Chapter 52

"What are you talking about, Ian?"

"I didn't think my brother was this stupid. Poison?" he scoffed. "Of course, it might not be him…"

Lia threw his hand off reflexively. "Ian, are you saying…"

He looked at her with an expression she'd never seen before. "Things are going to become very complicated from now on, Camellia. So come with—"

"No," said Kieran, stepping in front of Lia. "You must hide. Otherwise, war is inevitable."

House Bale's guards surrounded the Gaiorian prince and pulled him away.

"Figured out who's behind it already?" Ian commented nonchalantly. "I expected nothing less from Marquis Bale."

"Go!" Kieran urged, seeing the imperial guards approaching.

The palace was under lockdown, meaning the only way of escape was Wade's secret passageway, which could be closed off if Claude got there first.

"We must leave now, Your Highness." A man with fresh scars on his face appeared at Ian's side.