Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 7

Rejected by the Crown Prince? I Married His Uncle

Chapter 7 A Distinguished Guest

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Looking at the exquisitely sensible Stella before him, Jasper felt a surge of emotion. “Don’t worry about her. She’s always been selfish: she’ll never let herself suffer.”

Stella sighed softly, “She made such a scene yesterday. I wonder if she’s hurt. And now she’s gone out alone today–it’s truly worrying…”

“You’re far too considerate of others. She doesn’t care if her tantrums embarrass you, yet you worry about her at every turn. You didn’t rest well yesterday. Stop fretting over her and get some proper rest today,”

Just as he finished speaking, a young servant hurried in from outside. “Mr. Campbell! There’s an important guest!”

Jasper blinked. “Who?”

Who would be visiting them so early in the morning?

The servant lowered his head. “They said they were from the Ducal Palace. They only stayed a moment and left a message…

The words “Ducal Palace” made both Jasper and Stella’s expressions shift.

Stella couldn’t help asking, “You mean that Ducal Palace?”

The servant nodded timidly. “Yes, there’s only one in the capital…”

He hesitated, then continued. “They said they wished to invite Ms. Margaret Campbell to gather at the Fragrant Celestial Pavilion. They left the message and departed, saying they would be waiting in a private room on the second floor…”

Before he could finish, Jasper’s eyes flew wide with shock. “What did you say? Invited Margaret?”

Impossible!

Stella’s eyelid twitched; she was clearly just as stunned.

Nadia, the maidservant who had been silently trailing behind Stella, whispered, “Did you mishear? Surely they meant to invite Ms. Stella Campbell?”

Stella lowered her gaze. “Nadia, don’t speak out of turn.”

Nadia fell silent.

But Jasper said, “Your maidservant is right. This must be a misunderstanding. Margaret is reclusive and rarely leaves the house. When she does, it’s always about the Crown Prince. She has no time to meet others and certainly couldn’t know anyone from the Ducal Palace. There’s no way they’d invite her.

“You, on the other hand, Stella–you’re renowned for your beauty and grace. Even if you don’t know anyone from the Ducal Palace, they’ve surely heard of you.”

Stella lowered her head, feigning shyness. “Don’t tease. Margaret may be a bit… fuller, but she has her

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Chapter 7 A Distinguished Guest

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merits too…”

After a pause, she added. “However, I’ve heard that Prince Theodore was wounded in battle years ago and has been recuperating at his manor ever since. There are rumors he’s been poisoned and rarely appears in public. I wonder if it’s true…”

Jasper nodded. “Most likely. He’s probably heard that you’ve studied under a legendary healer and sent someone to invite you. His servant simply misspoke and said they wanted Margaret…

Though Stella’s expression remained demure, inwardly she was brimming with satisfaction. She said modestly, “The Prince himself would never personally invite someone like me. I’ve heard from His Highness the Crown Prince that his Eleventh Imperial Uncle has a peculiar temperament–even the Crown Prince has to schedule an audience with him. For ordinary people like us…”

“Stella, you must believe in yourself. You are no ordinary person.”

Jasper’s voice was gentle, certain. “You never were. The Crown Prince sees it. And apparently, so does Prince Theodore.”

Stella pretended to hesitate. “But… what if it’s not Prince Theodore himself?”

“Even if it’s merely someone from his manor, they are not to be underestimated.”

Jasper spoke calmly, then added, “If you’re nervous, I’ll accompany you.”

“Very well, then.”

As they departed, the servant who had delivered the message didn’t dare utter another word.

After all, after hearing their conversation, he himself began to doubt whether he’d heard correctly…

This was Prince Theodore!

The current emperor’s most beloved younger brother, the Crown Prince’s Eleventh Imperial Uncle, Northpoint’s legendary War God Prince, holder of immense power, wealth beyond measure–how could such a figure possibly invite that plump Margaret?

Inviting Stella would make far more sense…

Meanwhile, Margaret wandered aimlessly through the streets, her mood heavy.

The people in that house were either blind or stupid. Stay there long enough, and she’d either be schemed to death or bored to death. She needed a plan. An escape route.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t leave just yet. Having taken over the original Margaret’s body, she wouldn’t be able to rest easy without avenging her.

Lost in thought, she suddenly heard cries for help.

“Help! Someone help! Please, save my son! Help!”

The voice drew closer, and soon Margaret spotted the source–a woman clutching a child, her face streaked with tears. She stumbled out of a nearby building and collapsed onto the ground, drawing a

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Chapter 7 A Distinguished Guest

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crowd.

“Heavens! Why is the boy’s arm so black?”

“I heard he was bitten by a giant centipede. Why else would she tear open his sleeve in this cold? If that wound isn’t treated immediately, he might not make it.”

“What kind of centipede could do this? Look–even his palm has turned black!”

“Move aside! Make way! The doctor is here!”

Through the commotion, a physician carrying a medicine case pushed through the crowd and knelt beside the child.

“When was he bitten? What kind of centipede was it?”

The mother sobbed, barely coherent. “I’ve never seen anything like it–its eyes glowed red, like some kind of demon, and it was as thick as my son’s arm! He screamed, then passed out, and his arm–it just kept getting blacker! I didn’t catch it, I-” She slammed her forehead to the ground. “Please, Doctor, save him!”

The woman babbled incoherently, then began kowtowing to the physician.

Sweat beaded on the physician’s forehead. He pulled out a set of needles from his case, tore open the boy’s clothing, and inserted several needles into his body. “This poison is potent. It will spread throughout his body soon. His pulse is already extremely weak. If we don’t intervene quickly, he won’t last long.”

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