Chapter 6
Alistair's face was twisted beyond recognition. It was way past just looking ugly.
His complexion turned pale.
He stared daggers at me, locking his gaze with mine.
In his eyes, there was overwhelming hatred, disbelief at the humiliation, and... a fear buried deep within.
He knew that if he didn't kneel today, he'd never make it out of the Chancellor's Estate.
But he also knew that if he did beg me, he would become a complete joke.
All his ambitions, all his dreams of seizing the throne, would turn to dust with that one kneel.
"Elsie, are you really going to be so ruthless?" he asked.
He was still making his final desperate attempt.
He tried to sway me with those pathetic memories of our past, hoping it would soften my heart.
I looked at him with cold detachment, like he was just some stranger.
"Maybe you should be asking Alana," I replied. "Ask her what she was really after, standing outside our wedding ceremony dressed in white, waiting for you.
"And ask her about the pride and anticipation in her eyes when she watched you threaten your own life to force me to accept her.
"I was only letting you two have what you wanted. So now I'm the heartless one?"
Every word I spoke was a slap in his face, leaving him reeling.
He couldn't even argue back.
He had nothing left to say.
His fists were balled so tight, his nails bit deep into his palms.
Blood oozed through his fingers.
Time ticked by, every second dragging on.
The crowd of onlookers kept growing.
Everyone was staring at his knees.
It felt like they were waiting for a dramatic judgment.
At last, after what felt like an eternity of humiliation and agony, he finally gave in.
His whole body was trembling.
His knees began to slowly buckle.
Sia, standing right next to me, gripped her hands tightly, barely able to contain her excitement.
Jayden had a satisfied grin spreading across his face, clearly enjoying the moment.
Just as everyone held their breath, thinking his knees were about to hit the ground, a piercing voice suddenly shattered the heavy, suffocating silence.
"Don't!" Alana cried out.
People were shoved aside as she forced her way through the crowd.
Alana, dressed all in white, stumbled forward, nearly falling as she rushed over.
Her hair was a mess, her face ghostly pale, and traces of tears still clung to her cheeks.
She looked so fragile and pitiful, it was enough to tug at anyone's heartstrings.
Alana threw herself at Alistair's legs, tears streaming down her face.
"Please don't let yourself be humiliated because of me!" Alana sobbed desperately.
"It's all my fault, every bit of it is my fault!" Alana choked out. "I'll leave right now, I won't ever be an eyesore to you again."
Even as she cried and pleaded, Alana shot me a sly, challenging look from the corner of her eye, as if daring me to react.
What a clever act—pretending to be all selfless and devoted, only to use retreat as a tactic to get what she wants.
When Alistair saw her, it was as if he'd found his only hope of survival.
He pulled her up and held her close, as if afraid to lose her again.
"Alana, this has nothing to do with you!" Alistair said. "It's my fault, I failed to protect you!"
He shot me a poisonous glare, his eyes burning with resentment.
"Elsie, are you seeing this?" Alistair snapped. "This is what sets you apart from Alana.
"She always thinks of me, but you're the one who keeps driving me into a corner!"
I couldn't help but laugh.
It was a bitter, mocking sound.
"You're right about that," I said. "I suppose I'm just not as 'sensible' as Miss Morgan."
My gaze swept past them, landing on a luxurious carriage parked not far away.
The curtain of the carriage fluttered for a moment.
I knew the real deal had finally shown up.
"Enough!" An aged, authoritative voice cut through the tension.
The old butler from the Duke's Estate supported an elderly woman with silver hair, clad in an ornate imperial robe, as she approached with slow, deliberate steps.
This was Maliyah, Alistair's mother, and the younger sister of the reigning King.
She was here.
With Maliyah's arrival, it was finally time for this whole circus to end.
Maliyah's gaze was like a knife, stabbing right into me with a fierce glare.
Then her eyes landed on Alistair.
"Worthless good-for-nothing!" she barked.
"Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?" she spat. "Go back to the estate, now!"
Alistair shrank back in front of her, like a rooster beaten in a fight. His bravado vanished in an instant.
"Mother..." Alistair murmured.
"Shut up!" Maliyah cut him off without a second thought.
She turned to me and flashed a cold, insincere smile. "Miss Williamson, Alistair was being utterly outrageous today.
"I'll personally prepare a lavish gift and come to your door to apologize another day. No need to trouble you all with our family drama."
With just a few casual words, she brushed it off as nothing but a family issue.
She tried to gloss over everything, acting like none of it ever happened.