Chapter 246 The Villain Lady Arrives 74
The king's gaze lingered on the third prince for a long time, with a complex and deep mixture of emotions - disappointment, heartache, and an indescribable helplessness. He slowly closed his eyes, as if trying to bury the emotion deep in his heart, and when he opened them again, his eyes were already cold and resolute.
"You have grown up and have your own ideas, which is a good thing. But your choice makes your mother and I deeply sad. Do you know that every decision you make may push our entire family into an abyss of no return?" The king's voice was low and heavy, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, with irresistible majesty.
The queen was standing by, tears welling up in her eyes, but she tried hard not to let them fall. She knew that her tenderness at this moment would only make the third prince more stubborn, and the king's severity might make him realize something. So, she gently patted the back of the king's hand to comfort him, and at the same time conveyed a kind of silent support.
The third prince looked at his parents with mixed feelings. He understood how much trouble his impulsiveness had brought to the family, but he also knew that he could not give up his love and commitment to Alice. He took a deep breath and said firmly again:
"Father, Mother, I know my decision has disappointed you. But I am willing to bear all the consequences. I only ask that you protect Alice's safety. She is innocent and she should not be dragged into this power struggle."
The king's face darkened when he heard this. He stood up, turned his back to the Third Prince, and said with a hint of fatigue and determination, "Protect her? Do you think we are capable of protecting anyone now? We can't even protect ourselves, so how can we protect an outsider?"
Seeing this, the queen hurried forward and tried to ease the atmosphere: "Your Majesty, don't say that. We will always find a way. The most important thing now is to unite and face the current difficulties together."
However, the king's anger did not subside. He turned around and glared at the third prince with a sharp gaze: "Unity? Look at you now, where is the demeanor of a prince? You have disregarded your family and country for a woman. How can I believe that you can still be relied on by us?"
The third prince's heart was deeply hurt, but he did not back down. Instead, he became more determined. He straightened his back and met the king's gaze firmly: "Father, I admit that I was impulsive, but I have never regretted my choice. Alice is not only a lover to me, but also my belief and persistence. I am willing to give everything for her, including my life."
Hearing this, the king laughed out of anger: "You are willing to sacrifice everything! Have you ever thought that your impulsiveness and stubbornness may bury our entire family? Have you ever thought that your mother, your brothers and sisters, will all be in danger because of your decision?"
The third prince's eyes were slightly red, but he didn't let the tears fall. He clenched his teeth and tried to make his voice sound more resolute: "Father, I have never thought of implicating anyone. I will protect Alice in my own way, and I will also do my best to protect the family and the country. Please believe me, I will prove to you that my choice is correct."
At this moment, Chi Meng, who had been watching quietly at the side, chuckled, breaking the solemn atmosphere in the room. She stood up and slowly walked between the king and the third prince, looking down at the third prince with a playful light in her eyes.
"Third Prince, your affection and persistence are indeed touching. But in this world where power is supreme, emotions are often the most useless things. Do you think you can protect Alice and change all this? You are too naive." Chi Meng's voice was soft but full of sarcasm. Her words were like a sharp knife, piercing the Third Prince's heart.
The Third Prince ignored Chi Meng's sarcasm. He just looked at her coldly, then turned to the king and queen and pleaded again: "Father, mother, please believe me. I will find a solution to protect Alice, my family and my country."
However, the king and queen were completely disappointed. They looked at the third prince with no more love and expectation in their eyes, only deep disappointment and helplessness. The king sighed and shook his head, as if he was giving up something important: "Forget it, forget it. Since you have made your choice, you have to bear the consequences yourself. We will not interfere with your decision anymore."
After saying this, the king turned around and didn't want to look at him, but was stopped by the queen. She looked at the king with pleading eyes: "Your Majesty, we can't just give up on him. He is our son, our hope."
The king looked back at the queen, with a complex emotion in his eyes. He was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "You and I both know that he is no longer the child who needs our protection. He has his own ideas and choices, and he will stick to them whether we agree or not. The only thing we can do is to respect his choice and pray for him."
The Queen couldn't hold back her tears after hearing this. She held the King's hand tightly, as if she was looking for some comfort and strength. The Third Prince stood there, looking at his parents' backs as they left, his heart filled with mixed emotions. The rift between him and his family could no longer be mended, but he also understood that he had to move on, for Alice and for the faith in his heart.
Chi Meng and her father, the once powerful duke, stood in a corner of the palace, whispering, as if the whole world had quieted down to listen to their conspiracy. Chi Meng's eyes flashed with a calculating light, and a barely perceptible sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth. She turned her head slightly, her eyes swept across the imprisoned royal family members, and finally fixed on the resolute figure of the third prince, thinking secretly in her heart.
"Father, look at the current situation. The Third Prince is so stubborn that I'm afraid he will be difficult to tame. If the eldest prince in the north gets to know about this, he will definitely take this opportunity to cause trouble. We have to be on guard." Chi Meng's voice was soft, but it carried an unquestionable determination.
The Duke frowned upon hearing this, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest. After pondering for a moment, he slowly spoke, "Indeed, the eldest prince has always been a major concern for us. But if we kill the third prince directly, I'm afraid it will cause a greater backlash, after all, he still has a certain popular support. Imprisonment can ensure temporary stability, but it is not a long-term solution."
"What about exile? Exiling him to a remote place can both demonstrate our majesty and avoid direct conflict." Chi Meng suggested, with a cunning gleam in his eyes.
The Duke nodded, seeming to be quite satisfied with the proposal, but then shook his head and added: "Exile is good, but we need to ensure it is foolproof. We have to find a place where no one can reach him, so that he can never turn over."