"Are you here to check on Lord Merriweather's case?" Lauren asked Alec if he had a minute to spare, so they went to his carriage. They sat across from each other as they spoke.
"I happened to be passing by, so I decided to have a look. After all, Lord Merriweather is one of the King's trusted men. But the surprising thing was..." His gray eyes turned a little darker. "How I witnessed a princess almost get killed in the street in broad daylight. I must say, I admire the culprit's brazenness."
"Brazen, indeed." Lauren nodded, the corners of her lips rising. "That is the reason why I want to talk to you, my lord. You don't have to investigate it."
"You know who's behind this," it wasn't a question.
"I'm sure you have your own assumption." She knew the lord was sharp. She also had told him that the queen and her sisters would hinder their marriage.
"But Lord Everston, you witnessed how I was almost killed in front of your eyes, and yet you didn't even attempt to save me. As your betrothed, that was quite disappointing," she smirked at him.
She was only being playful. Everyone knew Alec wasn't a hero straight from romantic novels. In any case, he could even be a villain as he was dark and fierce. But then, she didn't fit to be a heroine herself.
His eyebrow raised. One corner of his lips curved up. There was a hint of mockery in his eyes as if he knew something he chose not to speak about.
"I was too lazy."
Lauren's lips parted. "Are you being serious?" She shook her head in disbelief. "What a brutally honest being you are, Lord Everston."
"There are many marksmen out there you can pay to kill people, but only a few are capable of using the dragon's blazing arrow."
She wasn't surprised. Of course, he would know. The arrow used was a normal one but the mage used his power to make it lethal. To be able to do that, he should be a skilled mage. Once the arrow hits a person's body, human or not, the body would instantly turn into ashes.
"The shaft of the arrow had gold vines and a small rose at the end," she said.
"Is that the reason why you just stood there? To see what kind of arrow was used so you can trace where it came from."
"Well, I already know the mastermind of this whole thing. I just want to know who's supporting them so I can pay a visit someday." The wickedness in Lauren's eyes was evident. She smiled at Alec.
"I'm sure you have important affairs to attend to, my lord. I shall leave now. Oh, I forgot. We will have our engagement soiree tomorrow night at the palace. You will be there, won't you?"
"Is that necessary?" His menacing eyes bore into her.
"Let me tell you, Lord Everston. Except for the drinks and food, there is nothing else in the balls and soirees I find exciting. We need this opportunity to let the people know I'm marrying you and not Peterson Merriweather."
Alec didn't say anything.
"I will take that as a yes," she said before leaving the carriage.
The disappointment was evident on Queen Thalia's face when she saw Lauren return to the palace with no scratch. Lauren smiled at her stepmother who was checking the flowers in a vase near the main doors. She knew the Queen purposely stood there to witness it herself if she would return unscathed, or perhaps to be the first one to hear the news of her death.
"The roses are lovely, aren't they, mother?"
"What is that? A new pair of shoes?" The Queen asked despite the obvious distaste and weariness when she noticed the shoe box Lauren was holding.
"Oh, this. Yes, new shoes. It's for my wedding."
"You really are pushing this wedding, aren't you?" Here it goes again. The Queen never really ended their conversation without saying bad things. "Did you even hear about Mr. Merriweather's death? It was only yesterday when you were engaged to his son. The family is mourning, Lauren, and yet all you think about is your wedding."
"I feel bad for the lord's family, but don't expect me to mourn for someone I'm not deeply connected with. How about you visit Lady Merriweather instead since you claimed to be her friend, the reason why you were so eager to wed me to her son, Your Majesty?"
Lauren watched how the Queen's jaw tightened in annoyance. If the Queen wasn't protecting her reputation, she knew she would have been attacked by her claws right now.
"Or perhaps..." Lauren stepped closer to the Queen. "Did you do it?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Perhaps, did you have Lord Merriweather killed to delay my wedding-"
"How dare you accuse me like that, you shameless child!" Her tone raised, couldn't help it. Some servants around looked at them but one glare from the Queen made them bow their heads and leave.
Lauren smirked. "You sound too defensive, Your Majesty. I was just jesting."
"I tell you, I don't like the way you speak to me. I'm still your father's wife, Lauren. I am the queen of this land. You can't just disrespect me like that!"
"My apologies if I offended you, mother," she said with a gentle tone but her eyes were sharp and unforgiving. "I know you didn't kill him. After all, you never cared about the lives you can't benefit from."
"Stop calling me mother. It disgusts me," the Queen fired angrily.
"Don't you find it suspicious? Lord Merriweather is one of the King's favorite men. It means he is hard to touch. Perhaps, he must have done something..." Lauren lowered her voice. "And His Majesty himself had the lord killed?"
That had the Queen's jaw drop to her stomach. Her eyes were wide open, and for a few seconds, she was at a loss for words. She couldn't place her overwhelming anger and had the urge to throw Lauren to the palace dungeon and torture her to death.