The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 9

Were they actively trying to destroy her reputation right in front of a respected guest?

Lucia's gaze turned frigid. As Lady Beaumont lunged at her, managing to squeeze out two crocodile tears, Lucia grabbed the empty wooden bowl from the table and hurled it straight at her stepmother's face.

"Ah!" Lady Beaumont screamed, all color draining from her cheeks. She twisted sharply to dodge the projectile, and a loud crack echoed through the room.

"Oh, my back! My back!" she shrieked, desperately calling for her maid to catch her.

Alistair exploded with fury, pointing a trembling finger at Lucia. "Bitch! How dare you attack your mother!"

"My mother is dead," Lucia stated, her expression entirely blank. "This woman was a greedy beggar who crawled into your bed. Does she really deserve the title of mother?"

Alistair's face paled.

Lady Beaumont froze, staring at Lucia in absolute shock. A second later, she buried her face in her hands and wailed.

"My lord, I cannot bear this! How can she slander me with such vicious lies?"

Alistair wrapped an arm around his wife, glaring daggers at his daughter. "You really are a reckless, uneducated peasant! For the next few days, you will—"

"Ahem." Two pointed coughs interrupted his tirade.

Alistair snapped back to reality. Physician Finch was still standing there. He couldn't let an outsider witness this domestic disgrace.

He forcibly composed his features and offered an apologetic smile. "I am so sorry you had to see this, Physician Finch. This ungrateful daughter of mine was raised in the countryside and only returned today. Please forgive her deplorable behavior."

The old physician's beard twitched in annoyance. "I am here on Prince Jareth's orders to treat Lady Lucia, not to watch your family bicker like fools."

"Yes, of course. Please proceed."

"My lord, I think I wrenched my back. Could you ask Physician Finch to examine me first? It hurts so much," Lady Beaumont whimpered, clutching her side as she struggled to stand upright.

"Hold on," Alistair muttered, his face grim.

The physician was currently acting as Prince Jareth's proxy; he couldn't afford to offend him.

"How do you feel right now?"

"Dizzy, exhausted, and in severe pain," Lucia replied calmly.

Physician Finch urgently signaled his assistant to open his medical kit, his movements suddenly frantic.

She was hovering on death's door, yet her family had spent the last ten minutes screaming at her and calling her names! The sheer audacity of Lord Alistair's cruelty left him sickened.

This poor girl had truly been cursed with a monstrous father.

"Go fetch a basin of hot water!" Physician Finch snapped at the family, his patience evaporating. "Are you blind to the amount of blood she has lost?"

Alistair stepped closer and gasped as he finally noticed the deep crimson stains hidden in her thick hair. He hadn't realized the severity of the situation.

"How did this happen?" he demanded, whirling to face Lady Beaumont. "Didn't you send guards to escort her? Where are they?"