Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 162

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Rejected by the Crown Prince? I Married His Uncle

Chapter 162 I Would Never Dare

Finished

Stella’s tears streamed down her face. “How can you slander me with no proof, Margaret? I only made these because I know you love them. If I’d really laced them with something harmful, I would never have dared let servants bring them to the dinner table at all.”

Margaret stared at her calmly. “That’s exactly because you knew no one else here cares for them. You were certain only I would eat them–isn’t that the truth?

“Save your tears for later. The physicians will arrive soon enough. Let a group of skilled doctors examine the tartlets, and the truth will come out plain for all to see. You can cry then if you still wish to.”

Stella clenched her hands tightly in agitation. “Margaret, I did bake the marchpane tartlet myself, but other household servants also handled it along the way. If something is truly wrong with it, you could easily be staging this whole scene to frame me. Are you only acting this way now because…”

Margaret cut her off with a raised eyebrow, “First of all, I’ve been out of the manor all day. I had no chance to meet with any servants here, let alone learn you’d baked marchpane tartlet just for me. I never had the time to tamper with anything.

“Second, the servant who carried this over is from your own courtyard. If anyone meddled with the food, it would be one of your people.”

Seeing Stella’s face grow increasingly pale, Jasper spoke up in a pleading tone. “Margaret, our family rarely gets to sit down and share a peaceful meal together. Let’s drop these unpleasant matters for now.”

He shot a cautious glance at Timothy as he spoke, clearly seeing the rising impatience in Timothy’s eyes.

Yet Margaret refused to back down. “You call this an unpleasant matter? She’s the one who keeps trying to harm me, who keeps making me gain weight. I’ve only just lost a few pounds, and she’s already rushing to repeat her old tricks. How can she be so cruel? And you expect me to stay silent and let her get away with it?”

She set down her fork gently on the table. “Father just told me moments ago I ought to lose my extra weight. The very next second, she brings out the very treat that made me fat in the first place. Am I supposed to obey Father’s words, or hers?”

Jasper let out a soft sigh. “We’re all family. Stella is naive and foolish at times, but she would never dare poison you at the dinner table–not with Father sitting right here.”

Margaret retorted, “It’s precisely because Father is here that I have to expose her right now. Everyone has always thought I was the one bullying her growing up. I want all of you to see clearly today, once and for all, who is truly in the wrong.”

Her cold words hung in the air. Timothy suddenly slammed his fork down hard against the table.

The loud crash fell over the hall, silencing everyone instantly.

Timothy said in a stern voice, “Margaret, I know you’ve gained Prince Theodore’s favor now, and he stands up for you whenever trouble arises. But how many times can he keep shielding you? He’s only defended you once, and you already flaunt your pride right in front of me. If he grows even more fond of you in the future, will you dare climb above me?”

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11:14 am P

Chapter 162 I Would Never Dare

Finished

Jasper rose quickly to mediate. “Father, please calm your anger. Margaret is only blunt–spoken by nature. She never means any disrespect.”

Stella burst into tears at just the right moment. “Jasper, why do you always side with Margaret now? She slanders me openly in front of all of you, and I’m the innocent one here.”

Margaret felt a sharp throbbing in her temples. “Father, there’s no need to exaggerate this. The truth will come out as soon as the physicians arrive.”

Timothy stood abruptly and roared, “What need have we for physicians? Who dares spread our family’s private shame outside this manor?”

He then turned toward the doorway. “Stand back at once! No one is permitted to fetch any healers!”

At his command, all the servants outside quickly stepped far away.

Stella continued weeping, shooting Margaret a triumphant glance from behind her tears.

Margaret’s expression turned grim. “What is the meaning of this, Father? Are we simply to let Stella’s attempt to poison me pass without a word?”

Timothy snapped sharply, “How dare you talk back to me? Do you truly hold no regard for my authority?”

Margaret replied respectfully, “I would never dare.”

“It seems you dare plenty.” Timothy fixed her with a stern glare. “You claim Stella poisoned you, yet you’re quick to summon outsiders to gawk at our family’s trouble. Have you no sense of shame at all? You are both my daughters. No matter who is right or wrong, it is my reputation that suffers. The whole realm will whisper I failed to raise my daughters properly, that I let petty quarrels erupt in my own dining hall.”

He stared at Margaret, filled with disappointment. “If Stella never poisoned you, word of this will ruin your good name. Even if you feel no shame, I feel it for you. And if she truly did harm you…“.

Timothy took a deep breath before continuing, “If she is guilty, her reputation will be destroyed entirely. She is meant to become the Crown Princess. Her name has already been tarnished by past troubles. Do you truly wish to ruin her chance at the Crown Princess forever?

“Have you never thought this through? If Stella someday becomes queen, you, as her elder sister, will share in all her glory. Why must you push her to the brink of ruin like this?”

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