Betrayed by Blood: My Second Life as a Queen novel Chapter 375

But taking a second to think about it, the King's methods were uniquely brutal.

A princess like Daphne had one primary purpose in life: to secure powerful alliances through marriage and stabilize the monarchy.

Because of that, any physical punishment couldn't leave a single mark. Scars would ruin her flawless, marketable exterior.

So, King Alaric's preferred method of discipline was holding her head underwater, dragging her to the absolute brink of drowning before letting her drag in a frantic breath of air.

Again and again.

Until she was completely broken, collapsing onto the ground and begging for mercy.

Because of this trauma, Daphne was terrified of water. She had even ordered the luxurious hot spring in her quarters drained and paved over.

Hearing his cruel command now, the color drained from her face. She stared at him, horrified. "Father... you would rather believe complete strangers than your own daughter?"

The King sighed heavily, donning the mask of a deeply disappointed, loving father. "Daphne, it brings me no joy to do this, but you refuse to learn from your mistakes. Miss Shaw was maliciously poisoned by Scarlett Vane, and now she's missing entirely. Every single shred of evidence points directly to you. How can I possibly believe you?"

The crushing weight of the false accusations utterly shattered Daphne. She wanted to scream her innocence, but knowing it was entirely futile left her drowning in sheer despair.

Meanwhile, the terrified groundskeeper was already shuffling toward the utility shed, preparing to unlock the door.

This time, Willow wasn't anxious in the slightest. With Sylvester and Finnegan standing right there, there was zero chance they would let the man open that door.

Just as expected, Finnegan stepped in immediately. "Your Majesty, I hardly think this is an appropriate course of action."

King Alaric locked eyes with him. "What exactly do you mean by that, Mr. Cross?"

Finnegan offered a mocking half-smile. "My boss is completely unaccounted for, and his fiancée has ostensibly been abducted and hidden away by your daughter. Are you truly trying to gloss over a horrific double-kidnapping with a trivial splash in a bucket? You're playing an awfully convenient game, Your Majesty."

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