Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 63

Rejected by the Crown Prince? I Married His Uncle

Chapter 63 Feigning Sleep

“You’re awake–thank goodness! You gave me quite a fright.”

Margaret held him close, one hand gently stroking his hair, the other clutching a softly luminous gemstone.

Finished

She had kept it hidden in her secret pouch–a token of thanks from Theodore she’d tucked away, never imagining it would be of use on a night like this.

As soon as his senses returned, Theodore pulled back from her embrace, breathing unevenly as his gaze fixed on the glowing stone in her hand. “You carry this with you?”

“Well… winter cloaks have deep pockets. One can hide a fair bit in them,” Margaret replied, a touch awkwardly, before quickly slipping off the bed. Her expression grew serious. “Did you hear what I said earlier?”

Theodore’s mind was still in disarray, lingering on the image that had met him the moment he opened his eyes.

He had fallen into some sort of waking dream–and in it, he had mistaken this woman for his salvation.

The memory of her fingers brushing through his hair made his face tighten with discomfort.

For a moment, he hardly considered how Margaret had produced the luminous gem. Only when she waved a hand before his eyes did he murmur, “What was it?”

“There was someone outside the window earlier!”

Margaret’s tone was low and urgent. “The rain has eased somewhat now, and they seem to have gone. But you’re skilled in combat–how could you not have noticed?”

Hearing that someone had been at the window, Theodore’s attention sharpened at once.

He listened intently to the sounds beyond the walls, then shook his head. “No one there now.”

“That can’t be. I saw them twice. I couldn’t have been mistaken.” \

As she spoke, Margaret first moved to secure the door, then hurried to the window and peered out into the damp darkness.

No one was there.

“It seems they’ve fled. The fact they didn’t strike when they had the chance… likely means they aren’t the same assassins from earlier today.”

If they had been hired killers, they wouldn’t have passed up such an opportunity.

But if not assassins… who else could it be?

Margaret recalled what Carol had told her.

11:32 am

Chapter 63 Feigning Sleep

Finished

She quickly returned to Theodore’s side. “What if it’s the brigands Carol spoke of? Perhaps someone spotted us returning with her. Those who snatch women may have set their sights on me, so they-”

“Quiet.”

Theodore placed a finger lightly against her lips, his voice barely a whisper. “Someone approaches.” His senses were indeed sharp–even through the patter of rain, he could detect footsteps drawing near. Margaret tensed immediately, waiting in stillness.

Another flash of lightning lit the room, and once again, a shadow fell across the window.

This time, Margaret made no sound.

Silver needles lay ready in her hand.

Theodore watched the door with equal wariness, as though sensing presence there as well.

Soon, her suspicion was confirmed. A small hole was punctured through the oiled parchment covering the window, and a thin plume of smoke began to seep into the chamber.

Margaret frowned. Quickly, she retrieved two vials of antidote for sleeping draughts from her hidden pouch, placing one into Theodore’s mouth and the other into her own.

After the smoke dispersed, a long silence followed outside.

Only when the rain had nearly ceased did a voice murmur beyond the door, “They should be deep asleep by now. Time to move, yes?”

It was the voice of a middle–aged man.

A younger voice replied, “Even if they weren’t asleep, that smoke would have felled them. Don’t fret. Just go in and take the girl.”

The older man sounded cautious. “Those two were covered in wounds. There’s something… unusual about them. I worry they aren’t simple travelers.”

“What’s to fear? Did you not hear what was happening inside? The man was trembling at the thunder. If you hadn’t insisted we wait for them to lose consciousness, I’d have made my move sooner.”

The younger man’s tone was thick with disdain. “In any case, we only want the woman. Men fetch no price.”

“Not necessarily. That man is fairer of face than the woman. Might sell well, too. As for the girl… pretty enough, but sturdy in build.”

“Sturdy build means she can bear strong babies. Send her to the far villages–she’ll fetch a decent sum.”

As they spoke, the two carefully pushed the door open.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify