75: 75 Doing This For Bud

75 Doing This For Bud

In Kral's study, a luxurious desk sits between two individuals. One person is dressed in black clothing, while the other is dressed in a red outfit. They stood facing each other. 1

With a furrowed brow, I tightly gripped my clothes, wondering why they were in the room. Kral's study is tucked away in a secluded corner of the palace, a location so discreet that even the palace guards are not allowed to appear there. Furthermore, Susanna had once informed me that Kral despises any interruption to his contemplation. Therefore, without an invitation, no one is permitted to enter his study. Why would Catherine be present here?

An uneasy feeling surges through my heart.

Instinctively, I take cover behind a vase. The study door is not completely closed, allowing a glimpse of the light inside, which is sufficient for me to see everything within.

Catherine is dressed in a deep red gown with slender straps. The clothes showed her perfect figure. Her long hair is casually tied up, and her eyes shimmer with fury. She gazes directly at Kral, mocking him, "I thought you wouldn't forget the promise you made to me?"

She stands with her arms crossed, leaning against a wall adorned with shelves filled with books. The candlelight casts a glow on her long gown, making her appear like a burning rose in the darkness.

"....... Catherine, I did indeed make a promise to you. But it's quite clear that you haven't fully kept your own promises, have you?" Prince Kral, his hands crossed, lending a hint of laziness to his sharp features. He spoke nonchalantly, completely disregarding Catherine's angry glare. "Catherine, I have been... lenient towards you."

"Your leniency? When Elder William used me as a gift to negotiate with the Werebear to borrow their armies, you agreed," Catherine sneered, her anger barely concealed beneath her mocking tone. She clenches her teeth and utters the words, her black pupils overflowing with contempt.

However, Kral remains unmoved, his gaze coldly fixed on Catherine. His golden eyes are like stones. This is the same arrogant Prince Kral that I initially knew.

The atmosphere in the room grows tense.

"Prince Kral, you should remember. I, the stepdaughter of Elder William and self-proclaimed admirer of yours, have done many secret things for you," Catherine said, taking a deep breath. She closes her eyes and tilts her head back, her slim neck revealed in the light, exuding a sense of vulnerability.

"You always make me show my weakness first." She opens her eyes, turns around, and runs her fingers across the neatly arranged books on the shelf. Then, seemingly nonchalantly, she takes down a thick book.

Kral's eyes narrowed. The book's cover bears the simple letter 'K', unlike the other books on the shelf. It is thick, giving the impression that it is more than just an ordinary book.

"Let me have a look," Catherine said, flipping open the book, disregarding the dangerous gaze from Prince Kral. The white pages rustle between her fingers, emitting a faint sound.

"The secret covenant of Duchess Ana of Canterebourg, the incriminating evidence against Baron John, Lady Marina's and her lover's apologies..." Catherine speaks a sentence with each page she turns. Gradually, I realized that this book contains concealed secrets that cannot be revealed.

".......and the clandestine agreement between Elder William and Lord Augustus."

Catherine finishes turning the last page, closing the book with a muffled sound.

The light in the study fell into her dark eyes. A cunning curve forms at the corner of her mouth. "My dear Prince Kral, you don't actually think I'm unprepared, do you?"

"Are you... threatening me?" Kral remains unchanged in his demeanor. His tone is light, but the anger between his brows cannot be ignored.

"Haha, how could I dare to threaten you?"

She chuckles, walking towards Kral's desk.

"These things," she lightly taps the book with her fair fingers, meeting Kral's gloomy expression, and says each word deliberately, "I am merely reminding you not to forget what I have done for you."

Catherine stares directly at Kral, the wooden desk serving as a barrier between them.

"Catherine," after a pause, Kral finally spoke. He raises his head, his handsome features fully exposed to the light, "Considering the education we received since childhood, I thought you should have understood one thing by now. Losers have no right to negotiate, especially those who have been completely abandoned. You stand here and throw a tantrum now. It is my leniency towards you."

Kral slowly stands up, his tall figure casting a long shadow on the floor, enveloping Catherine.

His chair made a grating sound against the study's floor. "You have always carried out my tasks well. But why, when I entered Wolf Valley, did I see Delia hurt by Lancaster? Yet you couldn't even handle the simple task of protecting Delia during the Queen's Trial. Catherine, why do you think that I would reject Elder William's proposal for you?"

I see.

In the Queen's Trial, why did Catherine treat me so "friendly"? Why did she save my life during the Bone Wolf ambush? It turns out that everything was orchestrated by Kral.

The uneasiness in my heart dissipates, and I slowly release my grip. Before participating in the trial, Kral had mentioned that it was dangerous, but he didn't inform me that he had already made preparations.

Inside the study, their standoff continues.

Kral's large palm firmly grasps Catherine's chin, forcing her to look up. His tone is cold as he says, "Catherine, do not threaten me, especially after you put Delia in danger."

He glances at Catherine, releases his grip, takes the book, and walks towards the bookshelf.

"Although it is widely believed that you have affection for me, I know that you don't truly desire to be my queen. During these past years, you collected information for me, and I cooperated with your charade. You helped me, and I fulfilled my promise. Catherine, I understand you. You are not someone who would willingly put yourself in a desperate situation. You possess more cunning and power than you reveal. If you had no intention of marrying the old king, you would not have come here; instead, you would have either killed William directly or left your home."

Kral's tone remains composed as he places the book back in its original position. "Since you chose not to leave, it indicates that you were already prepared to face the consequences. Your visit tonight is solely to negotiate for additional benefits. Let me guess..."

Kral turns around, his gaze fixed on Catherine's eyes, and he scoffs, "....Are you doing this for Bud?"

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