Chapter 37: Grief and Shame
Short chapter.
The marquis explained in detail what occurred at the emergency meeting of state affairs hours ago. Arundell managed to surround Crichton in the sea and officially conveyed the king’s intentions through an envoy. Arundell wished for peace and harmony, never the antagonizing of Crichton. As proof, he asked to send a royal member of Chrichton to him. She will be his queen.
Rihannan listened to the story intently, her countenance stiff.
And at last, the marquis ended the story saying, “At first, everyone was furious for they thought Helena’d become Arundell’s tool, but after a consensus that a royal lady could be anyone, you, Rihannan, was chosen… I’m sorry I could not be of any help.”
The marquis’ face flushed with bouts of guilt and drooped his head. Rihannan was beautiful, but oftentimes beauty was the cause of a nation’s downfall. He believed there’ll come a time when he’ll abandon her…
“So you want to send Rihannan to Arundell, to death? You can’t be of help so you give up? What do you think will happen if she goes there in this state? Do you think those shameless royals will treat her well? And Chrichton too! They’ll certainly plan their revenge. Rihannnan will become a pawn. Death awaits her in Arundell! You’ll let her go knowing this?!” Dimitri shouted angrily.
The marquis lost his temper. “So what will you do? You’ll commit crimes of infidelity against the royal family and let us all be traitors and die?!”
“You’re afraid of death now?” Dimitri scoffed. “I never pegged my father to be a coward!”
“You bastard!”
The marquis could not contain his anger and slapped Dimitri on the cheek. Rihannan covered her mouth in surprise. Until now, the marquis had never been one to touch his son except for corporal punishment for his wrongdoings.
Dimitri swallowed his anger and stared at his father’s eyes coldly. “It’s much better to die together. At least I won’t be betraying Rihannan.”
“You still…!”
“Uncle!”
As the marquis’ hand rose again, Rihannan hastily cut in between them. “Don’t do that. Both you, stop and calm down. You’re filled with too many emotions right now.”
After a while, the marquis slowly lowered his arm that had been held and blocked by Rihannan. His cheeks trembled and twitched and soon uttered a lamentable remark, “Do you think I want this? Rihannan’s the only blood connection I have left of my sister. Dimi, don’t you know how much love I have for my sister and her daughter, my niece? I can’t do anything, I’m not powerful enough… if I could, I’d prevent this from happening… but, I don’t see a way… how can I…”
His voice croaked at the end, almost tearful. The gray-haired nobleman was crumbling with grief and shame. In return, Dimitri could not contain his anger and punched the desk. Rihannan’s eyes lowered in melancholy. The room was filled with near silence that seemed to explode at any moment.
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