The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1834

The words from Arabella left the room in a state of mild shock. Could it be that Erik and Martin had been in cahoots behind the scenes?

"That sedative incense—it's a common item on the black market, with a strong aroma. Erik is somewhat a leader of an organization; he should've known what that incense could do. But he got nabbed by Martin's bodyguard? A leader taken down by a run-of-the-mill guard? Doesn't that strike you as odd?"

"You're suggesting that Erik got captured on purpose? That from the moment he stepped into Martin's place and sniffed that sedative incense, he knew his daughter wasn't there. He realized it was a trap set by Martin, but he still played along. Could this mean he also wanted to save his daughter? That he was willing to trade his life for hers?" Kenneth speculated.

"It's a possibility we can't ignore," Arabella continued, "Another thing is, the poison that ultimately killed Erik was a slow-acting one. We guessed that Erik arrived at Martin's place around noon or early afternoon. But the timing of his ingestion of the poison was in the morning."

That meant he had ingested it before heading over to Martin's.

Everyone was taken aback at the revelation.

"So, it could really be as Dad said. He knew his daughter wasn't at Martin's and took the poison in advance to avoid suffering at our hands. He went to Martin to make a show of loyalty. Because it was a slow-acting poison, there was enough time for Martin to save his daughter and clear his own name. If Martin's off the hook, our family wouldn't pursue him, and he could then take care of his daughter, ensure her safety."

"But Erik doesn't strike me as someone who would give up so easily," Hans chimed in, "His wife's dead, and he's letting go of that vengeance? He only has his daughter left. Doesn't he want to be there for her? To see her get married, have kids?"

"Didn't you remember the fire at the clinic? If Erik knew who the real mastermind was, could it be that the mastermind, fearing Erik would betray him if captured by us, forced Erik to take the slow-acting poison?"

In other words, Erik didn't take it willingly; he was blackmailed by the mastermind?

Louisa, perplexed by her daughter's analysis, asked, "But isn't Erik's biggest vulnerability his own flesh and blood? With his daughter under Martin's protection, what's there to fear?"

"Remember what Martha said at the unfinished building? That the mastermind has considerable power. Could it be that not even Martin can stand against him? So, Erik sacrificed himself for his daughter's and Martin's future happiness?"