Chapter 40
Lawrence threw caution to the wind.
His greed had completely overtaken every other reason for hesitation.
"Okay. This is it."
He straightened himself and began to narrate.
"Meanwhile in the palace..."
Louis was seated beside Roseline, along with the other royals who had come to welcome her on her first day.
Kingston had thought they had all left until he heard them complaining about Louis keeping them away under the excuse that they shouldn't overwhelm her.
"She's new to all this," Louis had told them.
So, despite their eagerness to be close to Roseline, they had all remained in the palace, watching her from a distance so they wouldn't frighten or make her uncomfortable.
They all wished to be with her.
But Louis was having none of it.
If not for the fact that Kingston was her husband, Louis probably would have sent him away too.
The thought of his sister being married to Kingston still annoyed him, but what could he do when Roseline herself had chosen him?
Amid their silent thoughts, Roseline remained on the bed.
Her body was burning as though she had been caught in flames, yet there wasn't a single flame in sight.
The bed itself wasn't hot, but anyone who dared to stand too close would soon find their clothes singed and their flesh burned.
Only Louis could sit beside her without being affected.
Kingston was also standing nearby, though he maintained a little distance. He was still much closer than the others, who had wisely kept farther away.
He couldn't bring himself to leave his beloved.
But he couldn't stop wondering what kind of transformation she was going through to cause such a reaction.
To him, she was like a volcano.
And Kingston could already imagine the destruction that would follow once that volcano finally erupted.
What a powerful woman I married.
Suddenly—
Sizzle.
A strange sound came from the room.
Every royal and trusted guard immediately placed a hand on the hilt of their sword, ready to unsheathe it at the slightest sign of danger.
Louis calmly raised a hand.
"Calm down."
His eyes shifted toward the approaching presence.
"It's my bird."
Soon, the bird passed through the guards as though it couldn't care less about the tense atmosphere surrounding it.
If anything, its attitude seemed to say:
Are you all kidding me? Can any of you even match me?
The bird landed regally on the bed.
The very bed everyone had been afraid to approach.
It raised its eyes and looked directly into Louis's.
The moment their eyes met, every piece of information the bird had gathered was transmitted directly to him.
The people around them were stunned.
Wasn't that the very bed they were all too afraid to get close to?
And now Louis's message bird was sitting comfortably on it?
Amid their astonishment, Louis suddenly laughed.
It started as a low chuckle before turning into a full-blown cackle.
He couldn't believe it.
"He really didn't disappoint me."
His eyes narrowed with amusement.
"Lawrence, you're digging your own grave. Don't blame me for giving you a helping hand."
His smile widened.
"It wouldn't be good if I didn't make you sleep in it too, right?"
He turned toward his unconscious sister.
"Sis, don't you think I'm right?"
Kraig uncle, the husband of their mother's sister, who had been standing beside his wife, looked at Louis.
"Is that Prime Minister Lawrence?"
Louis nodded.
"Yes."
His expression turned cold.
"He's joining forces with the mages."
The people in the room all stand straight on hearing that.
"Kraig's face hardened."
Is he acting against the royal family?" Both his uncle and aunt asked together this time. Shocked as to why the prime minister would do such a thing, knowing fully well it will jeopardize the country well being.
Kraig chuckle again, more dark and humorless.
"He's finally showing his true colors."
The people in the room sighed.
Greed leads to self destruction. And Lawrence had too much of it that everyone who knows him is sure it will lead him to where he wouldn't like.
His gaze shifted toward Roseline.
"He doesn't even care about his daughter."
Through the bird's eyes, Louis had seen the entire exchange with Lawrence.
He had seen the greed.
The bargaining.
The elixir.
And Lawrence's decision to cooperate with the very people who were now targeting the palace.
They didn't know that all of their exchanges was monitored and had been transmitted to him.
They still believe they are in control.
He knew people who couldn't wait to strike him will keep searching for his flaws. For his weakness.
Something to use against him but they will never have it. NEVER.
He had no emotional attachment to anyone before until rose was found. And he's sure they all believe Roseline is his weakness.
But NO. They got it wrong. She is his strength and anchor. He would show no mercy to anyone who try to hurt her or his nation. Anyone who dares to try will face a consequence far more worst than they could ever imagine.
His handsome face soon turned disgusted when he remembered the happy expression on Lawrence after taking the elixir.
An elixir?
For such a big information and he was almost dancing over it. What a stupid idiot the man was.
The man had even been offered something that could preserve his youth, yet he had not once stopped to consider what it could mean for his daughter.
Or if the man in shadows could save her daughter from her predicament.
Louis's expression became colder.
"He couldn't even ask about his own daughter?"
A dangerous silence followed.
Then Louis spoke.
"Summon my knights."
The guards immediately straightened.
"We might need to do some cleaning up soon."
He paused.
"No. Wait."
Louis's eyes glinted.
"Tell them to remain ready at all times."
Then he looked toward his trusted guards.
"And gather everything we've collected on Lawrence over the years."
The room became quiet.
Louis's voice was calm, but there was something frightening beneath it.
"Every piece of dirt we've caught on him."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"It's time we put it to use."
Let's give him a gift for the party he's about to have. Celebrating his grave will be...
So exciting.