Tangled By Fate

Chapter 576: CONFESSION



Countess Eckles would criticize her for this behavior. Nonetheless, Dorothy's situation didn't improve. In the end, thinking about the family's reputation, Count and Countess Eckles let her go outside on her own. They didn't go anywhere with her in case people noticed her behavior around them.

She met Ovior as well in the name of meeting her fiancé. She was devastated when her fiancé talked badly of her. She was affected by everyone around her. Her only healing oasis was Ovior, who loved her unconditionally.

That's how her life was going. She was dying inside but she kept herself alive with all her willpower just in the hope that Ovior would become a magician soon and take her away from hell.

When she was done telling her part of the story, she sobbed and apologized to Ovior, "I'm so sorry that I agreed to this engagement, Ovior. I didn't mean to but I couldn't help it. I'm such a coward. I don't know how to..."

"Enough, Dorothy," Ovior's voice quivered as he spoke. He pulled her in his arms and pressed her against his chest. "You have done nothing wrong. Why did you not tell me that you were suffering? I would have taken you from there if I knew your family abused you."

"I couldn't tell you," Dorothy stated. "You were focusing on your competition. I didn't want to distract you. I knew I could endure it for two years. I wanted to become stronger for you."

"You are the bravest woman I know, Dorothy. But I cannot condone your suffering in my presence."

Ovior meant everything he said from the bottom of his heart. He was shaken to the core upon listening to how much she suffered. He felt cold all over his body only imagining her staying in the dark, cold altar. The woman he thought of cherishing his whole life had to suffer because of their love - his heart bled from that thought.

Dorothy raised her head and looked at him with her tear-soaked eyes. "Are you telling the truth? Am I the bravest woman you know?"

"Most certainly you are," Ovior replied. "How many women out there would choose their love over luxury? You have suffered so much and didn't complain or utter a single word of it to be with me. If you are not the bravest woman, who is?"

Dorothy felt better from his compliment. She finally stopped crying. She wiped her tears and asked hesitantly, "But... I did agree to the engagement. Are you not angry?"

"With you? Not at all," Ovior stated. "If I'm angry about something, it will be your family. How dare they make you suffer like this?" Although he was seething inside, he didn't express it. He lightly complained about it in front of her. He didn't plan on scaring her.

However, Dorothy had something else in her mind. She clutched his nightshirt and said, "Don't be angry with them. Whatever they did, I want to forgive them. After all, they raised me and because of my brother, I was able to meet you. I'm grateful for everything they have given me - whether it is food, clothes or shelter. For whatever bad things they did to hurt me, I want to peacefully let it go and stay away from them. I just don't want to associate with them. Just even thinking about them makes me scared."

"Don't worry. I don't let them touch you," Ovior promised. "I will never mention anything about them in front of you. I won't tell you to meet them. I will make sure they never come in front of you."

The promise he made was more to himself rather than to her. The resentment he felt was burning his heart. He lovingly held her in his arms but his eyes were as cold as ice.

The next day, Ovior sent someone to gather some information about Count Eckles and his family. It turned out that they were doing fine without their daughter. Count and Countess Eckles' only son Young Master Eckles got married two years ago. They had a daughter a year ago. His wife was currently pregnant with a child. Young Master had been working in the Imperial Palace for five years. He had a good relationship with the secretary of the Crown Prince.

Ovior scoffed. He was absolutely disgusted by how they moved on with their lives and were living happily ever after when their daughter suffered and died because of them. If she wasn't engaged to that soldier nobleman, she wouldn't have suffered from the assault and die so young.

How horrible must have she felt when she was being assaulted by so many crude men when she was never touched by her lover. The unfamiliar men untouched her unknown places, gave her the pain that was beyond imagination when she did nothing wrong - all these thoughts turned him into a madman.

Before, he didn't know what the Eckles family did to Dorothy. He took the lives of everyone who hurt her. He left the Eckles family unscathed thinking of her. However, he terminated his relationship with them.

But now that he knew everything, would he let go of them so easily?

Out of question!

He went to the Imperial Palace and coincidentally met the Crown Prince Louis. The moment

the Crown Prince saw him, he called out, "Ovior, my old friend!"

Ovior politely greeted him, "Greetings to the Sun of the Empire."

"You don't have to be polite to me when it's just the two of us," Crown Prince Louis said withn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

a smile. "It's a pleasant surprise. I didn't think I'd be seeing you here today. Do you have anything to discuss with my Imperial Father?"

"No, your Highness. I want to talk to you. Do you have time?" Ovior stated.

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that's wonderful! I have something to share with you too. I was going to meet Arthur about this but since you are here, I will talk to you about the issue. Let's go to my office."

After they went to the Crown Prince's office, the maid brought tea. After the maids left, the Crown Prince looked at Ovior. "Tell me what you want to say."

Without beating around the bush, Ovior told him, "Your Highness, I want you to remove Young Master Eckles from the Ministry of Finance."

The Crown Prince was momentarily speechless by his words. Ovior sounded like he was commanding the Crown Prince which was a crime against the crown. No one other than the King could order the Crown Prince.

However, Prince Louis didn't mind. He was used to Ovior's behavior. Ovior was usually rude and blunt. It was the first time he talked to the Crown Prince in a commanding tone.

"...is there any particular reason you want him out?" the Crown Prince inquired. "I thought you two were friends when you were teens. I know you two are not on good terms anymore. It doesn't mean you have some kind of grudge against him, do you?"

"Past relationships don't matter, Your Highness. What matters most is the present," Ovior said. "He isn't being an honest Accountant."

The Crown Prince listened to his logic and said, "Even if he isn't, there should be a reason for you to talk about him out of the blue. Could it be because of his sister? But he is the victim's

family."

The Crown Prince already knew the story of Ovior falling for Dorothy, the lady of the Eckles family. After all, his stepbrother Second Prince Philip was one of those who attacked her which was the reason he was killed by Ovior and Arthur during the competition. Not only that, but Empress Isabella also lost her power and Crown Prince Louis had no more competition for

the throne.

"He's been embezzling money from the Royal Vault, Your Highness," Ovior said without entertaining his thoughts. He had no intention of telling the Crown Prince that Dorothy was revived from the dead.

Money embezzlement was a serious crime and if it was in the Royal Palace, then it was treason. The entire Eckles family would be guillotined if it reached the King's ear.

Crown Prince Louis narrowed his eyes. He thought of something and asked, "Do you want to plead for him? If the words get out, you will be in serious trouble."

Ovior said, "For the old time's sake, I'm requesting you to deal with this issue privately. Please transfer him to a rural area and demote his family as Baron. Take half of their wealth or

more if you wish."

"Are you trying to save him or punish him?" The Crown Prince wondered aloud. "If you didn't mention it, I wouldn't have known."

"Nonetheless, you would have found out sooner or later. I'm trying to negotiate with you so that things won't escalate further when everyone will find out," Ovior showed him his

reasons. "Since I told you, it'll be more discreet and fewer people will find out."

"And what are you going to do about the 'fewer' people who will find out."

"Just leave them to me, Your Highness. Those people will be the ones who are doing the same

crime. I'll silently deal with them."

"And what do I get from doing all that for you?"

"I'm the only one who will deal with the criminals and get rid of the insects living off the Imperial Family. I'm also the only one who pointed out their misdeeds. Are you sure I'm not the only one who is helping you out?"