Female Novel
Chapter 688 You Forget Yourself (Part One)
When the news that Lucas had been assassinated and killed reached the imperial capital, it came as agreat shock to everyone. However, they only sighed slightly rather than feel sad about it. After all,Lucas had gained quite a bad reputation when he was alive. Now that he was gone, the courtiersmerely chatted about him curtly. It didn't take too long before Lucas had been completely forgotten.
Because of this, Harper couldn't help but think that it was quite hilarious. The image of Lucas as aplayboy who indulged in gambling and sex was a masterpiece laid by the late emperor himself. He hadshaped Lucas so successfully that all of the courtiers were fooled into thinking that Lucas was nothingbut a playboy whose death was not to be regretted. If the late emperor only knew that his effort had allbeen in vain, he would probably furiously jump out of his coffin.
"What are you pondering about?" Francis asked. After a couple of days of recuperation, he was alreadyable to get out of bed and have a walk. Although he had been seriously injured, he managed to recoververy quickly. Perhaps it was all thanks to the Imperial Academy of Medicine not hesitating to use anyprecious medicine to treat him.
Looking at the huge Imperial Palace which extended into the distance, Harper slowly said, "I heard thatLucas unfortunately died, but the courtiers all said that there was nothing to regret about his death. Iwonder why they all think this way. Had Lucas done anything so outrageous that was so against reasonand nature? Had he committed murder and arson, raped the wife or daughter of any man, or forced agirl of good family to become a prostitute? As a noble prince of the Bright Dynasty, his death isconsidered as something not to be regretted. Given all of the things they are saying, I believe that hewould not be able to rest in peace."
Clutching his chest with his hand, Francis coughed violently. When Harper turned her head to look athim, she couldn't help but frown slightly. "You haven't fully recovered yet. You should not come out incase you may catch a chill. If you get sick because of that, you'll be the one to suffer."novelbin
Francis stopped coughing and said, "Today during the imperial court session, I reprimanded thecourtiers for their rude comments about Lucas' death and ordered the appropriate department toinvestigate and find out the murderer. I believe there's going to be a result real soon. Lucas hadn't doneanything outrageous. It just so happened that he was a playboy."
"Yes, he was a playboy who lost his life through playing," Harper said in a light voice, completely devoidof any emotion. "By now, your wound should have already scabbed and your health is steadilyimproving. So, when will you allow me to leave the Imperial Palace?"
A glimmer of light flashed across Francis' eyes. "The imperial capital is not peaceful at the moment.The situation is so bad that even a prince could be killed. Uncle Matthew has a lot of enemies. I cannotallow you to stay in his mansion all by yourself," he replied.
"Our mansion will be having a guest in a couple of days. As the hostess of the mansion, I have to goback to make arrangements in order to receive the guest. It's the duty I have to fulfil," Harper gentlysaid as she looked at Francis. "Besides, the secret guards will be there to protect me. I'll be fine."
"If..." Francis looked Harper straight in the eye. "What if I say that I want you to stay?"
Avoiding eye contact with Francis, Harper turned around and continued to look at the red walls andgreen roofs in the distance. "The courtiers have been asking you to ascend the throne as soon aspossible. You are not getting any younger, and it's about time for you to get married. You should havesomeone take care of the household for you. I carefully observed the daughters of the courtiers whoare at marriageable ages. It's just not a handful of them who are beautiful, talented, and gentle. Onceyou see them yourself, you're going to like them for sure."
"I won't like them!" Francis roared in anger. Perhaps it was because he was being too emotional that iteven affected his wound, and he even had to hold onto the railing to keep himself upright. Seeing that,a young eunuch rushed to his side to support him, only to be pushed away. Instead, Francis reached
out to grab Harper's arms, forcing her to look at him. "Harper, I've told you many times before. I don'tlike those women, and I'll never like any of them!"
"Francis, you're going overboard," Harper said in a rather indifferent tone, looking at Francis calmly.
Despite her reaction, Francis didn't loosen his grip on her arms. Instead, he stared at her with a pair ofeyes filled with such pain and asked, "Harper, why? Why are you so cruel to me?"
Harper quickly turned her head away to avoid looking at Francis directly. Her heart was much too smallto accommodate any man other than Matthew. In truth, she just couldn't see, or simply chose not tosee the merits of any other man.
"Harper..."
Before Francis could say anything else, Harper shook off his hands and turned away completely. Shedidn't want to listen to whatever it was that he was going to say. Seeing his empty hands and therepulsive back of Harper, Francis could not help clenching his fists. In an instant, his eyes burned redwith hatred. 'Is it because you only have eyes for Matthew that you're unwilling to give me a chance?'he thought to himself.
"Francis, you've forgotten yourself." Jason's voice came through from behind. Francis then turnedaround toward the direction the voice came from. The hatred in his eyes had disappeared, replaced bythe usual tenderness.
"Jason, when did you arrive?"
"I got here the same time you did," Jason replied, looking at Francis, who looked like such a perfectactor. "Don't you ever get tired of pretending even in front of me?"
"What are you talking about, Jason? I don't quite get what you're saying," Francis said with a gentlesmile on his pale face. "Lucas' remains will be sent back to the imperial capital in a couple of days. Bythen, I will have to bother you with his funeral."
"Francis!" Jason exclaimed, reaching out his hand to grab Francis' robe. "Why are you still deceivingyourself?"
Francis calmly tugged his robe from Jason's grip, straightening it without leaving so much as a wrinkle."Jason, aren't you deceiving yourself as well?"
"You can't keep her in this place forever. Let her leave, Francis." Jason didn't want to let Harper to stayin the Imperial Palace any longer, which would only torment Francis. As far as he was concerned,Harper's indifference, her coldness, along with her behaviors and expressions, were only bringingFrancis great pain, because none of them showed that she cared for him.