12 Chapter 12. Lies

Lara's words were a thunderous announcement for the young gentleman that was holding her waist. Before he was so considerate and tender while having her in his arms, but the words she just mentioned made him pull her strongly to his hard chest without minding if she was hurt or not.

The eyes that looked at her with care now were raging in anger, "What did you say?"

"I… I said that I was promised to another man, Your Grace."

She trembled, acting like a weak and frightened damsel. Her eyes focused on the ground with a desolate posture. Anyone would feel sorry and pity for that fragile and beautiful lady that was inside the trap of the Duke; however, not many would dare go against him.

"Who?"

He took her chin forcefully making her look into his eyes.

"Tell me, who is the bastard that I have to kill?"

The aura in the hall turned gloomy and even the music stop playing. The soft whispers and rumors from the young ladies were suddenly extinguished. Only a gasp of shock and fear invaded the silence.

Lara put her delicate hand on his chest, trying to push him from her. She felt that they were too close, and the dress wasn't enough to stop feeling his warmth and breath. Her heart was beating as if it will run out from her, and she was now sincerely trembling. She thought he would understand her intentions about distracting him from punishing Mina, but he seemed really angered now.

"I… I don't know who he is?"

"What? Are you protecting him?"

"No… He was a knight who saved me once… when I almost drowned in the pond near my Palace. It was an accident. I didn't have anything to repay his favor and so I promised myself to him," she said while mustering her courage to look at his ravaging eyes.

He didn't lessen his strength but lowered his mouth to her ear. The other guests were looking at the couple with shock. The man they always thought as unfeeling was now displaying so much jealousy and possessiveness that it was hard to believe.

The ladies around were blushing and hoping to be the one in his sight. Though, it seemed that they should at least be as beautiful as the lady in his embrace to catch his attention.

"Lara," he whispered, "this trick won't work with me."

She shuddered but felt relieved. "Your Highness, I was not tricking you."

He pulled her towards his chest and hugged her softly calming his anger. For a brief second, he was about to explode, but then he remembered who she was. The woman who liked to play tricks with his heart.

Time had seemed to stop, not only for the couple in the middle of countless eyes, but for the guests, and certainly for the ones on the throne. Soft sweetness, but at the same time, extreme expectation was embedded in that couple.

"What is this?!"

The raging voice of the King woke up everyone from their daze. However, the Duke was still enjoying the soft aroma on Lara's neck, it was like sweet honey with mint and he wanted to taste it.

"Duke du Eylos, what is the meaning of this?!"

The menacing tone came like thunder to the hearts of the nobles. Some of them even gulped from the daring shout of the King. They knew that nobody could talk like that to the Duke for fear of the consequences.

Kian turned around and looked at the man with the crown in his head with a scowl on his face, "I am marrying Princess Lauren Jin, Your Highness, what other means are there to be?"

The King gripped his fist and for the first time in many years, the sight of an angry man showed in his face. He didn't know that the daughter he resented for so long would be the exact copy of her mother. So beautiful, so fragile.

What about that ghostly and ugly appearance? What about that rude behavior? Nothing made sense, it seemed he was lied to for years.

The gaze he gave the Queen was full of threat. How dare she hide her and spout lies at him? He will make sure to punish that woman after the party was over. He will make her regret her stupid schemes.

However, remembering the girl with the same face as her mother, he was invaded with anxiousness and possessiveness. He should have known about her, and she should have stayed with him like his dear daughter. But now…

"Who gave you permission to promise yourself to another man?!"

Lara smirked inside, why should she ask for permission from him?

"I…" she began to say with a little trembling, but she was interrupted.

The Queen had been seething in her seat from the moment she saw her entering the hall. That face was the same as that slut. Almost as if she was seeing the same person.

"I am sorry my King," the Queen said with a sigh, "it was wrong for me to hide it from you, but she has gone overboard for some time now. She had been pacing around with knights and male servants. I don't know what to do with her, I didn't want to hurt her reputation, but she…"

"Shut your trap, Queen, or be mindful of the consequences."

The voice of the Duke made the regal woman clap her lips together and look at him in surprise. She thought of harming Lara's reputation and was looking forward to the Duke's reaction, but she didn't like his lack of respect.

However, she let it go for now and laughed inside, it seemed that it worked. 'He will discard that woman the same as the King banished that slut, Lady Jade.'

Kian smirked at the obvious scheme of that Queen.

"I was the knight," he said with a cold tone but a smile on his face. His eyes were mocking the Queen but, at the same time, sending a warning and a threat. "I was the one who had visited her in hiding for the past few years, and I was the one who saved her from drowning," he chuckled, "It seems that the Palace doesn't have good servants to spare for a little girl. I didn't know the Crown was lacking money, King."

He was lying, of course, but the other nobles and young ladies, though they were silent, were about to whisper among themselves about the dubious behavior of the Princess. If not for the words of the Duke, Lara's reputation would have gone down the drain.

"Wha… what?" the Queen said, "that can't be true, the servants…"

"I dare you to say another lie, Queen," the Duke spouted, "if you chose to believe the word of some servants than mine, then…" he looked at the King, "we don't have much to talk, but I won't let this go."

The King understood the meaning behind those words, who didn't know what kind of power the Duke held?

"Someone come," the King ordered, "take the Queen to her palace and lock her up, she is not to come out until new orders."

The Queen looked at the man she had called husband for so long, the indignation in her eyes and the paleness of her face transmitted how disappointed she was. That man, the King won't even defend his Queen from that man with a lower title than him.

Well, she should have guessed it, that rigid man was never in love with her, he only wanted her for her family's power.

Though, she was the same.