Chapter 99 Want to Keep Her!
Several officials, seeing the danger had passed, crawled out from behind the curtains, stood up, and brushed off their robes.
One of them pointed accusingly with borrowed authority, "Ms. Cressida Hamilton, you've gone too far. Prince Yosef brought Mr. Ethan Hamilton here for drinks and entertainment, and you barged in and hurt people."
"That's right," someone beside him chimed in, "you injured Prince Yosef. You must be severely punished!"
Yosef glanced at them sideways, and the two immediately shut up.
Cressida's expression remained calm, her bearing elegant and composed.
"I was indeed rash. When I heard Ethan had been brought to a pleasure boat, I assumed he'd been taken away by some shady characters, so I rushed over in a panic."
"Are you insulting me?"
"I wouldn't dare. It's just that while others may not dare comment on Prince Yosef coming here for entertainment, Ethan is different. He got into the King's Guard on his own merit. Not long ago, he risked his life rushing into Whispering Hall to fight a fire. He's an absolutely motivated, genuinely good kid. I ask that Prince Yosef show mercy today."
Yosef stared at her with narrowed eyes.
Cressida ignored Yosef's dangerous gaze, walked over, hoisted Ethan's arm over her shoulder, and propped him up.
She tried to leave, but a guard blocked her way.
The guard kicked toward Ethan. Cressida hooked a piece of tableware from the floor with her toe and kicked it out hard.
The utensil flew past the guard's foot and embedded itself in the carpet.
The guard screamed and dropped to his knees with a thud.
The other guards immediately surrounded them.
Cressida carried Ethan on her shoulder, but her presence didn't diminish one bit.
She turned to look at Yosef: "What does Prince Yosef mean by this?"
Yosef brushed off his robe and walked up to her.
He was half a head taller than her. Looking down, his eyes churned with fierce intensity.
"Cressida, still won't back down? You know that if there's a first time, there'll be a second. If you won't be my ally, you can only be my enemy."
"If it were anyone else, they'd already be a corpse by now. But as it happens, I'm very interested in you, so I'm willing to ask one more time—will you work for me or not?"
Cressida's eyes were deep, her handsome and clear features showing no hint of a smile, creating an inexplicable sense of pressure.
"The Hamilton Mansion may seem like fish on a chopping block to Prince Yosef, ready to be slaughtered at will. But while Prince Yosef is certainly arrogant today, how do you know you're not fish on someone else's chopping block?"
Yosef's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Cressida bowed: "I'll take my leave."
She carried Ethan on her shoulder and took a step forward. The guards retreated one step.
Yosef's half-mocking expression completely vanished, his narrowed eyes coldly fixed on her retreating figure.
Just as Cressida was about to reach the beaded curtain.
"Don't you dare leave!" Yosef suddenly roared.
The guards drew their swords one after another, pointing them at Cressida's heart.
Yosef's footsteps, heavy and urgent, came stomping over.
If he couldn't keep Cressida alive today, he'd carry her corpse back to his palace.
He really wanted to see what such a perfect woman as Cressida looked like when she was in pain.
Just then, a guard from outside rushed in.
"Prince Yosef! Officials are here."
"Kill however many come!" Yosef's eyes were already bloodshot with rage.
His trusted guard quickly walked to his side and whispered, "It's Atlas from Marshall's faction leading the team..."
Yosef suddenly froze, then looked out through the half-open boat window.
Sure enough, on three flat boats, officers holding torches were heading his way, about to board the ship.
"Cressida!" She actually had a backup plan.
Reporting him to the authorities—she actually dared to think of it! She had some nerve!
His trusted guard urgently advised in a low voice: "Prince Yosef, not long ago Queen Odette reminded you to behave yourself during this period. His Majesty the King is already upset about the dragon boat festival. We absolutely cannot let Marshall's people get any dirt on you."
Cressida asked to leave once more: "I'll take my leave now."
She left with Ethan. This time, Yosef didn't stop her, but his chest heaved rapidly, clearly furious.
His eyes were bloodshot, with added ferocity.
The officers received Cressida and Ethan and sent them away.
That officer called Atlas led his men around the pleasure boat in a circle.
Finding no evidence to act on, Atlas bowed with cupped hands: "We've disturbed Prince Yosef's entertainment. We'll take our leave."
After they left, Yosef still clenched his fists.
"Prince Yosef." An official approached.
Unexpectedly, Yosef kicked him in the chest: "Get lost!"
The kicked official vomited blood on the spot and was dragged away by the other officials, who hurriedly took their leave.
Yosef strode back to his seat and poured the wine jug into his mouth.
Wine ran down his jaw, soaking the fancy robe on his chest.
Rodolfo came around from behind the curtain of the back cabin.
"Prince Yosef."
"Why didn't you make a move just now!" Yosef roared angrily.
If they had knocked Cressida unconscious just now, they could have hidden her temporarily.
Unfortunately, he was so angry that he forgot.
Seeing Yosef was furious, Rodolfo didn't speak.
Rodolfo had seen Cressida's entire performance clearly from behind the curtain.
Honestly, her skills were definitely above his.
She definitely hadn't used her full strength just now. Even if Rodolfo had come out and attacked together with Yosef, they might not have been her match.
Thinking this way, Cressida must be Cameron.
She dared to come to the banquet and show off her skills, which meant she wasn't afraid of their suspicion. She even had a kind of determination to go down together, which was chilling.
A carriage parked near Lake Cascade, hidden in the night.
Watching Cressida help Ethan onto a carriage heading toward the Hamilton Mansion, Miguel finally instructed the coachman: "Return to my palace."
Cressida's performance was unexpectedly excellent, beyond Miguel's expectations.
Given Yosef's personality, he was probably furious right now.
Eleven o'clock at night.
In the main courtyard where Mabel's family lived, lights were still blazing.
Maids carried basins of hot water in and out.
The sound of vomiting came from inside.
Inside the room, Ethan was leaning over the bed, vomiting continuously.
Mabel's eyes were red as she gently patted his back.
"Go ahead and vomit, Ethan. You'll feel better once it's all out."
Cressida asked Jessica nearby: "I asked you to find Peter for help, to arrange for an official from Marshall's side to go to Lake Cascade. Did he ask why?"
Jessica shook her head: "I only said Ethan had been taken there for drinks. Don't worry, Cressida, I had Peter keep it quiet. He knows what's appropriate."
Cressida nodded.
She walked to the bedside. The maids had already wiped Ethan's face and had him lean against the railing.
Cressida placed a pillow behind him to prevent him from lying down and choking when he vomited.
"Cressida." Ethan came to his senses a bit. His bloodshot eyes, hazy and confused, saw Cressida sitting by the bed.
Cressida gently patted his back: "How are you feeling? Still uncomfortable?"
After three bowls of honey water were poured into him, he finally woke up. You could tell how much he'd drunk.
Ethan shook his head, but when he opened his mouth, he said: "I'm sorry. I didn't go with them to drink and visit prostitutes."
He said haltingly: "Prince Yosef said, said if I didn't drink, he would, he would make Jessica come drink."
Mabel covered her eyes with a handkerchief. Usually so strong, she couldn't help but cry.