Chapter 139: Acknowledging his feelings

Lauren’s lips twitched while heading out of the dungeon. The maid swore she knew nothing more so she did not force her. What she heard was enough to conclude that Jennifer wanted her dead because she was eyeing the Queen’s position.

To know if Jennifer had connections with the rebels, Lauren now had an idea of how to find out.

"She deserved to be tortured for at least an hour," Alec said who followed her shortly after he killed the maid with one hit. He was told by Lauren to give the maid a quick death so he just did what she wanted.

"She was not stubborn and I am satisfied with what I discovered. It doesn’t hurt to be generous sometimes, Alec." She smiled at him which he found suspicious.

"What are you planning, huh?" Alec could sense a devious plan behind Lauren’s sweet smile. He had been observing her long enough to notice the sudden change in her disposition.

"It seems that Jennifer and her father have different goals to achieve in the castle. But Jennifer won’t be too bold to execute her plan without an outsider’s support. I think she is connected to the rebels," Lauren said while ascending the stairs heading to the upper ground of the castle.

"Yes, I figured that out, but I know that is not what you want to say," Alec pointed out, making Lauren stop in the middle of the staircase.

She turned to Alec who was standing a step below her, and despite that being the case, he still towered over her. She smiled but he only watched her with dark eyes as if he knew she was thinking about something mischievous.

"Jennifer seems to like you," Lauren swallowed the bile in her throat and retained her calm disposition as if it was not a big deal for her.

Alec did not say anything and looked at her indifferently as if nothing was interesting about the subject.

"Since we think she has a connection with the rebels, why not take advantage of her and bring her to the castle so we can watch her closely? Perhaps it will bring us to the mastermind of the rebels faster."

Staring into Lauren’s sapphire eyes gleaming wickedly, there was no need for Alec to ask what she was planning. There was only one way to bring Jennifer Haystone into the castle without her and anyone noticing their real motive.

"Make her your concubine," Lauren said. She bit her tongue and forced a smile to show her enthusiasm, but her small smile immediately vanished when Alec gave her a ruthless look as if he was going to snap her neck if she said one more word.

"You," Alec’s tone was so grim that Lauren felt the urge to take a step back and withdraw her words. "What do you take me for?"

For a moment, she was rendered speechless. Those few words and the way he looked told her that he was seriously offended by her demand.

"I know you only regard me as a chess piece in your game, but you can’t fucking tell me to take another woman just because you want it."

His jaw was clenching hard that she could hear how his muscle ticked in her mind. The suffocating intensity of his stare made her breathless.

"You have no affection for me? I understand. But I cannot believe you are rubbing it on my face. How ungenerous," he said cruelly before walking past her.

Lauren stood there for a few long seconds, frozen on her spot. She could not believe how dark and forlorn Alec’s expression was. All this time she believed what he had for her was shallow attraction, but with how Alec reacted, it was only then she finally accepted the truth that Alec Everston, the once coldhearted warlord, really fell in love with her.

She was rejecting the idea in her mind because she wanted to console herself that she had nothing to worry about when it was time for her to leave as she believed he would easily forget about her, but now, she could no longer deny it.

’You are a big nitwit, Lauren. Why do you think he’s keeping you by his side and doing everything you want? He’s already the King and he could have disposed you if he wanted, but he didn’t!’ The words echoed in her mind.

When she finally got back to her senses, she kept up with Alec and blocked his way to continue their discussion. She wanted to explain not because she wanted to pursue her plan, but because she felt bad when she saw how mad and forlorn he was. She did not want him to misunderstand her.

"T-that’s not what I meant!" She said in a shaky voice.

Alec, who was furiously staring at her, crouched a bit and tilted his head.

"I’m sorry if it offended you-"

"Offended?" He scoffed and straightened his back. "You think I was just merely offended? What do you expect a man would feel if the woman he holds affection for is pushing him to someone else? You never had a romantic relationship but you are smart enough to figure out the answer," he said snobbishly and was about to walk out again, but she kept blocking his way.

"Can you just please hear me out for a second?"

"I’m mad, Lauren," he hissed.

Well, it was pretty obvious, wasn’t it.

"First of all, I’m sorry," he was about to interrupt her again but she put her index finger on his lips before he could. "Honestly, I didn’t consider your feelings valid... until now. Yes, I came to accept that you were probably attracted. We shared intimate moments, after all. But I refused to believe your affection ran deep—"

"You are a fool then," he butted in. "You think I did all the things I have done just for my entertainment? You are a big problem, Lauren. The things around you including yourself are a big puzzle to me. If you were like anyone else for me, you were long dead."

Lauren felt the rush of blood on her cheeks. The beat of her heart had also grown unsteady. She could not believe he was confessing to her again, this time, with her fully acknowledging his feelings. She felt petrified, uneasy, and different. She did not know how she should feel.

"I know I have been trying to ignore it, and I’m being inconsiderate for asking you to take another woman as your concubine, but I’m not saying that you have to like her, or pretend that you do, or s-sleep with her..." Lauren cleared her throat when she noticed how her voice trembled at the latter part.

"We can say that you are growing your influence as the King and you want the Haystones as your support. There is a proper process in choosing concubines and one must be subjected to a thorough screening and training before becoming an official concubine. You can say that Jennifer has potential and you want to observe her for a certain period. After that, you can choose whether to accept her as your concubine or not. You don’t need to actually spend time with her, perhaps only during meals and on some rare occasions..." Lauren breathed. "I promise to take care of everything. I just want that woman near me so I can observe her up close."

Alec didn’t say anything and just stared at her as if her whole idea was ridiculous. But Lauren believed Jennifer was her key to the rebels. Even the first rampage of deranged humans happened in the Haystone’s mansion. She badly wanted to know who was the mastermind of the rebellion and pacify the kingdom. That was the least she could do before she left.

"What will you do for me if I bring that woman here? You should do something for me if you want it so bad," he said and inched closer to her.

"I don’t understand why this is up for negotiation. If the rebellion is subdued, both of us will benefit from it, so shouldn’t you be willing to take part—"

"I refuse to be sold by you," he cut her which made her eyes widen.

"Sold by me?" What on earth was that concept about?

"Isn’t that your plan? You want to lure Jennifer Haystone with me as bait."

"Because that will help our plan!"

"Of course, our plan, yes," he nodded to himself but she sensed mockery in his tone.

"Fine, I’ll do it. But I will never take that woman as my concubine. Also, let this be clear. You won’t ask me to please her or anything and she will stay in the castle for only half a month. After that, if we don’t find anything, she shall be disposed. She tried to kill you, how am I supposed to stomach the sight of her."

"Thank you," Lauren huffed.

"But you have to do something in return."

Her relaxed shoulders became stiff when he suddenly said that.

"What is it?"

He looked at her with soulful eyes. A mixture of anger, anticipation, and darkness filled his steely orbs.

"You are not allowed to leave me."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read