Prince Xavier is Enraged

Prince Xavier woke up in a daze. He was clearly trying to get away from Lady Anastasia. Why was he on his bed? Did she.... Prince Xavier covered his face with his hand, anger slowly raising and eventually it consumed his whole entire being. His reached out to the nearby vase, took it and swung it across the room, shattering the glass all over his room. 

Duke Kensington walked in the moment the vase made contact with the marble floor, and barely managed to cover his face from being shredded by the shards of glasses. He looked at the Prince's angered face, his blue eyes turned so dark that it was filled with an intent to kill. 

"Nothing happened to you. She didn't succeed." Duke Kensington quietly addressed the issue.

Knowing his cousin, that man must've already thought the worst.

Prince Xavier looked up to see Duke Kensington's grim expression. He closed his eyes in relieve. He thought that vile woman had already succeeded and he would be forced to take her as his wife. If she didn't succeed, it means someone must've intervened. 

"Was it you?" He asked the Duke.

"And Melissa." Duke Kensington told him the truth. Well, probably he added Melissa's name just to provoke the Prince, it wouldn't hurt.

"What?? She was there too?" Prince Xavier groaned and covered his face again.

"I've informed the Queen. It's your words against hers so it'd be pointless. However, the Queen will use this opportunity to sever all possibilities of her marrying you. She won't bother you anymore, unless if you give her the chance to do so." Duke Kensington warned his cousin.

"Not a chance in hell! Damn woman! I was too eager to get rid of her and fell for her disgusting scheme. Don't make me see her, I'll strangle her to death." Prince Xavier angrily spat out his words. 

"Thank you Zachary." Prince Xavier said after a moment of silence. No matter what, if it's not for his cousin's and Melissa's intervention, the situation would be different now. 

"It was actually Melissa who alerted me of your condition. She actually pushed Lady Anastasia away from you." Duke Kensington recounted the situation to Prince Xavier. 

Prince Xavier was surprised. She actually pushed Lady Anastasia off him? 

"She might be her next target, Xavier. Now that she can't get you, Anastasia would channel her attention towards her." Duke Kensington's worry voice reached the Prince's ears. He immediately looked at the Duke. 

"We have to keep her safe. If Lady Anastasia could do this to me, she might do worse to Melissa." Prince Xavier said.

Duke Kensington nodded. He was wondering whether he should alert his cousin about Lord Benjamin Blackwell, but decided not to. He was already schemed against by a Blackwell, if there's another Blackwell comes into the picture, he might seriously do something to both the brother and sister. Duke Kensington knew very well how Prince Xavier's mind works. He's ruthless to his enemies, but loyal to family. Luckily they're cousins, if not the Prince might have used his power and status to get Melissa away from him. 

"Melissa's art gallery will be ready next week. It's an open invitation to all so we can't stop Lady Anastasia from attending. We need to be prepared." Duke Kensington reminded the Prince.

"Alright, let's do what we can. I will attend with Mother, so I won't be able to stay long. You need to watch over her Zachary." The Prince said regretfully.

"I will, don't worry." Duke Kensington assured him.

"By the way, you still have not answered my earlier question. Did something happen between the both of you?" Suddenly remembering something, Prince Xavier quickly asked.

"Give it a rest Xavier. You should worry more about yourself. Only God knows how many more women are scheming against you as we speak. Why do you bother about the one who is not?" Duke Kensington's tone was full sarcasm.

"Does that even make any sense? You're just avoiding my question. I knew it! Something did happen. Did you kiss her??" Prince Xavier said, narrowing his eyes towards his suspicious cousin.

Duke Kensington's eyes widened in surprise. How the hell did this brat know?

Looking at his expression, Prince Xavier quickly sat up straight! 

"You!!" Prince Xavier said aloud and wanted to say more but he was interrupted by Duke Kensington.

"Cousin, I'm actually on my way to meet Melissa. Now that you're fine, I must get going. I don't want to keep her waiting. I'll see you later!" Duke Kensington spoke so fast and didn't give the Prince any chance to react. He quickly exited the room and laughed out loud. 

Prince Xavier heard the laughter and threw his pillows on the floor in annoyance. 

Meanwhile at the main hall, Earl Blackwell was facing a very displeased Queen. His back was sweating and he was really nervous. When his son told him of Anastasia's doing, he nearly fainted from both anger and anxiety. Today, he was summoned to meet the Queen. That means, the Queen had already found out from Prince Xavier what had transpired between him and Lady Anastasia yesterday. 

"Earl Blackwell, you seemed nervous. Are you feeling unwell?" The Queen asked purposely to taunt this man. 

"No, Your Majesty. I'm feeling quite alright. To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting Your Majesty today?" Earl Blackwell asked respectfully.

"Earl Blackwell. Yesterday, a very unpleasant incident had occurred right under my nose. Have you heard of it from your daughter?" The Queen asked him.

"Well, Anastasia did mention that the Prince was sick suddenly yesterday and she wanted to assist him but was rejected. Luckily, Duke Kensington arrived on time to help the Prince." Earl Blackwell averted his eyes, feeling guilty.

"That's what she told you?" The Queen asked him, her tone slightly higher.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Earl Blackwell replied.

"The Prince's drink was laced with powerful aphrodisiac, which made him very sick. The person who handed him the drink was your daughter. Did she mention this to you?" Queen Serina said directly.

"Your Majesty, all Anastasia said to me was that she wanted to help the Prince, and nothing more. As for the drink, although she's the one who had given it to His Highness, someone else could easily do that to frame her, Your Majesty." Earl Blackwell tried to reason with the Queen. 

"I see. You favour your daughter, it's understandable. You're a parent after all and parents must always prioritise their own children. You see Earl Blackwell, as a Queen, I am obliged to adjudge a case fairly based on evidence. However, before I am a Queen, I am a Mother first. I believe my son when he told me that it was your daughter who had committed such a disgraceful act against him. As a Queen, I will not punish your daughter since she had deny involvement. However, I need to tell you outright that as a Mother, I will never accept such woman to be my daughter-in-law. Please do not raise the subject of marriage between your daughter and my son, ever again." The Queen said resolutely, while glaring at the guilt-ridden man in front of her. 

Earl Blackwell was relieved when the Queen said she would not punish his daughter. Since the Queen had taken the middle ground, Earl Blackwell did not dare to push the Queen any longer and could only nod his head and thanked Her Majesty for her graciousness and understanding.

With that, the matter of marriage was easily resolved by the Queen.