Chapter 336
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“Well planned. Your Highness.” The advisors began to flatter him, “From now on, no one but you shall rule this land!”
“Long live the Crown Prince!” The others echoed in agreement, already treating Isander as the Crown Prince, as if their success was assured.
Isander’s lips curled into a smile. Though he tried to restrain himself, he could not help but feel a surge of pride. At that moment, a guard from the residence rushed in, stumbling over himself, “Your Highness, something terrible has happened.
“Someone has leaked the things we’ve done over the years. Now, rumors are spreading all over Sinderin City. Some say you and Her Ladyship plotted against the royal heir. Some say you colluded with the Third Prince of Eastvale Empire, Callum. And others claim you are raising private troops.
“Moreover, these people speak convincingly. The situation has escalated, and it will likely reach the King very soon!”
“How could this happen?” Isander was shocked. He sprang to his feet and asked incredulously, “Who spread these things?”
He swept his gaze around, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. Some matters were unknown even to the advisors in his own residence.
The guard looked bewildered, “I have no clue…”
The advisors were alarmed and hurriedly asked, “Your Highness, what should we do?”
They had just been celebrating. And in the blink of an eye, disaster struck. Once those rumors started, they could not be suppressed easily.
Isander was caught off guard and grew flustered. Pressing his brow, he said, “Let me think…”
Meanwhile, several ministers had already entered the palace to see Cillian. Upon hearing their words, Cillian was dumbfounded, “Clyde did this?”
“We’re not sure. It must be investigated to know for certain.” The ministers broke out in a cold sweat.
Those who came were not Isander’s supporters. But at that moment, they spoke with restraint, “Such a serious matter must be investigated. The other issues aside, the matter of private troops must be checked immediately, or it will lead to disaster!”
Cillian pressed his brow, deeply angered. “Troop garrisons? Is my son planning a coup?‘
Just as they were deciding who to send to investigate, the Lord of Warfare hurried in, saluted, and said, “Your Majesty, one hour ago someone slipped this into the doorway of my residence. The matter is of great importance, so I had to rush to the palace!
The Lord of Warfare presented the item in his hand, and Cillian’s face turned dark red instantly. He turned and sent the royal guards away, saying, “Investigate immediately. Activate the secret channels, and I want news from the south within three days!”
The royal guards quickly disappeared. Only then did Cillian ask the others, “Do you know the source of the rumor?
One of them replied, “I do not know the specifics. I made some inquiries, and someone said they encountered a woman in Sinderin City who looked exactly like Lady Erica. That is how the matter of the missing princess from years ago was brought
up.”
Cillian frowned, “Are you saying my child has been found?” His heart raced, and he abruptly stood. “Was my child under Clyde’s control?”
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When Lady Erica gave birth, Cillian was not in Sinderin City. He had gone on campaign. Therefore, Lady Erica’s plan to have her daughter disguise herself as a prince did not reach Cillian’s ears, as the maid leaked the secret before it was carried out, which led to Tessa being sent away.
When Cillian returned, Lady Erica, having lost her beloved daughter and fallen seriously ill, felt she would not live long and confessed the truth, saying her daughter was lost. Thus, at that moment, Cillian believed that his lost daughter had been found. And the person who came to report was specially arranged by Lady Erica.
So, when Cillian asked, that person immediately said, “It is uncertain whether she was under control, but eyewitnesses said that when they encountered her, she was indeed following behind Isander, and a veil covered her face. If not for a gust of wind, her face would not have been seen at all.”
Cillian suddenly became absent–minded. On New Year’s Eve, Lady Erica was in low spirits. At the time, he thought Lady Erica was inexplicably giving him the cold shoulder, and in a fit of anger, he left. But at that moment, he realized why Lady Erica was in a bad mood that night.
At the party, Lady Erica spoke softly, “Today I saw a young woman who looks exactly as I did in my youth. If my Tessa were still alive, she would be about this age now.” Then, her eyes turned red with tears.
Recalling that memory, along with the report he just received, Cillian sensed something was amiss. He paused for a moment, then said, “Investigate who accompanied Isander on his return to the capital this time.”
An imperial guard left the room. Afterwards, Cillian took a deep breath, dismissed the others, and went to find Lady Erica.
Lady Erica was waiting for him. “Your Majesty!”
She hurried forward, tear stains still visible on her face. Cillian’s heart skipped a beat as he helped her up. “Why are you crying again?”
Then, he looked at the delicate “young man” behind Lady Erica, somewhat surprised. “Who is he?”
I’m Tessa, to Your Majesty. Tessa nodded, but did not address him as Father.
Cillian was stunned, unable to react for a moment.
At that moment, Lady Erica could no longer hold back and burst into tears. “Your Majesty, please seek justice for us. Tessa has suffered terribly these years, used as a tool for training, narrowly escaped death many times, riddled with illness, and now her face was flayed, and she has been cursed!”
What did you say? Cillian felt his mind buzz. The amount of information was overwhelming. Yet, it matched all the rumors
he heard.
Lady Erica stood up, pulled Tessa over, and parted the hair behind her ear. “Your Majesty, do you see? Tessa has two tiny birthmarks here. I will never forget them for the rest of my life.
***On New Year’s Eve, the person I saw was her. But I was filled with sorrows. If only I had acknowledged her that day, she would not have suffered such cruelty, been flayed alive by Isander and Master Landon, cursed, and sent to the Eastvale Empire to continue as a spy!“””
Cillian looked at the birthmarks, his feelings extremely complicated. Back then, after he returned to the palace and was told his child was missing, he relied on the birthmark to look for her. After so many years of searching in vain, who would have thought her own kin harmed her?
“You… are you truly Tessa?” Cillian scrutinized Tessa. To say he felt nothing would be untrue. After searching for so many years, even longing breeds affection. Yet to say he felt close, she was still a stranger to him.
Tessa, displaying her intelligence, lowered her gaze and said, “This commoner does not know. Everything awaits Your
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Majesty’s investigation. Since I can remember, I was thrown into the training grounds, believing myself to be an orphan.” At that point, she burst into tears, overcome with grief.
Cillian looked at her, feeling deeply distressed. “Rise.”
He reached out and helped her up. She truly was a sensible child, knowing when to advance or retreat, never forcing connections. Yet, he had no clue how much suffering she must endure to become so well–behaved and understanding.
Cillian was no fool. He knew all too well the methods used to train spies and death warriors. Yet he had never imagined that one day such a fate would befall his own daughter.
All these years, your mother and I have been searching for you. Letting you wander outside was our failing, Cillian said with deep remorse. “But from now on, such things will never happen again.
What we owe you from these years, we will make up for!
Changing the subject, Cillian asked. “Did you return with Isander?”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
