Chapter 24
Raul never noticed all of this.
He made her kneel in a blizzard, locked her in the lumber room without food, and even planned to throw her into the
cellar.
‘Those acts… What father does this?‘ Raul’s heart thudded against his ribs–sick, wrong.
His voice shattered. “Margaery, Daddy never should’ve locked you up. My fault. Don’t hate me. I know I was wrong.”
Turning to Avery, he added, “Quick, go get some medicine for her!”
His eyes turned red as tears fell.
But Margaery couldn’t feel anything anymore.
“Speak directly,” she interrupted Raul with no warmth in her gaze or tone. “I’ve got business to do.”
Raul was taken aback. “Margaery, why are you so distant from me?”
Margaery looked out the window without saying a word.
Their relationship had gone beyond just being distant.
From this breath onward, she would stop claiming him as Father.
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The pain in Raul’s heart was further alleviated by her attitude. Seeing that she wasn’t budging, he finally got straight to the point. “Margaery, I’m not blaming you for going to the Royal Medical Hall today. It’s Avery who acted irresponsibly.
“I’ll have him apologize to you later. But regarding what happened between you and Prince Dashnell, you need to explain everything clearly to me. Got it?”
Thinking about Dashnell made Raul feel an indescribable unease.
Dashnell appeared to be just a leisurely royal, with no special qualities other than being favored by the King.
However, he was deeply enigmatic.
For all these years in court, he had never seen through this youngest son of the King. Dashnell rarely made an appearance and didn’t speak much, but every time he acted, it was always fatal.
In fact, several officials who had their families executed and properties confiscated were still chatting and laughing in front of the King just a few days before their downfall.
It only took Dashnell a few words to send them to long–term imprisonment and bring down their entire clans.
Raul couldn’t see through this man or understand his true intentions. Stay out of trouble–that was the last line of defense.
But now, this line had been breached.
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Chapter 24
For Tessa, he had a falling out with Margaery, and Prince Dashnell chose to side with Margaery.
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From another perspective, if Raul wanted safety now, he needed to completely deal with Margaery and then have her plead his case to Prince Dashnell.
Otherwise, there was no other way out. Raul looked at his long–neglected daughter with a rare sincerity. “As long as you explain to Daddy, I’ll agree to anything. In a few days, the camellia in the palace will be in full bloom. How about I take you there to see them?”
This was something Margaery couldn’t have wished for in her previous life.
She cried and begged for months. Finally, Raul brought Tessa to the palace and asked the King to grant her the title of Princess Camellia.
When Tessa came home to show off, Raul thought she was cute and completely forgot about what he had promised Margaery before.
Back then, she was lying in the snow, crying her heart out.
But now, she didn’t care anymore.
“I have nothing to do with Prince Dashnell.” Margaery sneered inwardly, not taking his apology seriously at all.
She knew clearly that if Dashnell hadn’t been involved, Raul would never have realized it. Forget about apologizing; he wouldn’t even wake up.
What Raul feared was just making a wrong move and losing everything he had worked hard for..
‘In this regard, he and his sons are a chip off the old block; no wonder they’re blood–related.‘ A hint of mockery appeared on Margaery’s face.
Raul jolted, choking on his own breath. “Margaery, don’t defy Daddy like this! Do you actually want to drive me to death?” Margaery remained silent.
Raul sighed, leaning in with false softness. “Margaery, just tell your old Daddy honestly… What’s Prince Dashnell truly after with you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe there’s nothing.” Regarding Dashnell, Margaery didn’t want to talk much about it.
She liked him but wouldn’t say anything until she broke off her engagement with Dominic; otherwise, it would only bring trouble.
Seeing that she wasn’t budging, Raul got really mad. “If there’s nothing between you two, why did he give you a warming gemstone? Why did he send a hairpin? Do you know this hairpin is a gift from the late King?”
“Then Father should ask him yourself.”
“You-” After he questioned for so long without getting any answers, his slight remorse vanished again. “How could you become like this!”
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Chapter 24
Margaery replied, “Thanks to your guidance.”
Raul nearly fainted from anger.
At this moment, Avery entered with frozen sore ointment and placed it silently on the table with a dark face.
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“Hurry up and apologize to Margaery! You’ve taken so many prescriptions from her but haven’t talked properly. Look at how things turned out!
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“If you had fulfilled your duty as an elder brother, she wouldn’t have run off to the Royal Medical Hall in anger!” Raul gave Avery a look. “Look at Margaery’s hands, they’re freezing. You went to the lumber room but didn’t even say a word!”
Speaking of which, Avery felt somewhat guilty indeed.
So he said stiffly, “Margaery, I’m sorry I didn’t notice your measles or frozen sores…”
Avery said, looking at Margaery, waiting for her forgiveness.
But Margaery didn’t change expression or say a word.
Avery had to go on. “I took your prescription and couldn’t help you with anything. That’s my fault. I’m sorry. If you’re angry, just curse me a bit or even hit me.
“Once we’re done, let’s not sulk at each other. Can we go to the Royal Medical Hall and talk it out, and ask Doctor Fischer to let me go back?”
“What then?” Margaery looked at the two men with a mocking gaze. “Then I’ll be charged with treason, sent to the Clan Court, tortured, and thrown into Labor Division or Laundry Bureau.”
Her eyes fixed on Raul. “Father, is this what you and Avery are apologizing for?
“Avery lost his position in the Royal Medical Hall; you think he’s suffered greatly. What about me?
“You’re the Chancellor; have you been to the Clan Court?
“Do you know what torture devices are inside its prison? Have you seen the liyes of the maids in the Laundry Bureau? Have you seen dead bodies dragged out of Labor Division? How many ladies survive after being sent there?”
As she spoke, she handed back the ointment on the table to Avery. “Avery, I don’t need your concern for these chilblains; Prince Dashnell has already sent medicine over. As for the Laundry Bureau and Labor Division, whoever wants to go can
- go.
“And Father, don’t even think about making me lie to save your son; remember that Prince Dashnell was there too.
“If there’s nothing else, I’li leave now.”
Turning around with a heart colder than the snow outside, Margaery realized she couldn’t stay in this family anymore.
Whether it was a family reunion or mutual gain and loss, it ultimately led to a prosperous and joyful reunion for her father and brothers, as well as Tessa.
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And her ending was either Labor Division or Laundry Bureau.
A pawn–this was her current reality.
“Stop right there!” Just as Margaery stepped across the threshold, Raul called out!
