Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 114

Chapter 114 Stay Far Away From Them All

Few men could ever bring themselves to face their own failures and mistakes.

Finished

Jasper spoke up right then, breaking the silence. “Stella’s right. You ought to come back with us, Crown Prince Christopher. If Margaret’s skills are truly as remarkable as Mr. Kingston claims, she could clear the poison from your arm with ease.”

Christopher turned his head aside, his tone thick with arrogance. “I’d sooner seek treatment from Mr. Kingston than go to her. You heard her harsh words earlier. She swore she’d never save me, even if I begged. I will not humiliate myself by asking for her help.”

Jasper understood his quiet embarrassment all too well. “She only spoke out of anger. We wronged her deeply, so her frustration is only natural.”

“Are you saying I ought to apologize to her?” Christopher’s face twisted into a scowl of displeasure.

Jasper shook his head awkwardly. “No, nothing like that. A Crown Prince need never bow to a young lady. A simple word to say we misunderstood her is enough. She’s still young, and she will let it go once things are talked through.”

Stella’s expression turned dark and irritable.

Jasper talks far too much. No one asked him to push this.

Why urge Crown Prince Christopher to seek Margaret’s help?

Letting Margaret cure him would only draw them closer over time. That is a risk I will never take.

She masked her resentment with a soft, reasonable tone. “Jasper means well. You need not offer a full apology, Crown Prince Christopher. We were all in the wrong, and a small show of humility is only fair.”

Her words struck Christopher’s pride directly. He huffed coldly, “You two may go if you wish. I had no part in this misunderstanding. This whole mess began with your poor judgment, Jasper. You may speak for yourself. Ignorance frees Stella and me from blame.

“Beyond that, you are her brother, She will not hold a petty grudge against you. I am royalty, and she has no right to harbor anger toward me. Leave things be. Time will smooth this over.”

With that, Christopher turned and walked back into Life Preserve Pavilion.

His stiff, uneasy posture made one thing clear–he would not be returning to the Prime Minister’s Estate

with them.

Jasper let out a weary sigh. “Well. Let’s head home, Stella.”

Stella nodded softly, putting on her gentle look. “We have no other choice.”

Once they settled in the carriage, she spoke in a slow, thoughtful tone. “Crown Prince Christopher has a point. This is nothing more than a small misunderstanding. Once we explain ourselves to Margaret, she will surely forgive us. She has never been one to hold grudges.”

Chapter 114 Stay Far Away From Them All

She brushed the whole injustice aside as a trivial mistake with just a few words.

Jasper shot her a knowing glance and sighed quietly.

Stella continued in a warm, soothing voice, “I only hate to see you drowning in guilt, Jasper.”

Jasper said, “I appreciate your kindness, but I truly was in the wrong this time.”

Finished

Stella’s eyes twitched faintly. “Think of it this way. You’ve always cared for both of us with all your heart. You are our brother, and every choice you made was meant to protect us. Any missteps are easy to forgive. If Margaret chooses to blame you endlessly, she is the one being unreasonable.

“Misunderstandings happen every day. Margaret shares part of the blame, too. We are her closest family, yet she never mentioned her acupuncture skills to any of us. How could we not misjudge her? She could have prevented all of this if she’d spoken the truth sooner.”

Jasper fell quiet for a long moment, slowly swayed by her words. “Perhaps you’re right.”

Back at Bloomveil Court, long hours had passed since Christopher and the others left the estate. Margaret struggled through the pain to clean and bandage her wounds alone. She changed into fresh clothes once the ache faded, and Winter woke not long after.

Winter had no idea what had happened. She stepped outside to fetch their meals and overheard cruel whispers and mocking remarks from the other maids. She learned every detail of what Christopher had done to Margaret, then collapsed beside Margaret’s bed, sobbing uncontrollably.

‘Ms. Campbell, you’ve suffered so much unfair pain,” Winter said. “You saved Crown Prince Christopher that day with pure kindness, and he rewarded you with a brutal lashing. No one deserves such cruelty.”

Margaret grew annoyed by the nonstop crying. “You’ve cried for ages now. Please stop.”

‘My heart breaks for you,” Winter said. “Everyone praises Ms. Stella Campbell for being gentle and good, while you endure endless hardship and harm in silence. I was foolish once to think Crown Prince Christopher was a good match for you. Thank goodness you broke off that engagement.”

Tears streamed down her face as she spoke. “We cannot fight those above our station. From now on, we will keep to ourselves and stay far away from them all.”

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