Chapter 60 The Bomb Impact
That morning, it felt like the world was ending.
I slammed the capital's newspaper onto the table, spilling my coffee everywhere. The headline was massive, eye-stabbing, enough to make me want to pass out on the spot, "Harbor Scandal: Gisella Mercer Chooses Holy Order Commander Over Prince?"
"Damn it," I cursed. My voice was shaking. "Gisella, we're really playing with fire."
Our plan to make Didier jealous worked. A little too well. Now, everyone from the markets, the taverns, to the nobles in the palace was just talking about Gisella. And the climax? The King summoned Gisella for a "clarification." That's just code for "get ready to be executed or exiled."
Gisella was summoned to the Palace, and she was allowed to be accompanied meaning me.
Gisella and I walked into the throne room.
The marble floor felt freezing under my feet.
I was sweating bullets, breathing shallow.
We were truly on the edge of a cliff. If this failed, it was our heads on the block.
Once we got inside, the atmosphere was suffocating.
The King sat on his throne with a blank face that was genuinely terrifying.
Didier stood beside him. He didn't look sad, he was just staring at Gisella with a smug, condescending grin that made me want to punch him.
Gisella and I gave our respects and greetings to the King, then I headed to the edge of the room while Gisella stayed in the center.
"So," the King's voice echoed, heavy and cold. "This is the lady who was supposed to be the future consort of the kingdom?"
Didier sat in the chair next to the King. He laughed a sly, twisted sound. "Well, Father. Maybe Gisella's taste is limited to harbor dogs. She feels more suited to filthy soldiers than nobles like us."
Gisella stayed silent. She looked down. But when Didier said 'harbor dog,' I saw her hands clench so tight her knuckles turned white.
Didier didn't stop. He glared at Gisella, eyes full of venom. "Funny, isn't it, Gisella? You're willing to ruin your own reputation for that lowlife? Do you realize how cheap you look right now?"
My ears burned hearing Didier talk. But strangely, Gisella was calm.
Suddenly, Gisella's memory replayed the words I'd told her during our crazy training sessions in her room: 'Gisella, listen to me. You deserve better. Not someone who treats you like an ornament, not someone who insults you in front of everyone. You're worth more than that.'
Gisella lifted her head. Her gaze was different. No more love, no more fear. She looked Didier straight in the eye, sharp and cold.
"Cheap?" Gisella asked, her voice crystal clear in the silent room. "The cheap one is the person who thinks he's so high and mighty, yet can only insult his own fiancée in public. And maybe even flaunt his romance with other women who aren't his fiancée in public."
Didier was stunned. He frowned, unable to believe Gisella had the guts to say that. "You.....!!"
"I realize it now," Gisella cut him off. She didn't care about the King staring in shock. She didn't care about the consequences. "I don't need someone like you in my life."
Gisella took a deep breath, her voice steady. "Didier, I have decided to end this engagement. Right now. Your Majesty, with all due respect, I apologize as I am no longer fit to be the Crown Prince's consort, so please, allow this honor to be revoked."
The room went dead silent. I felt my heart stop beating. We actually did it. We just burned our own bridges right in front of the King.
Didier was dumbfounded. His face was red as hell, not from shame, but from pure rage. But Gisella? She actually looked relieved. So relieved.
Damn it, this plan was a ticking time bomb. And now, the bomb had gone off right in our faces.