Ch. 491..500
Chapter 491 Deal
Catherine’s slender arm rested casually on the sofa’s armrest, tapping rhythmically.
“Answer it,” she commanded.
A single word containing an order.
Withal immediately answered the phone and switched it to speaker mode. The voice on the other end of the line was impatient, belonging to the chief attendant.
“Mr. Withal, is the doctor available? Could you please put the doctor on the line?”
The chief attendant’s tone was extremely polite when saying this, quite different from the impression Withal had of him when they had first met at the palace.
Withal responded irritably, “Don’t bother trying to reach the doctor. She’s made it clear he won’t take any more contracts from Ravenloth. Give up on this idea.”
Following the principle of money talking, after their initial refusal, the chief attendant didn’t hesitate to sweeten the offer.
“Mr. Withal, the king is willing to add another 100 million dollars to the previous offer as a goodwill gesture.”
Withal looked at Catherine for her opinion. Catherine continued tapping her armrest, with her other hand resting under her chin, moving back and forth.
Time ticked away, and the person on the other end of the phone was growing increasingly anxious.
They could afford to wait, but the crown prince couldn’t. Every second of delay meant another second of agony for the crown prince. With no other options, the chief attendant continued to sweeten the deal.
“200 million dollars. Will that be acceptable?”
Catherine didn’t like haggling. Instead, she preferred to get straight to the point.
“One billion dollars.”
Hearing Catherine’s answer, let alone the chief attendant, even Withal himself was momentarily stunned.
Catherine sure knew how to ask for a lot.
She had said all that needed to be said, and the rest was left to Withal. Catherine slowly stood up and walked over to the dining table.
There were still some after-meal fruits prepared for her by Branden, and she hadn’t had a chance to eat them yet. Shortly after, Withal returned, wearing an elated smile on his face.
“Catherine, it’s done!”
“Moreover, this time, I’ve had them deposit half of the agreed sum in advance. When you depart, it will be ready for you!”
When they had approached Ravenloth Palace with sincerity in the past, the royal family hadn’t taken them seriously. They sought their services, so they shouldn’t be surprised by the high price.
Catherine was not someone who could be easily hired.
When Catherine heard Withal’s report, her expression remained unchanged, as if she had already been certain that the royal family would agree.
After all, Prince Levi, the future king and a cherished child of Queen Lina, would probably make the Ravenloth king part with half his wealth willingly.
Soon, Withal received a message from the Bank of Nospines. He looked at the string of numbers on the screen, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Quite fast!”
He grinned at Catherine, showing her the phone screen.
“Catherine, it’s in!”
Catherine was not one to fuss. She handled the money matters efficiently.
“Get ready. I’ll go change,” she said as she headed upstairs.
She ran into Branden as he was coming down from the upper floor.
The man had just gone upstairs to work.
Whenever Catherine was present, his gaze would naturally fall on her.
“Going out?
“To the royal palace?”
“Yup,” Catherine confirmed.
The man raised an eyebrow, a soft, affectionate smile in his charming eyes as he gazed at Catherine.
“Come on, how much did you squeeze out of them?” he asked.
Catherine rebuked him with a side-eye.
“It’s a mutually beneficial deal. How can you call it squeezing? The Ravenloth Palace is renowned for its wealth worldwide. Even an extra billion is just a drop in the bucket for them.”
“Indeed,” the man responded, nodding approvingly after Catherine’s bold statement.
“You’re right. Looking at it that way, a billion seems a bit modest.”
Catherine took Branden’s hand and said, “You stay here to work. I’m going to the royal palace.”
A mere trip to the Ravenloth Palace with so many people, Catherine thought it was a losing proposition. Her man wasn’t someone you could easily call for, and she preferred not to engage in such unprofitable dealings.
After discussing it with Branden, Catherine followed Withal to the royal palace. They encountered Harry at the entrance, and by his appearance, he’d been waiting there for quite some time.
Withal parked the car next to Harry.
As the car window slowly lowered, Harry saw Catherine inside.
Despite Catherine wearing sunglasses and a large cap that concealed most of her face, Harry remained convinced that she must be exceptionally beautiful.
“Doctor, are you going to the palace?” Harry asked. Catherine turned her head to look at him, her sharp eyes glinting with coldness.
“You seem to know my whereabouts quite well.”
Harry realized the sarcasm in Catherine’s words.
He hastily explained, “Doctor, please don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t trying to spy on you. I’ve been waiting here since dawn, and now I’ve finally found you.
“As for how I knew your destination, it’s because I thought that for the sake of saving the crown prince, the royal family would do everything to invite you to help again.”
Catherine didn’t need an investigation to believe that at least half of Harry’s words were true.
The entire estate was under surveillance, and if he lied, it would easily be exposed. He wasn’t stupid enough to utter such words.
“So, what’s your purpose in waiting for me?” Catherine inquired.
She raised an eyebrow with a meaningful look.
“So, tell me. Why were you waiting for me?”
“Doctor, Queen Lina always seeks retribution. People who offend her have never had good endings. You must be cautious, especially when leaving the palace,” Harry earnestly warned. His gaze held seriousness and unwavering determination.
“Haha!” Catherine scoffed and closed the car window.
At that moment, Withal also stepped on the gas pedal. Harry stood in place, watching the car gradually disappear. A strange and greedy smile appeared on his face.
He extended a hand and gently touched his lips, giving a deep, passionate kiss. Unbeknownst to him, someone was watching him from a window upstairs.
The man exuded a profound, deathly aura, and his oppressive presence felt like a powerful low-pressure system that stole the very air.
Paxton, standing nearby, quietly wiped away his sweat.
Some people were just asking for trouble, and he wondered why he had to be involved. The oppressive atmosphere made him tremble all over, and even breathing felt difficult.
It left Paxton trembling, head down, with his collar pulled tight. Harry, that fool, was playing with fire, daring to covet someone who had captured Mr. Duncan’s heart.
What a way to seek death!
Chapter 492 Her Audacity
Catherine and Withal were both in the car. After driving for a while, he finally spoke up to discuss with her.
“Catherine, why do I feel like Prince Harry is quite concerned about you?” Withal asked. Prince Harry had waited for quite a while just to remind Catherine to be cautious of that foolish queen.
His concern seemed a bit excessive.
Catherine leaned on her hand, her beautiful eyes gazing forward unfocused. She calmly replied to Withal. “I don’t give a fuck!”
Withal was silent for a moment.
Finally, he gave his assessment. ” You’re right.”
In this world, there were plenty of people eager to please Catherine.
What was a mere Prince Harry?
Unlike their previous visit to the palace, this time, Withal drove the car directly to the palace gate. The chief attendant himself came out to welcome them and politely opened the car door for Catherine as she stepped out.
The difference in treatment from their previous visit was stark. Catherine remained composed, her face indifferent, and followed the chief attendant to the crown prince’s chamber.
The king and Queen Lina were both present. Queen Lina saw Catherine, and her eyes practically shot daggers at her.
“Cough, cough,” the king cleared his throat.
He tried to silence Queen Lina.
“Humph!” Withal snorted disdainfully.
“If Queen Lina dares to show disrespect to Catherine again today, I won’t give a damn about saving face for the Ravenloth king.
“I’ll step in directly!” he thought.
A confrontation might spark a full- blown war between the Hacker Alliance and Ravenloth, but sometimes it couldn’t be avoided.
In a world of intellects and visionaries, a few individuals stood out as shining examples of sheer, unadulterated stupidity.
Their actions and words served as a testament to the inexhaustible depths of their ignorance. Though warned by the king, Queen Lina was still visibly discontented.
