Chapter 120

Chapter 120

It seems this was not solely the doing of His Highness the Crown Prince, was it?

Hayden tried his best to appear nonchalant, but couldnt prevent his emotions from creeping into his voice.

Deep betrayal was evident in Haydens eyes as he stared at the pawns of the Empress.

And why wouldnt there be? Consider the amount of devotion he had poured into the royal family over the years.

He had even committed unspeakable acts to curry favor with the Empress.

Reflecting on his actions and the benefits he had reaped, there was no way the royal family could treat the Modrov family in such a manner.

Entwined in a web of mutual interests, Hayden was privy to the royal familys darkest secrets.

Or perhaps, this is their chance to dispose of me?

Hayden sneered silently, grinding his teeth.

One thing was clear: the Empress was monitoring him, fearing that certain secrets might come to light.

The knights sent by the Empress kept a close watch on Hayden, showing no interest in his convenience.

Return to your place.

It seemed the knights warning confirmed the suspicion that the Empress had abandoned Hayden, without even a glance his way.

But Hayden was not the type to back down at such a meager threat.

He scrutinized the opponents expression and asked, Do you monitor me so diligently out of fear that I might let something slip?

Finally, the knights gaze returned to Hayden.

His face remained expressionless, but his eyes betrayed an undeniable discomfort.

It seemed the knight was quite uneasy about being chosen as Haydens conversational counterpart.

The knight warned again, in a business-like tone.

You wont like what happens if you continue to spout nonsense.

So, youve decided to abandon me, then?

Better to roll in a dung heap than in the netherworld, they say.

A worm in the dung heap can be easily dealt with at any time. Dont think Ill fall for such trivial tricks.

The knight, rendered speechless by Haydens retort, clamped his mouth shut.

Hayden was right.

If one meekly complied with the royal familys treatment, they might preserve their life for the moment, but such a promised future could not be long-lasting.

The Empress was not one to leave potential troubles behind, and death was above all an effective means to conceal the truth.

Having been dragged here, Hayden was as good as having received a death sentence.

Grant me an audience with Her Majesty the Empress, I have urgent matters to convey.

A metallic edge tinged Haydens voice as he requested this final negotiation.

Hayden was not unaware that he stood on the brink of a precipice.

A single misstep could lead to a fall from which not even his body would be recoverable.

After taking a deep breath, Hayden spoke.

Tess.

Despite feeling irked by her authoritative tone, Hayden took a short breath to calm his emotions.

Being able to bring up his matter directly was, in any case, a welcome development for him.

Hayden tried to meet her eyes through the veil as he spoke.

Release me.

If youre thinking of asking for forgiveness, youve picked the wrong person. This affair was entirely my sons doing.

Rosalia calmly deflected the responsibility.

Of course, before proceeding with the plan to purge Hayden, Richard had sought her permission, but Rosalia spoke as if she had no will of her own in the matter.

Hayden had suspected as much but could not outright accuse her of lying.

He realized it was time to unveil something that would truly capture her interest.

Hayden was confident that the bait he offered would pique her interest.

Its an enticing proposal, especially since it involves the woman who caused you to wear a veil.

Before Hayden could finish speaking, the knights waiting behind him forcefully pushed him onto the desk.

The intense pain from his head hitting the surface was so severe that his vision spun.

Gasping in shock, Hayden blinked several times with effort.

Rosalia looked down at the trembling Hayden with a dry gaze and quietly raised her right hand, signaling that it was enough.

The knights, catching her cue, stepped back.

Only then could Hayden straighten up and face her again.

So, you said theres something I need to know about Teresa.

Hayden wasnt the only one unsettled by the situation.

Rosala was surprised to find her voice coming out more composed than she had expected.

She couldnt be sure what Hayden was about to reveal about Teresa, but merely the mention of the name made her heart race.

Whether it was due to longing, a sense of victory, or guilt, she couldnt tell.

Lets hear it then, this secret that you knew and I did not.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, the veil hiding her face meant she didnt need to manage her expression.

Rosalia looked at Hayden with a stern face.

Feeling the silent pressure, Hayden finally parted his trembling lips.

Princess Teresas child is alive.

Princess Teresa was the beloved daughter of the previous emperor and the younger sister of the current emperor.

However, not many remembered her now, as she had been confined to the palace from a young age and had not been seen in public since.

It had been 15 years since the princess was said to have died in a fire, so it wasnt strange that she had faded from public memory.

But the Empress had not forgotten Teresa for a single day since that fire, which had also left an indelible scar on Rosalia.

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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