“You won’t speak? Then I’ll take your silence as admission! Was it really you?”
Caitlin kicked him, fury boiling inside her. If she didn’t have unfinished business, she would have ended him right there.
“No… don’t hit me… please, let me go… I was wrong… I’m sorry…”
“Let you go? Do you know how many lives my grandfather’s family lost? The blood-soaked horror—you never saw it, did you? If I slaughtered the Jonathan family and said ‘sorry,’ would that be enough?”
Hector was nearly broken by the parasite gnawing through his body. He writhed on the floor, as if something inside him were tearing at his bones.
Caitlin crouched down, yanking his collar, her voice like ice. “Besides Carlos, who else was involved?”
&ld
Just as Liliana was about to succeed, a voice rang out. “Your Highness!”Liliana froze. Magnus snapped back to his senses and immediately released her.“So here you are, Your Highness!” Caitlin approached.Hearing that voice, Liliana’s heart jolted. She looked at the unfamiliar woman walking toward them, utterly bewildered.Why did Magnus’s assistant sound exactly like Caitlin?Maybe it was just a coincidence—the resemblance ended at the voice. Outwardly, the woman looked entirely different.But her timing couldn’t have been worse. Liliana’s moment had been ruined.Her brows knitted, frustration rising. She had been so close.Caitlin stepped up to them, her tone brisk and official. “Your Highness, it’s about time. We should head back.”Magnus still felt an uncomfortable heat coursing through him, but he forced himself to remain composed. He gav
Hector gave no answer. He rolled on the floor, his wrinkled features twisted in agony.“You won’t speak? Then I’ll take your silence as admission! Was it really you?”Caitlin kicked him, fury boiling inside her. If she didn’t have unfinished business, she would have ended him right there.“No… don’t hit me… please, let me go… I was wrong… I’m sorry…”“Let you go? Do you know how many lives my grandfather’s family lost? The blood-soaked horror—you never saw it, did you? If I slaughtered the Jonathan family and said ‘sorry,’ would that be enough?”Hector was nearly broken by the parasite gnawing through his body. He writhed on the floor, as if something inside him were tearing at his bones.Caitlin crouched down, yanking his collar, her voice like ice. “Besides Carlos, who else was involved?”&ld
“I… I don’t know… truly, I don’t… I’m just an old man,” Hector stammered, fear making his voice tremble. He was far too old to resist her, so he tried to play the pitiful victim.“If you don’t know, then let’s sit down and talk it through properly.”Caitlin withdrew the shears and her foot, settling herself in the chair beside him. With a sharp crack, she slapped the shears down on the table.“Tell me, what was your relationship with Walter? Did you have any contact over the past decades?” she asked.“N–no…” Hector wiped the cold sweat from his brow, clearly shaken now that she had released him.“Is that so? Then do you know Dustin? The Silent Order’s Number Zero?”“I don’t know him,” Hector muttered, shaking his head.“That’s impossible. The Seventh Door is your domain,
Magnus was treated as the honored guest, with Caitlin and her companions standing quietly behind him. The members of the Jonathan family took their seats one by one, eager to entertain him.“Since His Highness Magnus has come to our home, it is only proper that the Jonathan family offer the very best hospitality,” Nicoletta said smoothly.“I look forward to it,” Magnus replied politely.The First Lady, seated nearby, added with a smile, “What a coincidence. I’ve heard Liliana has a special gift for blending teas. Why don’t we let her prepare some for us right now?”The moment had been carefully staged. Time for her daughter to show off her talents.Nicoletta quickly ordered the servants, “What are you standing there for? Bring out the full tea set at once.”Soon, a tea table was set up in the grand hall. Liliana presented a limited-edition Darjeeling from Fortnum & Mason,
This was an important occasion. Most of the women present at the banquet were wives of nobles and ministers, and very few were allowed to bring their children. But the Jonathan family was different. With their close ties to the First Lady, they could bring along their daughter.Liliana’s entrance dimmed every other woman in the room. Young, beautiful, dressed to perfection, she was impossible to ignore.When she finally stood before the prince, the First Lady made the introductions, giving particular emphasis to Liliana.Magnus glanced at her politely. “Hello, Miss Jonathan.”“Your Highness Magnus.”Liliana curtsied gracefully, lifting her gown just slightly, then let her gaze flick up at him before dropping it again with a shy blush.The two of them standing face to face looked like the perfect match. Nicoletta noticed, her heart swelling with satisfaction. The prince’s first impression of her daugh
“No. From yesterday until now, the men have searched every corner, but there’s no trace of them. Strange, isn’t it? Where could they be hiding?”Ignatius was already restless. With Sebastian and Caitlin in the shadows and his own people exposed, he had no idea when or where they might strike again.“I’ve heard Caitlin is cunning. They’ve probably disguised themselves, but one thing is certain—they won’t leave Regalis so easily. As long as we lock down the train stations, docks, and airports, we might catch them in the trap.”“That’s a good plan. I’ll send the order right away.”Ignatius had always admired his sister’s sharp mind. Nicoletta not only managed the Jonathan family with precision, but her decisiveness and ruthlessness in handling both internal and external affairs made her invaluable. With her ideas, there was always a way forward.“And