in the name of the queen.

Chapter 317 I couldn't help it and I pulled it out

After sitting in the office for a long time, Alina still hadn't woken up from the shock and confusion.

What happened last night?
Everything seemed normal until they got drunk.

But...no, there's definitely something wrong with that damn wine!
Alina's face, which originally had some color, turned pale in an instant, and her breathing became extremely disordered.

Did they really cross a line last night?

Alina stared blankly out the window, not even knowing whether she was hoping that last night was just a nightmare or a wet dream.

Just as she was in a daze for a long time, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in, the door is open."

Although she was in a mess, her work did not forget her.

The Secretary of State arrived as scheduled, carrying the documents that had to be reviewed today, like a devil demanding his life.

Alina flipped through the documents in a panic, circling and signing numbly.

Fortunately, nothing major happened today, and the submitted documents also came with suggestions for handling the situation, so she didn't need to rack her brains to find a solution.

After signing and handing the document to the Secretary of State, Alina couldn't help but call out to the secretary who was about to leave.

"Tell Elaine to come here immediately."

Although her mind was in a mess, Alina knew who was the culprit last night.

A moment later, the still charming Mrs. Elaine appeared in front of Alina.

This woman in her thirties is mature and beautiful, and her charm in every frown and smile cannot conceal her calmness and composure in seeing through the world.

She was well aware of Alina's chaotic mood, but since Alina didn't say anything, she didn't dare to ask.

"You did it last night, didn't you?"

"Yes."

Elaine looked at Alina calmly with a frank gaze.

Seeing that Elaine had no shame, Alina was very angry, her lips trembled uncontrollably, and she couldn't help but lower her voice and reprimanded:
"How dare you, are you crazy?"

"Miss, isn't this what you meant?" Elaine looked at Alina in surprise.

Alina almost fainted. Her eyes went dark and she sat back on the chair, but stood up again as if she was ejected in pain.

Staring at Elaine, she finally couldn’t stand it anymore and shouted angrily: “You are talking nonsense, when did I ever say such a thing?”

"You told me to pay more attention to Roland and Sylph, especially their letters."

Elaine said softly: "I know that there are some things that you can't say directly, I have to understand them myself."

I understand you XX!

Alina wanted to curse at Xidai fiercely in her heart, but she managed to hold back and didn't curse on the spot.

"Elaine, I asked you to keep an eye on their correspondence just to find out if they have any conflicts, not to let you make your own decisions!"

"Tell me, what else did you do besides what happened last night?"

Elaine was startled by the coldness that flashed in Alina's red eyes. It was the first time she saw the young lady so angry at Mr. Carlo's old subordinates.

The hands tucked into her sleeves trembled slightly involuntarily, and Elaine was also a little trembling, but she still tried to remain calm. She did not answer directly, but asked back:
"Miss, do you like Roland?"

"Is this the time to discuss this?" Alina wanted to deny it outright, but she couldn't deceive herself.

Perhaps it was out of gratitude, perhaps it was out of admiration, or perhaps it was because Roland gave her hope in the long night. She did have a good impression of Roland, but as to whether this good impression was love or not.
Well, she just likes Roland, so what?
She stared at Elaine without giving in, and sighed unhappily, "Yes, I like him, but I will never use such a despicable method!"

Elaine lowered her head slightly and asked a soul-searching question softly, "Do you have the confidence to defeat Sylph?"

Alina, who was so aggressive just now, suddenly wilted.

She could be tough, but there was no need to.

She had met Sylph many times, and she was slightly inferior to her in terms of appearance, figure, and temperament.

Sylph's perfection even made her a little jealous.

What's more, Sylph and Roland have been through so many things together, she really can't compare.

Seeing that Alina did not quibble, Elaine said softly:
"Miss, it's hard for you to win over Sylph using normal means. They are getting married soon. After the wedding, even if Roland has you in his heart, you can only be a passerby."

Alina's anger had dissipated by more than half, but she still couldn't forgive Elaine for acting on her own.

