Chapter 75: My Heart is Not Frail

Lauren was about to move away but Alec held her waist which stopped her.

"The bed is big. You should make use of the space behind you instead of stealing my space," she said through gritted teeth.

"We are married. What is yours is mine."

"If you want to think it that way then go on, but I just want to sleep at the moment and I would appreciate you giving me some peace."

"Is my presence that vexing for you? Or..." His fingers caressed her waist softly against the thin fabric she was wearing. "perhaps you are just afraid of the things that you might feel when I’m this close to you?"

Her jaw clenched.

"You know, Lauren," her name rolled off his tongue in a seductive manner that made her shiver. "If it is lust, it is acceptable and I would entertain it. After all, we are just individuals with needs. But if it is something else-"

"I don’t have any feelings for you, if that is what you are worried about," she cut her off. "I have never been in love so don’t think you are too special and I will fall for you. My heart is not frail. I’m just uncomfortable sharing my bed my anyone because I was used to enjoying my private space without any intervention."

After saying that, she pushed his hand away from her waist and rolled back to her left side.

If it was lust it was acceptable for him and he would entertain it? The words echoed in her mind and she wanted to laugh at how ridiculous it sounded. She knew how most men only saw her as a subject of their carnal desires, but for Alec to keep on reminding her not to fall for him, it was demeaning as a woman.

She didn’t hear anything from him after that. She closed her eyes and forced herself to sleep.

The next days, the royal family was busy mourning. The people could not believe that in just one night two of the King’s children died an unfortunate death. There was no proper burial for Eloise as she was reduced to dust after she was burned and black mages were considered traitors who were not worthy to be commemorated.

The investigation of Casper’s death continued, and Dominic who was bound to leave the land had to stay in the castle until Casper’s culprit was identified. The ministers said that it might be anyone from the royal family because it was possible that the reason was related to the throne.

"If it has something to do with the throne, the culprit must have done it to put Your Majesty in a difficult situation so you would get pressured in choosing a successor to put the people at ease," said Lord Samuel, one of the ministers of the royal court.

For this court meeting, the council was present as they were the ones who were investigating Casper’s death. Alec and Dominic were also present as one minister suggested that if it was related to the power struggle, the two of them must be considered as suspects considering the possibility that one of them would be chosen as the King’s successor if Dominic’s marriage with Eloise was not ruined.

Calm and unfazed, Alec spoke, "Your Majesty, if I may speak for myself, if I truly covet your successor’s position, I don’t think killing Prince Casper would be of help. Everyone knows here that the young prince was severely ill and his days were numbered. Why would I bother to kill him when I know he would die soon? Besides as you can see, I am one of the primary suspects being pointed out because I am your son-in-law. The plan is too risky and has a lot of loopholes."

"I agree, Your Majesty," the council chief, Lionel, agreed. "Lord Everston is a smart man. If he did it, he would only be put in a difficult situation and would not gain anything. We all know here how loyal the Lord Everston is to Evardin. Back when he was still going to battles until he assumed the defense ministry’s office, he never brought harm to the royal family."

"Prince Dominic, you have never met Princess Eloise before you asked for her hand in marriage. I believe you did not only seek a wife, but you were also eyeing the throne, am I correct?" asked one of the ministers.

Dominic was not pleased that everyone was looking at him like they knew it could only be him who murdered the young prince.

"Yes, I admit I desired the throne at some point. Everyone wants power, who wouldn’t? But killing someone, let alone a child who was about to die, no I could not do such a thing. For heaven’s sake, I didn’t even know the woman I was going to marry was a black mage. All I want to do right now is go back to my kingdom and forget about the humiliation I have received. Pardon me for my words, King Martin, but this whole thing is getting on my nerves. Should my father know I killed a royal here, he would behead me himself and I am not a fool to take such a risk."

"Prince Dominic was in the castle’s main hall the whole time when it happened, Your Majesty, as well as Lord Alec. And with their explanations, I do not think the culprit is one of them," a minister said which was agreed by most.

"If most of you think that way, then it means the culprit must be one of the guests. A rebellion is rising in the shadows and they must have done this to stir chaos in the court and to ruin our land’s stability," King Martin said, his fists balled in anger.

"Rest assured the council shall do everything in our power to investigate Prince Casper’s death, Your Majesty. We shall not stop until we have the answer in our hands," the council chief gave his word.

Alec knew that it could not be Dominic who murdered the young prince as he kept an eye on him while he was staying in the castle. His initial assumption was Lauren did it, but he believed her when she said it wasn’t her. At the moment, he could only assume that it was the rebels, but one thing was for sure. Whoever did it didn’t do it for the throne.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read