Chapter 197
[ 1,112 words ]
{Third Person}
Back in his residence, Alexander was seated quietly in the living room when Jasper returned.
The night had grown still, and aside from the occasional sound of guards moving outside, the entire residence had settled into silence.
The moment Jasper entered, Alexander lifted his gaze from the document in his hand. He did not need to ask immediately. One look at Jasper’s expression was enough to tell him that the matter had already been handled.
Jasper approached and bowed respectfully. “Your Highness.”
Alexander set the document aside and leaned back slightly in his seat. His expression remained calm, but his eyes had turned colder. “She attacked?”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Jasper gave a small nod. “But she did not succeed.”
The answer seemed expected. Alexander’s expression did not shift in the slightest. Instead, his gaze hardened further as he moved on to what truly mattered.
“That woman,” he said coldly, “has she been taken care of?”
Jasper answered without hesitation. “Yes, Your Highness.”
A brief silence settled between them. Then Alexander’s eyes narrowed slightly as he asked another question, his tone colder than before.
“I hope you made her death brutal enough.”
Jasper met his gaze calmly. “Yes, Your Highness.”
That answer seemed to satisfy Alexander.
He leaned back fully, his expression relaxing just a little, though there was no warmth in him when it came to Nora. He felt nothing for her—not pity, not sympathy, and certainly not regret.
She had been tolerated in his residence for months despite being an unwanted presence. He had never acknowledged her, never invited her into his life, and never given her reason to believe she had a place beside him. Even so, she had remained under his roof and under his protection.
That alone should have been enough, yet she had forgotten herself.
The moment she allowed herself to become reckless enough to target Amara, she had already sealed her fate.
Jasper continued his report. “Lady Amara was frightened by the incident. And she has already been escorted safely back to her residence.”
This time, a subtle shift appeared in Alexander’s gaze. He was disappointed in Amara.
Amara frightened too easily. That much had become increasingly clear to him.
She was soft by nature, gentle in temperament, and far too vulnerable. Though those traits were not necessarily flaws in themselves, they became dangerous weaknesses in an environment like this.
Tonight’s incident had only confirmed it further.
She had been overwhelmed by fear, and she could not even properly steady herself in the face of danger.
That would not do.
Not if she was going to remain by his side with the kind of enemies surrounding them and the dangers becoming increasingly bold.
A quiet conclusion formed in his mind. Something would have to change soon. He would have to do something about it.
Alexander gave a small nod to himself, as though confirming his own decision, before lifting his gaze back to Jasper.
“There are two things I want done.”
Jasper straightened immediately. “Yes, Your Highness.”
Alexander spoke without hesitation. “First, inform Mrs. Woods to pack her belongings as well. She will be leaving the palace with us.”
For the first time, Jasper looked mildly surprised. It lasted only a second before understanding settled in.
The instruction made sense.
Mrs. Woods had become important to Amara, and her presence would make the transition to the city easier for her.
Jasper bowed slightly. “It will be done.”
Alexander continued. “Second, I want a rumour spread throughout the palace.” Then his gaze darkened. “By morning, I want every servant discussing it.”
He spoke calmly, but the meaning behind his words carried a clear intent. “Let the news spread that Nora visited the Queen. Then, two days later, she attacked the political bride.”
Jasper understood immediately. This was not simple gossip. Alexander was sending a message—a calculated one.
By morning, whispers would spread through every corridor of the palace. The servants would talk. The guards would hear. The nobles would eventually catch wind of it.
And whether directly or indirectly, the Queen’s name would become tied to Nora’s actions.
Though nothing could be proven, suspicion would be planted. That alone was enough.
Alexander’s voice remained cold. “I want everyone to connect the dots.”
Jasper lowered his head. “I understand, Your Highness. I will carry out both instructions immediately.”
Alexander gave a small nod. “Good.”
“Good night, Your Highness.” Jasper bowed once more. Then he turned and left.
A moment later, the door opened once more, and Barron walked in.
He clicked his tongue in irritation as he entered, clearly already aware of what had happened. After closing the door behind him, he strode inside and dropped into a seat without invitation.
The displeasure on his face was obvious.
“Lysandra truly doesn’t know when to stop.” He shook his head and folded his arms across his chest. “She never learns.”
Right then, his irritation deepened. “No matter how many warnings she receives, she keeps pushing.”
Alexander finally spoke. His voice was flat and calm. “She must be terribly bored otherwise, she would not spend so much time instigating others and planning their downfall. She should enjoy the game while it lasts.”
Barron let out a dry laugh. “That woman is poison.”
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The next morning, before brunch, the palace had already grown restless with whispers.
What had started as quiet gossip among a few servants had spread with shocking speed through every corridor, courtyard, and servant quarter. By sunrise, nearly everyone in the palace had heard some version of the same story.
Nora, the concubine from the Alpha Prince’s residence, had visited Queen Lysandra two days ago. Then, just last night, she had attempted to attack Lady Amara.
Whether spoken openly or behind lowered voices, the implication remained the same.
The timing was too suspicious.
Servants whispered while carrying trays. Guards exchanged knowing glances. Even noblewomen and officials with sharp ears began drawing their own conclusions. No one dared say too much openly, but everyone was thinking the same thing.
By the time the rumours reached King Sebastian, his anger erupted instantly.
He had barely touched his morning tea when the report reached him. The servant delivering the news could not even finish properly before he rose to his feet.
His chair scraped sharply against the floor. The air around him changed immediately.
Without wasting another second, he stormed out of his quarters and headed straight for the Queen’s palace.
The servants following behind him struggled to keep pace. His expression alone was enough to terrify anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path.
Every servant or guard who saw him immediately stepped aside and lowered their heads.
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