"So you used the despicable method of drugging people to create a fait accompli and force Roland and Sylph to accept it? Should I thank you?"

Elaine naturally didn't dare to respond to this, she just quietly defended:

"Last night, we didn't actually give him drugs. We just gave him a special red wine that amplifies his desire. If he has no intention, he will naturally be able to control his impulse."

"If he can't help it, it means he has his own thoughts, but..."

Alina couldn't help but interrupt Elaine's nonsense, "Shut up!"

"Tell me, what else did you do? Did you tamper with Roland and Sylph's letters?"

"I"

Elaine didn't dare to hide anything under Alina's murderous gaze and told her everything.

She was Mr. Carlo's secretary. She had watched Alina grow up and knew the old master's daughter very well.

She knew that with Alina's personality, even if she liked Roland, she would just keep it in her heart. If there was no external force, she would probably keep it hidden in her heart for the rest of her life.

"Miss, if we lose, do you still have time? How long will you continue to deceive yourself?"

"Are you planning to go to the underworld with your virginity and the love you dare not express?"

Elaine's words were like a knife piercing Alina's chest.

She had enough reasons to punish Elaine for acting on her own, but looking at Elaine's concerned eyes, she really couldn't get angry.

After a long silence, she slowly said, "Go back and reflect on yourself behind closed doors immediately, and write a confession. Remember, it's not for me, but for Sylph. You know what to write."

Elaine lowered her head slightly and responded softly, "I know."

There is absolutely no way to mention the specially made red wine, and there is no way to explain the tampering of the letter. I can only make up a reason and apologize sincerely.

Although an apology cannot earn you forgiveness, you must have an attitude.

She dared not let these things affect the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Elaine slowly backed away, and just as she was about to leave the room, she suddenly stopped and asked softly:
"Miss, you guys last night..."

"Get out, get out now!" Alina's face was burning and she angrily drove the guest away.

Elaine fled in a panic. The last bit of strength in her body completely disappeared. She fell limply into the seat, staring blankly at the ceiling, her mind blank.

She was protecting Elaine.

Whether it is putting drugs in wine or tampering with letters, the nature of the matter is extremely serious.

Based on her understanding of Sylph, if this matter were known, nothing good would happen to Elaine.

Some things can't be kept secret, so it's better to speak out openly.

If she really said it, Sylph wouldn't be so angry.

Some things really cannot be taken too seriously. If you don't take them too seriously, they will only weigh half a pound, but if you do, they will weigh a ton.

For the sake of diplomatic relations between the two countries, some things can only be turned a blind eye.

She was really trying to save the idiot Elaine. If she didn't make a big deal out of it, Sylph would rush over and slap Elaine to death, and that would put pressure on her instead.

Could she have fallen out with Sylph over the dead intelligence chief? No.

That's damn politics.

Alina propped herself up and stood up, still feeling a little uneasy when she thought about her underwear being worn by Roland last night.

Did she and Roland cross the line last night? How did she get the scars and bruises?

Of course she could ask a maid to check her body, but she didn't want to.

It's easy to check the body, but can the maid keep a secret? You can't kill someone for this.

What is even more contradictory is, what result does she want in her heart?
After thinking it over, Alina finally figured it out.

They just had a few drinks last night and didn't do anything.

This is the answer.

Anyway, she had no plans to get married, so it didn't matter whether she remained a girl or not.

If you really did it, just treat it as a dream without any trace.

After she figured it out, Alina finally regained her former carefree self. After changing into another set of clothes, she strode towards Roland's bedroom with her head held high.

What needs to be faced must always be faced.

What happened last night?
Roland stared blankly out the window, his dazed eyes completely unfocused.

If nothing happened last night, how come Alina's underwear was on him while she herself was wearing nothing?

And that damn blood.

Although Alina had scars on her arms, there was always a mismatch between the amount of blood on her underwear and the scars on her arms.

Could it be that.
Roland's heartbeat sounded like a mad buck on a highway.

A question flashed through his mind, what exactly were his feelings for Alina?
friend?

Bah! Roland despised himself fiercely.

