164 A Suitable Punishmen

CHAPTER 164

After laying down his complaints and so-called advise, he finally came to an end. "That is all I wish to say, Sire."

"So what do you suggest, Lord Ferdinand, as a suitable punishment for his offence?" King Bayard asked him.

His gaze fixated on the man, watching his every move and body language. He asked him to bring out the vile and true nature of him.

He knew him very well, even before he adopted Erwina and made her his daughter.

He was always looking for more…more power, position, backing and influence.

And so when he found out Erwina was pregnant for the King, he quickly took her in saying it was to protect the throne. The King's future wife should have a proper family.

Unfortunately, Bayard was prepared for his schemes and only made Erwina his concubine, thereby thwarting their plans and schemes.

With glee in his eyes, even though he wore a solemn expression, he answered the King. "Simple, strip him of his status as Crown prince."

"WHAT!"

It was Gerald who spoke up first. "Lord Ferdinand! Do you have an idea of the gravity of your words?"

Lord Ferdinand shifted his gaze to the side and answered the stunned advisor. "Yes, I do."

"First, you indirectly accused His Majesty of spoiling the Crown Prince and now you want to take away his status and position from him. I think you've gone too far, Lord Ferdinand!"

Gerald took a step forward as he challenged the Lord. His eyes sharp and filled with anger, like an injured beast.

Just because Prince Owen's mother, Queen Adella was no more, they want to bully the Prince and steal his birthright.

It was clear as day what the man wanted or rather, what Lady Erwina wanted.

She wanted Owen removed and find a way to make Cyrena Crown Princess. It was all so evident now. She was showing her true intentions.

"Know your place Gerald; it is you who have gone too far. You are nothing but a simple advisor!" Lord Ferdinand half-yelled at him. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he stared down the advisor.

Gerald was about replying the arrogant, selfish old man when King Bayard interrupted their squabble. "You are in my presence!" He bellowed.

His voice pierced through the already noisy throne room, making sure he echoed alone and silencing everyone.

Both parties turned their gaze away from each other and back at the King. Gerald exhaled sharply, as he tried his best to control and let his anger go. At least the Prince still had his father.

Even though Bayard wasn't the best of fathers, deep down he cared about his son and tried to protect him. But these vultures were trying their best to gnaw at him.

"Apologies, Your Majesty," Gerald said with a bow.

"My sincerest apology, sire," Lord Ferdinand said with a slight bow of his head.

'Liar! All lies.' Gerald chanted in his head. He knew he was sugarcoating things and so did Bayard.

"Lord Ferdinand, I have heard you but that would not be happening."

"I beg to differ, Sire."

"It is not as though he committed treason that he deserves his titled stripped from him," Gerald chipped in.

"Are the people not what make a kingdom?" Lord Ferdinand asked, his gaze moved to his side where Gerald stood.

"Yes, they are."

"What is a King without a kingdom, his people? Nothing! And if that same people's lives were threatened do you still think it is not almost the same as treason? It could have cost the people to revolt if the truth were to be leaked out, endangering the throne. Do you still think that is not treason?"

"But it did not get to such an extent. The Prince was deceived."

Turning his gaze away from Gerald, Lord Ferdinand said to the King, "Sire, this is of dire importance. I think it is a suitable punishment."

"No, Your Majesty. The punishment is not suitable, it is harsh. The Prince worked hard to get this case solved."

"And failed miserably. This is not a child's play, Gerald. There is no room for mistakes," he retorted.

"Sire!"

Bayard raised his right hand and Lord Ferdinand fell silent. "I would find an appropriate punishment for the Prince."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"But, Sire…"

"If that is all, I would hear no further comment about this case. This meeting is dismissed."

"As you wish Your Majesty," Lord Ferdinand said through gritted teeth as he bowed. He turned to his side and cast one long glance at Gerald before heading for the door.

"Gerald, send for Callum. I would be waiting for him in my study."

"Right away, Your Majesty."

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~ELVEN FOREST~

Deep inside the tunnel, a pair of beautiful eyes opened to the darkness around. Her eyelids blinked thrice, adjusting her vision to the lack of light, getting her used to the environment.

By her side, the little White Tiger-Pheonix beast laid peacefully close to Astrid on the bare cold ground. To the corner at her side, she could see the silhouette of a person sitting down on the ground, with knees up towards the chest as his head laid peacefully on it.

She could already guess who it was. His blond hair could be seen in the dark. She could never make such a mistake.

Slowly she sat up and adjusted herself on the ground. Her gaze wandered off to the little wonder sleeping like a suckling babe beside her.

'It truly is a peaceful, cute, wonder. Everyone is tired from the fight. Even I am tired after that inju…'

She paused; her mouth agape as the realization came dawning on her. Her wounds had been treated. Her gaze moved downwards to her injury, it was properly bandaged.

Her eyes opened like that of an owl at what she saw. She was bandaged. Her wound was bandaged!

She felt like screaming her heart out as her fingers felt around her wound. What just happened to her? Who had dressed her wound?

Her gaze went straight to the person at the corner and her eyes widened the more.

"Aahhh!" she screamed and buried her face in her hands.

Jareth's eyes shot open at the sound of her voice and rushed to her where she sat without a second thought.

"Astrid!"

Luckily for them both, he avoided stepping on the little White Tiger on the ground and didn't disturb its sleep. Unfortunately, her screams did worse and woke it up from its deep slumber.

The little beast sprang up at the sounds of her screams in its mind. It barred its teeth and spread its feathers as it took a defensive stance.

Both the little beast and Jareth had thought something terrible happened or that she was attacked at worse. Little did they know that it was neither former nor the latter.

Jareth's head turned to the side when it heard the growl from the little beast.

'Whatever happened between these two surely brought out the beast and overprotective side out in it.' He mentally noted.

Little White-Fire refused to back down as it felt Jareth was harming its master. 'Him again?! What is he doing to her this time?'

It spat a small ball of fire on the ground to light up the place so he could see clearly what Jareth was doing.

Jareth ignored the little beast and spoke to Astrid.

"Astrid, what is wrong? What happened? Are you hurt anywhere?" he asked her, raining the questions at her.

Up until now, she hadn't removed her hands from her face. It was when he spoke that her head registered that he was by her side.

"Astrid! Look at me, what is wrong?" He questioned, all the while shaking her small frame in his hands.

How could she possibly do that now? She was so embarrassed to even look at his face again, let alone...

'Urgh! Why me?!'

What had happened?

She had looked down at her injury and noticed she had been treated and even bandaged. Now, that should not be a cause for alarm but the problem now was that her bare stomach was bandaged. She was bandaged inside her clothes and not over it.

And there was only one person around who could have done that. And there is also one meaning attached to that. Jareth saw her body.

'Oh, my innocence!'

He prodded her for an answer or for her to look at him at the very least and she finally gave in. Sluggishly, she removed her palms from her face, revealing her flushed, embarrassed face.

Jareth had still not understood what made her squeal, so he was quite shocked when he saw her embarrassed.

"What happened, Astrid?"

She tilted her head to the side as she tied her best to avoid his questioning gaze. She didn't know how she was going to tell him what was wrong.

"Are you hurt somewhere?" He asked her again.

She paused, not saying anything or moving. It was as though she stopped breathing as well.