Ensnaring His Dark Moon - Chapter 132
As Esme walked out of the courtroom, she turned around and glanced at the closed doors.
Aleister was stopped inside by the King because of some work-related matters.
Esme could not help but think back to the conclusion that everyone reached. Marcus Norwell’s words were still ringing in her mind.
‘Years ago, Keith Reiner once went to the Florania Kingdom and Liz’s mother was born at that place before she was married off. They are just remains of the witchcraft bewitchment. The darkness in them got triggered once their minds started wavering towards evil. So, there is no witch.’
Esme massaged her forehead. To top it off, since Keith was dead already, the King agreed with Marcus Norwell’s suggestion of burning Liz alive in the Enchantment Forest to eradicate the evil.
Was there really no witch around? Was she overthinking it? Every piece was starting to fall in place with the truths revealed by the Norwell Family but there was an unsettling feeling in her chest that she could not get rid of.
”Princess… Princess, please wait…”
Esme’s footsteps came to a halt.
She turned around to glance at the old man who was rushing towards her.
He quickly came to his knees.
Esme retreated a few steps back. ”What are you doing?” she lowered her body and held his shoulders, ”Please stand up.”
”You are my benefactor,” the old man looked at her with tears in his eyes.
He was the same minister whom Luciana accused of insulting the emissary of Defire Kingdom.
”Minister Louis, this is very improper. Please stand up. We can talk then,” she helped him up. Minister Louis glanced at her, ”Princess, if it was not for you, then I would have died today.”
”No, the King…”
”He would not have been able to save me,” Minister Louis interrupted her, ”His Majesty is the ruler of Visteria. He would not have declared a war against the Defire Kingdom just for the sake of an old minister. The stakes were high. If it was not because of your timely interference, this old man…”
”Nothing happened to you. You are fine, aren’t you?” Esme smiled at him, ”Moreover, if you are really that grateful, then can I ask for something?”
”Yes, I’d even sacrifice my life,” the old man nodded with dazzling eyes.
”Minister Louis, it took me a great amount of effort to save you. How can you talk so casually about sacrificing your life?”
The old man thought about it and felt like her words made a point, ”Then what is it that you want, Princess?”
”Hmm… A favor?” she looked at him.
”You can ask for anything. I will surely pay you back with everything I have.”
Esme laughed, ”But unfortunately, I don’t need anything now. If the day comes when I need something from you, I will certainly ask for it. You are not allowed to go back on your words at that time.”
”Yes, yes, Princess. I would die before thinking about going back on my words….” he stopped when she directed a glare at him.
”If you take your life so lightly, death will come knocking at your door without any reasons like it happened today,” she sighed before shaking her head, ”Don’t forget your words. You must pay me back in the future.”
”Yes, yes…”
As Esme walked away, some of the ministers and officials who were pretending to be a backdrop while eavesdropping on their conversation quickly walked towards Minister Louis, ”What was the royal family thinking when they accepted such a bloodsucker?”
”Who knows? Look at how greedy she is.”
”She must be thinking of extorting you, Minister Louis. You ought to be careful…”
”Shut up, you fools,” Minister Louis snarled, and all of them quietened down in an instant.
Minister Louis was known to be a very short-tempered and perceptive official in the royal court. When the matters involve the safety of the kingdom, he would become somewhat impulsive like what happened today but otherwise, he was a sharp man who noticed every minute detail.
And being the most senior according to his age, he was respected by the other officials.
Everyone quietened down when they heard his angry voice.
”D-Did we say something wrong?”
”Wrong. Wrong. Are you right then? Humph!” Minister Louis glanced at them as if he was looking at a bunch of foolish children, ”Do you think she wants to extort benefits from me?”
”We…We heard her saying that.”
”You fools, where did you sell the knowledge that you all used to enter the royal court to serve the Kingdom. Why would she extort any benefits from me when she has the Prince as her backing? Did you not see the way he held the wine glass for her? Do you think the future queen needs to curry favor with an old minister who might die anytime….cough…fall sick anytime?”
Minister Louis took in the sight of their dumbfounded faces before he continued speaking, ”She said that to not let me feel burdened about it. Because she saw how uncomfortable I felt for not having anything that I could pay her back with for this huge favor.”
The rest of the officials were stunned.
”I have been shouting all this time that you should not judge her character when you don’t know a thing about her but you fools just never listened to me. Hmph!” With a flick of his robe, Minister Louis turned around and left.
They did not know that Esme who had already walked up to a distance could hear their words loud and clear.
Esme smiled as she glanced at the reflections of their stunned faces in the mirrored wall.
In fact, what minister Louis said was right. She never intended to ask for anything from him. It was just a way to help him get the burden off his back.
She was about to walk towards the room but her footsteps came to a halt when she saw Aleister stepping out of the courtroom.
Her lips parted slightly when she saw him walking out with Luciana.. They seemed to be discussing something.