Ethan walking at the back of Xavier was silently following the royalties.He can see Xavier was chatting with the king.He couldn't hear what they're talking about because he was in deep thought.He was scared deep inside knowing Lia was the Country N's lost princess.He tried to kill Lia 2 days ago.He tried to comfort his nervous heart.
'No.They will never know that I am the culprit.I carefully planned to kill Xavier and Lia They will never know.They will never know.'
He was scared.He didn't expect Lia was the Lost Princess at all and Naftali was the prince.That's why Naftali was so familiar and he just insulted Naftali yesterday.
He suddenly remembered Eloise.He looked back trying to find Eloise and immediately saw Eloise alone walking with her deadly pale face.
He stopped his tracks to wait for Eloise.Eloise was distracted and didn't notice him standing in front of her.He knows Eloise was the most affected in this shocking situation.She hated Lia.The Williamson family physically abused Lia and Eloise spread malicious rumors online to Lia.
When Eloise passed by Ethan absentmindedly, Ethan called her.She didn't notice his call.Ethan had no choice but to hold Eloise's wrist and walked with her.Eloise looked at the man beside her and saw it was Ethan.
Ethan looked at the royalties ahead of them and the class behind.They wouldn't hear the conversation between the two of them.
"Don't worry.They will never know the truth.Act normal.The king and queen clearly don't know your wrong doings towards their daughter.Come.I need to cling to the royalties.They will help me in the future.", Ethan said to comfort her and remind her before pulling her and walked with the royalties.They royalties was busy having a conversation with Lia about her favorite foods but Xavier looked at the two who just arrived behind them walking silently.He retracted his gaze as they entered the parking lot.He smirked silently and felt amused at how shameless these two could be.
When they all arrived at the restaurant.They occupied a large private dining room that could accommodate large group of people.
While walking inside the room the King chose their own table.The royalties noticed Eloise and Seraphina made her sit beside Lia then her eyes went to Ethan beside Xavier.Seraphina also remembered the man came with her son and Xavier inside her daughter's classroom.
Ethan felt nervous and slightly nudged Xavier.
Seraphina smiled.
"You are Xavier's and my son's friend, right?Come and sit down with us.", she invited him to the table.
Ethan's eyes brightened and sat down beside Xavier who also just sat down.
Xavier cleared his throat.
"Actually, he is my cousin, Your Highness.", Xavier introduced Ethan.
The king and queen were shocked and confused.They couldn't remember Xavier having a cousin.Xavier is the only one in the fourth generation of Moreau Clan in Atheria Continent.
"I thought you don't have a cousin?I remember your uncle didn't have a child? Could I be wrong?", the queen asked with a frown and in deep thought as she really couldn't remember.Her husband was also in deep thought.
Ethan's jaw tightened.He felt nervous.He really hates it when someone doesn't recognize him as someone from Moreau Clan.He calmed himself down.
"Your Majesties.Allow me to introduce myself.I'm Ethan Corvus.One of the Moreau Clan's future clan's leader candidate."
Edward, Seraphina and Naftali were shocked and frowned in displeasure.The queen awkwardly laughed in shock to hide her displeasure.She might have heard Ethan wrongly.
"What?", she softly asked in surprise and confusion.
"What's going on?How come we don't know about this?I thought you were the only heir of Moreau Clan?", the king asked Xavier in displeasure.
Eloise was shocked hearing the king.She thought Ethan was the heir of Moreau family.How come the king is telling them differently and that Xavier was the real heir?
'Xavier was the real heir?!What's going on?!'
She looked at Ethan.Ethan's face was also shocked at the reaction of the king.
Edward was extremely dissatisfied.The Moreau family and the royal family of Country N are friends.They even arranged marriage Xavier to their daughter.He really likes Xavier and the arranged marriage was for both families to unite for influence and wealth benefits but what if Xavier will never be the clan's leader of the Moreau Clan in the end?The other royalties of Country N will surely be completely dissatisfied with the union.
He also remembers Ethan's name is Corvus and it was not Moreau.
"And Corvus?Wife, did Lawrence or Old master Casimiere ever mention this to you?", Edward asked Seraphina.
The queen immediately shook her head.
"He never mentioned anything about this."
Just like Edward, Seraphina was the most disappointed.Lawrence was her life and death best friend but she never heard anything from Lawrence about this.She felt cheated like why Lawrence hid such a huge matter like this to her.Lawrence usually never keeps such a huge secret that would affect her in the future.Both of them supported each others business and talents.
"There must be something wrong, Edward.Lawrence would never keep such a huge matter from me.You know that, right?", Seraphina comforted Edward.
Edward's frown softened slightly.He was still dissatisfied with what he just heard.
Ethan's hands grasped the air.He really thought by introducing himself, the royalties will support him.He thought the royalties already knew his existence.Unexpectedly, Lawrence and that old man Casimiere actually never told the Country N's royalties.He felt embarrassed and hated Lawrence and Casimiere for not telling the royalties of Country N.If he knew about this, he wouldn't have introduced himself as the future clan's leader candidate.
"Actually, he's a distant relative, Your Highnesses.He's my second cousin of mine.", Xavier answered.
