How to Tame My Beastly Husband

How to Tame My Beastly Husband — Chapter 189. Ruthless Cunning

Raphael devoured her lips before she could say anything else, and the rough kiss slowly became a sweet one as their lips moved together.

He hadn’t intended to do this when he saw her, but it felt as if his very soul had been pulled toward her, a strange and thrilling feeling. He was a compass needle, and Annette was true north, pulling him no matter where he was.

His hand caressed her. Her skin was as soft as her lips, and the air in the carriage grew hotter.

That day, the Carnesis coachman had to take a few extra laps around the blocks near their house. The faithful servant of a noble family sometimes needed an instinct for these things.

Annette awoke as the carriage came to a stop. She must have fallen asleep after some unexpected and intense physical exertion.

“You’re awake,” said Raphael, kissing her on the forehead. “Let’s go inside. It’s cold.”

Annette rubbed her eyes, smiling as he climbed down from the carriage, carrying her in his arms. He headed straight for her room when he entered the mansion, and for a while they sat and talked, as Annette told him everything that happened at the palace.

“Hmmm,” he said thoughtfully. “So that’s what he chose.”

It was good news that Ludwig had taken their side, but no one could guess what the King might do, so even that was not a fatal blow against him.

It seems the old tiger’s fangs are still sharp, he thought, listening to Annette describe the meeting between Celestine and the King.

Frankly, Raphael didn’t care what happened to Celestine Keers. But it seemed that Annette considered her a friend, which meant she would be sad if something bad happened to that woman. He never wanted to see tears in Annette’s eyes again.

“Don’t worry,” he said, hoping to soothe these fears. “His Majesty has chosen Marquis Keers as his right hand. He can’t do anything rash to his daughter.”

“I hope so,” she said doubtfully. “But it still makes me anxious.”

“Why?” Raphael asked.

“I have come to understand something of His Majesty’s methods,” she said, calm under his affectionate gaze. “He is a ruthless cunning.”

“That is true.”

Raphael would have believed anything she said. But in this particular case, he had no special affection for his sire. Now that he knew the truth, he had nothing but distrust. Annette’s fingers moved anxiously together.

“If I were the KIng, I would get rid of Celestine as soon as possible. If the King is so worried about the position of Prince Ludwig, he would not wait to make his son a widower. I think he will do it before she can officially become Crown Princess.”

“But Marquis Keers wouldn’t stand still if something happened to his daughter.”

“The King will blame someone else for the crime, as always.”

Raphael had been pouring a glass of water for her, and his hand froze. He was not a stupid man, just unaccustomed to this sort of social manipulation. His fine brow lowered in a frown.

“And probably you. Right?”

“Yes. There is precedent because of the kidnapping, and I met with her recently. There’s enough circumstantial evidence to point it at me.”

“And then Marquis Keers will take revenge on you. He would try to erase the Bavaria family from even the histories of Deltium.”

Raphael’s lip curled at these despicable tactics. It was shameless and cruel manipulation, with no regard for who was hurt in achieving his ends. But then, he would not have held the throne for so long if he had not been capable of such barbarous actions.

Annette didn’t answer. She only smiled bitterly, her eyes resigned, and Raphael frowned at her expression.