Chapter 184

Chapter 184

Tu Nan’s pupils shifted faintly.

That night, she had not stayed at the ball for very long. Most people only had a vague impression of her, let alone being able to tell whether the dress she wore was silk or velvet.

For Dennis, who had spent years moving among women, telling the difference was not difficult. More importantly-they had shared a dance.

But Dennis had not exposed her. At least, not when they were in the hall.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Tu Nan paused, deciding it would be better for her to keep pretending she knew nothing.

“Are you suspecting me? Do you think I am the culprit who murdered the King?” she said in panic, tears welling in her wide eyes. “Why would I do such a thing? It would do me no good at all.

“As for the dress you mentioned.” Tu Nan lowered her head and gave a sob, her shoulders trembling slightly. She looked utterly heartbroken and afraid. “You must be remembering it wrong.”

“I know very well that my memory has not deteriorated to that extent.” Dennis looked at her, his tone very gentle. He took a handkerchief from inside his coat and held it out to Tu Nan. “Please don’t worry. I have no intention of telling anyone about this.”

Tu Nan’s trembling shoulders went still. She lifted her head to look at Dennis, her eyes narrowing slightly. The tears she had not had time to wipe away slid down her cheeks.

Maintaining her fragile expression, Tu Nan wondered what Dennis wanted.

Why hadn’t he exposed her? That was not hard to guess. After all, once Eugene was convicted, Dennis had gone from an unimportant Prince to first in line.

It was obvious: Eugene’s death brought him nothing but advantages.

But why expose her now? They could clearly have maintained a superficial peace.

In truth, it did not matter who had drugged the King. What mattered was that they had both lost a rival.

Dennis still held the same posture. His hand hovered in midair, the handkerchief stopped right in front of Tu Nan’s eyes, like a kind of silent pressure.

Tu Nan raised her hand and took the handkerchief, gently dabbing at the damp traces at the corners of her eyes.

Dennis smiled in satisfaction.

“You must be very curious why I didn’t expose you back then, yet brought it up now.”

Tu Nan did not speak. She was waiting for Dennis to continue.

“Actually, the most important reason is-” He deliberately drew out his words, watching Tu Nan’s reaction. With satisfaction, he caught a flash of impatience on her face.

“-you know, in a sense, what you did helped me quite a bit,” he said. “Although I don’t understand your intentions, I chose to conceal it for you. On one hand, having Eugene be the poisoner was indeed more beneficial to me. On the other hand-”

He suddenly placed his hand on the table, palm up, and looked deeply at Tu Nan.

Tu Nan stared at him, confused. She looked at Dennis’s face, then at the hand he had placed on the table, and finally met his gaze again.

Dennis gave her an encouraging look.

Tu Nan placed her hand in his palm.

The corners of Dennis’s mouth lifted, and he tightened his grip around her hand.

His palm was very warm. The feeling of their skin touching made Tu Nan deeply uncomfortable. She hated this sensation.

“On the other hand-” Dennis went on, “I have a great deal of affection for you. Yes, you can take that to mean I like you.”

Tu Nan controlled her expression, making herself look pleasantly surprised.

“R-really?” She blinked, her lashes trembling slightly, making her eyes look exceptionally captivating. “Oh my God, I… I’m flattered, Prince Dennis.”
“Overwhelmed by the honor,” she repeated.

Her reaction pleased Dennis immensely. His vanity was satisfied, and there was also a strange warmth flowing through his chest. If he savored it carefully, it even carried a honeyed sweetness.

No one could refuse him, especially when he was about to become King.

Dennis was absolutely certain that no one could stop him now. Eugene was dead. In this entire country, he was the only one who could ascend the Throne.

He had only one lingering concern left. A tiny one, so small it was almost negligible.

“I need you to do me a favor,” he said to Tu Nan. “A small favor.”

Tu Nan looked at him. “What favor?”

“You and Maria are very close. I know that.” He sighed regretfully. “I don’t want to do this either, but I have to.”

Tu Nan patiently watched him put on his feigned look of regret.

“I know you would never do something so dangerous for no reason. An ordinary noble young lady-why would she risk poisoning the King? Someone must have ordered you to do it.

“In this Royal Palace, aside from Maria, I can’t think of a second person.”

He sighed deeply. “She is my sister, a beautiful young girl who should have happily married a Prince. Tracy is a fine match. And yet she just had to develop far too many thoughts she never should have had.

“What exactly is she trying to do? Can she truly be so delusional as to have designs on that position as well?”

Tu Nan only felt that the hand gripping hers was burning hot.

Dennis suddenly tugged hard, pulling her entire body forward.

He rose to his feet, one hand clasping hers and the other braced against the table. Leaning over, he drew close and stared fixedly into her eyes.

“You two are good friends. You must know what she wants to do. Tell me, Judy. Tell me.”

Tu Nan looked at this Prince who had always wrapped himself in lust and stupidity. He was not as absurd as the rumors made him out to be. Then how much of it had been a lie?

Had he been using this method to protect himself? Eugene had been a brutal man. If Dennis had shown even the slightest interest in that position, Eugene would certainly have found some way to eliminate him. Now, at last, the stone blocking his path had disappeared, and he could finally relax enough to reveal a hint of his true self.

Was that it? she wondered.

Then what should she do to make him trust her?

Dennis saw those eyes flicker in panic, and even their owner’s breathing grew disordered.

“She… she…” Judy’s face filled with hesitation, as though she were still struggling with herself.

“Tell me,” he said, all tenderness and sweet persuasion.

“Yes.” She seemed to finally make up her mind. Meeting his eyes, she said, “She is indeed very ambitious. She wants to take the King’s place, and she plans to act tomorrow.”

Dennis let go of her hand.

He returned to his seat, his expression dark and unreadable, impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Tu Nan watched him without moving.

“Act tomorrow?” Dennis murmured. “Isn’t tomorrow the Church’s sacrificial ceremony? What does she intend to do during the ceremony?”

“She plans to take advantage of the moment when everyone’s attention is on the Saintess and push the King into the flames.”

“Has she lost her mind?” Dennis’s face changed drastically in shock.