CHAPTER 37

If someone else do it then it would be fine but because she was born by her mother, grew up as the young mistress of the Lotus palace and the Saintess she had to bear such comments like that on a daily basis.
They might not like her and she wouldn’t mind but her goal was to create a better living standard for those who relied upon her. With her they have jobs, food and a roof over their heads. She hated being poverty stricken.
There were so many officials out there who stole from the people and fill their own coffers. Such people like that she destroys after completely sucking them dry. She needed to get a good night sleep or else it will be very hard for her to travel.
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He was very worried ever since Valery left the mountain. He had no idea what she was up to except for Nora. He knew they promised not to keep secrets between them but she had too many and he understood her. She was the mistress and so many people were relying on her.
Maybe she will tell him when she returns. Because he was worried sick the whole day, he spent it inspecting everywhere when he found the maids testing for poison the gifts his mother sent. It really shook him and made him wonder what was happening.
He called one of the maids who shook with fear but finally spoke the truth.
“We were instructed to check everything for any type of poison,” she said.
“Why would you do that?” he asked her.
“The two bottles of pearl powder had poison in them so Lady Nora was worried that more things will be poisoned. She didn’t want the mistress to go on another killing spree,” the maid confessed and he felt his legs weaken.
“Okay, you may get back to your work and there should be no word about this,” he told the maid before he left.
Why would his mother try to kill the woman he loves? Didn’t she agree and even sent the gifts? Now he understood the reason why Valery broke the first bottle and refused to give him the other bottle. Why did she eat that powder fully knowing the other bottles were poisoned?
She was really protecting him from behind all this time? He kept insisting on protecting her and yet from the first day she was the one doing the protecting. He wasn’t able to protect his woman from his own mother. Why would his mother try to kill her savior and his too?
Did she really hated Valery that much that she would risk angering her? It wasn’t a secret that Valery pays her debts. She always avenges whatever happens to her. Was she taking this trip to secretly deal with his mother?
He was very worried that he instructed the secret guards to safe guard her since she didn’t take any on her journey. They were supposed to follow her and report anything on her journey.
He was busy having his supper when a messenger came back.
“The Mistress revealed herself to the public,” the guard told him.
He left his food immediately and took a horse.
He rode as fast as he could to reach the city. Luckily the gates had not been closed yet. When he arrived, the inn was in chaos and she was nowhere to be found.
“Young Master Xavier, we didn’t know you were coming. Should I prepare a room for you?” the innkeeper asked.
“No, where is the Saintess? Show me to her room,” he said and saw the look on his face.
“You know who she is?” he asked.
“Yes, she is my bride to be,” he told the old man and saw the shocked reaction on his face.
“I sorry I didn’t know that you were the Grand Prince,” the old man said owing and he helped him up.
“Let’s forgo the formalities. Show me where she is,” Xavier insisted.
The innkeeper took him upstairs and showed him the room that Valery was in. he dismissed the innkeeper and let himself in. when he entered, he heard her groaning in pain. He rushed towards her and there she was in bed. He sat beside her and scooped her up so that she was fully in his arms.
“Valery, what’s wrong?” he asked as he cupped her face.
He had never seen her putting on such a face before. He could feel it that the pain was so agonizing. He held her close as she was not speaking a word.
“I’m here, tell me what’s wrong,” he asked.
“I will be fine. It’s just an old illness relapsing. Since you are here, I will be fine,” she said in a very low voice.
He had never seen her so vulnerable like this before and it pained him a lot. He covered her in a blanket so that she may sleep. Maybe the pain will lessen then. He began to rock her just like the way his mother used to when he was young. He found comfort in that and he hoped she will too.
“Just don’t be sick please,” he murmured and kissed her on top of her head.
“How did you come here?” she asked him.
“I heard what happened and I was worried so I rushed here,” he said.