Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 206: The family’s bet

Chapter 206: The family’s bet

The family continued to have their breakfast in silence, until Hamon cleared his throat to gain everyone’s attention. He then spoke with an impassive expression as he looked at each one of them, "I am aware everyone of you must have heard about the attempted assassination on my wife and I few days ago. And I know you must have heard about her injuries as well...I want the culprit behind this severely punish."

No one said anything, but some had their suspicions about the culprit, but it wasn’t for anyone to point fingers. When no one spoke, Merona began, "I’ve heard rumors that marquis Tudor was the culprit, but he’d gone missing a few days ago. If you want, I can assist you with some men to help capture him. The culprit indeed needs to be punish."

Hamon already knew Merona was the main culprit behind the assassination, and her fake concerns were nothing short of a mockery. He offered her a tight smile, "You don’t have to trouble yourself, dear mother...because I know who the damn tomfool of a culprit is, I only brought this up here because..." His red eyes shone dangerously for a moment. It was so spooky that even Merona who sat opposite him swallowed dryly.

He continued, "Because I want to take permission from the king to grant me the authority to handle this tomfool of a culprit myself." He turned his gaze to Fredrick, "Your majesty, regardless of the culprit’s rank, I want to chop their heads off and hang them out on the streets for all to see."

Cassius’s smug face immediately turned ugly when he realized that Hamon was openly talking about his mother, he even dared called her a tomfool?!

Hamon ignored Cassius’s angry glares and continued to speak calmly, "Your majesty, it’s a huge crime for an attempted murder on the royal, I want to take full charge of the case and your permission for such punishment against the culprit."

Fredrick’s eyes flicked involuntary towards Merona, who looked stiff on her seat, he then replied with a gentle smile as if he knew nothing, "Very well then. I grant you my permission to take any actions against the culprit once you have full evidence against whoever it was. It is a huge crime to attempt to kill the crown Prince and his wife."

Hamon nodded then replied with a satisfied expression, "Thank you, I shall provide the evidence to you after the tournament."

Ara glanced at Hamon in astonishment. Although sometimes his tempestuous personality would always take the best of him and made him act rashly without thinking of the outcome, but now, he seemed to have a grasp on the matter. It wouldn’t be easy for him to gather the evidence against Merona, but it would be hard for her to escape Hamon’s clutches once he had all the evidence. She wondered how he planned to gather the evidence...

Silence hung in the air, until Eadlin’s soft thinny voice broke the awkward silence, "Sister-in-law, I heard about the ambush on you and brother, and I am sorry to hear about your injuries. I hope you get better soon."

Ara smiled, Although she had a thing with the queen, Eadlin had nothing to do with all this, "Oh, it wasn’t severe. I am all good now, Thank you for your concern."

Eadlin beamed, "It’s nothing sister-in-law, we are family after all. If you want, I can come to keep you company in your_"

Merona shot a warning glare to her daughter, who didn’t seem to heed her words to stay away from the bastard and his wife. Eadlin knew what her mother’s glare meant, and quickly cleared her throat and glanced down at her food instead.

Another awkward silence fell in the dinning hall, only the sounds of cutleries and plates were heard. It was Fredrick who broke the uncomfortable silence, "Daughter-in-law, I heard your older brother is one of this year’s participants in the tournament. What’s his name again?"

It seemed the king was trying to ease the heavy atmosphere in the dinning hall by asking about her brother. Ara thought. She then grinned, "Henry, Your majesty. My older brother is an excellent sword fighter since childhood, and I am sure he would be considered a potential winner."

Kane, who had been quietly observing his so called family members, sneered hearing her words, "Oh, I hope this brother of yours is really as excellent as you make him sound, Your Highness. Or else his broken bones or perhaps even his dead body would be retrieved from the arena on the day of the tournament." He remarked with a smug look on his face as he used his fork to poke his food.

Ara didn’t know why but she didn’t like Kane one bit just like she hated his father to the bones, but she tried to maintain her cool. But before she could retort_

"Kane, I assure you my brother-in-law is not to be reckoned with. I can bet anything on it that Henry would win over you this time. So do yourself a favour and don’t be too full of yourself, dear cousin." Hamon stated nonchalantly.

Right from childhood, Kane had been Hamon’s big bully. Back then when all the family would come together at the palace, Kane would gather his minions and taunt Hamon by calling him different names.

_You don’t belong here, monster. You are nothing but a filthy creature, who’ll rot in hell. Nobody wants you here!

Even though he’d taunt him then, Hamon had never paid much heed to the big bully, who knew nothing but to get under ones skin.

