“Your Majesty, do we still need to investigate further?” the subordinate asked.
I thought for a while before replying, “No, but there is another thing you need to do.”
After some consideration, I instructed him to look into Warren and Harry.
I thought they would also know something since the four of them were classmates, not to mention they became mates later. Flora and Joanna must have told them something.
Crystal’s POV
Ever since Flora left, I had been restless. It had been for a long time, but there was still no sign of her coming back. Something must have gone wrong, I thought, otherwise I would have heard from her already.
Anxious, I started pacing in the room. Arron was also affected by my anxiety that he skipped breakfast and sat quietly on the sofa to keep me company.
Just as I was ready to bolt out the door to go look for Flora, someone suddenly knocked. I quickly opened the door and saw Flora and Joanna walking towards me, talking and laughing.
I was surprised. Didn’t Flora go to see Rufus? Why did she come back with Joanna?
“Why are you two…” Flora shook her head at me the instant I opened my mouth.
“Let’s talk inside.”
We entered the room and closed the windows. Flora and Joanna simultaneously stopped laughing and put on serious faces.
“Rufus has already started investigating you and people around you, including me and Joanna. He found that photo from five years ago. Fortunately, only your profile was shown,” Flora filled me in on what happened at Rufus’ place.
My heart instantly sank. “I didn’t expect him to dig into me so soon.”
“No, I think Rufus might have begun looking into you much sooner than that, but Flora happened to be his breakthrough,” suggested Joanna.
I was silent for a long time before saying, “Looks like I would have to leave sooner than expected. I will leave tomorrow.”
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Flora didn’t understand. “I know Rufus very well. Your explanations may seem plausible, but they won’t dispel Rufus’ suspicion. If more, that will make him even more cautious. If I don’t leave now, he may find something else.”
It was possible that Rufus was just testing Flora and Joanna, and that was why he let them go so easily.
What’s more, I couldn’t figure out what Rufus was going to do next.
“What about Beryl? Are you really going to take her away by f0rce? Don’t you think that would be traumatic for her?” Flora asked worriedly.
I pursed my lips and hesitated. Now that Beryl only listened to Rufus, I was afraid things would be difficult. “But I have no other choice. I have to leave. If I stay here longer, Rufus will find out something sooner or later.”
Joanna patted me on the shoulder and comforted, “Don’t worry. We’ll figure something out. You can’t take Beryl away by f0rce. She will definitely cry and it will be more conspicuous.”
“How about I sneak Beryl out tonight?” While it was easy to put into words, I had no concrete strategy in place. Since Beryl and Rufus were so close, the latter might have been asked to read bedtime stories to her at night. I was afraid I’d run into him if I went there to get my daughter.
“How about we let Arron to ask his sister out?” Flora suggested.
Hearing his name, Arron swallowed the food in his mouth at once and quickly replied, “What do you need me to do? I’m willing to do anything.”
Amused at my obedient son, I rubbed his head and said, “You don’t need to do anything. Just finish your meal.”
“What about Beryl?” Aaron asked expectantly, blinking his big eyes.
I thought about it for a while and ultimately decided against Flora’s suggestion. It was too risky. The resemblance between Arron and Rufus was too uncanny. I didn’t want to give Rufus another chance to get close to my son.
After convincing Arron to return to his room, I explained my reasons to Flora and Joanna.
Flora sighed helplessly, “What should we do now? The odds of successfully kidnapping Beryl were too low, whether we do it discreetly or openly.”
“How about asking Laura for help?” asked Joanna.
Hearing this, my hope was instantly restored. I patted my thigh and replied excitingly, “Yes! How can I forget Laura? Surely she knows a way to sneak Beryl out!”
Laura’s POV
Crystal’s call for help came as no surprise to me. On the day Crystal came back to the capital city, I had thought this might happen, but I didn’t expect things to turn out so troublesome.
Even more surprisingly, Rufus’ sensitivity caught me off guard. He was readily swayed by Crystal’s charms even though he had lost his memories.
He pledged to pick a partner at the ball just two days ago, but he didn’t give the women there so much as a glance. He paid no attention to anyone else but Crystal.
I sighed helplessly. They were star-crossed lovers.
The only thing I could do was to lend Crystal any help I could. My two grandchildren would have loved to stay in the imperial palace with me, but I couldn’t bear the thought of Rufus having to deal with that curse of black thorns again, i They were my family. I could only choose the least harmful way.
So I went to the kitchen and made Beryl’s favorite desserts. After that, I went to see Rufus.
And sure enough, Beryl was busy constructing Legos in the study while Rufus focused on his work. They had a tacit understanding, doing their own things without exchanging words.
I stood at the door quietly for a while before knocking.
As soon as Beryl raised her head and saw me, she ran to me happily and jumped into my arms.
“Grannie, I miss you so much!” Beryl said with a sweet smile. The way she addressed me melted my heart and I was even more reluctant to part with her.
“My dear, I have made your favorite dessert. Have a taste.” While holding Beryl in one arm and the food basket in the other, I settled down on the couch.
Rufus greeted me, and then went back to work.
I was concerned for Rufus as well. Since he became the king, he almost hadn’t taken a proper rest and there was no one around him to take care of him.
I reached into the hamper and brought out the biscuits Rufus liked, placing it on his desk and saying, “Take a break and eat this.”
Rufus agreed. He put down his pen, and began to munch on the biscuits.
After thinking for a while, I asked tentatively, “I ran into Joanna while I was taking a walk earlier. She told me that you seemed to be investigating the matter that she had disguised herself as a man.”
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