Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 85

Chapter 85 A Hasty Farewell

Frished

Margaret frowned as she met Julie’s gaze. “Before the magistrate returns with his guards, you both need to leave. Now.”

Exhausted to her very bones, Margaret forced the words out. “You want us to go?”

Julie lowered her eyes. Her long hair fell across her slender face, making her already slight frame appear even more fragile.

“Yes,” she said softly. “Had we met in quieter times. I would have insisted you stay–rested and recovered before journeying on. But as things stand, keeping you here only puts you in danger. That is why you must go, and quickly.”

She stepped forward and took Margaret’s hand. “You’ve done more than enough for us. We cannot let you face the consequences. I know you are weary, but you must depart.”

“And what will you do?” Margaret pressed.

Julie glanced back toward the women gathered nearby. “We’ve spoken among ourselves. We will tell the authorities that we could endure no more–that we rose against the villagers ourselves. If we accept the blame, the others may go free, as you will.”

She paused, her voice growing steadier. “I won’t lie–we are afraid. But with so many lives lost, someone must answer for it. If no one does, none will escape unscathed. We knew what might come when we fought back. The worst is death. And yes, death frightens us—but a life worse than death frightens us more.”

Sorrow lingered in her expression.

“All these years, we’ve seen too many mothers locked in cellars. Too many poor souls who lost their minds. Since we were girls, our fathers and brothers told us our mothers were unstable–that was why they had to be bound. Some even said they’d been sold here by their own kin. How wretched is that?

“We all believed we would be different. We thought that even in poverty, at least our families cared for us. But now the veil has been torn away, and we see the truth–we were fools. The signs were always there. We simply didn’t dare see them, bound as we were by blood and name.”

She shook her head slightly. “Enough of that. You need to leave now. If fate allows us to meet again, we will thank you properly.”

“She’s right,” came another voice. Lisa approached, her tall, lean frame weary but resolved. “You should go. Leave the rest to us.”

Standing beside Julie, she took her hand. “It is time. Everyone must be away from here soon. If the magistrate returns with his men, escape will be impossible.”

Julie released Margaret’s hand. “Lisa speaks true. You must go.”

Along the lane, the crowd had begun to disperse. Women hurried children home to gather what little they could carry. Yet many still sat weeping where they had fallen, overcome by grief and fear.

Margaret looked upon the harrowing scene and said, “I told you I would take all of you away.”

11:38 am

Chapter 85 A Hasty Farewell

Frobed

Julie offered a faint, tired smile. “Miss, your kindness touches us deeply. But how could we truly go with you? With so many dead, someone must answer. If we all fled, the law would hunt every last one of us down.”

“Do not worry about that,” Margaret insisted. “The man beside me is Prince Theodore. He—”

“Miss, I know you mean well.” Lisa interrupted gently but firmly, “but claiming to be a prince carries grave consequences. Please, do not speak so. We cannot delay any longer–you must go.”

She moved as if to guide Margaret away.

Margaret felt a surge of helplessness. Of course they would not believe her. Still, she tried once more. “You said the magistrate will return soon. Then gather your things quickly and come with us to Breston.”

“We cannot, miss,” Julie said, urgency tightening her voice. “We will not. You must leave now–please.”

“Yes,” Lisa agreed. “Do not trouble yourself for our sake. Look at your brother–he is wounded in many places, bleeding still. Take him from here and tend to his injuries.”

At those words, Margaret turned at once to Theodore.

She saw then what she had not fully noticed before: several gashes on his arms and torso seeped blood into his tunic. She had assumed most of the stains were from others–now she realized much of it was his

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