TRAPPED BY THE SECOND MALE LEAD
CHAPTRE 28

Lucien's arrival was not welcomed by the palace's servants. They just kept their heads still when they came across the young man. His cold aura was very thick. Yeah, not that Lucien cares about any of that. He's not crazy respect. The goal now was only to meet the King.

He saw a representative. "Where is King Gilbert?"

"He's in the library, Your Highness Duke."

"Thank you".

Lucien had no intention of questioning Gilbert's marriage and the palace hall's loan again, at this time he wanted to focus on ruining one more of Ziel's plans.

There were two knights guarding the library door. The two of them did not seem to hold Lucien at the door as they asked for permission as if they all knew what kind of relationship Lucien had with the King of Bommenhaum Kingdom.

They opened the door and saw Gilbert writing something on a roll of paper accompanied by two advisers. The man raised his face and immediately smiled widely as soon as he knew that there was Lucien. "Let's see who came here. My Lucien, how are you?" greet the young-faced man was happy.

Lucien frowned amusedly at Gilbert's silly welcome. "I want to talk to you about something."

He's Gilbert's advisor standing behind his chair interlocking lyrics. During this time only Lucien really did not call Gilbert with a degree, the language used was also an informal language that increasingly made Lucien rude and disrespectful. Surprisingly the King of Bommenhaum did not mind his attitude at all, he continued to greet the handsome young man kindly and attentively.

"Of course, I have some spare time."

The two advisers were surprised, "Baginda...!"

"Just for a second. You leave the room immediately. I want to have a one-on-one talk with Lucien."

In fact, Gilbert is writing all the contents of the meeting while making important letters that he will share with the elected representatives. The day of the big meeting is approaching, many other preparations including preparing unresolved funds. They need a signature and a stamp from Gilbert. If he piles up a lot of paperwork then all of that won't be finished until the next two days.

What can be said, Gilbert wants them to make room to talk. Two of the King's advisers then left while watching for a moment the interaction between the two.

"I don't want to be suspicious, but why does His Majesty pay so much attention to Young Duke? he always obeyed all Young Duke's will."

"Maybe that's the reason why King Gilbert didn't marry at all."

"Hey, watch your talk. If anyone reports out your history."

There was a rumor that spread only around the palace servants. Gilbert's age had actually reached head five. Let alone having children, marry not. So Gilbert had no future successor to his throne. Then the appearance of Young Duke Navarro who is very dear and noticed actually reaped a negative response and created a sloping news.

Some think Gilbert loves Lucien because he has no real children he can talk to about the kingdom. Some think that Gilbert has a romantic interest in Lucien. Not unreasonable, Gilbert always wanted to talk alone with Lucien. While talking to other nobles, Gilbert did not care how many people were in the room.

In fact, both Gilbert and Lucien, they both have their own goals by utilizing each other. No one knows what exactly the goal Lucien wants to achieve as well as Gilbert's goal.

"What did you bring?" those black eyes were fixed on a scroll of paper in Lucien's hand.

"This is the filing document I want you to discuss at the big meeting tomorrow." Lucien gives the scroll and lets Gilbert read it through. His two brows were linked in response after he finished reading them, "You proposed the construction of a steam railway? you know it takes a lot of money and a long time to work."

"I know, but you have a lot of money. That's not impossible, is it? Avallone and Whitebridge already have." Gilbert took a deep breath, he did not understand why Lucien, who had been focusing on his own problems, wanted to recommend the construction of the rail. "I didn't say I was poor and out of money. Can you imagine how many people will protest with me after this?"

If people start relying on steam trains, then people who work as coachmen will experience a decrease in income and that will make it difficult for them.

"Supply another job. I don't care about all that trouble. I just need you to agree to this recommendation from me, not anyone else." Lucien said.

"You really like to give great surprises. I never get tired of waiting for what you're doing next."

"About that territory.give it to me."

"Eh? you you? wh why? didn't you say you weren't interested in having one?"

"I changed my mind. No need to worry, I will not abandon that territory. I just think I'm the one who deserves it more."

"But it's in Norfolk."

"It doesn't matter, does it? during this time no rules that explain the nobility can only lead the territory in his city." Seeing Lucien's grin managed to make Gilbert more enthusiastic.

Gilbert snorted softly while smiling. "I understand. I'll try to talk to my advisor." The king of the Kingdom of Bommenhaum rolled up Lucien's paper again. "Oh yeah, how's Meridia doing? I hope he's okay now."

