Chapter 216

Chapter 216 – Scapegoat (1)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

Raphael scowled. But at the precise moment when he was about to unleash a fresh wave of murder, something shimmered in the bushes.

“That’s…”

Raphael’s eyes widened, and Annette peered over at him.

“What is it, Raphael? Is something there?”

“No. Let’s go,” he replied, turning away. He couldn’t imagine what the pervert in the bushes was planning now, but it was probably best to ignore it for now. He probably had some plan. Raphael just hoped it wasn’t too insane.

And they weren’t out of danger yet. Just as they were about to go back toward the banquet hall, he sensed other people approaching. This time it was the King himself, along with a group of noblemen.

“Oh, dear…how savage,” said Selgratis, looking around the gory scene. All of the King’s men were dead. Behind him, the noblemen began to murmur, their expressions shocked. It seemed they had had no warning about what they would see. Pausing in front of one of the corpses, the King bent grimly and personally closed the corpse’s eyes.

“I never imagined you were capable of this,” he said, his cold gaze shifting toward Annette. “How dare you.”

Suddenly he shouted.

“How dare you spoil the banquet I prepared! Did you slay these men? When I sent them to investigate the explosion! Why would you do such a wicked thing? You have assaulted the dignity of the royal family of Deltium!”

Annette’s teeth clenched at this ridiculous rebuke. They had not escaped the King’s trap yet. He was still maneuvering to blame her for the explosion.

All the noblemen fell silent at this deadly accusation, looking Annette with suspicion, and she bit her lip. It was humiliating. She preferred not to speak when her words might only make the situation worse.

But Celestine stepped forward.

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, but Annette is innocent. These people were not here to investigate the explosion. They came to kill me. They dared to lift their swords against the Marquise Carnesis when she tried to protect me. They even wounded Duke Bavaria when he tried to stop them! Look!”

She gestured to the unconscious man. His bandaged arm was covered in blood, which made him look much worse than he actually was.

There was an uproar then, partly in shock that the meticulous and perfect Allamand Bavaria was lying unconscious. But the King was very calm.

“You claim that my loyal men are such scoundrels, they would attack women? You really are stupid. Do you believe everything they tell you?”

“What do you mean?” Celestine asked. “The Marquise was only…”

“Shut your mouth! I sent these men to investigate the explosion right after it happened, and find out who was responsible, and now look at them! Why else are they all dead, you foolish girl? They were killed to keep them from talking!”

Celestine couldn’t answer. The King had more power than she did. He had chosen Annette for his scapegoat, and Celestine was only a fly in his web.

“You have been deceived, Celestine Keers. I have admired your father’s loyalty, but you are extremely gullible. How can you be so stupid?”

Selgratis went on, merciless.

“This is all a trick by the Marquise Carnesis! Even though she is the guilty one, she pretended to help you, to hide her past crimes! Don’t you realize what you’ve done? You are protecting the guilty one! How do you dare think you have the judgment to be the Crown Princess?”