At this moment, Prince Levi, inside the chamber, once again had a seizure. His whole body convulsed, foam dripped from his mouth, and his eyes rolled back. The sight made it seem like he could pass away at any moment.
Both the king and Queen Lina were desperate. The king immediately thought of seeking help from Catherine. “Doctor, please, check on the crown prince!”
This time, Queen Lina stood by without showing any sign of displeasure.
Now, the only one who could save her son was Catherine. Her husband was growing old, and her son was the beacon of her happiness in the latter part of her life. She would never allow anything to happen to her son!
Amidst the crowd’s pleading and anticipation, Catherine calmly approached Prince Levi. While she didn’t possess medical skills as advanced as Mr. Theo, judging by Prince Levi’s condition, he was suffering even more than Henry had.
Catherine took out a syringe and followed the same steps she had used when treating Henry.
However, something strange happened this time. The treatment didn’t yield the miraculous results they had witnessed on the previous occasion.
Prince Levi continued to suffer, wailing in agony. Everyone present, including Withal, was left astonished, struggling to believe their eyes.
Why was it different from last time?
Upon seeing this scene, Queen Lina became even more convinced that Catherine was a fraud. Perhaps she had used some trickery or just happened to cure Henry by sheer luck. This time, her attempts were futile.
Upon hearing her son’s painful cries, Queen Lina rushed forward.
“You fraud! Release my son!”
Withal swiftly positioned himself between them, his icy gaze locked onto the queen.
“Your Majesty, I advise you to maintain your composure!”
In front of others, Withal was always cold and ruthless.
His imposing figure, combined with his stern, indifferent face and an air of frostiness, genuinely instilled fear in people. Additionally, the queen had witnessed him in action during the last incident, which left her terrified.
The queen couldn’t do anything about Withal. She was so enraged that she stomped her feet without caring about her image.
Unable to suppress Withal with her presence, the queen eventually had to seek an audience with the king. Outside, there was a commotion, and the people present were starting to question Catherine’s abilities.
Yet, Catherine herself seemed to have discovered something remarkable, a glint of excitement in her eyes.
Her slightly upturned eye corners betrayed her contentment. She meticulously withdrew the silver needles she had inserted, changing their positions and sealing the acupoints again.
This time, the acupuncture treatment finally showed results.
Prince Levi’s wails began to subside, and his complexion gradually improved. Once she had successfully stabilized Prince Levi, Catherine began removing the needles one by one.
For now, the ailment within Prince Levi’s body seemed temporarily under control. With a stretch and a slight hint of weariness, Catherine stood up.
Without hesitation, Withal hurriedly approached her, offering her a cup of coffee. His demeanor was not merely that of a servant obeying their master, motivated solely by necessity. Withal’s approach to serving Catherine was filled with genuine admiration, his eyes showing deep respect.
After Catherine had sipped her coffee, Withal attentively collected the empty cup.
His attitude enhanced the admiration of those around Catherine. Dr. Sugar was able to secure such a remarkable assistant, so her ability was undoubtedly at the highest level among experts.
The physician took over after Catherine left.
After that, he reported the condition of the crown prince to the king.
Upon hearing that the crown prince’s condition had stabilized, the king breathed a sigh of relief. However, Queen Lina, who stood beside him, still wore an unhappy expression.
In her eyes, it was an honor for Catherine to treat the crown prince. Being employed by a member of the royal family in Ravenloth was an unparalleled privilege, an incredible honor.
Queen Lina was deeply unhappy with Catherine. In her opinion, not only did Catherine dare to negotiate conditions with the royal family, but she also displayed unforgivable insolence.
Aware that his beloved consort was still displeased with Catherine, and to avoid any unnecessary troubles that might lead to economic losses, the king decided to take the initiative to communicate with Catherine. Through this, he could reduce the presence of Queen Lina.
“Doctor, your acupuncture technique is truly extraordinary. I would like to know approximately how much time will it take for these peculiar ailments to be completely cured?”
The turbulence within the Ravenloth royal family had deprived him of peaceful sleep for quite some time. If this bizarre catastrophe didn’t come to an end soon, the royal family would face irreparable losses.
In the presence of the king, Catherine offered no courtesy. She didn’t immediately respond to the king’s question. Instead, she sat on a nearby sofa to rest.
Once she sat down, Catherine couldn’t help but remark, “This chair is exceptionally hard, not the least bit comfortable.”
Ravenloth Palace was known for adorning everything with gold as a symbol of its opulence.
The chair that Catherine sat in was made entirely of pure gold. Upon hearing Catherine’s words, the people around her couldn’t help but admire the doctor’s audacity.
She was the first to show such disdain for the palace’s furnishings in front of the king.
Chapter 493 Treatment
Even though Catherine’s demeanor might come off as arrogant, she had every reason to be. After all, in the face of the strange illness that had afflicted the royal family, numerous experts and scholars had been helpless, while Catherine had effortlessly suppressed the disease.
In other words, the entire royal family was now dependent on Catherine. So, her assertiveness was quite justified.
During the meeting, Catherine had complained about the hardness of the chairs. In response, the old king immediately ordered a luxurious leather chair. It proved to be exceedingly comfortable when Catherine tested it.
Seeing the satisfaction on Catherine’s face, the chief attendant finally dared to approach her. He inquired, “Doctor, may I ask if there’s anything else we should be prepared for?”
Catherine’s mood was upbeat, and she decided to provide the royal family with some additional services.
“Summon all the infected individuals here. I will administer treatments to them.”
While Catherine hadn’t yet identified the source of the strange illness, her treatments could temporarily alleviate the crisis the royal family was facing.
The old king was highly satisfied with Catherine’s decision and ordered all the physicians to await her. Additionally, he arranged for ten servants to attend to Catherine’s needs.
Even the chief attendant stayed, ready to serve her. The chief attendant, with a fawning expression, spoke to Catherine, ” Doctor, if you have any requests, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Catherine gently placed her hand on her stomach. The chief attendant, skilled in reading people, immediately caught the signal. “Doctor, please let me know what you’d like to eat. The chefs can prepare any dish you desire.”
During lunch, the meal prepared by Branden was quite bland, and Catherine was now feeling hungry. She casually suggested, “How about a barbecue?”
He had expected Catherine to request something extravagant, but to his surprise, she simply asked for a barbecue.
Although this was Ravenloth, it was important to note that in recent years, Chritie had developed significant influence.
All around the world, there were skilled individuals from Chritie, and with them, the culture and cuisine of Chritie had spread far and wide.
Barbecue, this convenient and delicious cuisine, had received widespread acclaim, and even in Ravenloth, there were numerous Chritien barbecue restaurants. The chief attendant was delighted to agree, “Of course, I will make the arrangements immediately.”
Witnessing this scene, Queen Lina was furious.
Catherine had become intolerably arrogant, and the most infuriating part was that there was no way to punish her.
The king had mentioned Catherine’s mysterious and formidable backing, making it impossible to challenge her.
More importantly, Catherine was now the only one who could save the royal family.
“If we get rid of her, who will save the royal family?” she thought.
Queen Lina couldn’t bear the scene before her, so she chose to leave.
She pretended not to see anything.
When everyone was far enough away, Withal approached Catherine.
He quietly communicated with her in Chritien, “Catherine, why are we voluntarily helping them clean up this mess?” he asked.
The royal family’s attitude was terrible, especially Queen Lina’s. Who did she think she was to treat Catherine like this?
It was exasperating!
Even Mr. Duncan couldn’t stand it anymore, and Withal had never expected that Catherine would voluntarily offer assistance. Catherine was relaxing in her reclining chair.
