Page 138 of Hawthorne

This has been a complete circus.

Instead of leaving the manor alone and focusing on the queen, the media decided to cover my allegedly butthurt for not getting the Crown. All the while, the palace has been completely silent, feeding all the controversy and conspiracy theories about what happened.

Edgar quirks up an eyebrow, still enjoying how much this is affecting me.Who needs enemies with a brother like this one?

Everyone is hounding around as vultures do on a fresh carcass, thirsty for a statement from the duke.

Of course, I gave it to them, hoping to kill the excitement of an existing feud. It exists, just not in the way they imagine. I showed my full support to the new queen.

How could I not?

“Are you so vexed for losing the Crown to a lass?”

“Don’t be stupid,” I grit. “I just want to know the truth.”

“It’s been fun watching you suffer, brother,” he chastises. “You deserve more, but I love you too much to do worse.”

“You couldn’t make me feel worse about myself than I already do. Can you get to the point?”

“She’s the secret child Joseph had with our aunt’s housekeeper.”

Thank you, Edgar, for stating the obvious.

“I already know that,” I grit once again.

“What else is there to add, then?”

“When did she figure it out? Why did she act on it? Why didn’t she tell me?” I press.

Edgar deadpans, giving me the silent answer I was hoping to avoid. Deep down, there is a restless feeling that tells me just how obvious the reason why is. The guilt that has taken permanent residence inside my heart is the one shouting that there’s no one else to blame for this but me.

The only real information I can’t get my head wrapped around is how…how did she find out and when.

“Are you seriously asking me this. Vince?”

“Yes,” I answer truthfully. “You know I’ll drink up every word you’ve got to tell me about her.”

“Come on, brother…” he sighs, his head tilting back, leaning against the couch. “Staying here and sulking won’t change anything. You need to do something.”

Right.

“They don’t even letyouvisit her,” I scoff. “You think I can do something?”

“It’s temporary.” He snickers. “She told me she would invite me for teavery soon.”

“Great,” I grumble, heading for the drink tray.

“You fucked up, and I may know everything now, but you still deserved that punch. Being honest with her would have saved you this kind of outcome.”

“If only I had known,” I sigh, serving the port in a glass. “I was blindsided and wanted to protect her…I also hoped she wouldn’t attend the party.”

“Not even a dumb person would think that, brother.”

“Yeah,” I sigh, swirling the caramel-shade drink in the glass. “How did she find out, though? I still haven’t understood that part.”

“I don’t know.” He shrugs, turning to look at me, supporting his arms on the back of the couch, where his head was just moments ago. “She seemed to have known for a while, though. And I doubt this didn’t affect her. A truth this big, for someone who has no one left alive, must have taken a toll on her.”

Edgar’s right.

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