Firman nodded. His tearful eyes were so clear and innocent, without the slightest trace of anger or resentment. had no choice but to repeat the mantra I’d been drilling into him since he was little. “Remember the people who have wronged you and take revenge on them in the future, okay?”
Firman nodded again. “I understand,” he declared, wiping the tears from his eyes. “I will get stronger and fight back against them.”
“Not only will you fight back, but you will make them pay tenfold!” I bit out through gritted teeth.
I could see the bewilderment in Firman’s eyes, and knew that he did not understand what I meant. Nevertheless, he mumbled a soft, “Okay.”
I held his face and stroked his hair. “It’s all right,” I comforted him. “Just endure it for now. One day, you will become the greatest, most revered man in the whole kingdom.”
“How?” Firman asked with a frown. “Those kids hit me any time they want. Will they ever respect me?” I smiled. “You will understand as you grow older. For now, the most important thing for you to do is to learn. Go back inside and study.”
Firman padded into the house obediently, while I walked out of the hall and headed to a rusty door nestled alongside a shabby corridor. I took out a key, turned the lock, and pushed through the door.
Inside, a ripped up photo of Richard was hung on the wall, his face barely recognizable from the cuts. Although his face was practically out of the picture, I still grabbed the knife on the shelf and slashed at it over and over.
I didn’t stop until my wrist felt numb.
I loathed the man with every fiber of my being. Because of him, Firman had to suffer in the imperial palace, all for the sake of his damned bloodline. It was also because of Richard’s failure that Firman had to endure so much bullying.
It took me a few moments to calm down. When I did, I turned the vase on a nearby table, triggering a secret compartment on the wall to open. A delicate, wooden box sat inside, containing my most prized mementos, including Kyle’s photo.
I caressed the picture with my fingers, letting my mind wander back to the happy days of the past. The memory of Kyle’s handsome face was the only thing that kept me holding on to this wretched life I lived.
My reverie was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps. I hurriedly deposited the photo back inside the box and turned the vase to restore the compartment in its hidden position.
Lucy’s POV
I walked out of the room, making sure to lock the door behind me. As soon as I exited the corridor, I was greeted by the sight of Adela. Her face was all scrunched up in her anxious musings.
I shot her a glare, but she didn’t seem to notice me. She was so deep in thought that she eventually ran right into me.
That only irritated me even more. If I could find someone else, I wouldn’t bother working with this brainless idiot.
Adela’s eyes lit up when she finally saw me. “I thought you weren’t here!” she exclaimed.
I felt my scowl deepen. “I’ve told you time and time again not to come to me unless it’s urgent! Don’t you realize how easy it is to expose both of us if you keep coming here like this?”
I could tell that Adela wasn’t taking my words seriously. She just beamed at me and practically skipped to my side, taking my hands in hers. “I’m here to share some good news with you.”
“What is it?” I didn’t want to waste time exchanging nonsense with her. I pulled away in disgust, and then walked past her to get a glass of water.
Adela was still smiling, seemingly unfazed by my obvious animosity. “Thanks to the instructions you gave me, I was able to save Rufus from grave danger. He has since promised to marry me as his new mate.”
I curled my lips in disdain. “Really? You, saved Rufus?”
Adela simply pursed her lips and tilted her head as if she hadn’t had a care in the world. “The details don’t matter, as long as the desired result is met. Rufus even told Laura that our wedding will be held to the highest standard. Soon, I will be the queen, the most honorable she-wolf in the kingdom.”
I sneered and rolled my eyes. “If that is the case, then you should be happily spending your time with Rufus instead of wasting my time.”
Sure enough, Adela’s face froze, and a look of horror flashed in her eyes. “That’s right, you have a point there.”
I couldn’t help but snort derisively. “Tell me, then. What is the problem?”
Adela seemed to consider her words carefully before speaking. “The one who actually saved Rufus… I think that it’s his former mate.”
She paused and nervously fiddled with her hands. “But I don’t know why she left before he woke up. I arrived at the perfect moment and grabbed the opportunity to pretend I was Rufus’ savior. I was so excited that time that I didn’t even think about anything else. It wasn’t until I overheard a conversation between Laura and the doctor later that I found out the only reason Rufus was recovered from his serious injuries so soon was because the help of his mate. Luckily, Rufus automatically assumed that I was his mate. Otherwise, our plans would have fallen apart.”
Adela’s words shocked me to the core. Rufus’ mate? Did she mean Sylvia? But Sylvia had been executed for treason five years ago! How could she suddenly reappear out of the blue?
I could feel my face twist in angry confusion. “There’s no way!” I screamed at Adela. “That she- wolf has been long dead!”
“Well,” Adela said nervously, “then is it possible that it was his real second mate?”
I had no answer to that. My thoughts were racing. If it had really been Rufus’ new mate, she would never have left him, unless she was hiding something.
More to the point, there was only one person who would jump over a cliff without hesitation to save Rufus.
That meant that Sylvia had deceived everyone, pretending to be dead all this time!
I felt uneasy at the prospect of Sylvia returning to the capital. She knew far too much for my comfort. She might even reveal the fact that Firman was not a true member of the royal family.
I whirled around and directed my ire at Adela. “The potion I gave you might have Rufus mistake you for his mate, but it will only last for a month. You must make him fall in love with you as soon as possible.
That’s your only hope of escaping punishment once he learns of the truth. Otherwise, there is nothing I can do to help you once the effects of the potion fade.”
Lucy’s POV
Adela’s expressions shifted at my words. She kept wringing her hands, and looked like she wanted to say something. In the end, though, she only hung her head.
I wasn’t stupid. I could instantly tell that something else was wrong. “What is it now?” I asked in a cold voice. “Don’t tell me Rufus has already found out that you’ve been lying to him.”
Adela immediately shook her head, but she was biting her lips as though she was debating to say something or not.
I was growing more and more irritated with her. “If you have something to say, just spit it out. Stop wasting my time. No one here likes a wishy-washy person! Laura is a very picky person. Even if you somehow win Rufus over, you will surely have a hard time convincing her.”
Adela had the good sense to blush at my rebuke. “Rufus hasn’t found out anything. He trusts me, but I’m still worried. He… He doesn’t seem to like me at all.”
“Doesn’t like you? What’s that supposed to mean? Doesn’t he see you as his destined mate, bestowed upon him by the Moon Goddess? Why on earth wouldn’t he like you?”
My frown deepened as I was reminded yet again just how much of an imbecile this girl was. She had been handed an opportunity of a lifetime, but she couldn’t even take full advantage of it.
“Did you do as I said?” I prodded impatiently.
Visibly flustered, Adela answered hurriedly, “I did! I assure you, I acted exactly as you instructed, but it’s not working. What’s worse is that Laura definitely doesn’t like me. You said so yourself, she is very picky.”
I scoffed at her in disdain. “If you can’t play the role well, then I can offer no other solution. I already told you that Rufus was not one to be easily fooled. I told you to be careful and to not make even the slightest mistake.”
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