The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 41

Lord Alistair Beaumont felt his chest tighten with an explosive, blinding rage.

What kind of wretched beast had he brought into his home?

How was he supposed to reason with a creature like her? Reason be damned!

Alistair paced furiously.

"I am your father, and you will obey me! You cannot marry Prince Jareth!"

He had been slightly tempted before, but now his mind was made up. He had to stand firmly beside the Second Prince and the king. He could not align with Prince Jareth.

Besides, Lucia's blatant defiance proved she was entirely unmanageable. If she ever gained power, she would never use it to benefit House Beaumont.

Most importantly, he could not allow her to latch onto someone so powerful and slip entirely out of his grasp.

"Have Aurelia and the Second Prince set a wedding date?" Lucia asked suddenly.

Alistair answered instinctively. "No..."

"Then perhaps you should consider breaking her betrothal. I have already accepted the royal edict."

With that, Lucia signaled for Celia and Celeste to help her up.

She needed to sleep. Her head throbbed dizzily; the day's events had left her thoroughly exhausted.

"If you dare defy the royal edict yourselves and tell the king you reject this marriage, I might actually respect your courage. Go on, do it if you have the nerve."

She offered a mocking smirk. "You won't, will you? You lack the spine. You only dare to shout at me. You're like a nest of fleas, making my eyes ache just looking at you. I'm leaving."

The rest of House Beaumont watched her walk away, their faces red with fury.

"Lucia!" Alistair's enraged roar faded behind her.

Celia and Celeste supported her as they returned to Sunstone Pavilion.

That meant Aurelia could not become the Second Prince's wife for at least another year. Excellent.

It also gave her and Prince Jareth a year. By then, her strength and magic would be restored, and it would be the perfect time to break the engagement.

Looking at it that way, the old king's death was quite convenient.

"Tomorrow, return to the Prince's Estate. Ask him if you are merely loaned to me, or if you are a gift. If it is the latter, bring me your deeds of bondage."

Lucia closed her eyes and immediately drifted into a deep sleep.

Celia and Celeste exchanged a glance.

They both felt a wave of anxiety.

Was it better to be loaned to Lady Lucia, or gifted?

Right now, Lucia was despised in Beaumont Manor. She had come from the country and was likely penniless. Compared to the Prince's Estate, any sane person would choose to return there.