She responded to Withal’s query, “You know, Withal, we’re getting paid for this. I’d rather solve it all at once than be bothered repeatedly by them, calling us to give shots to one person and perform surgery on another.”
Henry and Prince Levi had fallen ill, and Catherine was confident that the next victim was inevitable. These people would go to great lengths to summon her to the palace to save their lives.
She preferred to resolve the issue once and for all, avoiding the annoyance of running back and forth repeatedly.
Hearing Catherine’s explanation, Withal felt there was some truth in her words. Rather than making multiple trips, she aimed for a comprehensive solution. Withal glanced around to ensure there was no one nearby.
Finally, he dared to quietly inquire of Catherine, “Catherine, what’s going on with these people from the royal family? Could it be the former queen’s curse?”
“Hmph!” Catherine sniffed disdainfully, her face full of contempt.
The so-called curse was often the guilt- ridden minds of those who had done wrong. If they didn’t start with the knowledge that what they were doing was wrong, why should one they about a curse?
The more people were afraid to believe in such superstitions, the more it revealed their guilty conscience.
“Nonsense, it’s clearly poisoning!”
“Poisoning?” Withal exclaimed in surprise, his eyes wide, looking at Catherine with disbelief.
It wasn’t that he didn’t believe their boss’s judgment, but it just sounded far -fetched. Ravenloth might be a small country, but it had a thriving economy and considerable wealth.
The royal family controlled ninety percent of the nation’s economy.
While money wasn’t everything, it could achieve things that seemed unimaginable. In such circumstances, it was hard to believe that the Ravenloth royal family could still be poisoned. What was even more astonishing was the sheer number of victims.
“Catherine, are you sure?” Withal asked again, still unable to believe it. Catherine nodded slightly. If she couldn’t be certain before, seeing Prince Levi today had helped her make up her mind.
However, after she suppressed the toxins in Henry’s body the last time, the poisoners became aware. The poison in Prince Levi’s body had been modified, evident from his recent condition.
However, the changes observed were minimal, and it was highly unlikely for a virus from the natural world to evolve and change this rapidly.
The only plausible explanation is that someone had poisoned them.
Her reluctance to study medicine stemmed from her aversion to the trouble of saving lives. She had spent some time with Mr. Theo and had observed numerous sick people coming to him, resorting to various means to seek his help.
She had found it annoying.
While she hadn’t learned medicine, she was well-versed in various poisons and methods of poisoning. The ones who poisoned were unlucky indeed, for if they had encountered an ordinary person, their actions might have gone unnoticed.
Unfortunately for them, they happened to cross paths with her!
The mysterious illness was spreading rapidly among the members of the royal family. When Catherine first arrived, there had been just over thirty affected individuals. Now, that number has grown to more than sixty.
When they heard that the king had brought a doctor willing to treat them, all the afflicted royals rushed to the palace.
Some who had heard about Catherine’s confrontation with Queen Lina were wary of her. However, there were always a few who, despite her noble status, tried to act tough in front of her.
In the end, Catherine kicked them out, and any attempts to cause trouble were thwarted by the chief attendant.
“She’s someone the king dares not offend. I advise you to think twice,” the chief attendant warned.
His words immediately brought them to their senses.
After subduing the troublemakers, Catherine began administering treatments one by one.
After treating two patients, she suddenly beckoned to Withal.
She leaned in close to him and whispered instructions for a secret task.
As Withal, with some confusion, grasped the meaning of Catherine’s words, he couldn’t quite comprehend why she would want to do this.
But he knew there must be a reason behind it.
Without delay, Withal responded. ”
Catherine, I’ll be back quickly.”
Chapter 494 Take the Bait
The palace was buzzing with people, but inside the hall, there was only the sound of sizzling barbecue. The noble princes and princesses, who usually indulged in delicacies, now watched intently as Catherine enjoyed the barbecue in front of her. It was truly tempting and mouth-watering.
Catherine leisurely leaned back on the soft chair specially prepared for her by the king, holding a fork in one hand and eating barbecue while administering injections to the patients beside her with the other hand. Sometimes, without even looking, she could insert the needle into the correct acupuncture points of the patients.
Despite Catherine’s arrogant attitude, no one dared to question her. After all, she even dared to scold Queen Lina.
Who would dare to provoke her?
The princes who had received the acupuncture treatment looked refreshed and rejuvenated. It was unclear whether Catherine’s medical skills were truly remarkable or if there was a psychological factor at play.
These princes spread the word about Catherine’s miraculous healing abilities. They said she could cure strange illnesses with ease. The news spread quickly, and soon, the entire palace knew about it.
Outside the hall, a servant named Adams observed the flushed faces of the princes as they came out after receiving the acupuncture treatment. He furrowed his brow.
Adams was a lowly and inconspicuous servant in the palace. He had been observing everything for a long time. The fact that every prince came out with a smile on their face made him wonder if the doctor brought in by the king was indeed that skilled.
Although Adams had doubts, seeing the same expression on all the princes reassured him. He kept his head low and quietly left, unaware that Withal had been observing his every move from the doorway.
After Adams left, Withal returned to the hall and glanced up at Catherine. Both of them understood each other without words. The trap had been set, the bait had been thrown, and now they just had to wait for the big fish to take it.
After leaving the hall, Adams sneaked to a secluded spot where no one was around. Once he confirmed no one was nearby, he took out his cell phone and dialed a mysterious phone number.
As soon as the call connected, Adams’s expression turned serious. “Boss, I have important information to report!” He proceeded to tell the person on the other end about everything happening in the palace.
Anxious, Adams eagerly awaited the boss’s response. “Boss, please think of a solution. I heard that the doctor plans to teach her mysterious acupuncture technique to the physicians in the palace. Soon, anyone who falls ill can be easily cured with just a few needle pricks.”
The man on the other end of the phone said in a low voice, “Don’t panic, just keep an eye on her. I’ll arrange for someone to handle it!”
After speaking, the man hung up the phone. Adams’s face was filled with worry as he looked at the dark screen of the phone. What if his boss’s plan failed?
It took Catherine half a day to administer acupuncture to over sixty members of the royal family.
After treating the last prince, Withal approached the chief attendant with a serious expression. “The doctor is exhausted from all the needling and needs a break. Have all the servants leave. I’ll call for them when needed!”
The chief attendant didn’t dare to defy Withal’s orders and quickly ushered the people away. Once everyone was gone, Withal approached Catherine.
“Catherine, what’s our next move?”
“Wait for the fish to take the bait!”
Catherine leisurely enjoyed the fruits provided by the chief attendant, looking content.
There was no point in rushing. Besides, there were people hiding in the shadows who were more anxious than her. This trip to Ravenloth had already taken up a lot of time, and her patience was wearing thin.
Although Catherine had treated all the patients, she had no intention of leaving the palace. She was still waiting for the big fish to take the bait.
On the other side, after spending an afternoon using all means possible, Paxton had gathered all the information about Prince Harry.
“Boss, here’s the document. Please take a look. Prince Harry has quite a complicated background. He was diagnosed with congenital autism at a young age and has below-average intelligence. After the queen’s death, he was exiled for many years and suffered greatly due to offending Queen Lina. It’s already quite a feat for him to return to Ravenloth alive.”
As Branden carefully examined the information, Paxton thought of something and immediately reported it to him.
“Boss, I know who the last owner of the Passam Stone was. It was the queen of Ravenloth. However, with the queen’s mysterious death, the Passam Stone has completely disappeared! Do you think Prince Harry, who was fostered under the queen’s care since childhood, could have been given this treasure by the queen?”
