The Duke's Bed Warmer

Chapter 188: Audrey’s Real World

Austin and Alina arrived at the palace after nightfall. Their hearts were pounding hard as the trusted guard led them through a hidden entrance used by the guards. The narrow stone corridors were cold and dimly lit only by flickering torches.

After walking quietly for a few minutes, they finally reached the king’s private council chamber. The king was already waiting for them inside. He looked exhausted but his eyes were still burning with rage.

They entered and stopped a few steps away. The king didn’t say anything. Then, after a few seconds, Chancellor Crane entered the chamber. The moment he entered, the king raised his hand.

"Everyone else, leave us. Now," he ordered.

The servants and guards immediately walked out. Then suddenly the king slammed his fist onto the table. Instead of shouting at Austin and Alina, he turned to Crane.

"Did I give you permission to hunt them across my kingdom like animals?" the king roared.

Crane remained perfectly still.

"No, Your Majesty," he replied calmly.

"Did I order assassins to go after them?"

"No."

"Did I command you to kill them?"

"No."

"Then why did you do all this behind my back?" the king exploded, his voice shaking with anger. "Yes! I wanted those dangerous documents. But I never ordered you to kill them!"

Crane finally began to lose his calm.

"Do you have any idea what kind of chaos you’ve created?" the king continued. "Guards have died. Nobles are whispering. My own soldiers are confused about whose orders they are following. And all of this happened because you decided your judgement matters more than mine."

"You are being naive, Your Majesty," Crane said coldly. "Austin was never going to abandon this girl. The engagement would never happen while she remained alive. Every single problem we are facing right now is because of her."

His gaze then moved to Austin.

"You chose her over Ravenmoor, over your duty, and over everything you were born to protect," he shouted and looked back at the king. "She is the reason everything has collapsed around us."

Alina stood silently beside Austin, gripping his hand tightly. Her body trembled, but she controlled herself. However, Austin, could no longer remain quiet.

"My duty?" Austin laughed bitterly. "And what’s your duty? To kill innocent people who go against you."

Crane did not deny the accusation. Instead, a strange fire lit up in his eyes.

"Everything I did was... for Audrey."

Deathly silence filled the room. Even the king looked shocked.

"Audrey is my daughter, and still I had to watch her grow from a distance, knowing I could never publicly claim her as my own," his voice cracked a little. "Every bribe, every silenced witness, every threat I made—it was all to secure her future.

I wanted to give her the power and position she deserved as my child. And I would burn this entire kingdom to ashes without hesitation if it guaranteed her happiness."

The king stared at Crane in disbelief. Crane genuinely believed that he was a loving father protecting his daughter. And that kind of twisted love made him even more dangerous than he already was.

"You used me!" the king shouted, rising from his chair. "You manipulated me for decades. You turned my kingdom into your own personal game while pretending to serve me loyally!"

Crane laughed.

"I am the one who protected your secret for decades! I saved your throne time and time again," he roared back. "You happily benefited from every single thing I did. You enjoyed the power and security it gave you. Don’t you dare pretend your hands are clean now!"

The king’s face turned red with anger. The argument soon became vicious and loud. Old wounds, betrayals, and bitter truths poured out.

Austin and Alina just watched them in silence as two of the most powerful men in the kingdom tore each other apart.

"I should have stopped this years ago," the king said at last.

His confession surprised everyone.

"I saw warning signs but I gnored them," he laughed and looked at Crane. "Because it was easier."

"Your Majesty..."

"Stop!" The king cut him off.

"I let you handle problems because I didn’t want to face them myself." His shoulders slumped. "And now the whole kingdom is paying the price."

Austin was done being patient now. He clearly had no time for the king’s confession or Crane’s emotional monologues .

"Enough!" he said as he stepped forward.

Both of them turned to look at him in surprise. A duke could never interrupt the king. But Austin’s patience had run out. He put the documents firmly on the table and looked at the king.

"What have you decided?" he asked, his eyes moving from the king to Crane. "Everything is out now. We came here to hear your decision. So...tell us what have you decided?"

The king slowly sank back into his chair, looking defeated. His body trembled slightly as he spoke.

"The wedding cannot happen in this situation," he said. "The truth cannot stay buried forever. No matter what decision I make today, someone is bound to suffer."

He paused, struggling with the impossible choice he had to make. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to finally announce his decision.

At that exact moment, the chamber door suddenly swung open with a loud creak. Everyone turned towards the door.

And saw Audrey standing at the door. Her face had gone pale and her whole body was shaking. And they all realized she had heard everything and tears streamed down her cheeks.

No one said anything. Audrey looked at the king first.

"Tell me they’re lying," her voice barely a whisper. "Please."

The king couldn’t even meet her eyes. Then she turned to Crane.

"Are you really my..." she couldn’t finish.

Crane stayed quiet.

"Say something!" she shouted.

But nobody did. And that silence was itself the answer.

Audrey took a step backward as her entire world collapsed in front of her eyes. The king looked completely devastated. Even Crane looked terrified as he stared at Audrey.