Ethan's eyes went wide and immediately looked at Xavier in shock.His jaw tightened and hatefully glared at Xavier.He couldn't believe Xavier just exposed his identity.The identity he's mostly insecure about.He was just a second cousin.A distant relative that's not a member of the main family faction.
Xavier didn't bother to look at the glaring Ethan beside him while the royal family was speechless.They couldn't believe how a second cousin, a distant relative who's not even surnamed Moreau would become a potential leader of the Moreau Clan.
When Ethan realized that the king and queen is still in front of him, he immediately changed his face and awkwardly smiled at the royalties.Even if he wanted to leave this table, he wouldn't.Building a connection with the royalties might be beneficial for him in the future.They might even help him be the clan's leader and persuade Lawrence, the clan leader of Moreau once they saw his potential just like the elders.He was confident because for him Xavier was just a talentless man who's always beneath him.
The food arrived inside the room and was slowly served.The royalties was silent for a long time until the royalties calmed down.When the food arrived the king decided to spoke about the most important matter.
"Naftali, how's the investigation?"
"I'm still going to cooperate with the police.I believe you should ask Xavier.He was guarding Xue.It was not just this incident where Xue was nearly killed but also at their school trip.", Naftali casually told this father and took a glimpse at Eloise who was stunned and pale.
"What?!", the king gasped.
Eloise looked at Naftali and Naftali was smirking at her as if he knew everything.Like he knew she was the mastermind.Her heart trembled in fear.She felt scared and nervous.She gripped her skirt under the table.
'Does he know I'm the one who did it?How did he know?Those killers were out of reach up until now.'
The fears she was feeling worsened thinking about the possibility of being caught.The way Naftali looked at her few seconds ago made her heart trembled.She doesn't wanna go to jail.She doesn't want to be like her mother.She wanna go to Atheria Continent.She wanna be the Young Mistress of Moreau Clan.
She realized Naftali also mentioned Xavier.She looked at Xavier in disbelief.
'Is Xavier with us at that time?'
How come she never saw him.She looked at Xavier in doubt.She couldn't believe Xavier is really guarding Lia.She saw how he killed the killers sent by Ethan.She couldn't believe that Xavier also guarded Lia at the waterfall resort.
'But how?I sent two snipers and two killers.Did he bring men to help him protect Lia?'
Eloise felt sour in her heart.Xavier really loves Lia.He is spoiling her and would even risk his life for her.She was also scared at the same time.Her heart is pounding very hard that feel like she couldn't survive being on the same table with the royalties anymore.Especially, when she just saw how Naftali looked at her few minutes ago.Naftali's gaze and smirk was as if hinting her that he already know it was her who sent killers to kill Lia.
Her lips quivered and her face was deadly pale.She couldn't stay in this table anymore.She suddenly stood up.The royalties attention went to hers.The king and queen frowned noticing Eloise's pale face and felt worried for her.
Eloise was so nervous and couldn't look at them.
"I-I-I gotta go to the restroom.E-Excuse me.", she stuttered before leaving in a hurry.The eyes of the royalties followed hers until she got out of the dining room.
Ethan who saw Eloise's pale face also stood up.
"Your Majesties, I'll also go to the restroom.Excuse me.", Ethan said and hurriedly leave the table to follow Eloise.
The king felt worried for Eloise but he was most worried about his daughter.After what he heard from Naftali, he now knew someone is really determined to take his daughter's life.They had just found his daughter's location.If Xue's really got killed, he's afraid he and his wife could only meet Xue's corpse.
His took a deep breath and faced Xavier.Even if there's now a 50/50 chance for Xavier to be the heir of the clan, he would still vote for Xavier to be with his daughter.Xavier was already like his son for him who grew up in his wife's mercenary organization, The Obsidian Order.He was trained by his wife and the men in the The Obsidian Order as a future leader who will lead Lawrence's mercenary organization that was established 18 years ago.Besides, Xavier saved his daughter's life.Two times already.Xavier also helped them find Xue's location.
"What happened that time, Xavier.", the king asked Xavier with a visible vulnerability in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, someone sent four killers to kill the princess.Two snipers and two gunners.The four killers are still alive.I actually already have all the evidences and was just planning to give it to you."
Lia was stunned as well as the others.
Lia frowned and felt scared.She thought it was just two killers.Eloise can actually hire 4 killers to kill her.It was not just a regular killer but there's also a two snipers.Eloise is really determined to kill her.
"Father, it's not just like that.You know the culprit.I believe you and mother probably noticed something is weird in at the beginning, right?", Naftali asked and Edward was silent.
"We know.", Seraphina who was silent all this time finally voiced out.She had long been observing Eloise.It was not only Eloise but she also noticed Ethan's suspicious behavior.
Naftali chuckled in satisfaction.He remembered how the two just now acting like a leech shamelessly.
"Can you tell us now?", Seraphina asked.She badly wanted to know everything.She saw the way how the class behaved before when Eloise was called by her husband.The headmaster and professor seems to also know something.Something that they weren't aware of.It's probably something that's been known in public and it has something to do with Eloise and Xue.They didn't investigate Xue's life.They wanted to respect Xue's privacy.Now that the two are nowhere, they can finally have the privacy to talk in private.
"Alright.", Naftali excitedly said with an evil smile.