Even the best of friends don’t go to bed to explore how to continue life.

Even if they were friends before, things became sour after last night.

Regardless of whether he actually did anything, Alina did have intimate contact with him and slept in the same bed with him all night.

Many girls in the Kingdom of Jin Yuan are romantic and passionate, and they like to have fun before getting married, but Alina is definitely not one of them.

Thinking of this, Roland's head started to hurt more and more.

How would he face Alina if she insisted that he take responsibility?
The question then becomes how to face Sylph. He originally wanted to use their life-and-death friendship against Sophia to get Sylph to accept Lisa, but before he could mention Lisa, Alina was added. Would Sylph agree?

When facing enemies, Roland is cunning and wise, and always has countless good ideas.

However, this time he was not facing an enemy, but a woman.

This is his blind spot in knowledge.

Just as Roland was in a daze, the door was pushed open and Alina, wearing a long dress that dragged on the floor, walked into the room leisurely.

Roland turned around and his eyes met Alina's in the air.

They looked at each other in silence.

Time flows quietly under the sunshine, and at a certain moment, they all remember the first time they met.

Roland smiled and said softly, "I was drunk last night.

"I was drunk too, I don't remember anything."

Alina said calmly: "I just asked the maid to check, nothing happened. The court doctor also told me that men cannot function after drinking too much. In short, nothing happened."

Roland fell silent.

Although he does not have the magical skill of insight, he still has the ability to observe people's words and expressions.

Alina's eyes were obviously evasive, and she blinked more frequently than usual.

Obviously, she was lying.

Since he was lying, it meant that he had crossed the line last night.

Extraordinary people are different from ordinary people. Perhaps alcohol cannot prevent blood from gathering madly in a place where it shouldn't go.

This would explain the bloodstains on the pink underwear and the scars on Alina's body.

"I'm sorry, I will take responsibility."

Although he felt guilty and regretful for being so careless for the first time, he did not want to escape.

He was at least 50 percent sure.

After all, Alina's life is linked to his through the soul and blood link.

I'll have a frank talk with Sylph after the war.

She will accept it.

Alina was stunned. What was he responsible for?
Perhaps because he felt that what he said just now was too ambiguous, Roland smiled and explained: "Our lives are already locked together. To be responsible for you is to be responsible for my life."

So that’s it?
Alina breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Yes, if you die, I will be buried with you. Of course you have to be responsible."

"By the way, what happened recently was that Madam Elaine misjudged my words and actions and acted on her own. I have asked her to reflect on her mistakes behind closed doors."

Alina noticed that Roland looked a little unnatural, so she quickly confessed everything Elaine had done.

She did not put all the blame on her subordinates, but took it on herself.

"It's not all her fault. I didn't make my words clear enough, which led her to misjudge. If there's any punishment to be paid, let me take it."

Alina looked at Roland calmly with a steady tone.

Roland tapped the table, startling Alina.

As expected, he was still angry. Alas, this incident would affect his relationship with Sylph. Even if she stepped forward to take responsibility, it would be difficult to forgive her.

However, Roland's next words made her stunned for a moment.

"If there is any mistake, it is my fault. I failed to control myself."

"Alina, don't say anything. If a man makes a mistake and asks a woman to take the blame, he doesn't deserve to be a man."

"Leave it to me, okay?"

Although she was a little confused, Alina nodded obediently.

Roland's eyes were darting around and he looked a little embarrassed, but he puffed out his chest to show his attitude.
Quite handsome.

She murmured in a mysterious voice, "Roland, keep this posture. I want to leave a picture for you."

Huh? Roland was confused.

Although he doesn't understand girls, your thinking is too unconventional.

Although I complain, it doesn't go against Alina's wishes.

Just be a model.

As for the appearance fee, it was paid last night, and it was overpaid.

The painting continued until the afternoon and was finally completed.

Looking at the young nobleman in the painting, who was holding his head high and looking full of vigor and vitality, Roland was a little hesitant to recognize him.

Is this handsome young man in the painting really me?
Never mind, Alina thought that was it.

