Chapter 35
Rupert was left stumped.
Lilian was right she only came to get their grandmother a lucky charm.
How could he talk like that? What had gotten into him? Why did he always lose his mind whenever he saw Lilian?
His heart then skipped a beat–forget Lillan, even he would never forgive himself if he ended up jinxing Madam Lestrade!
But then again… Was this not Lilian’s fault?
Otherwise, why was he always able to stay rational around Evelyn, while the mere sight of Lilian always left him so frustrated?
Was it not her fault for saying that he was already dead three years ago? Telling him that he had no right to lecture her?!
No, he would show her right now!
Every bit of grievance that had accrued ever since Lilian returned to the marquis‘ residence erupted in Rupert right then, and he leapt toward her, his hands outstretched.
Despite being surprised as she did not expect him to attack her, Lilian still managed to react right then, sidestepping him.
However, being older and having trained to fight since a child, he was therefore far stronger.
In no time at all, he subdued Lilian, holding her hands firmly in place and stopping her from struggling at all.
Winter dashed straight at them, crying out, “Mr. Lestrade! This is a place of worship, and Prince Michael is still here! Stop this instant and release Ms. Kerr!”
“Begone!” Rupert bellowed, kicking her without a care.
Seeing that Winter was sent flying and coughing blood, Lilian’s eyes could bleed. “You bastard!
“Bastard?!” Rupert bellowed. “Since we were kids, I was the one who protected you and helped you win your fights! I made you a hairpin with my own hands and traveled thousands of miles to get the world’s brightest Night Pearl!
“I’ve done so much for you, only for you to call me a bastard?! Fine, it’s high time someone straightened you out!”
There was already a crowd building up from the commotion inside the shrine, and more gathered as they all watched Rupert drag Lilian outside, flinging her to the floor.
Losing her balance, Lilian held out her hands in reflex to stop herself from falling face first,
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+25 BONUS
Chapter 35
but it still left her palms with bleeding gashes.
Rupert, however, could not care less.
Snatching a broom from a young acolyte, he told everyone, “Ladies and gentlemen, bear witness! She was my sister of eighteen years, but she told me loudly and clearly that I’m dead before the gods! If I don’t discipline her now, I’m afraid she won’t learn to respect me!”
And with that, he swung the broom viciously.
As the broomstick was made from hard wood gathered from towering trees in the mountains, a single hit left Lilian floored, her head spinning.
Rupert, however, was not stopping.
He had been holding back for too long, and he would have his satisfaction now!
On the other hand, all Lilian felt was waves of pain on her back, each hit coming before the last subsided.
Somehow, she felt as if she had returned to her days at the washhouse, left floored by the madame’s whipping while every other maid watched, laughing.
However, there was also something different.
In the end, the madame was just an old woman–she could not muster so much strength as Rupert was doing now.
Lilian had no idea how many times Rupert struck her either, only that he only stopped when the broom broke.
Laughably, he seemed exhausted as he stood there, panting heavily.
That was when someone in the crowd recognized her and spoke up right then. “Aren’t you Ms. Kerr of the marquis‘ household? I’m not pointing fingers here, but the entire town knows that the marquis‘ son had been such a good brother to you. So how could you spit such spiteful words at him?”
