The Cursed Witch

Chapter 11| Not A Pawn

I bowed before the emperor and gestured to talk to him. 

"You knew that girl was lying, don't you?" He asked I matched his pace.

"I do. But I can't refuse her publicly yet." He then looked at me without saying anything.

"What are you planning to do about her?" 

It must be a lot to take for Ava and the twins. I shouldn't bother them.

"I'll let her in for a few days and do a background check on her. I can't let her bother Ava and the twins." I replied. 

We both sat on the couch, facing each other.

The emperor gestured at the maid. "Prepare some tea."

"She obviously had a plan. But she really isn't your daughter, right?"

He knows me well and yet he asks that. 

"You know me. I never slept with anyone besides Laura. And that brat looks nothing like me."

He chuckled and took a sip at the tea the maid poured for us.

"Haha, that's true. You've never loved anyone as much as you loved her..."

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The day after that...

As I heard, Cosette would be living with us for a short while. It must be a hard decision for father.

But ever since she went into this house, she never took a single step outside.

Well, that would benefit us. 

I think Florence knew that Cosette is planning something. If I get him to agree to get rid of Cosette then it would automatically be game over for Cosette.

I called for a maid and requested to help me get prepared as I would be leaving for the Crown Prince.

.

I arrived at the palace and asked for the Crown Prince.

"Greetings, Lady Lamperouge. We already heard about your arrival."

Huh? Did Florence already know that I would come to the palace?

Now I really suspect he could read my mind...

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I met Florence in the garden, and he instantly went towards me as soon as he saw me.

"I knew you would come..." He said as he kissed my hand.

"How did you know?" I asked as we both sat at the table.

"Just another hunch." He chimed as he grinned.

Seriously you can't use that excuse too much, you know.

We both drank our tea quietly for a while.

Such a peaceful day, sipping tea with the male lead...

If not because of Cosette...

"So about Cosette. You already knew about it as well, right?"

"It's just a hunch-" Before he could even finish what he was about to say, I started to speak.

"You can't keep saying it's just a hunch though."

He stared at me with confusion and averted his eyes as if he was embarrassed.

"It's just... Ever since I was young, I have always been good at reading people."

"Even from when we were dancing, It was easy to read you."

He then smiled at me. A smile he never showed me before.

"I've never told anyone about this before. You're the first."

Ah... He really treats me specially...

"I see. I always thought you were reading my mind."

"So regarding Cosette. She's trying to manipulate you."

I was hesitating if I should say this. I don't have evidence that she has bad intentions so he might not agree to this, but...

"So we just need to get rid of her right?"

Huh? Did I hear him right? 

"Well I mean, she's that type of person so she just needs to die, right?"

D-die?! Get rid?!

Is this the same Florence I knew from the novel?!

It seems like the details in the novel aren't accurate anymore.

I changed a lot of things now so I should base my actions on this current storyline.

"Something like that. But we need to create a situation."

"Right, you can use me. I know she's going back to me so if I pretend in front of her, and reveal her intentions in the end, then it's over."

Why do I feel like even if I didn't reach out to him he'd be able to do this by himself...

"It's set then, Ava."
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When I went back to the estate, I found Zeke reading a book by the window in my room.

How did he enter my room?

"Did the maids let you in?"

He gazed at me and placed a finger on his lips.

"Shh..." This man-

He then closed his book and went towards me.

He went so close that I pounded my back at the door.

He caged me by placing his arm at the door.

"Why were you at the Palace?" He asked as he frowned at me yet his voice was gentle.

"W-wait, let go of me first." I tried to get out but he held my waist and went even closer to my face.

"I would let go if you answer me first."

Seriously, what's wrong...? 

He almost seems as if he's jealous that I went to Florence.

I-is he really...?

"Are you jealous?"

My words took him by surprise but he replied bluntly.

"So what if I am?"

For some reason, he reminds me of someone... Someone I loved so much.

Then he slowly leaned in for a kiss. I couldn't decline him...

It's as if the person I'm kissing was Lucas...

I want to see him...

But why do I feel attached to this man?

Why does he remind me so much of Lucas?