The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 19: Punishment

Chapter 19: Punishment

Gavin tapped the steel bar of the prison cell, catching the attention of the man. The man was surprised by his sudden arrival.

He attempted to hide the food but it was too late. Gavin had already seen everything.

"My Lord," he greeted Gavin with an awkward smile. "I’m enjoying my last supper..." he jokingly mumbled, scratching his face.

Gavin snorted, arching his eyebrow. "You are right. Do you think you will be spared after claiming you are Princess Eve’s lover? If not the Queen, it’s Alaric who will behead you."

Gavin threatened him, assessing the guy’s reactions. He wasn’t scared at all when he mentioned Alaric’s name.

’Hmm. I am now certain. A powerful person is backing this man. It might be the queen.’ Gavin smirked at that thought.

"You lied about being Princess Eve’s lover. I know who you are." Gavin spoke again, taunting him.

The man furrowed his eyebrows as he gazed at Gavin with a questioning look.

"What do you mean, my Lord?"

"I’ve seen you in the House of Fortune," Gavin uttered, cocking his eyebrow.

The man’s face turned pale upon hearing that place. House of Fortune was a well-known gambling house in the town center of Kingdom Averion.

"You might have mistaken me for someone." He smiled anxiously, feigning innocence.

But Gavin grinned dangerously as he started unmasking this guy and revealing his identity.

"I’ve seen you several times in the House of Fortune when I went there to do some royal inspection. I can’t be wrong. You are well-known..." Gavin deliberately paused, a taunting smile tugging across his lips.

The man held his breath as he waited for Gavin’s next words.

’Damn it. Did he recognize me? Will he see through my disguise? But I don’t have to worry. The queen promised to secure my safety. Even if he exposes my identity, no one will dare touch me. I have the queen’s protection.’

"You are known as the Luckless Lyle, the gambling addict."

The man’s eyes widened in shock, and his mouth gaped. The Duke’s son recognized him. He was Lyle Owen, a gambling addict. He was branded as the Luckless Lyle because he always lost his bets. Despite being unlucky, he couldn’t stop himself from gambling.

"My Lord, my gambling habit has nothing to do with my affair with Princess Eve. We are truly in love with each other." Lyle Owen still tried to deceive Gavin, hoping he would believe his lies.

But Gavin burst out laughing, shaking his head. "You can deceive General Alaric. But not me. There’s no way you’ve met the princess. You stay at the Fortune House twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week."

"Lying to the King is also punishable by death," he added, frightening Lyle Owen.

His threat seemed effective as Lyle Owen knelt in front of him instantly.

"My Lord, please don’t. I’m just following the queen’s order. I–I..." he stuttered from fear.

Gavin smirked. "Tell me everything."

After making him confess, Gavin left the prison cell. At the entrance, he ran into some royal guards who were escorting another prisoner.

Gavi stopped for a moment when he locked eyes with the prisoner.

"Who is he?" He asked one of the royal guards.

"My Lord, General Alaric captured this prisoner in the Moonshade Grove Forest while chasing after Princess Eve."

His eyes lit up at the mention of Eve’s name. "Have you found the princess?"

"Yes, my Lord. She was brought back to the Lotus Pavilion," he politely responded.

"How about the young general? How did he react? Gavin asked with intrigue.

"Yes. General Alaric is still mad because of the princess’ betrayal."

"Have they decided about Princess Eve’s punishment?" He probed further.

"The queen has placed her under house arrest, forbidding her from leaving her quarters. She is also subject to fifty floggings. But General Alaric requested for the royal physician to examine Princess Eve."

A mischievous smile flashed on Gavin’s face as he saw the opportunity to intervene and offer help for Princess Eve.

Meanwhile, Gideon frowned as he listened to the conversation. He was silently observing them as they talked about Princess Eve and General Alaric.

’Princess’ betrayal? It’s her husband who wants to kill her. Why do they sound like Princess Eve was the one at fault?’ Confusion could be seen in Gideon’s face.

Subconsciously, he clenched his fists after hearing Eve’s punishment.

’How cruel they are to the princess! Fifty floggings! Can she survive that?! Her body is already weak and frail.’

Gideon darted his gaze on his surroundings as he planned on his escape route. He couldn’t understand why he was so invested in Princess Eve’s matter. He felt the need to protect and rescue her.

Though his weapons had been confiscated by the royal guards, Gideon wanted to test the security of the royal prison fortress. If the worst-case scenario happened, he would flee, taking Princess Eve with him.

***

At Lotus Pavilion...

The royal physician started examining Princess Eve who was still unconscious. She was having a high fever.

"How is she?" Alaric asked the royal physician. Though he had a stoic expression on his face, deep inside he was worried about the princess’ condition.

"General Alaric, her body is too weak. And she has a high fever. We need to reduce her temperature by giving her a herbal bath. I will prepare the medicine concoction first."

Alaric nodded in understanding. When the royal physician left, Alaric ordered the servant to prepare the herbal bath for Princess Eve.

When the bathtub was ready, he gently carried her frail body in his arms.

"My Lord, you can wait outside. We will take care of the princess." The servant requested him.

"No. Just leave us. I’ll take care of my wife." Alaric insisted in his authoritative voice.

The servants exchanged glances with one another before they retreated.

When they were left alone, Alaric began to dip Eve’s body in the herbal water mixed with lavender and rosemary.

Staring into her sleeping face, Alaric removed his armor. Then he stepped into the wooden tub, joining her. He cuddled her in his arms while soaking in the bathtub.

He felt conflicted. He was supposed to be angry with her but he couldn’t bring himself to neglect her. He should act indifferently, however he couldn’t stand seeing her getting sick.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.