Chapter 22

CHARLES

“Reed, you know what you wanted to do and what you did right there, but guess what, I am not the one you should have targeted!” I replied to him, and his smile froze.

“What is this? Why are you so inconsiderate to your brother?” Mrs. Roseline spoke up again.

“Brother! He is just my stepbrother!” I replied, and Mrs. Roseline sighed.

“You need to learn to keep your family close; nothing here makes sense if you can't be a very good brother to your own brother. Family comes first.

And what is the use of a maid if you can let go of the maid or your brother? It is the maid, not your freaking throne. 

He also has the right, you know. You can't be mean to him just because of your own insecurity and selfishness! He deserves way more than you trust him!” She said, and I chuckled.

I exchanged looks with the mother and son before clearing my throat.

“I am sorry, the maid is part of my kingdom, and unfortunately we just established that the maid in question is not even a maid.

She is a guest. It is never in my place to give out a guest like she is mine, and your son has decided to pursue the young lady like a gentleman.

And I hope he also knows that he is not allowed to stay here at all,” I reminded them, and he got more annoyed by my words.

“Why are you so heartless! He is your brother! He is ready to settle down. If you are not ready, can't you be considerate and let him settle with the woman he wants?

What is your problem?” She asked me in a harsher tone, and I smiled before looking at Danford, who was pissed off by their presence.

“Your son should have thought about it before requesting something that is not within his reach!” I added, and she sighed.

I was about to speak when the door opened and a guard walked in. He looked like he was in a rush, and we all paid attention to him.

“What is the matter?” Danford asked, and he bowed.

“Greetings, your highness, the four gammas are here! They request to see the king. Should I let them in?” he said, and I sighed.

What!!

The four gammas at the same time. It is so rare, and this is only the case when there is a very important matter to settle.

What can actually be the matter this time around?

They don't come to my castle uninvited, so what is this all about? Why are they here?

“No!” Danford said, but before I could speak, Mrs. Roseline and her son immediately butted in.

“Don't have to be so formal around us; we are family. Let them in!” The mother said, and I was a little surprised by her words.

“Brother, we are family; you do not have to hide things from us and keep to yourself!” He replied, and I smiled.

Finally I see the reason why they are here. They must have reported a matter to the elders, that is, the gamma, and for this, they are trying to pull me down.

They came under the pretense of asking for help, but they want it to look like it was a coincidence that they were here when the gamma showed up.

That is why they are so eager to make the elders come in.

“Okay, let them in!” I said I could happily tell that I can play the game better than they will. I am far better at any game they are planning on playing.

“your…” Danford wanted to call out to me that it was a trap, but I could already tell, so I looked at him with a stare that could even pierce through his soul.

“Go and call them in right now!” Danford sighed before giving an order to the guard who came to call for our attention.

“Okay!” The guard said and rushed out, also looking so confused. I smiled briefly, seeing the proud smiles on both the mother's and son's faces. I could tell what they were thinking.

That I have fallen into the trap they had dug for me!

“I can see the mood in the room has changed even though my brother was unable to get the lady he wants.” I said, reminding him that even if the other parties were coming around, I would still be adamant about the fact that he wasn't going with the lady.

“Well, who knows, you might end up changing your mind, brother!” He said, and I smiled. 

I don't know their plan, but it looks like he really does believe in the fact that I will not be releasing the lady after all.

The gamma walked in after a while, and they looked like they were so angry about something.

“Greetings, your highness,” they chorused with a bow, causing me to smile.

I could see through the fake loyalty and the fact that this is a well-planned issue. They had a gloomy face towards me and the rest, and they wanted to avoid saying hello to Mrs. Roseline and Reed.

It was to show that they were not cooperating at all, but I could see through the act from the beginning.

It was a useless pretense after all.

“Please sit, you all! I don't want to keep you up!” I said, and they found a place to sit down.

“Elders, kindly say hello to my stepmother and her son,” I said, emphasizing the words “stepmother” and “her son” to make them understand that I don't value them as a family.

They all looked at each other and said a few words of greeting before they looked back at me.

“And to what do I owe this pleasant visit?” I asked, and they looked at one another, deliberating on who was going to talk about the issue in particular.

They hesitated for a while before I chuckled.

“Hope all is well, my elders!” I said with a calm, polite tone!