Ensnaring His Dark Moon - Chapter 130

”The Kingdom has its King. So, I’d prefer to be there for you instead.”

”You say it like it’s a rite of passage for you to look after me,” she rolled her eyes.

He shrugged.

”What would you have done if you were the King?” she smiled and asked him in a light tone.

Before he could respond to her, the huge doors of the courtroom were pushed open as a queue of soldiers entered the place, surrounding the person who was in the middle.

As Esme looked at the scene, her lips parted.

Standing in between the formation of the soldiers was none other than the person who escaped yesterday when she was healing Leo. It was Liz. Her limbs were shackled with chains and the soldiers were holding the chains in their hands, forbidding her from making any unnecessary movement.

Her body was completely still with her head hanging low and her long hair covering her face.

She was unrecognizable in her current condition but having seen her yesterday, Esme could recognize her easily because she was still wearing the same dress.

”Raise her head.”

As soon as the King’s words dropped, both the soldiers who were holding the chains which bound the woman’s shoulders tugged at it harshly.

Her hair flew back, revealing her bruised face. At first glance, she looked like a woman who was beaten black and blue but the moment her red eyes opened, it made her look like a ferocious beast.

Liz growled as she moved her legs, attempting to break off the chains like a wild animal.

”Ah…” Duchess Flora was startled.

Duke Maverick immediately pulled her into his arms, shielding her shivering body, ”Calm down.”

”I recognize her. She is Liz. I have seen her around, working in the castle,” Duchess Flora spoke through her tears.

Her words were heard by a few officials and some of them who had seen Liz working in the castle stepped before and admitted it to the King.

”Is this what you were talking about?” Aleister asked Esme.

She nodded. After he told her about the incident that occurred in the library, she briefed him about what happened with her. She told him that she was almost molested by Keith and murdered by Liz.

After he got to know that, he wanted to pay a visit to both of them.

That’s the phrase he used. ‘Pay a visit’.

But Esme knew better than to believe that. His visit was sure to paint the castle red with blood.

She stopped him and told him that Keith was dead. Somehow, she was suspicious that she was the one who killed him.

He patted her head and said ‘Good girl,’ quite contrary to the weird expressions that she had expected to see on his face.

And suddenly he was eerily calm. He no longer asked about Liz or anything about that matter.

She did not know what was going on in his crafty mind.

Duke Maverick called for the servants and looked at them, ”Escort the Duchess back into her room,” he said before he stroked the woman’s back, ”Don’t be afraid.”

Duchess Flora wiped the cold sweat off her forehead with her embroidered handkerchief, ”It has been a long time since I witnessed a sight like this,” her voice cracked towards the end.

Duke Maverick’s heart ached for her. He liked it when she was cheerful as a bird but there were these rare times when his calm wife lost her composure and he hated when it happened.

Today’s scene must have reminded her of what happened in her Kingdom, Florania where the witches had once formed their nest.

Even though he was upset, he was more upset at his inability. He was bound to this wheelchair where he could not even stand up to hold her. His body continued to fail him. He hated to see tears in her eyes but at times, she would go to bed while crying because of his condition.

No matter how nicely she put on an act, he always saw through it.

He could not even protect the woman he loved the most and nothing in the world could make him feel more pathetic.

Duchess Flora slowly held the arms of her chair before standing up. She wiped her tears and glanced at Duke Maverick before she turned to look at the only two women who were present in the court other than her.

”Lady Luciana, Esme…” the way she called Esme was intimate, contrary to the way she addressed Luciana. She had noticed the woman’s gaze always settled on Aleister and Duchess Flora wanted the lady to quit her dreams. No one other than Esme was eligible to become her niece in law, ”You both don’t need to witness such a scary sight. Come with me,” They were delicate young ladies after all and this was gruesome.

”I am fine here,” came their voices in unison.

Esme and Luciana exchanged glances, not expecting to be on the same side. They turned to look at Duchess Flora.

Duchess Flora: “_”

What’s wrong with ladies these days? Should they not be more interested in admiring flowers and artworks?

Why did they look so eager to look at such a gory sight?

She was unable to comprehend it. She shook her head.

She bowed at the King and her husband and elegantly picked up her gown and walked out with the servants shielding her from all the sides so that she won’t see that sight again.

As soon as Duchess Flora walked out of the courtroom, the door closed behind her.

The soldiers who had enclosed around Liz to not let the Duchess see her face retreated a few steps back.

Esme glanced at Liz. Despite being stabbed by her, yesterday Liz looked recognizable but today, she had a scary appearance with her hair strewn all over her face.

”Your Majesty, is…. is she a witch?” An official spoke up after he snapped out of his reverie.

King Alexander glanced at Marcus Norwell.

Marcus stepped forward, ”She is not a witch,” his gaze roamed around the place, taking in the relieved face of the people present over there, ”But she is bewitched by one,” he said, stopping their heartbeats instantly.