When Petals Meet The Blade (Priscilla and Waldo) novel Chapter 39

The door was kicked open with a loud bang.

The palace maids and officials stood silently, their heads lowered, not daring to make a sound.

It was as if breathing too loudly would result in immediate execution. After all, no one had ever seen the King lose his temper like this in all their years in the palace.

“Your Majesty, please calm down!” Consort Adele rushed

But before she could, the King raised his hand and,

er, trying to support him.

a

sharp slap, struck her across the face.

Consort Adele stumbled to the ground, completely stunned. Never in all her years in the palace had she been slapped like this. It was the first time.

She almost wondered if she was dreaming. The King had actually hit her.

“Your Majesty!” Selma cried out, rushing to help her up. But neither of them dared to say a word.

Selma exchanged a quick look with the palace maids and officials, who silently understood and began to lower their heads, preparing to leave.

The king’s voice rang out, cold and firm. “No one is to leave!”

The palace maids and officials froze, not daring to move a muscle.

Consort Adele, her voice trembling, sobbed, “Your Majesty, what have I done wrong? Why… why do you have to humiliate me in front of everyone?”

“Now, you care about face?” The king’s voice was cutting, dripping with sarcasm. He walked over to a chair and sat down, his tone growing colder. “You care about your own reputation, but what about others? Your face is important, but the reputation of others doesn’t matter? I slap you once, and you can’t stand it, but you’ve hurt others with words sharper than any blade. Have you never thought about how they might feel? Your life matters, but theirs don’t?”

Consort Adele wanted to explain, but under the king’s intense gaze, she was rendered silent.

Andrew finally gave the room a glance and said, “Go on, get back to your duties.”

In the end, he thought, ‘This is a private matter of the king’s. With so many people present, would they need to silence witnesses tomorrow? The scene has become too much to ignore.‘

The palace maids and officials left, and Consort Adele, her voice hoarse, whispered, “Your Majesty, you’ve wronged me! I didn’t-”

The king’s eyes were sharp and cold. “I don’t like to interfere with the affairs of the harem, but do you really think I’m a fool?”

Consort Adele froze, her heart sinking. She immediately bowed.

Selma also bowed, trembling.

Consort Adele tried to speak again, but Andrew interrupted her, his tone serious. “Your Majesty, I’ve already had this investigated. The rumors about Ms. Yates and Prince Waldo only started today. They spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the city in just a few hours. Even in the palace side from the Queen’s Solidarity Palace, every other court knows about it.”

With each word Andrew spoke, Consort Adele’s heart sank lower.

She hadn’t expected that the rumors, which had only been released today, would be turned against her so quickly. If only she’d waited a few more days, there would have been no proof.

Jessica, seemingly fragile, had acted with incredible speed. This was something Consort Adele had never anticipated.