How to Tame My Beastly Husband — Chapter 217. Scapegoat (2)

The King’s authority was so immense, it felt crushing. Celestine felt helpless. His gaze was as sharp as a blade.

If I don’t do something, he’ll pin his crimes on Annette again!

Celestine’s lips trembled as she desperately tried to think of a way to refute him. But her mind was as blank and white as snow. She couldn’t think of anything.

“Your Majesty,” said Raphael, intervening in her place. The blue eyes glinting under his black eyebrows were just like his father’s. Wisely, he did not accuse the King of drugging him, because Selgratis would only deny it. “I went to find my wife after the explosion, and I witnessed these men attacking her. Duke Bavaria had been wounded trying to protect her. They attacked my family! I had no choice but to kill them.

Selgratis said nothing. He was still trying to figure out how Raphael was awake at all.

Raphael went on.

“I am bound by the sacred vows of marriage to protect my family. They dared to lift a sword against my people, who were not even armed. If I had not stopped them, they would have killed my family! Please, Your Majesty, grant clemency. I swear it was self-defense.”

Raphael lifted Duke Bavaria in his arms as evidence, and the older man was so clearly wounded that the watching noblemen were confused. They could not know what the truth was. The arguments presented were too contradictory.

But the King suddenly laughed.

“Hahaha.”

He laughed as if the whole situation was ridiculous, but everyone else was silent. King Selgratis turned his attention to Annette, and suddenly stopped laughing.

“You are a very cunning woman. You have not only seduced Lady Keers, you even seduced my son. I always said there was snake blood in your veins.”

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?” Raphael scowled.

“Be silent, foolish boy!” The King shouted, words that his son would hear echoing forever. “You are blinded by that woman! Listen, and I will tell you the truth–”

“But she is innocent!” Raphael protested.

“I told you to be silent! One more word, and every member of the Bavaria family will be arrested! It is the right of the Royal Council to conduct such investigations!”

Raphael’s teeth clenched at the threat, and his face reddened. Annette caught his arm and moved a pace in front of him, and Raphael bowed gracefully to his father. His face was smudged black with ashes.

“Your Majesty, I’m just a silly girl, so I don’t understand everything you mean,” Annette said. “How do you think I have deceived anyone?”

The King glared at her. She was much calmer than one would expect for a young woman facing dire accusations from a King. Just as he had done to Celestine, he confronted her.

“You are cunning. I adored you as my own daughter when you were a candidate for Crown Princess. But you betrayed my trust! Have you forgotten your crimes against Lady Keers, who you kidnapped, and even threatened to have killed?! It was a mistake to allow your father to cover it up.”

He had the audacity to accuse Annette of committing his own crimes. Only the three families involved in the affair had known of this. And now, at last, he was using it as a weapon to attack her.