Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40 Pretending to Be Passed Out

The room went silent again.

Prisher!

Before Margaret could answer. Christopher jumped in. “Uncle Theodore, our engagement was arranged by Father-”

“You know Spencer arranged it,” Theodore cut him off. “And yet you still decided to switch brides. Do you think it doesn’t matter because they’re sisters? If that’s the case, they’re both legitimate daughters. You changed who the Crown Princess would be. Why drag the other one down, too?”

His tone was light. But every word carried weight.

“It’s clear you can’t stand her.” he continued. “So I’ll make the decision for you. I’ll speak to Spencer myself.”

Christopher’s fingers dug into his palms. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Margaret. “Margaret–you really won’t marry me?”

Margaret stood straight. “I told you before. I don’t like you. I won’t marry you. Since you love Stella so much, just take her home already.”

Christopher shouted, “Margaret!”

“She saved my life,” Theodore said coldly, cutting Christopher off. “Under my watch, anyone who forces her to marry makes an enemy of me.“”

The room was dead quiet. Theodore slowly rose to his feet.

“Her. Margaret. From now on, she belongs to me. Anyone who touches her will be killed on the spot. His voice was flat, emotionless. Everyone in the room froze.

Jasper and Christopher were both speechless.

Satisfied with their silence. Theodore didn’t waste another word. He turned and walked out.

Halfway to the door, he stopped.

One of his feet landed squarely on Stella’s hand–she was still “unconscious” on the floor.

“I’ve been suffering from terrible headaches lately,” Theodore said. “No doctor has been able to cure me. As my personal physician, you’d better come whenever I call.”

The words were for Margaret.

But under his foot, Stella’s face had already turned bright red from the pai.

For a moment, she wanted to yank her hand back. But how could she–while pretending to be passed out?

She clenched her teeth and endured.

Theodore–whether on purpose of not–never once looked down at her. He just walked out as if nothing had happened.

12:18 pm

Chapter 40 Pretending to Be Passed Out

Finished

Box after box of thank–you gifts was carried to Margaret’s small courtyard. The movers went back and forth more times than anyone could count before finally stopping.

Theodore was gone. His soldiers had all left, too. The wide open spaces almost made it seem like they had never been there at all. A strange silence hung over the Prime Minister’s Estate. No one moved or spoke for a long time.

Margaret swallowed hard. She tried to slip out while everyone was still dazed. But the moment she reached the door. Christopher’s voice stopped her.

“No wonder you were so quick to break the engagement,” he said. “You’ve been cozying up to Uncle Theodore.”

Margaret’s lip twitched.

Here we go again. The brainless Crown Prince Christopher. Back with more nonsense.

“Running into Prince Theodore and saving him.” Jasper said from somewhere nearby–he had slumped into a chair, looking completely drained, “that really was your good fortune.”

He stared at Margaret, his face heavy. “I was wrong about you. Wrong about you and the carriage driver. Wrong about who the Ducal Palace invited. I am ashamed.”

Margaret finally looked at him. “Is that supposed to be an apology? Doesn’t really sound like one.”

Jasper’s face stiffened.

Christopher spoke up again. “Even if Jasper was wrong about you, he was only worried about you. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t have misunderstood. He’s your own brother. Are you really going to hold that against him?”

He bent down and picked up the still “unconscious” Stella, “I don’t know what tricks you used to latch onto Uncle Theodore,” he said through his teeth. “But let me tell you–Uncle Theodore isn’t someone just anyone can impress. He’s always generous. The only reason he gave you all those gifts today is that he thinks his own life is worth that much. Not because you are,

“Know your place. Just because you saved Uncle Theodore doesn’t mean you actually belong to him. He might speak up for you this once. Next time? Don’t count on it.”

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