Kane laughed darkly hearing Hamon’s remarks, "You think your so called brother-in-law can win against me in this tournament? Che! Bullshit! How about we wait and see how I’ll emerge victorious on that day. If I Kane de Biville should lose against your brother-in-law...I shall lose my title as one of the royals."

Cornell’s grey eyes snapped towards his son, but he didn’t say anything and pretended as if he wasn’t in the room. Cassius chimed in with a smirk, "Big cousin Kane will surely win this tournament. He’s a remarkable warrior, and the Boxton eldest son is a pin compared to him."

Hamon’s lips tugged up as he clapped his hands, "Well, that’s wonderful. I can’t wait then."

Ara watched with rounded eyes as the family bet on the tournament. She knew Henry was good with various weapons, he’d started training with a sword since he was seven. But seeing how Kane had bet his title on it, made her worry about her brother.

Fredrick then said, "Hmm, How about this, whoever the winner, be it Henry or Kane, I will reward the winner handsomely apart from the usual rewards given to that person_Cough, Cough..." at the king’s words, Kane’s eyes shone brightly.

After that was said, the family meal soon came to an end, and everyone began to leave. Cassius left with Kane, while the couple also left together. But Fredrick invited Cornell to have tea with him in the garden, and the duke gladly accepted.

Meanwhile, After the breakfast, Merona returned to her residence with her daughter, who walked behind her nervously. "Eadlin, what have I told you about staying away from that bastard and his wife."

"Mother_"

"Do you want me to send you away from the palace again?!"

"No, mother. I was asking about her_"

"Shut up! If I ever see you talking to her or even showing concern...I will marry you off to some rich Lord to gain more support for your brother. Now go back to your room! If I catch you sneaking around...you’re doomed." She rebuked with irritation laced in her voice.

Eadlin flinched and quickly ran out of the room with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Merona returned to sit on her chair, her foul mood intensified recalling Hamon’s words again about finding evidence, "Was it only an empty threat? Does he really know who the culprit is?" She muttered to herself. She could not grasp what Hamon’s intentions were, but she needed to be extremely careful now.

Even a rat, when cornered would bite back at the cat. Ever since the assassination, the bastard had started to be on high alert.

After furiously running through the information again in her head, she gestured for Hera, who stood on one side to come forward, "Your majesty?" She bowed.

Merona then said, "send a letter to Edwin to come to my residence later in the evening."

"Yes, Your majesty."

Merona had to make sure her brother had done a good job hiding their tracks. She didn’t know how Hamon planned to gather the evidence, but she wouldn’t want to be found guilty. Thankfully, rumors had it that marquis Tudor had fled the kingdom, without him there was no way she’d be found out.

With that thought, Merona’s troubled mind settled a bit, she then asked,"What about the plans we had for Claire?"

"We are still looking for ways to bring her out of the crown Prince’s dungeon before she says anything against you. Don’t worry she will be out of there in a few days."

Merona’s lip tugged up,"Well done. She will be of good use to our next plan." After saying that, she suddenly remembered another thing, and asked, "Is it true that the Boxton eldest son could really win this tournament?"

"Well, I’ve checked into his background, he’s a well-skilled fighter when it comes to weapons. And has been training for the tournament for so long now."

"Henry Boxton..." Merona had heard when the king gave his words to reward the winner double the prize of the tournament, but if Henry should win this tournament, the Boxton family would surely raise to power, and with such fame and power, they might support Hamon to get the throne.

Merona didn’t like the idea of the Boxton family becoming more powerful than they were, it could ruin her plans. She tapped her fingers on the arms of her chair as she tried to think of a solution.

"We have to interfere in this rise to power...we have to get rid of the root before it begins to grow larger."

"Your majesty?"

Merona glanced at Hera with a thoughtfully expression, "In all the years of the sword tournament, a lot of families had lost their loved ones in it, it wouldn’t be something new if it happens again in this year’s tournament. I want you to..." She began to explain her plans to Hera as her brown eyes glimmered with a mirthful light. She had to get rid of Henry, and the way to do that without any suspicious would be through the tournament.

While the pair discussed about the plans to get rid of Henry Boxton, unknown to them the princess hadn’t left yet, she stood outside the door listening in on their conversation. Her face turned ghostly pale hearing what her mother planned to do to Henry at the tournament.

’Mother...how could you be this heartless? The Boxton eldest son hadn’t offended you in anyway...’ another bead of thick tear drops rolled down her cheeks. She then wiped it off with her sleeve as she hurried away from there before they noticed her presence outside. She knew her mother disliked Hamon, but she was going too far involving innocent souls in her stupid plans because of the throne.

’I won’t let you harm someone who’d done nothing wrong, mother. I won’t!’

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