Anastasia's Scheme
Sensing something was wrong with the whole situation, especially when the other party was Lady Anastasia, Melissa immediately stepped forward and pushed Lady Anastasia away with all her might.
She quickly said to Duke Kensington, "Zachary, the Prince seems unwell."
Lady Anastasia, who was pushed away suddenly, quickly came to her senses when she saw the two people who had appeared. Suddenly, she felt scared. She immediately agreed and said, "Yes, yes, the Prince is unwell. I found him like this and tried to help him."
She looked at the woman standing between her and Prince Xavier and her fear was replaced by venomous thoughts. Anastasia felt like strangling this woman to death right now. She had meticulously planned the whole thing. Now with the bitch's appearance, she had ruined everything for her. Nonetheless, she needed to save herself first, if not she would be punished severely if the Queen knew what she had done.
Duke Kensington who was holding Prince Xavier turned to look at Lady Anastasia and then back at the Prince. He knew at a glance what had exactly transpired but didn't say a word. He patted Melissa's arm and said, "Let's go", indicating they should leave immediately.
Melissa cast a glance at Lady Anastasia before following Duke Kensington. As if sensing he's now in safe hands, Prince Xavier no longer struggled and allowed Duke Kensington to help him walk back to his chambers.
Lady Anastasia gritted her teeth and looked at their retreating backs. She stomped her feet and left the place quickly to find her brother. No matter what, she needed to be prepared for the worse. Only her brother could help her now.
In the Prince's chambers, a doctor was immediately summoned to check on him. The Prince appeared delirious and was mumbling something incoherent to those present. He also appeared restless and kept tugging at his clothes, clearly he wanted to take them off. Seeing this, Duke Kensington turned to Melissa and asked her to wait outside. Melissa knew the gravity of the situation and instantly left the room. Damn that woman! She actually dared to drug the Prince in broad daylight! Has she gone crazy??
The doctor checked on the Prince and shook his head. He looked at Duke Kensington and said, "Whoever did this used a very powerful aphrodisiac. I will administer medication to get rid of the drug. Please hold His Highness steady, Your Grace."
After the medication was given, Prince Xavier was no longer struggling and slowly drifted off to sleep. Zachary took his boots off before covering him up. He looked at his cousin's pitiful state and muttered, "To think that you nearly got schemed against, that too by a woman!"
Duke Kensington left the room and instructed the Prince's aid to stay close and do not let anyone enter the room except for the Queen. The aid immediately called few palace guards to guard the Prince's chambers. Before he left, he reminded the aid, "Not a word of today's incident to anyone." The aid nodded in understanding.
Duke Kensington found Melissa waiting in the main hall, her chin propped on her hand, she appeared to be thinking of something. Her eyes were staring ahead but she didn't seem to notice him. He leaned down and whispered in her ears, "What are you thinking of?"
This intimate gesture woke Melissa's senses and she turned to him. However, due to the closeness, Melissa's lips accidentally grazed the Duke's cheek, and if anyone were to look from afar, it would look as if Melissa was kissing him.
Duke Kensington didn't flinch this time, instead he quickly turned his head and moved towards her lips to give her a quick peck. Melissa's cheeks instantly turned red, and she looked away without saying anything. 'Did he think I want to kiss him?? Why is it each time I seemed to be the one wanting the kiss? This is so humiliating.'
Duke Kensington pretended nothing had happened but he was feeling so happy inside. He looked at the blushing woman and said quietly, "The Prince has taken his medication and he's asleep now."
On that note, Melissa looked up to see the Duke's face, which had now turned cold once again.
"The audacity of that woman. Did she actually think she could get away with it?!" Melissa's angry voice startled the man.
"You knew what happened to the Prince?" Duke Kensington asked. Not everyone could understand what had happened just by a glance, at least not a sheltered innocent lady like Melissa.
"Come on, I've seen so many dramas like this on TV, it's so cliche! The obsessive woman drugs the man and drags him to bed. If the man is not heavily sedated, he will succumb to desires and sleep with her. Even if he couldn't do anything and fall unconscious, the woman would still undress him and pretend something did happen between them. Ultimate goal: force the man to take responsibility and marry her. Tsk! So childish!"
Duke Kensington's eyes widened in shock, every word she said was exactly what's going to happen be it not for their interference today. How could she guess so accurately?
"You've seen such scenes before, on TV?" He couldn't help but ponder on what she just said.
Melissa suddenly realized that what she just said was something that this man couldn't comprehend.
"I meant, I've read such things before in some books. It's always the same schemes, haha!" Melissa laughed awkwardly.
"What's a TV?" Duke Kensington probed.
"Did I say that? Haha! You must've heard wrongly. So what do you plan to do now? Are you going to inform the Queen?" Melissa changed the subject quickly.
'She's so strange today.' Duke Kensington stared at the woman in front of him, trying to figure her out.
"Yes, I need to report this incident to the Queen immediately." Duke Kensington affirmed finally.
"Alright, I will wait for you here." Melissa told him. Duke Kensington nodded and went to find the Queen.
In his study, Lord Benjamin was pacing back and forth, his head was throbbing.
"Ana! You're so stupid!! Why would you do something like this?? Do you really think you can get away with it, even if you succeed? The Prince is not foolish to accept the marriage based on deceit! You don't think he would figure it out? Oh my God Ana, Father and I suggested this garden party to create an opportunity for you to approach and charm the Prince, not for you to scheme against him. What would the Queen think of our family if she knew what you've done?!" Lord Benjamin shouted at his foolish sister. He was so angry beyond reason, especially when his sister mentioned she was discovered by Duke Kensington and Lady Melissa.
"Why are you shouting at me?! I know it's wrong but I didn't know what else I can do to make him want me! He didn't even look at me. Do you think he will marry me? This is the only way! That bitch, if she didn't interfere, I would've succeeded by now." Lady Anastasia said angrily.
"Succeeded? Didn't you hear what I just said? Even if you get him in bed with you and force him to marry you, do you think your life would be peaceful and safe? Didn't you know how the Prince is like? He will torment you until you die!" Lord Benjamin closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
"Brother, I don't care. I just want to be the Crown Princess and the future Queen! You have to help me! Please!" Lady Anastasia couldn't care less what her brother had said. She just wanted to get out of this mess and think of another way to seduce the Prince in the future.
Lord Benjamin looked at his sister and asked, "Where did you get the drug?"
"I asked my personal maid to buy it for me." Lady Anastasia replied.
"Were there anyone near you when you handed the drink to Prince Xavier?" Lord Benjamin asked further.
"No Brother, I made sure there were only the both of us." Lady Anastasia said proudly.
'Fool! The Prince would instantly realise it's her doing since they were alone.' Lord Benjamin pinched his forehead, his headache was getting worse.
"Let's maintain the story that you were only trying to assist him when you were found. That's the only option you have." Lord Benjamin told his sister.
Lady Anastasia sighed in relieve but her brother's next words caused her to freeze and her mind gone blank.
"But Ana, one thing you have to realize. The Prince will no longer trust you, no matter how much you want to deny your involvement. Once a seed of doubt is planted, you can never erase it. You might have already ruined your only chance of marrying him when you did this. He will avoid you like a plague in the future. Forget about marrying him, you can never get close to him again."
With that said, Lord Benjamin walked out of his study to find Earl Blackwell. His father needed to know what his precious daughter had done behind their backs.