Branden’s sharp eyes stared intently at the document in his hand. Every word on it left an impression in his mind, and he had a feeling that things weren’t so simple.
“Where is he?”
Paxton paused for a second and then realized Branden was asking about Prince Harry. He immediately found the surveillance footage on his phone and handed it to Branden.
“He’s still lying in the room, and our people are guarding in the shadows at the door. There shouldn’t be any problems!”
Even so, every half an hour, Paxton would personally check Prince Harry’s whereabouts to avoid anything unexpected.
Branden suddenly stood up and grabbed his coat from the side, instructing Paxton, “Prepare the car. I’m going to the palace. You stay here and watch that kid!”
Paxton originally wanted to follow along. In his opinion, nothing was more important than the safety of his boss. However, his boss had ordered him to stay and watch the person, so he couldn’t leave.
“Alright, I’ll prepare the car right away. Paxton knew Branden was worried about Catherine’s safety and wanted to find her in the palace.
Paxton believed that nothing would happen to Catherine even if she was alone in the palace, considering her skills and strength. However, he dared not disobey Branden’s decision.
He arranged a car for Branden and personally kept an eye on Harry. The task assigned by his boss must not be taken lightly.
It took nearly half an hour to drive from the manor to the main hall of the palace. By the time Branden arrived, it was already dark.
The palace attendant knew Branden was Catherine’s assistant, so he allowed Branden to drive his car into the main hall.
“Sir, the doctor is having dinner. I’ll take you there right away!”
Guided by the palace attendant, Branden arrived at the palace where Catherine was temporarily staying. At this moment, Catherine was being personally served by the chief attendant.
Due to the special nature of Catherine’s identity, her dinner was prepared according to the king’s standards. The large table was filled with various delicious dishes, allowing Catherine to choose freely.
“Doctor, your assistant is here!” the palace attendant announced. Catherine looked up from her meal, noticing Branden standing beside the palace attendant.
It seemed that she had been here for too long. Branden became so anxious that he came directly to the palace. Catherine greeted him graciously and invited him to sit down.
“Perfect timing. Come on. Let’s eat together!”
Branden had initially been worried that she might be at a disadvantage in the palace, but he didn’t expect her to be living more comfortably than anyone else.
It seemed that his worries were in vain. Seeing Branden still standing there, Catherine personally approached him, took his hand, and led him to sit down.
Although Branden had a serious expression, he allowed Catherine to pull him along. Once she asked him to sit down, he complied obediently, surprisingly well-behaved.
Catherine handed him a fork and raised an eyebrow at him, saying, “No matter what the matter is, let’s eat before discussing it!”
Chapter 495 Let’s Gegin
Catherine and withal had just finished their meal when the palace attendant hurriedly entered the hall, looking nervous.
“Doctor, please move to another palace. Withal put down his fork and looked up at the palace attendant. “Why would you want our doctor to change places? Are you planning to dispose of him once he’s served his purpose?”
Hearing this, the palace attendant quickly explained. After all, he couldn’t afford to offend Catherine. The entire royal family was counting on her to save them. If he angered her, the king might have him killed.
“Withal, you’ve misunderstood. There’s been a fire in the queen’s palace, and the guards are doing their best to put it out. Your palace is closer to the queen’s, so for your safety and the doctor’s, please follow me and leave!”
Withal turned to Catherine, waiting for her decision. Catherine stood up, stretched her neck, and relaxed her body.
“Let’s go and take a look,” she said. Since Catherine wanted to go, the palace attendant dared not stop her. He had no choice but to follow behind.
From a distance, Catherine saw black smoke billowing from the queen’s palace. The royal guards were actively fighting the fire, and many servants were spectating.
“Well, the doctor managed to treat the princes’ illness, but then the queen’s palace caught fire. Maybe the curse is taking effect!”
“Yeah, it must be. Haven’t you heard about it? The queen’s family has witches who are skilled in powerful magic!”
“The curse of the queen must be real!”
“Yeah, that’s right!”
After hearing these discussions from the servants, the palace attendant’s face turned dark. “How could they openly discuss these palace secrets?” he said inwardly. “Do these people not care about their lives?”
He quickly approached and drove the people away.
Noticing Catherine and the others staring at him, the palace attendant felt extremely awkward.
“I apologize for these unruly servants. They lack manners and have embarrassed you, Doctor,” he said.
Catherine glanced at him and sneered.” The curse of your queen seems to be quite effective!”
Upon hearing this, the attendant’s face immediately changed.
“Doctor, it’s not like that. Some matters cannot be talked about, truly!”
Seeing his anxious and flustered appearance, Catherine couldn’t help but smile.
“This old man is quite interesting,” she thought. Then, she said, “It was just a casual remark. Why are you taking it so seriously?”
It was true that Catherine had made a casual comment. However, if her words reached the king’s ears, the king would definitely have the attendant chopped up. It was natural for the attendant to be afraid.
Catherine noticed that Branden suddenly answered a phone call. She took a step forward and approached him. Seeing Catherine approaching, Branden put down his phone and looked up at her.
“Harry has disappeared!”
The call was from Paxton, who was responsible for guarding Harry in the estate. Every half an hour, he would personally check on Harry.
Just a few minutes ago, he discovered that Harry was not in the room, mysteriously gone. He immediately informed Branden.
Upon hearing this news, Catherine wasn’t surprised. A faint smile crossed her cold eyes, and then she glanced at Withal.
“Let’s begin.”
“Understood!”
Withal couldn’t hide his excitement on his face. After being restrained for so many days, it was finally his turn to take action. He reached out and grabbed the palace attendant by the neck, capturing him.
Terrified, the palace attendant’s face turned pale, and he quickly begged for mercy. “Mr. Withal, what are you doing?”
“Nothing much. Just taking you to have a chat with your king!” Withal said as he pulled the palace attendant away.
After the two left, Catherine, feeling a bit bored, turned to Branden beside her and said, “I heard there’s a sacred spring in the palace that only members of the royal family have the chance to enjoy. Shall we go take a look?”
Branden nodded without surprise. ” Yeah, let’s go!”
Initially, when the first king of Ravenloth fell ill, a prophet guided him to find a spring. After drinking from it, his illness disappeared. Later, the king declared this spring as Ravenloth’s sacred spring, reserved only for male members of the royal family.
Catherine arrived at the entrance of the sacred spring, entering the passage leading to it. Several guards were stationed there, indicating tight security.
When they tried to enter, the guards immediately stepped forward to stop them.
“This is the location of the sacred spring. Outsiders are not allowed inside without the king’s permission. Please leave!”
Catherine boldly approached, completely ignoring the guard’s words.
One of the guards attempted to stop her, but Catherine glanced at him, causing him to freeze in his tracks.
In a cold and domineering tone, Catherine said, “Go and ask your king if it’s his order that I can go wherever I want in this palace!”
For the convenience of Catherine’s research, the king personally ordered that the entire palace cooperate with her, allowing her to come and go wherever she pleased freely.
The guard was stunned by Catherine’s words. The other guard beside them reacted quickly. He stepped forward and grabbed the other guard, whispering, “Be a little smarter, will you? This is Dr. Sugar, a distinguished guest of the king.” After saying this, he emphasized, “The one who stood against Queen Lina!”
With just a simple sentence, the latter immediately understood Catherine’s distinguished identity. He looked at Catherine again, now filled with admiration and fear in his eyes.
Catherine diverted her attention from them and walked straight toward the sacred spring.
