Chapter 226

Chapter 226 – Betrayal (1)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

“Ludwig!”

The King’s face lit up. Finally, one of his allies had arrived. But Ludwig’s face was rigid as he approached, and he held out a piece of paper before his father’s eyes.

Selgratis paled.

“Where did you get that?”

A bitter smile touched Ludwig’s mouth. The evidence in his hands proved who the true guilty part was.

“In exchange for my cooperation, I asked Your Majesty not to do anything to harm Annette,” he began, determined. “When you accepted my request, had you already commanded Annette’s doctor to poison her?”

Eucaly had been captured. They had captured ever one of the intermediaries leading back to the King, and Ludwig had felt so betrayed when he learned of it.

The King had not passed up the opportunity his weak son had offered him. He had pretended he would honor Ludwig’s request knowing that Ludwig still loved Annette, and secretly ordered the doctor to poison her.

Annette’s life was in danger because Ludwig had loved her.

Ludwig rubbed a hand over his face.

“We already have all the evidence,” he whispered to his father. “I could reveal it all here, but I don’t want to. Please…stop.”

“You would betray your own father because you are blinded by that girl!”

Selgratis gritted his teeth. The situation had become very complicated. Now he understood why Ludwig had been so eager to help him. He had been proud that his son had finally grown up, and believed it because Ludwig had made Annette the condition for his cooperation.

Ludwig must have meant to do this from the beginning. He had lost his heart to Annette the day he met her.

“I’m sorry,” Ludwig said more loudly. “But I cannot allow my royal father to continue down this path.”

He meant that if the King did not desist, he would publicly reveal everything, even if it tarnished the honor of the royal family.

Selgratis looked silently into his son’s face. The sharp instincts that had allowed him to dominate Deltium for so long told him that it was over now. A smile appeared in his grizzled beard.

“Hahahaha!!” The King laughed like a madman, clouting Ludwig’s shoulder twice. It was a strange gratification, even in the face of a devastating defeat. His weak son had deceived him. Even if it was only for the sake of a woman, he had grown stronger. It was infuriating, but satisfying at the same time.

Ironically, this persuaded Selgratis that Ludwig would be a good king. More than anything else, Selgratis believed a king must be willing to do anything to preserve his power.

“Well.” The King turned away from his son, and though Ludwig eyed him suspiciously, it appeared that Selgratis would not persist. He halted in front of Annette.

What else does he want?

Annette tensed under the King’s steady eyes, and Raphael moved himself in front of her, as if he would even protect her from the King’s gaze.

But Selgratis did not even look at his illegitimate son. He used to publicly praise his son Raphael all the time, but now he was invisible. Perhaps he had never really cared.

“You are amazing,” the King said clearly. Annette couldn’t tell whether it was sarcasm or praise, and prudently held her tongue. “Perhaps it would be better for you to become Crown Princess after all…”