Alpha's replacement bride is destined mate-Chapter 64 Poisoning

"Guards, apprehend this woman." Emily’s voice was cold and firm, and her eyes flashed with anger.

Two of the guards moved swiftly, and one of them grasped the old maid’s arm with such force that she gritted her teeth in pain. The old maid’s face paled instantly, and she stared at Emily in horror, as if she couldn’t believe she was being suspected.

Emily calmly instructed another guard to summon the court physician, who needed to confirm Heidi’s story. The court physician soon arrived in haste, and, taking the orange jelly, he left with a grim expression for the examination room.

Half an hour later, the court physician reported the results to Emily, informing her that the orange jelly had indeed been poisoned and that it contained a substance that would render a woman infertile. Emily was shocked and outraged by the news; she couldn’t believe anyone would be so daring.

"Your Highness, I am innocent. I didn’t know there was poison in the orange jelly," the old maid fell to her knees and begged Emily.

"As I passed by the kitchen, I saw this woman conspiring with the cook," Heidi pointed to the old maid and said. "Then I hid in the shadows and watched the cook pour a packet of white powder into the orange jelly. When I learned it was the princess’s dessert, I immediately came to tell you."

"You vile woman, you’re lying!" The old maid tried to get up and strike Heidi, but the guards restrained her just in time.

"What’s going on?" A deep voice came from behind, and Emily, seeing that Klaus was approaching, quickly walked towards him and threw herself into his arms.

Emily told Klaus the truth about what had just transpired, her voice slightly trembling with emotion, every detail clear and concise. Klaus’s face darkened momentarily when he heard that the dessert had been poisoned.

"Everyone in this room will be investigated," Klaus’s voice was cold and stern, reminiscent of the wind on a wintry day. As soon as he issued the order, several guards entered swiftly and escorted all the maids in the room away. They were terrified or confused, but none dared to resist.

"Klaus, it was Heidi who came to me in time to warn me that someone had poisoned the dessert. Without her, I fear I would have been poisoned as well," Emily defended Heidi. "I don’t think she should be investigated."

"These people are all suspects until we uncover the truth," Klaus’s tone was unwavering.

"Your Highness, I am willing to be investigated," Heidi said firmly. "I’m sure Alpha won’t wrong the innocent."

Klaus looked at Heidi, his gaze unwavering, and commanded, "Take them all away."

"Alpha, I was wrong, please let me go," the old maid cried, pleading bitterly. The guards, however, remained unyielding and showed no mercy; their movements were mechanical and swift as they dragged the old maid mercilessly out of the room.

The cries of the old maid echoed down the wide corridor, filled with fear and helplessness, gradually fading until her figure disappeared around the corner and silence returned.

Klaus instructed the court steward to assist Marx in his investigation into the poisoning, and soon the matter was resolved. Marx had recorded the old maid’s confession on his mobile phone and sent it to Klaus.

"Marx has already concluded the investigation. He sent me the video. Would you like to watch it with me?" Klaus asked Emily.

Emily nodded, and Klaus played the video on her phone. Soon, they saw the old maid seated in an interrogation chair, facing the camera, confessing to the poisoning.

It transpired that a nobleman had bought the old maid’s loyalty and instructed her to poison Emily’s meal, with the intention of preventing Emily from becoming pregnant. If Emily could not bear an heir, the royal family would seek a surrogate mistress for Klaus, giving the nobleman’s daughter a chance to gain Klaus’s favor and potentially become his mistress.

Thus, the old maid colluded with the cook to poison Emily’s dessert. Now that the truth had been revealed, the old maid didn’t know what punishment awaited her and could only plead with Klaus in the video, hoping he would spare her family.

"This damnable woman!" Klaus angrily shut off the video, his eyes blazing with fury, as if they could set the room ablaze. He quickly dialed Marx’s number, his voice cold and authoritative.

"Marx, execute those two women responsible for the poisoning and banish their families from the North." Klaus’s voice was as sharp as a blade on a cold winter’s day, ruthless and unwavering. "And arrest the nobleman and his daughter. Put them on trial for attempting to poison the princess."

After hanging up, Klaus slammed the phone down on the desk with a dull thud. He rubbed his brow with his hand, his face etched with distress.

Emily stood beside Klaus, and she gently ran her hand over his back to offer comfort, but Klaus took her hand and pulled her onto his lap, holding her tightly in his arms.

"I’m sorry," Klaus said, his tone apologetic. "Because I refused to accept the daughters of those nobles, they resorted to such despicable means against you."

Emily understood that the nobles had wanted to send their daughters to the palace to be Klaus’s mistresses, but Klaus had refused their request on her behalf. She didn’t blame him, but the poisoning had driven home the lesson that Queen Mary had imparted: being a princess was not a role to be taken lightly.

There were those who lurked in the shadows, coveting the princess’s position. Emily was a bride from the South, and though she bore the title of Princess, she was still an outsider among the native nobles of the North. Yet, she refused to be cowed. She was no lamb to be slaughtered, and if they insisted on making her their target, she would face them head-on.

"I will reinforce the security measures in the palace, and from now on, all your food will be inspected by the palace physician." Klaus’s voice was firm and resolute. "If anyone dares to harm you, I will not let them escape."

"You must be terrified, my love." Klaus caressed Emily’s face as he gazed at her.

Emily sighed and whispered to Klaus, "Klaus, thank you for everything you’ve done for me. But sometimes, I have to face things alone. I’m taking this lesson to heart, and next time, I’ll protect myself."

"No matter what happens, I’ll be by your side." Klaus looked at Emily with admiration and pride in his eyes. "But what you just said comforts me. My kitten has grown up." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"We all have to learn to grow, even if it hurts." Emily smiled firmly. "I will also strive to learn to be a princess."

"There’s one thing I’d like to ask your permission for."

"What is it?" Klaus asked.

"I want to promote that woman, Heidi, to be my personal maid. If she hadn’t told me in time that someone had poisoned the dessert, I might have been poisoned as well."

"As you wish, my love." Klaus kissed Emily on the cheek. "There’s one more thing I want to tell you."

"What is it?"

"The king has requested that we visit the South next week. We’ll probably be there for at least two weeks."

"Oh, are we going to the South?" At the thought of returning to the South, Emily couldn’t help but think of her father and stepmother.

Emily would never forget the pain her father and stepmother had inflicted on her. They silenced her and stripped her of her fierceness. What they did was to ensure she married in the North instead of her sister.

Oh, the wicked always get their comeuppance, don’t they?