the villain s redemption
Meaning, Rhea could just bully them and they won't say anything or else, many people would find out that the pregnancy is fake.
Just as she expected, the Crown Prince and Amanda only glared at her before instructing their people to serve their food.
"Sister, I invited you to come here to talk about your request to father," Amanda said, as the attendant started serving the food. "Father said that it was because you wanted to build something. However, you actually wanted to take half of our territory so I — " Amanda lowered her head just as her tears fell from her eyes. "I invited you to beg to reconsider."
Rhea snickered. For some reason, watching a beautiful woman crying like this in front of her made her feel like a villainess. Yep, definitely a villainess. "I can't do that." she said.
"If you want, I can give you a house near— "
"I don't want that," Rhea answered before sipping her tea. She didn't touch the food and just had her tea.
"Saintess… everyone in this palace thought that you are kind and gentle. What would happen if they know you are trying to oppress your father and the whole Larsen Family?" Unable to watch his beloved being bullied, the Crown Prince asked. "What would happen if they know you are actually making your family suffer?"
"Nothing," Rhea said.
"You really think so?" The Crown Prince said. "Everyone calls you Princess, and they saw you being pampered by the Larsen Family. Now that you became the saintess you are actually— "
"Your highness…" Mo Li chimed in. "I know this is none of my business since I am not considered a Larsen. However, don't you think doing this is futile?"
"Futile?" The Crown Prince asked.
"If you reveal this matter to the public, we will just reveal that you were faking the pregnancy. In between a rumor about the saintess family and a rumor about a fake pregnancy…" Mo Li only smiled. He elegantly poured some more tea to Rhea. "I think you already know where this is going, right?"
"You— "
"If you think about it, the saintess helped a lot of people. A simple rumor like that wouldn't be able to affect her. However, a rumor about deceiving the crown… could be fatal, no?"
"Prince Mo! How could you say something like that?"
"Did I say anything wrong?" Mo Li looked at Amanda. "If the rumor would spread, some people would surely cover their tracks while some nobles who already hated the crown prince would act. Ah, the losses are just too much. I don't think risking anything is worth it, at this point."
Amanda was trembling, tears continued to flow from her beautiful eyes. She looked at the smiling Rhea and Mo Li who gently looking at Rhea. "Sister… if this is about the past then… I would like to apologize on behalf of my mother's actions." Amanda said before she stood and...
*Plop*
She suddenly kneeled in front of Rhea.
"Please… forgive me for the things that I have done to you. I know mother didn't send you outside. But please understand that she was only trying to protect your weak body. For years, I asked her why she didn't let you attend those banquets and let you out of the mansion. At that time, your body is really weak. Going outside would immediately give you a fever. Mother only wanted the best for you."
"Amanda! What are you doing? Why are you— "
"No, your highness! Please let me go. I want to kneel in front of my sister. I can't just— "
"Amanda, you are going to faint if you do this!"
"Your Highness… I…"
While Amanda and the Crown Prince keep on talking, Rhea snorted and finished another cup of her tea. Then she stood. "Let's leave?" she looked at Mo Li. Rhea didn't even spare a single glance at Amanda, who was still on the floor, kneeling.
Rhea thought that the Crown Prince and her sister were really weird. It is better to leave this place and watch from the sidelines from now on.
"Sister, where are you doing?" Amanda tried to stand up, but she immediately staggered and fell to the floor. Good thing the Crown Prince was there to help her up.
"Blood?" The Crown Prince's words were enough to stop Rhea's footsteps.
'Ah, so they wanted to frame me.' Rhea nodded inwardly. It seems that the church wanted to make it look like they are going to save her from a death sentence? Rhea looked at Mo Li. She frowned when she didn't see any fear in his eyes at all.
In fact, Mo Li was mischievously smiling at her!?
Hm? Was it possible that he already knew this would happen?
"Help! Call the physicians! The Crown Princess! The Crown Princess is having a miscarriage!" The Crown Prince's voice echoed inside his palace.
Not long after, two physicians arrive and everyone was asked to wait outside. It didn't take too long before one of the physicians went out of the room and informed everyone that the future crown princess lost the child.
"You — You killed my child!" The Crown Prince was trembling, his hands were clenched into two tight fists as he strode towards Rhea. However, before he could get close, Mo Li already stood in front of Rhea.
"Your Highness… you should stay away from the saintess, right now." Mo Li's voice was cold, his eyes freezing.
"Prince Mo! How dare you stop me from punishing someone who killed a royalty!?" The Crown Prince yelled. "Arrest the saintess! She killed the future ruler of this country! Guards! What are you looking at, arrest her!"
"Your Highness the Crown Prince…" Rhea stood behind Mo Li. She then peeked at the Crown prince and smiled. "How could you just accuse someone from the church of murder? Are you saying that the representative of the church, the saintess who helped a lot of people, killed your unborn child? Your highness… are you trying to offend the church and make your people rebel?"
"What — what are you talking about?"