“Dorian, you shouldn’t have gotten involved in this. That day, I made a deal with Grandfather–not to tell you or anyone else. But you just had to butt in.” Luciana was straight–up honest.
Back then, Luciana did say that. At the time, she still loved her little brother.
Since it happened, she had to let Dorian know.
Then, Luciana pivoted sharply, adding, “Grandfather will investigate this–but he’s gotta keep his hands clean. You shouldn’t have dragged him in. Trust me, he won’t show.”
Dorian was crushed. If Lord Norman didn’t show up, who else could persuade Luciana?
And Edmund–so clueless, clinging to Juliette like this.
“Stop making a scene here. Just leave.” Luciana set down her bowl and gestured for them to go.
Juliette stood up furiously. The situation was crystal clear–Luciana didn’t want Edmund, and Edmund didn’t want to stay either.
“Lord Faulkner, you insist on leaving–did my sister mistreat you?” Juliette asked, barely holding back her anger.
If he didn’t want to stay here, there had to be a reason, right?
If Luciana really had mistreated him, Juliette could at least try to keep him around. That way, when she went to Lord Norman later, she’d have something to say.
Norman got a soft spot for Luciana, thinking she played the game right. Juliette was choking on that bitter pill.
Edmund looked at her awkwardly. Luciana mistreating him was something that would happen, just not yet.
In this lifetime, from the moment he appeared until now, Luciana’s treatment of him had been flawless.
Seeing him stay silent, Juliette pressed again, “Lord Faulkner, looks like there’s something stuck in your throat? Something you can’t say out loud? Even though your status is… special, and my grandfather doesn’t want to get too involved, if you can give us a reason, he’ll still stand
up for you.”
Luciana had already promised to help, earning Lord Norman’s goodwill.
Juliette hadn’t even dared to get close to this mess, afraid of causing trouble. If Luciana wanted that goodwill from Lord Norman, she should
take on the responsibility.
She couldn’t just reap the benefits and then dump the risks on someone else.
If Edmund could give a reason, Juliette could take him in, for now.
Dorian also urged, “Yeah, did she work you like a slave? Or humiliate you? Say it. We’re here—we’ll help you.”
Even a dumbass could smell what kind of game this loaded question was playing.
Luciana smiled. “Go on, Lord Faulkner. Tell us–how did I mistreat you?”
Edmund had nothing to say. He could only stay silent.
Dorian was puzzled. In his previous life, after Edmund was rehabilitated, he had stepped forward to denounce Luciana, saying a whole bunch
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‘Why couldn’t he say anything now? Didn’t he claim that Luciana had always had ulterior motives toward him and that her kindness wasn’t as genuine as it seemed to outsiders?
‘Now, with the opportunity right in front of him, why wasn’t he speaking up?
‘Was it inconvenient?‘ Dorian glanced at Luciana, then at Edmund, before tactfully reminding him, “There are no outsiders here. Whatever you say won’t get out. You don’t need to hold back.
“Is there a problem with where you’re staying? Or with the person you’re living with?” Dorian prompted again.
Suddenly, Luciana slammed her cup onto the table, startling everyone in the room.
“Dorian, what’s your point?” she demanded sharply. “He was staying in Lilyshade Hall–the same place you once lived. Is there a problem
with that?
“This estate is mine. Are you implying that the person he’s living with–me–is the issue?” She flicked her sleeve, sending the cup flying toward Dorian, where it shattered at his feet.
Pointing at Edmund, she continued, “I have a clear conscience when it comes to him. If he doesn’t want to stay here, he can leave and find his own way. Whoever wants to take him in is free to do so. But dragging him back and dumping him on me–what’s that about?
“You don’t want him in your house, so you push him onto me? I was willing to save him before, treating him well, but what did I get in
return?”
Edmund was nothing but trouble, a burden they kept passing around.
His lowly status had already crushed all his dignity–but this was the path he had chosen.
After tearing into Edmund, Luciana turned her anger toward Dorian. “Yesterday, I told you that from now on, you don’t need to send your
assignments to me.
“I won’t be overseeing your words or actions anymore. Today, you bring him here, and every word out of your mouth is an accusation against
- me.
“Do I owe him? Do I owe you? Have you ever considered me for even a second? You’re all the same–ungrateful, heartless snakes.”
Seizing the moment, Luciana finally said what she had long wanted to say.
She had been itching to call them out to their faces–a bunch of ungrateful backstabbers.
Her words struck a nerve with Dorian and Edmund, stirring up an inexplicable guilt. In their previous life, Luciana had scolded them before, but by then, they had already gotten everything they wanted and felt nothing but hatred toward her.
They had long forgotten the past. Now, back at this point in time, the memories they had buried were slowly resurfacing.
Luciana had actually… treated them quite well. No! That couldn’t be right! It just couldn’t!
The struggle and conflict in the two’s eyes left Juliette utterly baffled.
“Luciana, that was a bit harsh. Yeah, Dorian was indeed a bit off the mark today, but cut him some slack. At least he’s got you on his mind, right?” Juliette jumped in to smooth things over for Dorian.
Luciana scoffed, “Got me on his mind?‘ Try holding a grudge. Anyway, I’m done cleaning up messes. Get out, y’all.”
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Edmund bolted out like a prisoner on parole–this place had humiliated him beyond endurance, and he couldn’t stay a second longer.
Juliette turned to leave, too. No point sticking around since her goal failed.
Dorian froze mid–step–that damn gut–twisting rot he felt for Luciana was eating him alive.
Yet her words just now gave him this weird, abandoned feeling…
How could Luciana say something so cutting so easily?
Sure, he pissed her off all the time, but she’d never gone this far. This was just brutal.
“You…” Dorian trailed off, at a loss.
“Get out,” Luciana snapped, no mercy in her tone.
Furious and humiliated, Dorian stomped his foot in frustration and stormed out of the princess‘ estate.
Outside, he realized Juliette had already left–her carriage was gone.
No goodbye, no taking Edmund with her… just poof, vanished.
Edmund, curled up in a corner, felt his spirit crumble. He wouldn’t be this pathetic if he hadn’t rushed things.
Dorian stared at the bustling street and the tightly shut gates behind him, suddenly feeling empty. ‘Am I upset over Luciana’s harsh words? Or because Juliette didn’t wait for me?‘
Both of them were lost in brief confusion and turmoil.
Before Dorian could figure it out, a guard rushed over, panting. “Your Highness, the King summons–and he’s furious.”
“Dad summons? He knows I sneaked out?!” Dorian paled.
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