Chapter 34
However, Lilian had a comeback for that too.
“Surely you jest, General Stark.” She smiled. “My last name is Kerr–it’s not up to the Lestrades to lecture me.”
“Lilian Kerr!” Rupert bellowed furiously. “You’re out of line!”
“You’re the ones who are out of line!” Lilian bellowed back, finally having had enough. “I just came to get Grandmother a lucky charm! Is that somehow too much for you too?! What gives you the right to tell me what’s what?!
“That’s especially the case for you, Rupert Lestrade! You’re very much silent whenever I’m wrongly accused, but somehow you’re always ready to lecture me when you have the advantage! What gives you the right?!”
“Because I’m your brother!” Rupert yelled.
There was no question that Emma was at fault, but their families were close friends, and anything could wait until they got home.
Rupert could even complain to House Stark himself and demand that Emma’s parents discipline her.
But no matter what she did, Lilian should not have slapped her!
However, that only left Lilian laughing. “What was that? My brother? Oh, you’re killing me!”
“Lilian!” Rupert bellowed.
Before he could continue, however, Lilian said icily, “My brother died three years ago.”
Her voice was quiet, but everyone in the shrine could hear her clearly.
And even as Rupert stared into Lilian’s icy glare, he felt his breath leaving him.
So in her heart, they were already dead.
She was obviously telling him to die, and he should be furious and lashing out, but he could not manage a word at all.
Even Henry could not help clenching his fist nearby, as an indescribable feeling flared in his heart and instantly consumed every fiber of his being.
His blood seemed to boil, but he somehow remained as still as a statue, completely motionless.
At that point, even Betty and Emma could read the room well enough to tell that Lilian had really snapped just then.
However, that was not the case for Evelyn, who slowly reached out to take Lilian’s hand. “You can’t say that, sis. Rupert’s right there, alive and well!”
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Chapter 34
+25 BONUS
“That’s your brother.” Lilian shook her hand off right then, turning and shooting her a cool look. “And I’m not your sister.”
As she finished, she was ready to leave, only for Evelyn to suddenly drop to her knees, crying, “Lilian!”
Everyone was left bewildered.
Even Lilian did not expect Evelyn to kneel and bawl. “It’s all my fault! I shouldn’t have come back… I shouldn’t have gone to the palace, I shouldn’t have told Prince Michael that you’d be here! It’s all my fault–just blame everything on me!
“Rupert’s really just worried about you… He always cared for you! Don’t disown him because of me!”
Rupert’s heart could break right then.
He could not bear to see Evelyn crying, let alone saying that she should not have returned to the marquis‘ household!
Pulling her to her feet right then, he quickly comforted her, saying, “Stop it, Eve. She’s just that heartless–you
household and it’s have to apologize to her! You’re a daughter of the marquis‘
household and it’s fate that you’ve returned!”
Then, turning to glare at Lilian, he snorted. “On the other hand, there’s someone whose heart is cold and unable to tell right from wrong. No god will answer her prayer, even if she prays a hundred times over!”
“Rupert Lestrade!” Lilian bellowed, her chest heaving. “I just told you that I’ve come to pray for Grandmother. So you’d best pray that the gods never heard what you just said, or if anything happens to her, I’ll never rest until I make you pay!”
She would never deny that she had become a very agreeable person after working at the washhouse for three years.
But now, she could not stop herself from lashing out!
Even as Lilian snarled, the spite in her eyes blazed so violently that it would reduce Rupert to
ashes.
