How to Tame My Beastly Husband - Chapter 187

“You mustn’t be anxious,” the King said. “You and my son will lead Deltium into the future together. Please, tell me frankly what you think. I don’t much care for quiet people.”

“How could I dare to have an opinion before you, Your Majesty?” Celestine was not easily fooled by the provocation. “My knowledge is not as deep as yours. I agree with you, of course.”

An experienced politician, the King was not so easily placated.

“Then you would agree to the destruction of the Bavaria family?” He asked immediately, unimpressed with her ambiguous answer.

“His Majesty’s will is my will.”

“I am glad to hear it. Does that mean your hands are my hands?”

“I’m sorry? I don’t know what you mean…”

“Didn’t you and the Marquise Carnesis decide to leave the past behind and make a new relationship? I am very interested in this relationship. If the Bavarias prove fickle in the affections, they should be punished for it. Shouldn’t they?”

His voice was very soft, like a snake beguiling its prey. And with the conversation twisted in such an unexpected direction, Celestine made her first mistake.

“You…you mean you want me to spy on the Marquise?” She said, stammering.

“Spy? That’s not a very charitable word. You will be the Crown Princess of Deltium, and one day Queen. You must be precise in your language.”

“I beg your pardon, Majesty. But the Marquise is no longer part of the Bavaria family, is she? She is Marquise Carnesis, I don’t think we should involve her.”

“Celestine,” the King said, sorrowfully lying. “I don’t want to harm Annette. Though it didn’t work out, she was supposed to be my daughter-in-law. How could I wish harm to her?”

He did not care about Annette in the least. If he was willing to dispose of Raphael, his own son, he would not hesitate to dispose of Annette.

The only person he cared about was Ludwig, and he was clever at hiding it. That was what Arjen had meant all those months ago when he had told Annette that the better the politician, the more capably they hid the things that mattered most to them.

Funnily enough, King Selgratis was also thinking of Arjen.

“There would be no need to bother with Annette if Arjen Bavaria were here, but he is not in the Empire. The only window on Bavaria is through her. Do you understand?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“You look uncomfortable,” the King said. “If something I have said upsets you, I hope you can say so comfortably. Celestine, you will be an important member of my family. I would never dare to force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

Listening to the conversation gave Annette goosebumps.

It was another trap, and the King was listening for Celestine’s reaction. Annette’s palms were perspiring as she waited for Celestine’s answer.

“I wouldn’t want to go that far, Your Majesty,” she said, her voice trembling. “Marquise Carnesis isn’t a bad person, and she doesn’t have anything more to do with your family. I wouldn’t want to deceive her or lie to her…”

Annette laid a hand to her forehead. Maybe Celestine was worried that Annette, now her friend, was considered a target to be eliminated. And that she might be the means the King chose to accomplish it.

Annette held her breath. When the King’s voice issued again from the bluebird’s beak, it was frosty as winter.

“I see. You’ve been very frank with me, Celestine.”

“I…”

“A pity. I had hoped you’d be a little wiser.”

That was the end of the conversation. The bluebird went still and silent, as blank and empty as a doll. Posted only on NovelUtopia

Annette suspected the King had just decided to get rid of Celestine.