Chapter 170: Dig It Up
Under moonlight, a magnificent white marble headstone stood out among the simpler graves.
Edward stopped beside me. "This is it, Your Majesty."
I approached the headstone and read the inscription aloud: "'Beloved Mom, may you worry about me no more in heaven. —Your son who loves you forever, Lucian.'"
Edward glanced around nervously. "Your Majesty, what should we do next..."
I turned to face him, cold determination in my eyes. "Dig it up."
Edward's mouth fell open. "What? Your Majesty, what did you say?"
I turned around, my voice carrying deadly certainty. "I said dig up this grave."
Edward swallowed hard. "Your Majesty, wouldn't that be too..."
"Too what? Too cruel?" My voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Edward, he nearly killed Sable. Do you think I need to show him mercy?"
Edward was silent for a moment, then turned to the warriors. "Do it."
The warriors began digging with military efficiency. Each shovelful of earth brought us closer to what I needed.
Edward tried one more time. "Your Majesty, what if Lucian isn't even nearby? What if he doesn't know..."
"I'll make sure he knows."
An hour later, one of the warriors called out. "Your Majesty, we've reached it."
The grave revealed an exquisite rosewood coffin containing:
- A beautifully carved urn with rose patterns etched into the wood
- A stack of yellowed photographs documenting Melissa and Lucian's life together
- A pearl necklace that must have been Melissa's most treasured possession
- A single dried rose, carefully preserved
I lifted the urn, examining it under the moonlight. "Beautiful craftsmanship. You can tell he really loved her."
Edward shifted uncomfortably. "Your Majesty..."
"Take a photo."
"What?"
"Take a picture of me holding this urn."
After Edward snapped the photo, he uploaded it to all my social media accounts.
"Your Majesty, the photo is live. What caption did you want?"
"Just like I told you: 'Want her back? Come find me.'"
I sat on the stone steps beside the headstone, turning the urn in my hands. "Now we wait."
Less than ten minutes later, my phone exploded with incoming calls.
I glanced at the caller ID and nodded to Edward. "Here we go."
I answered. "Hello, Lucian."
Lucian's voice was pure rage. "You demon! You monster!"
"How dare you... how dare you desecrate my mother's resting place!"
"Put my mother's ashes back right now! Right now! Or I swear I'll kill you!"
"Threaten me? You think you still have that right?"
Lucian's voice cracked with emotion. "Please... please don't hurt her... she's already dead... please leave her alone..."
"I might consider it. But there are conditions."
"What conditions? Tell me! As long as you don't harm my mother, I'll agree to anything!"
"Show yourself. Come to the cemetery and meet me."
Lucian went quiet for several seconds. "If I come, will you leave her alone?"
"That depends on your performance."
"How do I know you won't kill me?"
I laughed coldly. "Do you care? Haven't you been tired of living anyway?"
"I... I need time to think..."
My voice turned arctic. "No. You don't have time."
I stood and walked toward a muddy pit near the pig pen. "Do you know where I am right now?"
"What do you mean? Aren't you at my mother's grave?"
"I'm standing at the village pig sty. Guess what I'm holding."
My voice became deliberately cruel. "Your mother's ashes. Imagine if I poured her into this cesspit..."
Lucian's scream was inhuman. "NO! DON'T!"
"Then you better hurry. You have thirty minutes. Don't be late."
I hung up immediately.
Edward looked at me with something between admiration and unease. "Your Majesty, I've positioned warriors hidden around the cemetery perimeter."
"Good. Remember, I want him alive. At least... temporarily alive."
Edward glanced at the urn in my hands. "Your Majesty, would you really...?"
"What? Really pour her ashes into the pig pen?"
Edward nodded.
"I won't. But he doesn't know that."
Twenty-five minutes later, footsteps echoed through the trees.
A figure emerged from the darkness—Lucian, looking haggard and desperate. His eyes were bloodshot, his face gaunt.
"I'm here. Now give me back my mother."
"So eager? We have so much to discuss first."
"I did what you asked! You promised!"
I gestured slightly. Warriors emerged from all directions, weapons trained on Lucian.
Lucian stared at the soldiers surrounding him. "You lied!"
"When did I say I'd let you go? I only said I'd consider sparing your mother."
The warriors forced Lucian to the ground, securing him with silver shackles on all four limbs.
I crouched in front of Lucian. "Now, let's have that chat... my dear brother."
Lucian laughed bitterly. "Brother? Is this how you treat your brother?"
"Count up what you've done to me first. Blair Sterling—your collaboration was quite enjoyable, wasn't it?"
"Why should I tell you anything? You caught me already. Just kill me. I don't give a damn."
I nodded. One of the warriors stepped forward and crushed Lucian's left pinky finger under his boot.
Lucian's scream echoed through the cemetery. "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"
"Yes, we worked together. Oh, that car accident. Too bad Marcus wasn't skilled enough to finish you both in one go."
My fists clenched involuntarily. "Why? We're brothers."
Lucian erupted in maniacal laughter. "Blood is thicker than water? Ha! Do you know how I grew up?"
"While you received the finest education in the palace, my mother and I starved in the slums!"
"When everyone praised you as the future king, I couldn't even reveal my identity!"
"I'm Marcus's son, Blackwood blood, but what did I get?"
I remained silent for a moment. "That wasn't my fault."
"Not your fault? Then whose fault was it?"
"You enjoyed everything that should have belonged to both of us! You never learned to share!"
"But what I can't stand most is... you even get true love!"
"Why? Why do you have everything and still get perfect love?"
I stood up, looking down at him. "Want to know a secret?"
Lucian looked at me warily. "What secret?"
"Remember what I told you after Sable and I broke up?"
Lucian frowned. "You said she wasn't your true love... you said you didn't love her..."
I smiled coldly. "I lied."
Lucian's eyes widened. "What?"
"I've never loved another woman. Those words were lies to protect Sable."
Lucian's face went pale. "No... impossible..."