Chapter 26
Rupert followed the marquise into Cherryton.
Evelyn had already mostly recovered thanks to the family doctor’s care and was basically fine, aside from the occasional cough.
When Rupert and the marquise arrived, she was in the garden, admiring the flowers.
The marquise frowned right then, seeing how thinly she was dressed. “What are you doing out here? You have yet to recover, and you’re not wearing layers either! Quick, get inside!”
Putting her arm around Evelyn, they hurried inside, with the marquise then calling Jade to bring some hot water while whipping out a bottle of medicine. “I heard your cough was serious, so I pulled some favors to get this from the palace pharmacy.
“I was told it’s from the Valley of the Potion Lords, and the empress herself had been coughing for two weeks and was cured with this.”
Rupert watched as the marquise fed Evelyn the medicine and realized right then why the marquise was in such a hurry to see his sister.
He was worried too, but seeing that Evelyn’s complexion was rosy and had not coughed since they came, she must be fine.
So, he was more worried about the other issue at hand.
“You didn’t tell me anything, Mother!” he exclaimed. “What happened between you and Lily? Why were you crying in the carriage? And what did Lily mean by ‘over the next few months“?”
The marquise waited until Evelyn took her medicine before breathing a long sigh. “I’ve arranged for her to be engaged to Prince Michael. She will go to Glaston with His Highness in three months, so stop bothering her! Who knows when she will return…
She trailed off, tears welling up in her eyes.
Rupert, however, was stunned. “Prince Michael! Have you lost your mind, Mother?! How could you do that?!”
Evelyn was left confused. “What’s wrong, Rupert? His Highness hasn’t done much, but he’s still an important man, and Lily would be respected once she becomes a princess. Why are you so upset?”
If anything, she thought that Lilian had really shot for the stars!
However, Rupert was pacing around, clearly flustered. “You know about it, Mother! Prince Michael… He’s…”
He could not bring himself to say it in front of Evelyn, but the marquise understood.
Breathing a long sigh once more and wiping her years, she asked, “Then what do you think I
+25 BONUS
Chapter 26
should do? Lily has just left the washhouse–even if she’s still considered a daughter of the marquis, everyone else knows that she’s a Kerr! What better husband could I have gotten her?!
“Anyone but Prince Michael!” Rupert snarled venomously. “Aren’t you just sending her off to die?!”
“What are you talking about?!”
The marquise snapped at him right then, “You’re an adult–think before you speak! Your head will roll if someone hears that!”
Rupert quickly shut up as he realized his misspoke.
However, he was still heaving.
Seeing that, the marquise breathed a long sigh as she tried to assure him, “You have nothing to worry about. Lily said yes to the engagement as well.”
Rupert turned sharply toward her, frowning as he demanded, “Did you tell her everything?”
For some reason, the marquise was not meeting his gaze, but she nodded.
Rupert was shocked, “She knew, and still agreed to marry him anyway?”
The marquise took a deep breath, unsure how to respond for a while.
Eventually, she snapped, “Just stay out of this, and don’t bother Lily anymore!”
Rupert did not respond, but anger showed all over his face.
She was willing to marry scum like Prince Michael?!
‘Lilian Kerr, you’re such a disappointment!‘