This time, the guards dared not stop her and her companion. After all, they couldn’t afford to offend someone. Even Queen Lina couldn’t afford to offend.
The so-called sacred spring was nothing more than a spring flowing through the cracks in the mountains. However, it was decorated extravagantly, with numerous jewelry and golden artifacts visible at a glance.
Every single item here was a priceless treasure. Whether they were members of the royal family or ordinary wealthy people, they considered it the ultimate honor to offer their own treasures to the sacred spring.
The treasures here wouldn’t be stolen, not only because of the strict guards, but also because the people of Ravenloth had unwavering faith. In their opinion, the sacred spring was inviolable, and anyone who defiled it would be punished.
This kind of punishment would not only befall the individual but also bring destruction to the entire family. No one dared to commit such a heinous act!
After taking a look around, Catherine suddenly looked up at Branden.
There was a strange glint in his sharp eyes. Catherine nodded slightly at him, an unspoken understanding passing between them.
Catherine didn’t like beating around the bush. She was always decisive in her actions. After finding a spot to sit down, she leisurely spoke to the air.
“I’ve come all this way. Aren’t you willing to show yourself?”
Chapter 496 The Culprit
Knowing that his whereabouts had been exposed, Harry no longer hid and walked out from the shadows.
Behind the sacred spring, there was a small wooden cabinet where Harry used to play since he was a child. He knew every decoration there better than anyone else, and he knew exactly where to hide to remain unnoticed.
However, he didn’t expect Catherine to figure out his presence as soon as she arrived. His heart panicked momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure and calmly approached Catherine.
“Doctor, what are you doing here? This is the sacred spring, and non-royal members are prohibited inside!”
“Humph!” Catherine sneered and looked at him, raising an eyebrow.”
And yet, here you are. You went to great lengths to ask me to take you out, even bringing the Passam Stone. Now, why did you sneak back here?”
Harry remained calm, showing no signs of guilt. He covered his face, pretending to be in pain.
“Doctor, I don’t want to die, and I definitely don’t want anything to happen to my brothers. The sacred spring is a holy symbol in Ravenloth. The prophet said that as long as we sincerely pray to it, the sacred spring will hear our prayers and bless the members of the royal family with safety. I was just too scared, and I wanted to pray to the sacred spring for the safety of our royal family!”
Catherine raised an eyebrow, her face exuding an intriguing and mysterious expression.
“Is that so?”
These three simple words made Harry’s expression change. “Doctor, don’t you believe me?”
Harry’s expression seemed genuinely sincere, and an ordinary person might have believed him, but unfortunately, he encountered Catherine.
Catherine’s eyes were cold, and her tone was flat as she said, “Believe you in what? Believe that you didn’t poison the sacred spring? Or believe that you’re not the mastermind behind all this?”
Harry was stunned. He didn’t expect Catherine to have figured everything out. He wanted to explain and defend himself.
“No, I didn’t! I’m also a member of the royal family. How could I do such a thing? What benefit would it bring me?”
He just wouldn’t drop the act. Perhaps he would only admit everything willingly once the evidence was presented.
Catherine was well-prepared. If she didn’t have evidence, she wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of setting up this trap to catch Harry.
“Then, are you willing to let someone draw a vial of blood from you?” she asked.
“Why would I let someone draw my blood?” Harry was furious. He felt a sense of unease, but he firmly believed that Catherine couldn’t possibly know the truth. Although he knew Catherine was intelligent and formidable, he was sure his flawless plan would never be exposed.
Harry noticed that Withal, who had been following Catherine, was nowhere to be seen. He knew that things couldn’t be that simple. He thought carefully for a while and gradually figured out Catherine’s intentions.
“Doctor, you can’t treat me like this. I can go with you to see the king and confront him. I believe the great king will believe in my innocence!”
Branden stared at Harry, who was still desperately acting, with a faint smile playing in his eyes. It seemed like he was mocking Harry’s futile attempts.
From Harry’s behavior, Catherine had already seen through his thoughts. She didn’t expect this guy to be so quick- witted. She sent a message to Withal on her phone and then looked at Harry, raising an eyebrow, saying softly, “As you wish!”
A moment later, Withal appeared with the king, Queen Lina, and several princes from the palace, all standing by the sacred spring.
When Harry saw the king, he knew he had guessed correctly. He quickly prostrated himself in front of the king and pleaded, “Father, you must believe me. I didn’t poison anyone.”
The king’s face was very grim. He couldn’t accept the fact that someone had been poisoning the royal family, especially when it was done by such an inconspicuous son of his.
The king didn’t believe that Harry could be the one who poisoned them. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to ask Catherine about it.
“Doctor, could there be a mistake or something in the investigation?”
Before Catherine could speak, Queen Lina said in a slightly sarcastic tone, ” Exactly. Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare to do such a thing! Doctor, are you just randomly accusing someone without finding any evidence? Well, you’ve got the wrong person. Prince Harry is not a smart person, and he’s mentally disabled. Before you look for the culprit, Doctor, perhaps you should inquire about the situation in our royal family.”
Both openly and subtly, her words were implying that Catherine was randomly finding someone to take the blame to catch the culprit.
This sentiment spread among the people present. Prince Harry was just too inconspicuous. He came from a humble background and had always lacked intelligence. Even if something happened to Prince Levi, it wouldn’t be his turn to be the crown prince. So, why would he go through all this trouble to frame the members of the royal family?
Harry looked at the crowd discussing and felt a trace of joy in his heart. He knew that no one would believe what Catherine said. The more people knew him, the less likely they would believe he could do such a thing. When he saw Catherine being questioned, he even voluntarily defended her.
“Father, it’s not the doctor’s fault. Perhaps she was just too eager to find the truth. I came to the sacred spring just to pray for our safety, nothing else!
The king was not at all surprised by Harry’s words. The sacred spring was a sacred symbol in their hearts, and many members of the royal family would come here to drink the holy water and pray for health when they were ill.
The king was in a dilemma. Even though Catherine’s explanation sounded absurd, she had helped members of the royal family and temporarily suppressed their illnesses. Coupled with her background, he couldn’t take action against her for now.
“Since that’s the case, why don’t we…”
“Wait!”
A sudden voice broke the king’s speech. Everyone’s attention shifted to Catherine’s side. No one knew why this man, who had been standing there quietly, suddenly spoke up.
Branden had no interest in the intrigues of the royal family of Ravenloth. But if someone dared to target Catherine, he wouldn’t stand up for her.
Catherine wasn’t surprised by Branden’s sudden intervention. She just waited by his side, looking relaxed.
The king’s gaze also fell on Branden. He had a feeling that this assistant beside Catherine was extraordinary.
This man gave off a completely different aura compared to Withal’s, who was always behaving respectfully by Catherine’s side.
Branden exuded a strong sense of nobility, even more outstanding than many princes in the palace. This kind of nobility couldn’t be obtained overnight. It required not only a privileged background from birth but also intense cultivation and exceptional personal qualities.
The king had even arranged for someone to investigate this assistant’s identity, but he couldn’t even find his name. His whereabouts were just too mysterious.
After pondering for a while, the king took the initiative to ask Branden. “Do you have something to say?”
Chapter 497 Change His Appearance
Branden nodded slightly, exuding an extremely powerful aura that made it impossible for anyone to divert their gaze from him, even if he didn’t say a word.
Facing curious looks, Branden remained calm and composed. He casually uttered a sentence that threw the whole scene into chaos.
“What if this person is not Prince Harry?”
Everyone was stunned, including Harry, but Catherine’s expression remained unchanged.
