Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87 The Magistrate’s Return

Frished

“Do not blame them,” Julie replied softly. “They were gravely wounded. Without a carriage, they could not have traveled. I simply took too long preparing it. But it is just as well. The matter now rests with us.”

Lisa nodded in agreement. “They claimed to be brother and sister, yet one spoke of being from Prime Minister’s Estate, and the other mentioned the Ducal Palace. Their tale was full of contradictions—they kept lying even when it made little sense. I hardly know what to make of them.”

“They meant us no harm.” Julie said, her tone steady. “She only wished to protect us and bring us along.”

Before long, a large company of riders appeared down the lane ahead.

At their head rode the magistrate.

He dismounted with an obsequious manner and turned to address the well–armed party behind him.

“My lord! This is the place! You see these bodies strewn about–all the work of two ruffians who appeared out of nowhere! Not only did they slaughter innocent villagers, but they also killed every man I brought here. And what is more, they had the audacity to pretend to be Prince Theodore! You must not allow them to escape justice!”

The column of soldiers stretched from the middle of the lane all the way to its far end.

In the midst of them stood an ornate carriage, presently empty. Before it, a nobleman richly dressed sat astride his horse, looking down at the magistrate.

“Where are these two you speak of?”

The magistrate pointed toward the carriage now growing distant. “That is the village leader’s coach, making its way out. The two criminals must be hiding inside, my lord. I beg you, send your men to intercept them at once!”

His face was a mask of flattery. “Before dawn today, a village woman came to report that a band of outlaws had seized young women from her hamlet. As soon as I heard, I dispatched several dozen of my own guards. I believed them to be common bandits, easily dealt with. Never did I imagine that every last one of my men would fall to those two villains!”

He adopted a humble, sorrowful air, even dabbing at his dry eyes.

“Only two individuals, yet they slew all my guards–such is their fearsome skill! And that is not all. Look upon these corpses lining the ground. These were simple, innocent folk. How is this any different from wiping out the entire village? Such savagery is too dreadful to behold!”

As he spoke, he stole a glance at the man before him.

After his frantic flight, the magistrate had intended to return to the county hall to gather more guards. But on the road, he had encountered this retinue.

They claimed to be from the Ducal Palace. There were some two hundred men–alarms, each tall and sturdy–clearly no ordinary militia, unlike the feeble constables of his own office.

11:39 am

Chapter 37 The Magistrate’s Return

Prushed

Then it struck him; those two impostors had pretended to be Prince Theodore. Were they not walking straight into a trap?

And so he had rushed over, leading these newcomers back as reinforcements.

Now, no matter how formidable the two criminals might be, they would face the genuine article. Their fate was sealed.

With such a disaster occurring in his district–so many commoners dead–he would surely lose his post.

But then, meeting Prince Theodore’s company on the road… perhaps he could lay all the blame upon them. That would settle everything. Perfect.

Outwardly, the magistrate wore an expression of profound grief. Inwardly, his heart leapt with satisfaction.

Two soldiers urged their mounts forward and set off in pursuit of the receding carriage.

At the same moment, several young women hurried forward and knelt in the road before the party.

“Please, sir, save us!”

Julie, who led them, bowed her head to the ground. She could already tell the man on horseback held far greater authority than the magistrate. She meant to reveal the truth.

But the magistrate stepped forward at once. “You wretched girl! You conspired with those criminals and brought death upon these villagers, and still you dare kneel here? Guards, seize them now! They are accomplices to the felons!”

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