Kissing Hellfire: Marry Me, Evil Lord
Chapter 144: Not a Coincidence

Chapter 144: Not a Coincidence

Standing by the castle’s tower, Alec looked over the vast lands of Evardin. After his talk with Lauren last night, he figured out that if she wanted to leave the castle, he would certainly follow her wherever she went. It was the first time in his life that he felt the urge to cling onto something so bad, without a second thought, and without thinking what it would cost him.

He wasn’t sure when he fell for her. If it was the first time he noticed her on the balcony of her room that night, if it was during those occasions he watched her in the crowd, if it was that rainy night when she came to his doorstep, or it if was during those moments she was staring at him with her deep blue eyes which never failed to haunt the deepest desires of his dead soul.

He accepted her marriage offer because he found it entertaining. The black sheep of the royal family trying to rule the world with her little fingers. He found it ridiculous at first. Impossible. He thought she was just a bratty princess who was being rebellious for shallow reasons.

Yet, every time they met he was always surprised by her. She had so much schemes in her sleeves. Unlike how most people thought of her, he found her sharp, capable, someone who knew what she was doing and how to get what she wanted. For a woman her age, she had some real backbone enough to stand on her own.

She was too independent that sometimes he felt like he wasn’t needed in her life. And he wanted her to need him. He wanted her to fully open up to him, but it seemed like she was having a hard time trusting him.

He knew that something was going on with Lauren. From her unusual temperature at times, her high sensitivity to cold, that day when she was said to be poisoned in the Haystone’s mansion... he might be silent about it but in truth, he was aware of every little thing happening to her.

He understood why it was hard for her open up to him. She had a rough life in the castle and those years of being not able to trust anyone in the place she grew up in must have forced her to build a wall between herself and other people. She might appear strong, but deep down she had a wounded soul aching to be soothed. Life struck her hard. She was traumatized, he could see it whenever she cried in her sleep.

Alec could taste the fury in his tongue whenever he thought about everything Lauren had gone through at the hands of her so-called family. If he only had the chance to torture them one by one, he would have done it.

He knew she wasn’t being completely true to him when she told him her reason for wanting to leave, and he was determined to know what she was hiding from him.

The world could be damned but there was no way he would ever let her out of his sight. Whether she liked it or not. He would force himself on her until she embraced every bit of him.

"Your Majesty," Matthias came and stood by Alec’s side. He bowed before reporting to him, "Lady Jennifer Haystone was found dead on her way to the castle. She seemed to be brutally murdered."

"What a surprise," Alec muttered. He did not expect the death of the woman, but it somehow pleased him. He did not like Lauren’s idea of bringing Jennifer into the castle even though her intention was good.

"It’s good that she died. I wish I could have killed her myself though. Anyone else with her?"

"She was with the coachman who was also killed."

"Hmm..." Alec hummed, thinking if the mastermind of the rebellion somehow guessed what Lauren was planning so she discarded Jennifer. At the moment, he couldn’t think of another plausible circumstance that caused the woman’s death.

"Let Colton investigate everything that happened to Jennifer. Her friends, the places she visited, and the people she talked to before the incident. I believe her sudden death is strong proof that she had been doing something filthy. She must be connected to the rebels."

"Colton is supervising the search for Jasper Owens, King Alec. How about I do it?" Matthias suggested.

"Let Edith do Colton’s work. You," Alec looked at Matthias darkly like he would be given the most crucial task. "Stay in the castle and make sure you know everything that’s happening around the Queen. If she goes out, follow her in secret. She’s sharp and also has her men guarding her discreetly. If you get busted..." Alec ran his thumb across his neck, "You die."

Matthias swallowed hard. He was disturbed by the goosebumps all over his body. "I hope it is not a painful death," he muttered to himself which earned a glare from Alec.

"Of course, Your Majesty. My life is at your disposal, is it not?" Matthias smiled and excused himself before anything dire would happen.

On the other side of the castle, Lauren who just finished dressing up was about to have breakfast downstairs when Julian came before she could step out of the room.

"Jennifer Haystone is dead, milady."

"Jennifer is what?" Lauren was shocked.

"She was murdered on the way here. The council is already investigating it and it seems like Minister Haystone is doing his own investigation. According to our sources, his eyes are on you. Perhaps he thinks that you don’t want another woman gaining power in the castle so you had the lady killed."

Lauren stared at Julian but her mind was somewhere else. If Minister Haystone was thinking that way, he must not be aware of Jennifer’s involvement with the rebels. But why would Jennifer die so suddenly? And the murder was done on her way to the castle after receiving an invitation from the king. It couldn’t be a simple coincidence.