficial harmony, their respective thoughts were surging like the tide. Andrila would occasionally steal glances at Tariq, the man who occupied a special place in her heart. Whenever her eyes met Tariq's, a warm current would surge in her heart, which was a testimony of her endless gratitude and admiration for Tariq.
"Your Highness, we heard that you are not only brave and good at fighting, but also proficient in multiple languages and cultures. It is really admirable." Andrila tried to lead the topic to a broader area to cover up his inner fluctuations.
Albert smiled and responded, "Your Highness, you are too kind. In my opinion, true wisdom and courage are not only reflected in victory on the battlefield, but also in the ability to resolve disputes and bring peace and tranquility to the people of both countries."
This sentence made Andrila slightly stunned. She didn't expect that Albert could say such profound words, which was very different from her previous stereotype of the prince of the neighboring country. She couldn't help but re-examine the man in front of her, and an indescribable feeling surged in her heart.
"Your Highness is right. Peace is the common wish of all people. I have been working hard and hope to contribute my own part to the peace between the two countries." Andrila's voice was firm and determined.
Albert's eyes flashed with a strange light when he heard this. He seemed to feel some kind of resonance and tacit understanding from Andrilla's words. He nodded slightly and continued, "Your Highness, in addition to expressing my country's willingness for peace, I also hope to establish a closer relationship with your country, jointly resist foreign enemies, and protect the peace of this land."
Andrila smiled slightly. She knew that although Albert's words were high-sounding, they were still political and beneficial considerations. However, she did not point it out directly, but responded in a more gentle way: "I deeply agree with your proposal. There is indeed a lot of room for cooperation between our two countries. As long as we work together, I believe we will be able to overcome all difficulties and achieve the goal of peaceful coexistence."
The conversation between the two gradually became in-depth and sincere. They talked about the culture, customs, history of the two countries, as well as their respective aspirations and plans for the future. Andrila found that Albert was not only knowledgeable, but also had unique insights and could always look at problems from different perspectives, which made her admire him very much.
However, despite Albert's outstanding performance, Andrila's heart could not develop deeper feelings for him. Her heart had long been occupied by Tariq's calm and determined figure. Whenever she thought of Tariq standing up and saving her from danger, her heart was filled with gratitude and love.
"Your Highness, I..." Albert suddenly interrupted the silence, his voice filled with hesitation and uneasiness. He seemed to want to say something, but he didn't know how to start.
Andrila looked up at Albert, her deep eyes seemed to hide many unspoken words. She smiled slightly and encouraged: "Your Highness, please speak frankly. Here, you can speak freely."
Albert took a deep breath and seemed to have made up his mind. "Your Highness, I... I am actually here to ask for your forgiveness." His voice was low and sincere. "I know that the disputes and hatred between the two countries have made our relationship complicated and delicate. But please believe me, I did not do this on purpose. I just hope to do my part for the peace between the two countries."
Hearing this, Andrila felt a warm current in her heart. She didn't expect Albert to be so honest about his inner struggles and contradictions. She nodded gently to show her understanding: "Your Highness, I understand what you said. War and hatred are not what we want. We are all working hard to bring peace and tranquility to the people of both countries."
The atmosphere between the two became more harmonious and friendly. They continued to talk, as if they had forgotten the passage of time. However, in Andrila's heart, her deep affection for Tariq had never changed. She knew that she and Albert might be friends, but they could never be lovers.
"Your Highness, I..." Albert spoke again, but this time, his voice was more firm and determined, "I hope you know that no matter what the result is, I will respect your choice. I am also willing to make every effort for peace."
Hearing this, Andrila was moved. She understood that Albert's words were not only a promise to her, but also a firm belief in peace between the two countries. She nodded slightly to express her gratitude: "Your Highness, I feel your sincerity. Please believe that I will also work hard for peace."