Chapter 136

Chapter 136

Maria referred to her father directly as “the King,” making it clear that she had truly abandoned the last shred of consideration for him.

The two were now rivals, not father and daughter.

“One week? Why so soon?” Tu Nan frowned slightly, thinking back. “It seems there was still quite some time left before the date originally agreed upon.”

The corners of Maria’s lips curled upward, though a shadow flickered in her eyes.

“He is dying,” she said, her words striking like a thunderbolt.

“Dying?” Tu Nan’s eyes widened. “What happened?”

It hadn’t been long since she last saw the King at the hospital. While she didn’t have a deep impression of him, she remembered that he hadn’t seemed sick enough to be on his deathbed.

Though the King wasn’t exactly robust, he had still appeared quite energetic.

Maria unhurriedly picked up the black tea from the table, brought it to her lips, and gently blew away the steam, taking a slow, deliberate sip.

The tea moistened her lips, making their color appear a shade more vivid.

“He is no longer young. It is only natural for a sudden, acute illness to strike,” Maria said airily.

Her tone was so calm it was as if she were merely discussing the flavor of the tea in front of her rather than her own father’s life and death.

“So that’s why he’s in such a hurry to marry you off?” Tu Nan finally understood the reason.

The King feared that the kingdom would fall into turmoil upon his death, so he was rushing to marry Maria to the Prince of the Neighboring Kingdom to stabilize the situation.

Maria gave a mocking laugh.

“My poor father… he thinks doing this will pave the way for his useless sons.”

Hearing Maria mention the two princes, Tu Nan couldn’t help but frown.

She hadn’t forgotten her other mission.

Making a Prince marry the daughter of a nobleman who was at the end of his rope would be quite difficult.

Most importantly, this was a hidden mission. She couldn’t tell anyone and had to complete it entirely on her own.

“What’s wrong?” Maria glanced at her. “You seem to have something on your mind.”

Tu Nan started slightly and shook her head. “I was just thinking about the current situation and how we can stop you from marrying the Prince.”

To stop this marriage, she might have to work on the parties involved.

“Your fiancé-”

Maria shot her a displeased glare.

Tu Nan followed her lead smoothly. “Alright, I mean, that Prince of the Neighboring Kingdom-what do you know about him?”

Maria knit her brows slightly but gave a relatively objective assessment. “I have met him a few times, but always in public. I couldn’t see anything particularly special about him.”

“His conduct is beyond reproach, and his temper seems mild. He appears much more capable than my two brothers.”

“Has he ever said anything to you?” Tu Nan asked.

“He promised me that I would have everything I wanted after marrying him.” Maria curled her lips. “He even said that I would become a noble Queen in the future and share the kingdom with him.”

Hearing just that, it sounded decent enough.

But to Maria, sharing a kingdom with someone else was far less attractive than enjoying it all for herself.

Moreover, ever since her mother passed away, the King’s cold-heartedness and lack of loyalty had taught her that men were not to be trusted.

They would use sweet words to move your heart, but once they had what they wanted, there was no telling if they would show a completely different face.

“This marriage is now known throughout the city. Canceling it will likely not be that simple.”

On Tu Nan’s way here by carriage, she had seen that streamers had already been hung throughout the Royal Capital to celebrate the Princess’s wedding.
“The best way is to have the Prince take the initiative to cancel it himself.”

“I understand that, of course,” Maria said coldly. “When I first met him, I already expressed my hope that he would call off the engagement, but he was unwilling.”

“Is he in the Royal Palace right now?” Tu Nan asked.

“Naturally.” Maria nodded slightly. “The King has gone to great lengths to ensure he and I ‘cultivate our feelings.'”

“Then why not accept it?” Tu Nan suggested. “Only by knowing your enemy can you know how to deal with him, right?”

Maria paused, a thoughtful expression appearing on her face.

After a few moments, she gave a slight nod.

“You’re right. Perhaps I really shouldn’t keep him at such a distance.”

“If he’s just after your beauty, it’s actually quite easy to solve. I’m only afraid that his desire to marry you is for something else,” Tu Nan warned. “For example… power.”

A flash of coldness crossed Maria’s eyes.

“He happens to have invited me for a picnic in the forest tomorrow, so I might as well go.” She looked at Tu Nan. “You’re coming with me.”

“Happy to be of service,” Tu Nan said with a smile. “But for now, I have a small favor to ask of the Princess.”

Maria arched an eyebrow. “What favor?”

“I have a companion. We’ve temporarily lost contact, and I’d like your help in finding her.”

Maria nodded understandingly. “What is her name?”

Tu Nan shook her head.

“Her status?”

She shook her head again.

“Her appearance, then?”

“I know nothing about any of that,” Tu Nan said honestly.

Maria frowned. “Then how am I supposed to find this person?”

Tu Nan thought for a moment and said hesitantly, “She has a bit of a talent for gardening…”

“A gardener?” Maria asked skeptically.

To be honest, Tu Nan wasn’t sure what Xu Duoyi’s identity was in this Instance either.

But since the other woman’s mission was the same as hers, she would definitely find a way to get close to Maria.

She would just have to keep an eye out when the time came.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

There was a sudden rap at the door.

“What is it?” Maria called out. “Didn’t I say I wanted to speak with Judy alone for a while?”

“Your Highness, the Queen heard you have a guest and specifically sent me to invite the guest to dinner,” the Maid outside replied.

Maria rubbed her temples irritably. “I understand. We’ll be there shortly.”

“Let’s go.” Maria looked at Tu Nan. “You can take this opportunity to meet my two worthless brothers and that Prince of the Neighboring Kingdom.”

Tu Nan struggled to stand up while managing her complicated dress.

Maria suddenly scanned her from head to toe and shook her head.

“What’s wrong?” Tu Nan asked.

“You’ll be laughed at in an outfit like that,” she said ruthlessly. “My two brothers don’t know the first thing about being gentlemen.”

She reached out with two fingers to pinch Tu Nan’s hem, saying with disdain, “Is this fabric torn off your curtains? The Carter Family is a noble house after all; why would they dress their daughter in a gown like this?”

“As you said before, the Carter Family is on the verge of ruin.” Tu Nan didn’t mind the comment. “With a head of the family so obsessed with gambling, even this dress was hard to come by.”

“Change into one of my dresses.” Without changing her expression, Maria called the Maid in to help Tu Nan change.