Lucien clenched his hand, his jaw hardened. "Never touch Meridia. If something happens to her then you're the one I'm gonna kill first."

"Hahaha you're very protective. Though I'm just asking the news not to harm him."

Lucien never liked the name of his true love to come out of Gilbert's mouth. It made him restless and fed up until his bones trembled feeling his uneasiness.

Since Meridia's condition had improved, the nausea she felt was gone and her body no longer felt weak.

The charming girl went to the throne room which was somehow owned by a person who was only Duke. "The door was unlocked." Before entering the room, Meridia first checked the surroundings. After being convinced that there was no one there, Meridia gawked in and closed it again but with a slow motion so as not to make a sound that could provoke someone to come.

The room was very large and long. Surprisingly there was no illumination there, no candles or anything like that. Meridia's eyes have to work extra to be able to see things clearly. He then opened one of the long curtains that closed the window. The light was timid when it was welcome.

Meridia frowned as she looked at the broken mirror glass that remained left scattered on the floor. "Why didn't anyone take care of it?" as a result, Meridia only collected each piece of glass under the foot of the large mirror. "Aah!" meridia accidentally made a small scratch on her index finger as a result of being punctured by a sharp glass fragment. "That's it".

"There's nothing here."

The Marigold twins advanced to the front of the throne. It is remembered that he will meet with Lucien before he was finally brought here to stay and accompany him. "She looks very arrogant while sitting here" he muttered while smiling with an amused look at Lucien's face.

Duk!

"What's that?" Meridia gasped at the sound of heavy objects falling. He looked down at the floor he was on. "The sound's like from down here."

Meridia then walked towards the back of the throne. There's a candle holder against the wall right behind the throne, "Is this a button?" the girl felt the candle holder, she then tried to move it down and the wall that had been flat without the slightest crack vibrating until the wall opened a gap as big as a human body. "It's heading for the basement, isn't it?" ask him to yourself.

"I have no lighting. It's in the dark."

If he went out to look for the candle, there might be someone who would see him after he returned inside here. Meridia did not want to take any risks, so she decided to enter with just a fingering.

After three minutes of walking down the wooden stairs, Meridia could already see a dim light below. When he managed to set foot onto his last rung of stairs, how surprised he was to see a neat room filled with stuff. It was obvious that everything in the basement was completely awake.

"Lucien..for what is he collecting women's stuff like this?"

His blue eyes stopped on an object familiar to him. Meridia dared to step closer towards the table. "I-this.this is my necklace?"

A gold necklace is stored in a glass box and displayed so beautifully in there. She remembers the necklace as containing a photo of herself (Bianca) and was the last necklace she wore before being thrown into the world of novels.

"W-how can this be here? is it just similar?" Meridia repeatedly tried to lift the glass case that protected the necklace, but there was no way it could make the glass move though.

The long decomposed girl turned towards a large wooden cabinet that seemed to be very heavy. Lucky for Meridia who wanted to check because the two closet doors were not locked.

It's so strange, why is the contents of this closet just pieces of rock plate?

Meridia crouched down to take a closer look at the large stone pieces that were not too heavy. "Squeaky. These pieces of stone are very neat. Oh wait, it's like a puzzle."

Meridia idly took out two pieces of stone with indecipherable inscription carvings and arranged them according to the angle formed. True, somehow the two pieces of stone as wide as the winnow are arranged like a puzzle pieces that complement each other.

The blood that was still attached to his index finger was now printed on the stone. "Oh, my blood..."

Suddenly the light came out of the ordinary stone and made Meridia close her eyes tightly due to the dazzling light.

Meridia. After the light dimmed, Meridia's head seemed to continue to flow thousands of pieces of memory. "My head... Argh!!" Meridia screamed while holding her head with both hands.

Hugo, Christ, and Dylan, who had sharp instincts, immediately heard the scream, although it was very faint because Meridia was in the basement. Lucien, who was still discussing a follow-up agreement with Gilbert, froze. He dropped the pen in his grip onto the floor.

"Your Majesty, is there a problem?" ask the waiter who brought the paper.

Lucien did not reply and immediately ran out of the library room without saying goodbye at all. A cold sweat began to pour out over her forehead, "Meridia.shit!"

The three Knights of Lucien had arrived at the halfway room. The three of them widened in shock to see Meridia lying unconscious in front of the throne chair. His body was as pale as a corpse and from his nose came a lot of blood. "Your Majesty!"