Just as Roland and Alina were sharing dinner, an unexpected visitor arrived.

Lisa was exhausted and traveled all night, arriving in Xidai as quickly as possible.

When she walked into the Palace of Cité, she didn't even have time to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

The captain of the palace guard knew her and dared not neglect her, so he took her directly to the small restaurant.

Lisa walked into the restaurant and Alina greeted her with a smile.

"Ms. Lisa, you've had a hard journey. I suggest you enjoy your dinner first, take a shower, and have a good rest. We can talk about anything tomorrow."

Lisa did not reject Alina's kindness, but she always felt that Alina looked a little strange.

She sat down in the middle of the long dining table with a lot on her mind and soon realized the problem.

The chair she sat in was warm.

It's February now, and the temperature of the empty chairs is relatively low, so it's impossible for them to be warm.

In other words, someone was sitting where she was sitting just now.

Lisa's heart trembled, as if she had grasped some key information. She stood up with a smile, walked to the opposite side of the long dining table and sat down.

"I'd better sit over here, closer to the fireplace."

She made up an excuse and changed her position.

As soon as she sat down, she felt that the chair was warm.

These two chairs are located closest to each other on the short side of the long dining table.

Before she came in, these two chairs were occupied by people, and they didn't want her to see the temporary change of seats.

If you have nothing to hide, why change seats?
Lisa lost her appetite instantly. She ate a few bites numbly and put down her knife and fork.

"Sorry, I'm a little tired and want to rest early. I'll live next to Roland."

Since she said so, Alina naturally couldn't object, so she called the maid to arrange accommodation for Lisa.

Lisa asked Roland to leave together.

After watching the two of them leave, Roland turned back and looked at her as he walked out of the restaurant door.

Alina's eyes were a little flustered, but fortunately Roland gave her a firm look that said "Leave it to me", and she felt a little relieved.

Could it be that something went wrong and Lisa saw through it?

Alina's little heart was beating wildly.

After all, she was a latecomer, a shameful third party, and she would definitely feel guilty when she saw the wife coming to her house.
Wait, that’s not right!
Alina suddenly realized that even if she was caught red-handed, there was no need for her to be so scared in front of Lisa, right?

Lisa is not Roland's wife, so it is not her turn even if she is caught cheating.

Of course Lisa didn't know what was going on in Alina's mind. She was just disappointed and angry.

Back in Roland's bedroom, Lisa managed to maintain a calm expression and observed the details of Roland's expression and movements with her peripheral vision.

"Sif misses you, and the country needs you. When do you plan to go home?" Lisa asked with a smile, putting her slender hand on Roland's shoulder.

Roland also smiled and asked, "What about you? Do you miss me?"

"How dare you make fun of me, your sister?"

Lisa half-jokingly teased, "Is it because the beautiful girl from the Golden Kite Country is too romantic and doesn't want to go home?"

Roland was silent for a few seconds, then said softly, "Sister, I made a mistake."

He had prepared a good excuse, but the moment he saw Lisa's eyes, he knew he couldn't hide it.

They have been together for so many years, and Lisa knows him best.

Since I can't hide it, I might as well make it clear.

Lisa stared at Roland blankly. She was afraid that Roland was lying, but after Roland really confessed, she realized that lies were sometimes less harmful.

"why?"

"I couldn't help myself and made the mistake every man makes."

Roland, with a frank attitude, simply recounted what had happened during this period.

Of course, he didn't say that there was something wrong with the wine last night, but instead gave a romantic excuse.

"It was all because the moonlight was so beautiful last night and I drank a little wine, so I couldn't hold back."

"Fainted." Lisa interrupted Roland calmly.

Under Roland's surprised gaze, Lisa added softly, "Remember, nothing happened between you and Alina. She tried to seduce you last night, but you flatly rejected her even though you were drunk."

"Just when she wanted to continue seducing you, you became drunk and passed out."

"In short, you did not betray Sylph, absolutely not!"

Lisa's face was as cold as frost as she spoke word by word.

(End of this chapter)