The first to speak up was Queen Lina, who had held a grudge against Catherine for a long time. She wanted to teach Catherine a lesson. Even if no one dared to lay a finger on Catherine, it would still be satisfying if Catherine got punished by the king.
Queen Lina pretended to be angry and scolded, “Nonsense! This is Prince Harry. Can’t the king even recognize his own child?”
Branden turned his head and glanced at Queen Lina. His sharp eyes shot directly at her, causing her heart to skip a beat. She felt as if someone had their hands around her throat. She had never encountered such a terrifying gaze before.
Who exactly was this man?
Branden’s words shattered Harry’s previous confidence.
Harry felt that the man in front of him was not an ordinary person. This man’s gaze was as sharp as if he could see through people’s hearts.
What did he know?
Harry didn’t dare to speculate randomly. He could only defend himself loudly, “No, this is impossible. I am the king’s son, and that is an undeniable fact!”
Everyone present found it absurd. Although Harry was not favored, he was indeed the king’s son. The royal bloodline was always strict, and no one could fake it.
It seemed that Harry refused to believe it until he saw the evidence.
A chill flashed in Branden’s icy eyes, and his eyes showed a profound coldness. His voice was cold, sending shivers down people’s spines.
“I didn’t say you’re not the king’s son. I only said you’re not Prince Harry!”
Branden deliberately paused for a moment, and then a mysterious smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. ” Is that right, Prince Hayden?”
“Prince Hayden?” The other people were dumbfounded. “Wasn’t he dead?”
Branden’s words were like a giant bomb exploding in the water, stirring up a thousand waves.
Prince Hayden was the queen’s second child. After the death of Prince Toby, he lost his life at a young age due to a car accident.
This incident was always a taboo topic within the palace, and the king ordered everyone to keep silent about it.
However, Branden suddenly brought it up in public, leaving everyone in a state of confusion.
Queen Lina was even more shocked, staring at Prince Harry in disbelief.
“What did you say? You said he is Prince Hayden? How is that possible?”
Branden had no intention of engaging with this foolish woman. His gaze remained fixed on Harry.
“Do I need to continue?” he asked.
Everyone here was intelligent enough to understand. This man was able to succinctly point out Harry’s true identity, which meant he must have solid evidence.
Branden’s bluntness caused Harry’s face to darken instantly.
With a grim expression, Harry stared at Branden and asked, “How did you find out?”
He had been hiding his identity for so many years, erasing all traces of his past. How could Branden possibly uncover it?
How did Branden find out about everything?
Branden coldly assessed Harry, not even considering him a threat. He glanced at Harry with a mocking expression, sending a chilling breeze that made Harry’s heart feel cold. He didn’t even dare to meet Branden’s gaze.
When Harry obediently lowered his head, Branden spoke slowly, his voice calm yet firm.
“You know how to change your appearance, but why didn’t you erase the traces of your life in that country?”
Hearing Branden’s words, Harry immediately understood where he had gone wrong.
He had been careful enough to erase all the information about his changed appearance, but he hadn’t erased the traces of his life in that country during that month.
If someone were determined to investigate him and continued to dig after finding this clue, they would eventually discover something. After all, in this world, there really was no such thing as a secret.
He had been cautious enough, but Branden’s ability to uncover an event of so many years ago was incredible!
The current Harry was not the true Prince Harry. He was Hayden, the queen’s second child.
Hayden was born a year before Harry. Due to Harry’s mother’s humble status, Harry had been fostered under the queen’s care.
Being close in age and living together, the relationship between Harry and Hayden had always been good.
Back then, someone tampered with Hayden’s car, causing the brakes to fail and sending it crashing off a cliff.
Luckily, the queen’s confidant discovered it just in time and saved him.
Worried about further persecution, Hayden had been kept outside the palace, seeking an opportunity.
Later, Harry was expelled from the palace and met his demise on the streets after offending Queen Lina.
Seeing a chance, Hayden altered his appearance to look like Harry and assumed Harry’s identity, waiting for an opportunity to seek revenge.
Having grown up together, Hayden knew Harry’s habits and life experiences like the back of his hand. No one ever suspected his true identity.
Now, everyone understood that all this trouble was related to Hayden.
The king looked at Hayden with a pained expression, asking, “My child, why did you do this? You are a prince, a member of the royal family. Why would you harm your own sibling like this?”
Queen Lina took the opportunity to interject, her smile hiding her true intentions. “Why? Because he’s jealous of the crown prince and wants to become one himself!”
Upon hearing Queen Lina’s words, Hayden erupted in anger, roaring at her like a provoked lion.
“Shut up! Do you think I need to be jealous of that idiot? I am the queen’s son. Even if my older brother is gone, as long as I’m here, the crown prince will never go to your son.”
Hayden was not bluffing about this. The Ravenloth royal family placed great importance on the distinction between children born from concubines and wives. As long as the queen had children, no one else’s child could become the crown prince.
With hatred in his eyes, Hayden glared at Lina, his red eyes burning like two surges of flames as if he wanted to burn her to ashes.
“Isn’t this the reason why you wanted to kill me?”
Exposed in front of everyone, a moment of panic flashed in Queen Lina’s eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
After all, she had lived in this palace for so many years and had seen all kinds of tactics. This little trick couldn’t scare her.
“Nonsense! Show me the evidence!”
After venting her anger on Hayden, she turned to the king and complained bitterly.
“Your Majesty, Hayden plotted against members of the royal family, and now he’s trying to achieve his dirty goals by slandering me. He should be put to death as soon as possible!”
Chapter 498 The Truth
Catherine and Withal stood as bystanders, watching the power struggle with cold eyes.
Withal had brought a plate of fruits and placed it in front of Catherine. ” Catherine, have some fruit before watching the show.”
This power struggle might not end anytime soon.
Catherine appreciated Withal’s thoughtful service. Under the influence of Queen Lina, the king displayed his dissatisfaction towards Hayden.
“Hayden, no matter the reason, it cannot justify you persecuting the royal family and tarnishing the sacred spring.
“Hmph!” Hayden snorted disdainfully, his face full of contempt. “Even if I destroy this country due to my vengeance for my mother’s death and my hatred for my brother, what does it matter? Father, have you forgotten how our ancestors established Ravenloth?”
The first king of Ravenloth had also suffered persecution from a tyrant, which led to the establishment of Ravenloth that continued until now.
Nevertheless, the king expressed his discontent towards Hayden’s actions.
“Hayden, perhaps these are just misunderstandings. Although Lina has a temper, she wouldn’t do such things.”
When Lina heard the king’s trust in her, her face was filled with pride. ”
That’s right. How could I possibly do such a thing?”
After she finished speaking, Hayden exclaimed, “What if I have evidence?”
Both the king and Queen Lina were taken aback.
Hayden took out his phone and played a video for Queen Lina. “Do you think you can get away with what you did? Look at who this is.”
The man in the video was Queen Lina’s younger brother. He revealed everything about how Queen Lina had harmed Prince Toby and tampered with Prince Abbott’s car.
A flash of panic crossed Queen Lina’s face, but she quickly regained her composure and stared at Hayden with a vicious gaze.
“You captured my brother? You are so ruthless!”
After saying that, she pleaded with the king once again. “Your Majesty, he treated my brother so cruelly. Under torture, my brother would say anything. To save his own life, my brother had no choice but to betray me.
Hayden had long known Queen Lina’s venomous nature, so he knew how despicable she was. He was well aware that he couldn’t easily expose himself without a foolproof plan.
“Queen Lina, what is this?” Hayden exclaimed.
