Chapter 20 The Envoy from the Royal City
Holden didn't know how long he had walked or how far he had gone. By the time he wanted to sit down and rest, the sky was already bright. Only then did he touch his rumbling stomach and decide to find a nearby tavern to get something to eat.
When he found the tavern, lunch hours had already passed. There wasn't much food left in the kitchen, so Holden could only order some bread and beef to fill his stomach. The waiter beside him took down his order but didn't leave, still smiling at him. "Sir, you haven't paid for your meal yet."
Holden was stunned. He rarely ate out, and when he did, he never paid. Staff would recognize him and bill the Titan family directly.
But he'd seen the family's account books now—they owed money to these shops. They probably wouldn't extend credit anymore. Embarrassed, he pulled out his wallet and paid. Only then did the waiter turn and shout toward the kitchen, "One butter fried bread and one beef stew."
The meal was frustrating. As Holden was about to leave, he heard the waiter whispering to someone nearby, "Look at that guy. From his clothes, he seems to be from the Titan family. If I hadn't reminded him to pay just now, he would've tried to skip out on the bill again!"
"You're really brave to say that. Aren't you afraid he'll use his noble status to hurt you?"
"I'm not afraid at all." The waiter's face showed rare smugness. "I heard the royal capital sent an envoy here. His Majesty the King has never allowed nobles to bully commoners. If he really tries to hurt me, I'll report him immediately!"
Hearing "royal capital" and "envoy," Holden looked up sharply. The waiter immediately shut his mouth, but it was too late. Holden stood up, grabbed the waiter by the collar, and demanded, "You said an envoy from the royal capital is coming?"
The waiter was just an ordinary commoner. Being grabbed by Holden, his legs went weak with fear. How could he dare hide anything? "Yes, I also just heard it from someone."
Holden glared at him. "Impossible! His Majesty the King didn't give advance notice. Why would he send someone for no reason!"
"It's true."
The waiter was terrified, trembling as he spoke. "I heard Miss Virlet went to see the King a few days ago. That's why he's sending someone. Maybe she requested some royal decree."
Holden recalled how a few days ago, his mother had said she sent someone to find Anne but came up empty. It wasn't until the next day, when they were discussing his marriage to Candy, that Anne returned from outside. She hadn't said where she'd been.
So she had gone to the royal capital to complain!
No wonder, no wonder she was suddenly so fearless, not afraid of him reporting her crimes to His Majesty the King, and even spoke rudely to him!
Holden was so angry his teeth itched. His eyes turned red from extreme rage, and he looked like a bloodthirsty beast. "Very good!"
He released the waiter who was about to faint from fear and strode out of the tavern. He grabbed a horse from the roadside and rushed toward Titan Manor. The horse's owner shouted and chased after him but was quickly left behind.
The wind on horseback whipped his face and cleared Holden's mind considerably. He thought with hatred that Candy was absolutely right. A woman like Anne was not only narrow-minded but had secretly sought an audience with His Majesty to ask him to reverse his decision and no longer approve of his marriage to Candy!
Such scheming! He had almost fallen for her trap because of the Titan family's account book problems!
The horse's hooves heavily entered the manor gates. Holden dismounted and was about to rush inside.
"Anne! You bitch!"
Anne was sitting on the sofa in the hall at that moment. Trion beside her looked up in shock.
What had happened to Holden overnight?
Elisa heard the roar and quickly put down her teapot to run over and stand in front of Anne, staring at Holden in panic. "What do you want to do to our young lady!?"
Seeing Anne still on the sofa and the woman glaring at him like an enemy, Holden raised his hand to strike. Fortunately, Anne quickly pulled Elisa down, avoiding the slap.
"Elisa, go to the back."
Elisa followed Anne's words and retreated behind the sofa, touching her face in relief, but still watching Holden warily.
Holden looked at Anne. Thinking of how she had gone to the palace to scheme against him, whatever bit of shame he had felt over the account books vanished completely.
"Answer me." Holden asked coldly, "You went to see His Majesty, didn't you?"
Anne nodded. "Yes."
She had never planned to hide it from Holden forever. Now that he knew, it didn't matter.
Trion on the side widened his eyes. "So you went to ask His Majesty to reverse his decision and no longer approve of Holden and Candy's marriage?"
"No."
Holden sneered. "You dare to do it but won't admit it. You went to see His Majesty the King in anger that day. How dare you say it wasn't to make His Majesty stop me and Candy? What vicious intentions!"
Anne had heard such words from Holden too many times. Hearing them again now barely stirred any emotion, though occasionally she still wondered in her heart—was this her husband? Was this the good match her mother had chosen for her?
She raised her face, her voice icy. "I didn't know I had such great ability to make His Majesty the King go back on his word for me."
"You don't, but your father does. You used your father's achievements to pressure His Majesty. Could His Majesty refuse you?"
Holden said through gritted teeth, "Now, immediately, get in a carriage and stop the envoy. Tell him there's no need for any decree. Otherwise, don't force me to completely despise you!"