Chapter 8: Intrigues Unveiled
1146 Words
“It’s me,” Charles replied in his deep voice.
“Good timing. I’ve been wanting to learn potion-making from Quinwen. You’ll agree, won’t you?” Su Beitang’s tone wasn’t a question so much as a statement—she was more informing him than seeking permission.
“Whatever my lady wishes, of course,” Charles replied, taking a seat beside her and casually reaching for her hand.
Their eyes met, and Su Beitang looked at him with mild surprise.
What is he up to now? she wondered.
“Forgive me, Madam, but… was your mother Eurytice Copete?” he asked.
Eurytice?
Hearing her mother’s name caught Su Beitang off guard, momentarily freezing her thoughts. It had been so long since she’d last heard it that she’d nearly forgotten her late mother’s name.
“You’ve been investigating me.” Her tone was calm, unaffected.
She wasn’t angry or even surprised. Charles had every right to learn about his new wife, whose origins were unknown.
Observing her untroubled response, Charles continued.
Taking her hand, he pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “Quinwen told me everything from this morning,” he said, his gaze sincere. “How would you like to handle Baron Crowe?”
From his investigation, he’d learned that after Eurytice’s death, Su Beitang had been taken in by Theosen, who then seized control of the entire Copete estate, which should rightfully have belonged to her. But rather than showing her kindness, her stepfather had hidden her away from society.
It was as if she had disappeared the moment Eurytice died. Nearly twenty years of records from Theosen’s private estate showed no trace of her—a life devoid of teachers, personal purchases, or anything suggesting a young woman’s presence.
Charles didn’t think of it as “hiding.” He was convinced it was abuse.
His heart clenched as he remembered their first encounter the previous night, and he instinctively tightened his grip on her delicate hand.
“I want…” Su Beitang began, knowing he was aware of her nineteen years of confinement. She looked down and sighed. “I want Theosen dead, but by my own hand.”
“Understood,” he replied, respecting her wish to exact her own justice. “However, if you need any assistance, you have only to ask.”
He rose and wrapped her in an embrace.
For some reason, physical closeness with her felt natural, almost necessary.
In his past, Charles had never been one for casual touches.
But with Su Beitang, he struggled to keep his hands to himself.
Su Beitang stiffened slightly at first but then, catching the scent of roses on his clothing, relaxed and returned the embrace, resting her head against his waist and closing her eyes.
She had achieved her goal.
With Charles’s support, bringing down Theosen would be almost effortless.
Meanwhile, Charles was basking in the bliss of her gentle reciprocation, unaware of the underlying strategy.
A comfortable silence settled in the library until hurried footsteps approached from outside.
“Your Grace! Princess Selera is here; she wishes to see you…”
Jannie’s voice faltered as he entered the library, his figure momentarily freezing before he respectfully lowered his head and retreated to the doorway.
The interruption gave Su Beitang an opportunity to step back, ending their embrace.
Charles reluctantly released her but stayed seated by her side.
“Jannie, tell Selera I am unwell and cannot receive visitors,” he said, his gaze not shifting from Su Beitang.
“Right away, Your Grace!” Jannie hurried back to the drawing room, intent on politely yet firmly sending Selera away.
Jannie: No one interferes with my Duke and his beloved lady, not if I can help it.
With their privacy restored, Su Beitang turned back to her potion-making book.
Charles, seated beside her, seemed to have no intention of leaving. Summoning his attendant with a wave, he had his official documents brought to the library.
With the flick of his wrist, he sent enchanted messages and confidential documents to float around them both, handling his affairs directly in her presence.
As much as Su Beitang tried to concentrate on her book, it was nearly impossible to ignore Charles gradually inching his chair closer to hers.
Finally, as he scooted even closer, Su Beitang lifted her head to give him a pointed look.
“What exactly are you doing?”
Charles paused mid-motion, a letter suspended in his hand. Though he longed to turn to her, he managed to restrain himself.
“What do you mean, Madam?” he asked innocently, slightly angling his upper body in her direction.
Their chairs were already touching.
Charles glanced at the scant space between them, feeling it was still too much.
He wanted to be even closer, to lean into her, to feel her warmth.
The thought of being nestled against her, wrapped in her scent, made his face flush slightly.
Su Beitang looked at him with a knowing expression.
The Duke was quite the actor.
Had their chairs not been so blatantly close, she might’ve believed his act.
Charles, noticing her look of resigned amusement, gave a soft, amused smile.
Su Beitang averted her gaze. Realizing she was no longer focused on the book, she closed it with a sigh.
“Charles… did you uncover anything about last night’s banquet?” she asked, shifting the conversation to a less personal matter.
The previous night, Charles had hosted a high-profile aristocratic gathering under royal orders. Nobles, knights, mages, and even some royal family members had attended.
Despite the formidable security, someone had managed to slip him a drugged drink.
It was either reckless or suicidal.
Charles’s smile faded, and his expression turned grim. Selecting a document from the floating papers, he unfurled it.
“It didn’t take long to find out.” His warm demeanor turned distant as he floated the document in front of her.
“Only one person at the banquet would have had the nerve to slip white nightshade into my drink.”
Su Beitang’s eyes fell on the elegant handwriting that detailed the events leading up to Charles’s poisoning. Her gaze settled on the name “Selera.”
“Selera? Is she the princess Jannie mentioned just now? Why would she poison you?”
Cut off from the world for so long, Su Beitang was unfamiliar with the rumors of Selera’s pursuit of Charles.
Charles briefly considered using this incident to elicit sympathy, but the memory of Su Beitang’s suffering made him hesitate. He decided not to disclose the full extent of his dealings with the royal family.
He didn’t need to manipulate her attention.
“It’s unclear,” he replied. “But if I’m ever away and Selera requests to see you, Madam, do refuse her.”
He reached out, pulling her close to kiss her gently on the forehead.
- Writer