In the following videos, there was surveillance footage of Queen Lina secretly poisoning the queen’s medicine and removing her oxygen tube.
It was all because of Queen Lina’s suspicious attitude. She trusted no one. The more important the matter, the more she liked to handle it herself.
Seeing these videos, Queen Lina could no longer control her emotions. She began to tremble uncontrollably.
She never expected that after all these years, Hayden had so much evidence in his hands.
Hayden presented the evidence to the members of the royal family.
“Everyone, this is the evidence of Queen Lina’s plot to murder the queen. It is irrefutable.”
Enraged, Queen Lina rushed forward, trying to snatch Hayden’s phone, shouting fiercely, “You can even get plastic surgery to look like Harry. Who knows if you would find someone to imitate my appearance and frame me on purpose? You bastard, tell me, why did you do this to me? Just to become the heir to the throne? You’re so cruel. You would go to any lengths to persecute everyone just to become the crown prince!”
The onlookers always saw more clearly than those involved.
The members of the royal family, who had suffered unjustly, now turned their anger towards Hayden, believing him to be the culprit.
However, Catherine and the other bystanders saw through Queen Lina’s conspiracy. Her methods were cunning enough to incite conflict. By diverting everyone’s attention to Hayden, who was caught poisoning, she made them overlook the truth of her plot to harm the queen.
Catherine, who had been silently observing, saw the change in the king’s attitude and suddenly spoke up.
“Your Majesty, the poison used by Hayden was extremely peculiar as if it was specifically designed based on the genetic traits of the royal family members. All I can do is suppress the toxicity, but to completely cure them, I still need Hayden’s help. After all, he is the one who created this poison!”
Catherine casually made up a story, completely overturning the situation Queen Lina had worked so hard to create.
As soon as these words were spoken, the members of the royal family immediately changed their expressions.
Catherine was not a Ravenloth person, and she couldn’t serve Ravenloth her whole life.
Most importantly, no one wanted to have an illness for no reason, especially one that could last a lifetime.
Instantly, the agitated members of the royal family started challenging the king, urging him to resolve the problem as soon as possible.
Queen Lina’s eyes were almost spitting fire as she looked at Catherine. She wished she could kill Catherine on the spot. Unfortunately, she had no way to deal with Catherine, not even a chance to touch her.
Hayden understood what Catherine meant. Although he didn’t know why Catherine was helping him, he was immensely grateful inwardly.
Hayden looked up at the king with a serious and calm expression. “Your Majesty, it is an undeniable fact that Lina plotted to murder the queen. As long as you are willing to send Lina to trial and make her face the law, I am willing to provide the antidote to save the members of the royal family. After the recovery of the royal family members, I will apologize and commit suicide in front of the sacred spring.”
Hayden left himself no way out now. He had worked so hard for one purpose, which was to kill Lina and make everyone know how despicable she was.
This decision shocked Lina and everyone present.
No one expected Hayden’s hatred to be so intense.
Queen Lina stared at Hayden, her anger turning into a mocking laugh. “Hah, Hayden, are you really willing to die like this? Don’t you want to become the crown prince? You must be lying. Spit it out, Hayden, and tell us your true purpose.”
“Humph…” Faced with Queen Lina’s anger, Hayden became even more composed. He stared at Queen Lina intently, gritting his teeth as he said slowly, “I… want… you… dead!”
After warning Queen Lina, Hayden left the final decision to the king.
“Your Majesty, you can choose to favor your favorite concubine as you have done before, or you can even kill me right now. It doesn’t matter. With so many members of the royal family accompanying me in Hell, I can consider it a win.”
The king had yet to speak up, but the members of the royal family couldn’t keep composed anymore. No one wanted to die, and some even stepped forward, turning their anger towards Queen Lina.
“Your Majesty, Queen Lina killed the queen, and the evidence is solid. She should be punished!”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“Kill Queen Lina and save the royal family!”
Chapter 499 His Intention
Lina looked at those disgusting faces, all of whom used to flatter her all the time. Now, they had turned against her and wanted to kill her on the spot just to please Hayden.
Facing these hypocritical faces, the once arrogant Queen Lina couldn’t hold it anymore. She crawled to the king’s side, begging him not to believe these slanderous words.
If it were any other day, the king could have turned a blind eye, but the situation was different now. There was solid evidence of the queen’s murder, and so many members of the royal family were advising him. He was the king of Ravenloth and couldn’t just think about himself. If all the members of the royal family had objections, who would support him as the king?
After a long silence, the king finally made his final decision.
“Bring Hayden and Lina down. Detain them for now,” he ordered.
Seeing this, Hayden knew he would definitely win. The king had already compromised, and Lina’s death was only a matter of time.
With a calm expression, Hayden followed the guards without any struggle. But before leaving, he smiled and nodded toward Catherine, expressing his respect.
Catherine didn’t respond. Instead, she casually picked up a piece of fruit and ate it leisurely.
In contrast, Queen Lina was different. Perhaps anticipating her future, she struggled violently, even cursing without caring about her elegant demeanor.
This scene shocked the young members of the royal family. No one had expected Queen Lina to be like this.
Seeing this, the king showed disgust on his face. His expression darkened, and he ordered the soldiers to take her away.
After the soldiers took Queen Lina away, the whole scene finally calmed down.
Then, the king forcibly dismissed the members of the royal family. Everyone knew that this matter would not be resolved so easily.
Ravenloth Palace was about to experience a major upheaval.
After everyone left, the king found Catherine.
In just a few hours, the king seemed to age ten years instantly. His aged eyes stared at Catherine.
“Doctor, is it impossible to develop an antidote?”
Catherine looked up and said slowly, ” Not exactly. It’s just…”
Hearing this, a hint of joy appeared on the king’s face, and he anxiously asked, “What do you need? Just tell me.”
“I don’t need anything special. It’s just a matter of time. Give me one year, and I promise to develop the antidote!”
Catherine’s response instantly extinguished the flames of hope in the king’s heart.
One year!
How many members of the royal family would die within this year?
No one could tell!
But he knew that under the circumstances where the members of the royal family already knew the truth, if this matter was not resolved within a month, Ravenloth would witness its first coup in its history.
At that time, whether the king of Ravenloth would still be him would become a question.
Unable to find an answer from Catherine, the king could only leave in despair. After the king left, Withal approached Catherine and asked softly, “Catherine, why are you helping Hayden kill the queen?”
Catherine frowned and said coldly, The smell of the perfume she’s using was too strong. It irritated my nose!”
This answer made Withal tense all over. His heart skipped a beat in fear. Indeed, Queen Lina’s perfume was a bit strong, and no one expected that she would offend Catherine because of it, leading to her demise.
Without Catherine’s help, Hayden might not have been a match for Lina. After all, Lina had a powerful husband! With the royal family on the verge of collapse, the king still wanted to protect her.
Was Catherine really powerless against this virus?
Withal didn’t think so!
When Catherine walked out of the palace, she almost bumped into a servant. She stopped and looked down at the servant lying on the ground, her expression icy cold.
The servant trembled on the ground. Before he could react, a dark and chilling voice came from above.
“Tell me, why did you bump into me?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the servant, who had been trembling on the ground, suddenly paused. Then, he raised his head and met Catherine’s eyes.
There was a hint of a mysterious smile in the servant’s eyes, and the fear and cowering from before were nowhere to be seen.
“Doctor, you truly live up to your reputation. You have sharp eyes.”
Catherine coldly stared at the servant before her, ready to annihilate him in an instant if he made any dangerous move, denying him even the chance to cry for help.
The servant saw through Catherine’s intentions because she didn’t bother to hide them.
