Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 303

Chapter 303 The Gossip Whirlwind

Finished

Her voice, deliberately loud enough for Margaret to catch, sliced through the air. “And I’ve heard the Hickman girl isn’t someone casy to deal with. Sharing a man with her? You’ll have nothing but grief ahead!”

Margaret had already quickened her pace, putting distance between them.

She acted as if she hadn’t heard a word.

Emboldened by the apparent snub, Nadia chimed in, “Exactly. Even if she marries Prince Theodore, it’s nothing to crow about. She’ll just be a concubine at best…”

A smug smile touched Stella’s lips. “Who’s to say she’ll even manage that? At least a proper concubine comes from a respectable background. Her reputation, well, that ship has sailed. Prince Theodore and King Spencer must have found out something to drop her so suddenly.”

But Margaret was long gone, vanished from their sight.

A simmering resentment still churned within Stella.

Nadia patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Ms. Campbell, don’t waste your breath on her. Didn’t Mr. Campbell say it himself? Since she’s only a Royal Consort, he won’t provide any gift. And with all her engagement gifts lost, her wedding day will be a proper spectacle of shame.”

Stella’s brow furrowed. “Don’t even mention those gifts. Father promised they’d secretly become part of my assets when I get married. Now look what happened…”

“Don’t fret, Ms. Campbell. Even without those trinkets, Mr. Timothy Campbell will see you right. Your storeroom is already overflowing with gifts he’s slipped you over the years–things Margaret never got. He only paid her any mind recently because she latched onto Prince Theodore and seemed useful. Now that she’s just a side–piece, his favor will dry up soon enough. Everything in the Prime Minister’s Estate will be yours and Mr. Jasper Campbell.”

The words soothed Stella’s temper. “You’re right. Father’s favorite has always been me. Even though he had his suspicions about the pastry incident, he only scolded me and let it go. When it comes down to it, he cares about me more than her.”

“How clever you are, Ms. Campbell,” Nadia said.

୮

A cold smile played on Stella’s lips. “The more they care, the smoother my plans will go.”

*****

Meanwhile, after leaving the Prime Minister’s Estate, Margaret headed straight for Sweet Breeze Dining.

The place buzzed with its usual lively chaos. Everyone was too busy to notice her arrival, so she found a quiet table by herself.

“Miss! When did you get here?” Julie’s cheerful voice broke Margaret’s reverie as she slid into the seat opposite. “You should have called for Lisa! Sitting alone is no fun.”

12:18 pm PNT

Chapter 303 The Gossip Whirlwind

Gazing

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out the window, Margaret replied softly, “She’s busy. No need to bother her. I just felt a bit adrift and needed a place to sit.”

She then turned her attention to Julie. “Shouldn’t you be next door? What brings you here?”

A flicker of panic crossed Julie’s eyes. “Oh! Right. A friend of mine has been staying here lately, so I pop over now and then. Don’t worry, the apprentice is minding the shop. I’ll head back soon…”

Flustered, she poured herself a glass of water and drank it in one go.

Margaret, barely registering her nervousness, kept her eyes on the scene outside.

The street teemed with people. Amidst the noisy flow, fragments of conversation carrying her name drifted to her ears.

“Thought all that fanfare from Prince Theodore’s proposal meant she’d be his Princess. Turns out it was one big mix–up…”

“Mix–up? A proposal doesn’t guarantee a crown. Being his Royal Consort is still a mighty fine deal.”

“True enough. It’s not like Margaret’s some blushing virgin. She was engaged to the former Crown Prince, remember? Everyone knows how obsessed she was with him back then. Who knows what went on when she was his betrothed? Things might not have been so proper.”

“Might not? I hear her heart still belongs to the former Crown Prince Christopher…”

“That’s rubbish! I saw her refuse him right on the street once. Wouldn’t even get in his carriage, told him to his face she wasn’t interested!”

“Exactly. That Ms. Campbell clearly wants nothing to do with Prince Christopher. Besides, he’s been stripped of his title, a cripple now. Probably down for the count…”

“Lucky her, though, landing Prince Theodore. A dream come true for half the girls in the city.”

As she listened to the scattered remarks, it dawned on Margaret that her affairs had become public knowledge.

Even inside Sweet Breeze Dining, her name surfaced in hushed tones now and then. ľ

Overnight, it seemed all of Breston had made her relationship with Theodore their favorite topic of

conversation.

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