unedited

  "You!" Finally, the Knight commander reacted. He pointed his hand at the guards. "Are you trying to rebel?" Gasps and whispers can be heard inside the hall. Just what is going on here? Many of the invited ministers and even the prime minister himself decided to just stand at the side. With the Grand Duke falling sick without the proper succession ceremony, everything is still uncertain.

  In their minds, joining in the chaos would only mean that they pick their sides, ruining their chances with the one that the prince deemed as the enemy. The ministers would have easily defended the Prince, if Lily and Zhou Jingren aren’t that influential themselves. These two are not only influential, they also have ties all over the world! The ministers decided to be smart and just watch the show instead.

  "Arrest her!" Leandro’s face turned dark as he repeated his words. "I am the new Duke! Are you trying to rebel against me?" He looked at the knight commander. "You! Arrest that woman!" The knight commander did not hesitate as he walked towards Lily. But, before he could even touch her clothes, the sharp blade of a short dagger was already on his neck. He shivered at the cold blade, pressing against his skin. He eyed Zhou Jingren’s secretary who was silently standing next to him.

  Too quick! He didn’t even notice him approaching! Just who are these people?

  "Touch her……and you die." Zhou Jingren said, his voice was not loud, yet it was enough to reach Leandro’s ears. His gaze was, of course, glued at the ’New’ Grand Duke.

  "You think you can still leave this country after offending the new Duke?" The ’New’ Duchess sneered. "Keep dreaming!"

  "Mr. And Mrs. Zhou, I suggest you stop this now. You are trying to rebel to our new Duke. If you keep on— "

  "Disappointing." Grand Duke’s Phil voice interrupted the knight commander. He immediately froze as he turned his head towards the man, walking towards them.

  "Father!" Leandro immediately walked towards his father. The anger that he showed earlier vanished as he asked, "How come you are here?"

  Duke Phil looked at his son before he sneered and walked passed him. "I am disappointed." He uttered. As he walked towards his wife, who was sitting on the chair, whose face looked like a sheet of paper as she stared at the wall, still in a daze. "Esther?" He called out and kissed his wife’s temple, silently asking her to forgive him for what he did. However, his wife didn’t move nor acknowledged him. This made the Duke’s face darken.

  This was the only unexpected outcome of their scheme. His pitiful wife. He let out a sigh as he turned towards his son. "I am fine. In case…… anyone of you wanted to ask." His voice interrupted the silence that blanketed the whole room. He then turned towards Lily. "I guess you were right." A sad smile slithered on his face. To judge a man’s character…… I must not only give him power. I should also see how he uses this when he is under pressure. After all, it is hard to make decisions once our emotions are high. Though…… I must say that I feel a little bit of regret and pain. Knowing the truth…… is heartbreaking."

  "Father…… what are you talking about?" Leandro immediately asked.

  "Ask yourself…… Leandro. Do you think…… Something is wrong?"

  "I— " he stuttered. He already knew that something was wrong earlier. However, he still let his emotions dictate his actions. "I don’t understand…… I thought something happened to you."

  "You said that I am fine?"

  "No! That’s not it." Leandro shook his head as if his life depended on it. "Why would I be happy?"

  "I was gone for what? Fifteen minutes and your tone had changed, the way you stood changed even the way you speak changed." The Duke laughed. "I remember…… when I became the Duke…… I was so nervous about making mistakes that sometimes��� I stutter."

  "Father you— "

  "Leandro…… I am fine. I am feeling wonderful. The only thing that bothers me was when the doctor checked me this time…… they actually found some traces of lead in my blood." His gaze turned towards Pierre’s ashen face. "Someone is indeed trying to poison me."

  "Then…… I am right!"Leandro said. However, his father’s next words made him frown.

  "And it was not Lily nor her brother. In fact…… everyone of the Royal family had been poisoned. Including you…… your wife…… your mother, your sister and her husband." Slowly his gaze darted towards the knight commander. "Including him." Even mentioning his friend’s name had become so difficult for the Duke.

  "What are you talking about?" Both Eliza and Levi asked. The twins stood next to their mother. "What poison? Lead? How could we have Lead inside all of us? Don’t we have something that could detect such things?" Eliza continued as she looked at Lily. "What is going on here?"

  Lily only pursed her lips in response. Seeing this, the Duke immediately continued talking. "Of course…… they always checked out food. But…… these poisons were given by the people that we trusted. Like…… Leandro’s wife…… or …… or the knight commander."

  *THUD*

  The loud sound of Leandro’s wife falling on her knees interrupted the Duke. She kneeled, tears streaming down her face. "Your highness! I was forced! I was forced by Mr. Weber…… please forgive me! Please…… They blackmailed me into giving the poison to the prince and me. Please…… your highness…… spare me!" With her words, another chaos ensued as The Prince tried to pull his wife up, trying to ask her to elaborate. While the twins were asking their father and Lily what was going on.

  Meanwhile, Harringfort and Mr. Neeson only stood on the sides, watching as the show unfolded. Watching Lily in action is really something! The two eyed each other, a silent agreement immediately formed between the them. Tonight…… they would do nothing but watch Lily give them a great show.

  Thank you for reading. Heheheh……

  5/5