Chapter 211
People jerked around together to look at the source of that voice.
A young man pushed through the crowd and rushed in.
He was a teenager, roughly 15 years old, standing at a lean and agile figure.
His golden curly hair cascaded in unruly waves, framing a very youthful face.
He had a pair of piercing blue eyes, which reminded Janet of a certain person right. here in this room.
She looked to Westin, and then back to this young man again.
The similarity was striking
These two were definitely related.
âPrince Wells.â
The group of people bowed to him in unison.
There was a tight frown between Westinâs brows, âNot now Wells. We are dealing with important matters here.â
That young man named Wells pouted, looking indignant, âYou havenât even heard me out yet, brother! I know there was a poisoned barrel at the ball tonight and you are looking for the person responsible. I happen to have a witness!â
He beckoned to somebody outside of the crowd.
A maid with a freckled face, dressed in an apron, slowly made her way into peopleâs sight, holding her head down.
âKâKing Westinâ¦Eldersâ¦.Good day,â said she in a small, shaky voice.
âThis is Sammy, the kitchen maid,â Wells introduced.
Elder Lamonte surveyed Sammy with piercing eyes, âWhat is she doing here? Prince Wells, we donât have time to waste on someone irrelevant.â
Wells gritted his teeth.
A rumbling growl came from his throat.
âWatch your tone!â he snarled, âThe only person who gets to scold me is my brother, the King! The rest of you should learn to respect your prince!â
The other elders lowered their heads in silence.
âFine.â Elder Lamonte said, looking disdainful still. âDo continue, my prince.â
Wells turned back to Sammy the maid and patted her back, âGo ahead, Sammy. Tell them.â
âIâ¦I was in the kitchen, preparing for tonightâs feastâ¦â
Sammy clenched her apron, saying in a terrified voice.
ââ¦I was counting the bottles of wine required at the ball and the maid bumped into me from the back. I fell and twisted my ankle. The maid saw that I couldnât walk, so she volunteered to get that wine to the garden for meâ¦I agreed and let her do it⦠Then I bumped into Prince Wells in the kitchen. He said that I should have my ankle examined by a doctor, so we came to the hospital togetherâ¦and that was when
we heard that someone was poisonedâ¦â
âWhy was Wells in the kitchen?â Westin asked grimly.
âPrince Wells often came down to the kitchen for midnight snacks and night cups,â said Sammy.
Westin turned to his brother with a tight frown, âIs it why you skipped the ball tonight? To steal food from the kitchen? You should be at my side entertaining the guests-â
Weils pouted, âGreat, another lectureâ¦But you are missing the point here, brother! The point is that Sammy saw the person who brought the barrels of beer from the kitchen to the garden! That person was the real criminal responsible for the poisoning!â
Janet perked up.
Finally!
Westin didnât see that maid.
Annie lied about ever seeing that maid.
She was at the end of her wits.
But now she finally had somebody to support her version of the story.
It was perfect!
She immediately took a step up and asked Sammy, âYou are certain that you handed all the barrels to that person?â
âYes. I am sure,â Sammy nodded. â18 barrels. I just finished counting when that maid hit me.
âThen it was all clear now.â
Janet looked around the crowd, saying in a loud voice, âThis is a deliberately planned crime. Somebody knocked Sammy down on purpose to hijack the barrels from her and poison the beer. Then the person responsible brought the barrels to the garden, waited for me to show up, and then used my kindness to frame me- âThat canât be right.â Agnes said softly, âAnnie said that she didnât say any maid. near the barrels.â
âAnd I am telling you that there was one. Annie even pointed at her for me,â said Janet in a freezing voice.
Agnes let out a small chuckle, âAnnie, can you tell Lady Janet that she remembered. everything all wrong?â
Annie held her head down in silence.
Agnes tightened her grip on Annieâs shoulder.
Annie shivered, and spoke up in a choking voice, ââ¦LâLady Janet, you remembered. it wrong⦠There was no maid. Nobody asked for your help. Y⦠You carried the barrels into the garden all by yourselfâ¦â
Janet felt a sudden burst of anger.
That poor girl was clearly taken hostage by Agnes!
Just then. Wells strode forward abruptly and dragged Annie away from Agnes by
Just then, Wells strode forward abruptly and dragged Annie away from Agnes by
force.
âStop pinching her you evil woman!â he snarled.
Agnes rounded her eyes, tears welling up, âWhat are you talking about, Prince Wells? I didnât pinch anybodyâ¦â
âI saw you pinching her!â
Wells pointed a finger at her, crying furiously, âYou were manipulating Annieâs testimony, didnât you? Ha, I knew! You are behind everything!â
Agnesâs face turned pale.
She looked to Westin with tears streaming down her face and sobbed pitifully, âMy King, I brought Annie here to helpâ¦I wonât have us insulted like thisâ¦not even by your brotherâ¦â
âCRYING? REALLY?!â Wells said loudly, âDonât get all teared up again. That only works for my brother. Not me!â
Agnes wailed.
She buried her face into her palms, her shoulders shaking, âIâ¦I am just sad⦠If Keavy were still alive, he would definitely come forward and defend meâ¦Yet right now I have nobody by my sideâ¦Just a helpless widow, bullied by everybodyâ¦â
âYou manipulative bitc-â Wells cried.
Elder Lamonte cut him off sullenly, âCareful, Prince Wells. You donât want to call my daughter that.â
He walked up to Agnes and placed a hand on her delicate shoulder.
âKeavy was my son,â he said, staring at Westin darkly. âEver since he died, I have sworn to protect his wife like she was one of my own. Agnes is now a proud member of the House of Shadow. If anyone bullies her, they are also making enemy with my entire House.â
There was a clear hint of threat behind his voice.
Westin narrowed his eyes.
Lamonte turned to face the crowd, an arrogant look on his face, âSammy said that there was a maid. Lady Agnes and my daughter said that there wasnât. So it was a maidâs word against two ladiesâ words. It is clear whom we should believe in-â
âI voucher for Sammy! I am the Prince!â Wells cried, puffing his chest.
Lamonte snorted, âThen I voucher for Annie and my daughter. And I am an elder. Do you really want to keep playing this game, Prince Wells?â
âDonât forget about me, Elder Lamonte.â
Janet spoke up in an icy voice, staring at him and Agnes, âI am also on Sammyâs side. And I am supposed to be your future Queen.â
Lamonteâs lips twisted.
He cackled, âFuture. Queen. With all due respect, you are nothing at the moment, Lady Janet. Just a lowborn werewolf, a potential suspect, who doesnât have a say in anythingâ¦â
âEnough,â Westin said darkly.
He looked to Agnes.
His gaze softened.
âRelax, Agnes. No one can bully you,â he said gently. âYou still have me and the entire Lycanâs Kingdom behind you.â
Janetâs heart sank abruptly.
Agnes looked up with tears still gleaming in her eyes and sobbed, âThenâ¦When are you going to stand up for me? And punish the person who is really responsible?â
Janet clenched her fists.
Agnes was still pushing Westin to punish her!
No.
She couldnât let her-
Just then, the curtain that separated the room was wrenched apart.
The doctor stepped out.
âWe just finished the emergency treatment for Elder Randy,â he said.
âHow is he?â Westin asked urgently.
Janetâs heart jumped to her throat.
If Elder Randyâs situation worsened, or evenâif he died, it would be even harder for her to come out of this alright.
Chapter 212