Chapter 176

Chapter 176

The Maid brought a lavish breakfast to the dining table, then lowered her head and withdrew from the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

Dennis had already changed his clothes. With a smile, he invited Tu Nan to sit.

“I didn’t expect you to come see me,” he said. “After everything that happened last night, I thought you would be resting.”

“What happened last night really was unexpected.” Tu Nan sat down at the table and gave a faint, worried sigh. “I never imagined the Eldest Prince would actually…”

Dennis sat down beside her, and the expression on his face was none too pleasant either.

“Yes. Who could have imagined it…” A strange look flashed across his face, then quickly vanished. Dennis reached out and poured Tu Nan a cup of black tea. “A beautiful lady shouldn’t trouble herself over such things.”

Tu Nan accepted the tea, took a small sip, then set down the cup and said gently, “I had hoped to have a proper conversation with you last night, but unfortunately, so many accidents occurred. With something like this happening, you must be the one suffering most. Please don’t grieve too deeply.”

Dennis sighed. “For now, I only hope Father can recover as soon as possible.”

The two of them chatted casually for a while longer. Then Tu Nan, as if asking in passing, said, “What you told me last night about the Queen… was it true?” She gave an embarrassed little smile. “Please don’t misunderstand. I’m only a little curious. After all, a Maid becoming Queen sounds rather unbelievable.”

Dennis nodded. He set down the knife and fork in his hands, spread his arms, and rested them casually over the back of his chair. “It isn’t exactly a secret in the Royal Palace. It’s just that the King issued an order forbidding anyone from discussing it.”

Tu Nan’s eyes glittered with interest. “Since she used to be a Maid… whose Maid was she?”

Dennis glanced at her with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, the corner of his mouth curling in mockery.

“Why, the previous Queen’s, of course.”

Tu Nan’s heart stirred, but she showed only surprise. “That…”

“A personal Maid to the previous Queen became the next Queen after the previous Queen died. It truly was a royal family scandal,” Dennis said with a sigh. “But of course, my father, whose mind had been clouded by so-called love, didn’t care about any of that.”

“Then Maria… does she know?” Tu Nan furrowed her brows slightly. “That seems rather… difficult for her.”

“Her?” Dennis shrugged. “Who knows? Although the King ordered that she not be told, I imagine she isn’t completely unaware. After all, her attitude toward the Queen has always been lukewarm over the years.”

Tu Nan’s fingers unconsciously twisted at the hem of her clothes.

Did Maria know about this?

“Are you afraid Maria will be hurt if she finds out?” Dennis asked, smiling at her.

Tu Nan paused for a moment, then nodded. “After all, Princess Maria and I are good friends.”

Dennis laughed softly.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Before Dennis could speak, an anxious voice rang out from outside.

“Prince Dennis, the Eldest Prince Eugene committed suicide out of fear of punishment in the dungeon last night.”

The anger that had just begun to gather on Dennis’s face abruptly froze. He shot to his feet, strode to the door, and pulled it open. Then he demanded sharply of the person outside, “What did you just say?”

The Maid lowered her head and, trembling, repeated what she had just said.

Dennis’s expression shifted again and again, and his gaze darkened.

Eugene… was dead?

“How could something like this happen?” Tu Nan also rose and walked to the doorway. Looking at Dennis, whose expression was changing unpredictably, she spoke with regret. “Your Highness Dennis, please accept my condolences.”
Dennis looked as if he had been roused from a dream. His expression twisted into something between laughter and tears, and he lowered his head, covering his face with one hand.

“The King has asked you to come over,” the Maid said softly. Then she looked at Tu Nan, tears welling in her eyes. “Please, Miss Judy, don’t tell anyone about this.”

“Of course.” Tu Nan nodded. “I completely understand.”

No one would want a scandal like this getting out.

“I’m sorry, but I have to excuse myself.” Dennis raised his head. His voice was unusually hoarse, and his eyes were faintly red.

“Please take care of yourself,” Tu Nan said gently. “If there’s anything I can do to help, you must let me know.”

Dennis looked at her deeply, then reached out and patted her shoulder. “Of course. I will.”
—
Eugene had “killed himself out of guilt,” and Maria would certainly be summoned away as well. Tu Nan abandoned her original plan to look for Maria, turned on her heel, and headed in another direction.

The envoys from the neighboring kingdom would be staying in the Royal Palace during this period, and Emily was among them.

Tu Nan went straight to her door.

Emily was in the courtyard, swinging on a swing. When she heard someone had come to visit, she immediately had Tu Nan invited in.

She sat leisurely on the swing seat, both legs dangling in midair, looking perfectly innocent and carefree.

“You’re here?” Emily looked at Tu Nan with a beaming smile. She waved for everyone to withdraw before continuing, “I didn’t expect you to come so quickly.”

“I hope I’m not disturbing you.” Tu Nan walked to her side and looked down at her.

“Sit.” Emily patted the empty space beside her. “We’re friends. No need to be so polite.”

Tu Nan sat down beside her.

“This place isn’t quite what I imagined,” Emily said, tapping the ground with the tips of her shoes. “I thought it would be more interesting.”

“Wasn’t last night’s show interesting enough?” Tu Nan smiled faintly.

“I’ve seen plenty of shows like that since I was little.” Emily propped up her chin, her interest waning. “I’m already tired of them. They really aren’t much fun.”

“Then what do you find interesting?” Tu Nan asked softly.

Emily thought about it seriously, but for a moment, she had no answer.

Given her status, she had seen just about everything since childhood. Ordinary things could hardly pique her interest.

“I wonder if you’ve heard that the Church will soon be holding a sacrificial ceremony?” Tu Nan watched her expression and spoke slowly. “I heard that on that day, the deity will send down a miracle.”

“Oh?” Emily raised her brows slightly, a trace of interest appearing on her face. “Is that true?”

“Perhaps you’d like to visit the Church and take a look?” Tu Nan suggested. “That will be where the ceremony is held.”

Emily’s dark pupils shifted, as if she were considering whether the suggestion was feasible.

“Father won’t let me run around as I please,” she said, troubled.

Tu Nan frowned slightly, thinking about how she might persuade Emily.

“But who cares?” Emily winked at her playfully. “It’s not like I’ve ever listened to him.”

Tu Nan paused. “But… without the Duke’s permission, will they let you leave?”

She was referring to the Soldier detail stationed at the entrance.