He respectfully bowed to Catherine and said, “Doctor, I am Prince Hayden’s man. He has something he wants me to give to you!”
After speaking, as if performing a magic trick, he pulled out a small box from somewhere and placed it in front of Catherine.
“Doctor, this is what the prince wanted me to give you!”
Catherine reached out and took the embroidered box, opening it to see what was inside.
A featureless black stone, about the size of her fist, greeted her eyes.
Completely black, resembling a lump of coal, it didn’t seem to have any remarkable features.
Just as Catherine was about to touch it with her finger, the servant quickly reminded her, “Doctor, no! This is the Passam Stone, containing immense power. It can only be touched with special gloves!”
“Hmph!” Catherine snorted, not heeding the advice. She picked up the stone with her bare hand, instantly feeling a faint electric current entering her body from the tip of her finger, causing a slight tingling sensation.
The electric current was extremely weak, and only someone with a heightened sense of perception would be able to detect it.
The servant was shocked. He didn’t expect Catherine to be so formidable, daring to pick up the stone with her bare hand. He had witnessed his prince’s fingers being corroded and burned when he touched it, but Catherine seemed completely unaffected.
Catherine placed the stone back in the box and whispered to the servant, “I’ll take it. You may leave now.”
Due to Catherine’s overwhelming intimidation, the servant stood up and left without daring to look back.
Catherine lowered her gaze, staring at the box in her hand, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
She vaguely sensed that something was amiss in this whole situation.
Originally planning to leave the palace, she turned around and headed in the opposite direction.
This direction led to the dungeon of the palace. It was where the members of the royal family who had committed crimes were imprisoned, including Prince Hayden, who had just been sent there.
She needed to find out what exactly was going on here.
Chapter 500 Do You Know Me?
In the dungeon.
Compared to other dungeons, the environment here was much better. There was no dark and damp atmosphere, and everyone was imprisoned in separate cells, equipped with everything they needed.
The only thing missing was probably freedom.
After revealing her identity, Catherine was taken to the bottom floor by the guards. Hayden’s crimes were too severe, so he was imprisoned here.
The sound of the door opening startled Hayden inside the cell.
Since he entered, Hayden had been sitting cross-legged on the bed, facing the wall, ignoring everyone. But this time, upon hearing footsteps, he immediately put down his legs, turned around, and smiled at the person who entered.
“Doctor, please!”
Catherine sat down without any hesitation. Although it was a dungeon, the environment was still decent.
After she sat down, Hayden began to observe her carefully. His gaze didn’t carry any hostility. It was a particularly gentle gaze. There seemed to be admiration and respect in it.
After a few seconds of silence, he slowly said, “Doctor, do you have any questions you want to ask me? Feel free to ask.”
Looking at his confident expression as if he had everything under control, Catherine showed disdain in her eyes.
“Why would I have any questions to ask you?”
Her answer surprised Hayden, and a hint of astonishment flashed in his eyes. “Doctor, aren’t you curious about the truth behind all this? Or rather, you’re not curious why I went to such great lengths to give you the Passam Stone?”
Catherine shrugged, seemingly indifferent. “How about I give it back to you?”
After saying that, she took out the box she had just received and placed it in front of Hayden. Since Hayden had already given the stone to Catherine, it was impossible to take it back.
Hayden found Catherine’s reaction too strange. He felt like he could never see through her thoughts.
“Doctor, if it wasn’t for the Passam Stone, why would you help me?”
Without Catherine’s help, he could still defeat the vicious Lina, but it would require much more effort.
“Do you really want to know?” Catherine raised an eyebrow at him. Hayden looked sincere. “Yes, please give me an answer.”
Since Hayden asked sincerely, Catherine decided to be merciful and gave him an answer.
“I’m not helping you. I just simply despise that Queen Lina, who is ugly and constantly bothers me.”
“What?”
Hayden was shocked by this answer. He didn’t expect that the reason for his success after so much effort was not because of his hard work but because Catherine did not like Lina.
Then, Catherine decided to make things clear.
“Do you think I didn’t realize your elaborate plan to bring me to Ravenloth and use me to expose Queen Lina’s crimes in front of the royal members, forcing the king to admit everything?”
At first, Catherine was indeed unaware. The king of Ravenloth indeed issued the bounty mission, and Withal was in charge of coordinating it. At that time, she simply took it as a routine task.
But when she encountered Hayden disguised as Harry, she sensed something was off. Upon further investigation, she discovered too many coincidences. Everything seemed too natural, as if someone had carefully orchestrated it.
Knowing that it was a trap set by someone, Catherine didn’t withdraw. Instead, she and Withal set up a plan to lure Hayden, the mastermind, out into the open.
Hayden had no ill intentions toward her, and he didn’t withhold the promised reward. Since that was the case, she didn’t need to deal with Hayden herself. After all, he was now imprisoned and deprived of his freedom.
Hayden looked at Catherine in shock, his heart trembling uncontrollably. This was all beyond his expectations. He didn’t expect Catherine to know everything.
“Doctor, then why…”
But before he could finish his sentence, Catherine interrupted him.
“I’ve already explained it!”
Catherine didn’t like repeating herself. If Hayden couldn’t understand, it was his problem. Understanding Catherine’s intention, Hayden didn’t dare to say anything further.
“Then why did you come to the dungeon today?” he asked, confusion evident in his eyes. He realized that he had overestimated himself. In front of Catherine, he was nothing.
“Do you know me?” Catherine suddenly spoke up.
The emotions that Hayden had just managed to calm down surged once again. He looked at Catherine with an incredulous expression on his face.
“How could you possibly recognize me?
It was simply impossible, after all, back in the day…
“Your reactions tell me that we must have met before!”
Catherine didn’t hide it from Hayden; she could remember anyone she had met, no matter how long ago. But she was certain she had never met Hayden before, perhaps because he had changed his appearance.
Hayden hoped that Catherine could recognize him, but he knew it was not possible. He smiled bitterly, looking at Catherine.
“Doctor, you are the biggest redemption in my life, do you understand? If it weren’t for you saving me back then, I would probably no longer be alive.”
The incident happened seven years ago when Hayden had successfully undergone plastic surgery and became Harry. Although he was exiled, Queen Lina still didn’t trust him, as Harry was the queen’s adopted son. Having been raised by the queen since birth, he was very likely to become her biggest threat one day. To be on the safe side, she sent assassins to hunt him down.
To escape the pursuit, Harry infiltrated the crowd of people kidnapped and sold in the black market.
At that time, Catherine happened to be on a mission and encountered the traffickers harming Harry and others. When their lives were hanging by a thread, it was Catherine who took action to save Harry.
At that time, Harry was locked in a small cage specifically used for holding animals, cowering in a corner. Catherine didn’t even notice him.
When Catherine appeared, everyone respectfully called her “Dr. Sugar.” When she ordered the release of the captive, those traffickers let him go without even hesitating for a moment.
At that moment, for Harry, Catherine was like a god sent from heaven, a deity specifically sent to rescue him.
Although it was just a silhouette, her figure was deeply engraved in his mind. After successfully escaping to Ravenloth, he remained low-key, biding his time, never ceasing his search for Catherine.
He didn’t know why, but he only wanted to find her, as if finding her would bring him redemption.
The Passam Stone was a relic of his mother’s, something he cherished deeply. He wanted to use it to thank Catherine for her past kindness. After recounting the past, Hayden looked up, his gaze devout and infatuated as he stared at Catherine.
“Doctor, I’ve wanted to say ‘thank you’ for a long time! Thank you sincerely for your help back then!”