I nearly had a panic-stricken meltdown. Fortunately, my father chose to side with me.
I looked at Sylvia smugly. “The king is right. How can you accuse me with just a video? Do you have any other proof?”
“These clearly prove your guilt. How dare you still deny it?” Sylvia was seething with fury. If she wasn’t busy guarding Rufus, she would’ve attacked me on the spot.
With my back to the king, I sneered at her triumphantly. I faked being hurt and whined, “I didn’t know anything about this, I swear! Someone must be framing me!”
I deliberately tried to piss Sylvia off, hoping she’d lose her temper and attack me. Then she’d be charged with assault and would have to be imprisoned with Rufus.
But contrary to my expectations, Sylvia suddenly calmed down and didn’t say anything more. She simply stared at me intently, as though she was thinking about something. After a while, she asked softly, “So where was Lucy? I didn’t see her.”
At the mention of Lucy’s name, my heart got caught in my throat.
As expected, thanks to Sylvia’s reminder, my father looked at my sharply. “Didn’t you say that Lucy was in the manor? Where was she?”
I quickly averted my gaze, not daring to look into his eyes. My mind went completely blank and I had no idea what to say.
Sylvia sneered smugly. “The mastermind behind all of this wanted to use Prince Rufus to kill Lady Lucy. Thankfully, I got here just in time to save her. As long as we can find Lady Lucy talk to her, the truth will be revealed.”
As she spoke, Sylvia looked at me meaningfully, which made me break into a cold sweat.
Anger surged through my veins. For the first time in my life, I was trumped by a mere slave. “What the hell are you talking about? I already said I didn’t do it. What can’t you understand about that?”
“I didn’t say you were the mastermind, Prince Richard. Why are you so agitated? Is the guilt getting to you?” Sylvia laughed cynically. The disdain on her face could be compared to that of Rufus.
“You’re nothing but a slave! So learn your place and shut your mouth!” I was so angry that I nearly pounced on her and beat the crap out of her. But my father was here, so I had to behave.
“Okay, I’ll shut up now.” Sylvia raised her hand and made a motion as though she was zipping her mouth shut, but the mockery in her eyes was painfully obvious.
But my father didn’t seem to notice. He was busy narrowing his eyes at me in suspicion. He didn’t say anything more. Instead, he quietly ordered his attendants to look for Lucy.
I hurriedly volunteered my service. “Father, please let me look for Lucy too. I don’t know what might’ve happened, but I think Lucy must be in a state of panic. She must want to see me.”
My father smiled unnaturally and placed his hand on my shoulder. Squeezing my shoulder tightly, he said in a domineering tone, “No need. I’ll explain everything to her when we find her.”
“Okay,” I said in a trembling voice. I nearly lost control of myself.
The way he was behaving led me to believe he didn’t believe a word I was saying. Maybe he had seen through all my little tricks. Alas, I was too naive! The only thing I could do now was pray that my men would find Lucy first and kill her to keep her mouth shut. I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt towards Lucy’s baby. Without that bastard, I still had a chance at the throne. But if my crimes were exposed, I’d be known as that man who attempted to murder my own sibling. Then the best case scenario was prison.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll find Lucy safe and sound with the baby in her belly.” My father patted me on the shoulder meaningfully.
I forced a smile. “Yes, Father. Lucy is a blessed she-wolf. I just know she’ll be fine.”
Hearing what I said, Sylvia audibly sneered again. But this time, she didn’t say anything more. Instead, she took out a handkerchief and started to wipe the blood on Rufus’ face.
I looked away irritably. I wasn’t in the mood to fight with her any further. I just hoped that Lucy would not be found.
But as fate would have it, all of a sudden, a bloody figure emerged in the distance.
“It’s Lady Lucy!” a guard shouted in shock.
Richard’s POV
Lucy looked terrible. Her hair was disheveled, caked blood clinging to it in clumps. Half of her face looked as though it was mauled by a wild beast. She was badly mutilated and bleeding.
Such a sorry sight walked towards us barefoot. Despite her mutilated face, her eyes flashed fiercely and were fixed on me the whole time, and there was a crazy smile at the corners of her mouth. She looked like a ferocious ghost who was determined to kill me.
I was so scared that I took a step backward subconsciously.
When she was but a few meters away from my father, Lucy suddenly stopped and saluted, despite her body trembling from exhaustion and her injuries.
Shell-shocked, my father finally snapped out of his trance and ran to help her. “Lucy, what happened?”
Even though werewolves had a strong self-healing ability, Lucy’s face was too badly mauled. Even if it did heal, it would never be the same. She would live the rest of her days completely disfigured.
Lucy shook her head slightly without saying anything.
“Have the baby checked first!” My father whirled around and barked an order. It was obvious that he was very concerned about his grandchild.
Doctors immediately surrounded Lucy.
Lucy looked surprised, but I quickly spoke up before she could. “Father knows you’re pregnant. I told him that you were resting in the manor, so he came to visit you.”
Lucy quickly realized what was going on. She gently touched her belly and looked at me with a gloomy smile. “Of course the baby’s safe. Why do you care?”
I immediately stiffened. Her pointed words made me sweat all over my back. Her eyes were fixed on me, burning with hatred. It was as though she wanted to devour me alive. Somehow, I managed to suppress my panic and forced a concerned smile. “Of course I care! I’m the father, aren’t I?”
I specially stressed the word “father”, hoping that Lucy would catch on and cooperate. After all, if it was revealed that the child was a bastard, she would be doomed as well.
When the doctors were done checking on Lucy, they nodded at my father, indicating that she was fine for the time being.
My father let out a sigh of relief and relaxed a little. Then he turned to Lucy and asked gently, “Good girl, can you tell me exactly what happened today?”
Lucy fell silent for a while. Then she glanced at Sylvia searchingly.
Sylvia gave her a kind smile and said, “It’s okay. Be brave and tell us the truth. Don’t worry. No one will hurt you this time.”
I shot her a murderous glare. Damn it! This bitch always ruined everything! If she hadn’t intervened, Lucy would have been torn apart by the crazed Rufus and wouldn’t have had the chance to stand here.
Lucy didn’t say anything for a while. Finally, she nodded slowly.
I knew I was doomed, so I rushed over in an attempt to kill her before she could reveal the truth.
But my father stopped me with a stern look. Then, he looked at Lucy and his expression softened. “Be brave. Tell me. I promise I’ll help you no matter what.”
I clenched my fists, wishing lightning would strike me and Lucy and kill us on the spot so that no one would know the truth.
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