"The Duchess?!"

"Lady? Lady, you hear me?"

Hugo was shaking violently. He gazed into the throne chair it— more precisely into the wall behind him. "Don't he just get out of there?" this would be a big deal for those who lived as Lucien's subordinates.

Dylan could not help his panic seeing blood still flowing out of both nostrils of his future Duchess. "We'd better get a doctor right away."

"DON'T TOUCH HIM".

The three burly men twitched as a huge, stifling aura weighed down their backs. Hugo carefully put back Meridia's weak body.

The sound is not big, nor tight, it tends to sound ordinary to other humans and certainly not to those who work in this Navarro palace.

However, just by hearing that cold voice alone was able to render the entire body helpless, there was nothing to think about except death. Thinking that it could survive is a courage that deserves a thumbs up.

"WAIT FOR ME IN THE FIELD. GATHER EVERYONE THERE WITHOUT EXCEPTION."

"Well, Your Majesty."

No one dared to bargain with Lucien. Today anyway, the field would probably turn into a sea of blood.

The slightest carelessness must have consequences borne.

After the three of them came out. Lucien carried the body of his lover full of love and tenderness. The cold-blooded young man bit his lower lip to suppress his fear. His grip on the girl grew stronger.

"I'm sorry, I'm careless again. I was too focused on a ridiculous revenge but forgot to pay attention to you. You're not mad at me, are you? get up, don't sulk at me." Lucien whispered in Meridia's ear in despair. His body that was always resilient was now trembling in fear. "If I lose you now then I won't be able to keep my promise to you again."

A speck of tears flowed from the Young Duke without mercy.

With great care Lucien laid down Meridia's hot body. He used his sleeves to wipe the nosebleed blood on the nose of his lover. "I've warned you to keep quiet and enjoy all this fun while you can." she stared at the girl's calm face.

Lucien's bead is burning brighter. He opened Meridia's mouth with his finger, "Sorry I have to use this way for your safety." Lucien bites his own lips until they bleed and then he calmly kisses his 'sleeping daughter' to make Meridia drink her blood.

The kiss lasted about two minutes. After making sure it was swallowed, Lucien held onto Meridia's forehead, letting out a blackish-red glow through her palm. "After this I'll be more careful, you sleep comfortably."

Meridia has certainly improved. Now Lucien took his special sword and walked towards the field where his knights were training.

All those who worked under him had prostrated themselves on the ground asking for the favor of an insane Lucien. "Tell me what you're doing in my house until you can't keep an eye on just one person."

The female butler raised her face looking at Lucien with eyes that were already flooded with tears of fear. "Y-Your Majesty..."

"I didn't hear your voice. Come closer and explain everything."

The chief maid immediately obediently followed the will of the master. He kept his eyes down. "Pardon me, Your Majesty. We didn't see Her Majesty Meridia because we were on duty at the back of the palace."

Lucien scratched the ear with a finger, "Oh so? did you hear me ask you to find an excuse?"

Lucien pulled out the sword from its scabbard and pierced the heart of the maid's head until it pierced through to its base. The maid's blood splashed to Lucien's face. That horrible sight made the others flounder. "I don't need a useless human like you. Go to the afterlife."

"Xymene. Go ahead."

As if she was ready to meet her end, the girl faced Lucien who had been completely controlled by anger very calmly. "I have made a grave mistake, Your Majesty. Duchess Meridia asked me to make hot chocolate until I left her."

"Another useless excuse. Turn around."

Ximena immediately turned around and Lucien immediately slashed at the girl's back. The wound was long and rather deep, but he did not lose a life. "If you go back to sleep, I'll cut off both of your accomplices and I'll let you live like that forever. Get out of here."

Everyone gets a turn. Two people have been killed. In addition to the maid's head, Lucien also drew his sword into his personal butler's chest which both Lucien had ordered directly to keep Meridia company wherever the girl went. The rest got as much injuries as Ximena got, including all three of her knights.

"Lately it seems like I've been softening on you guys, so you're getting as useless as a fucking rat harming a farmer." Lucien's scorn can only make his workers bow down deep. "If you still love life then work it right."

This is the sadistic side of Lucien that Meridia has not or has not witnessed firsthand. The young man always wanted perfection and prudence. Failure will only make Lucien stressed and need an impingement in the form of taking the lives of innocent workers who know nothing.