Chapter 1153:
A gasp escaped Elyse as shock twisted her face.
Elena’s grip tightened, and a loud snap echoed in the air.
Elyse drew in a sharp breath, her voice tense as she demanded, “Let go of me! Elena, I didn’t mean to do anything. It was just an accident! Let me go!”
With a cold smile, Elena tilted her head. “An accident, huh? Is that what you’re calling it now?”
In one swift motion, Elena plucked the necklace Elyse had just tried to plant and held it up for her to see.
“Elyse, you really never learn a lesson. Pulling a stunt this lame, and you thought you’d get away with it?”
As the necklace glittered in Elena’s hand, Elyse’s face turned pale as paper. Nervous energy flickered in her eyes as she glanced everywhere but at Elena.
The necklace, heavy with worth and accusation, drew Elena’s gaze downward. No details about its original owner came to mind. Still, the intention behind Elyse’s…
plot was all too clear. Elyse wanted to frame her and then let someone else find the missing treasure right on her.
“Tell me where you stole this from,” Elena said, her voice as steady as stone.
Feigning confusion, Elyse tried to look as innocent as she could. “I don’t even know what you mean.”
Disdain crept across Elena’s face as her patience ran out. Without warning, she pried Elyse’s jaw open and forced the necklace between her teeth.
Rough gemstones dug into Elyse’s mouth, cutting as she struggled to breathe around the foreign object. Terror finally replaced her arrogance. Was Elena actually going to make her choke to death on that necklace?
Each frantic gasp made the dread worse as Elyse kicked and fought against Elena’s hold. “Mmm…” Her voice came out as a muffled, desperate cry. Tears broke free, streaking Elyse’s face as terror dissolved her last ounce of composure.
Unmoved, Elena kept a firm hand pressed to Elyse’s lips, refusing to let her spit the necklace out.
Gagging came next, harsh and involuntary. Drool leaked from the corners of Elyse’s mouth as the necklace pressed further inside.
A cold voice sliced through the tension. “What the hell are you doing?”
𝗢𝗻𝗅𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝗀𝖺𝗅𝖓𝗈𝗏𝗲𝗅𝗌⍿ⅽ𝗈𝗆
The sight of Lord Rosethorne lit up Elyse’s eyes.
Elena let go in disgust. Elyse instantly collapsed forward, coughing violently. She managed to spit out the necklace at last, sobs mingling with her desperate breaths.
Without hesitating, Elyse stumbled into Lord Rosethorne’s embrace, clinging to him with trembling arms. “She tried to kill me!” Her voice was raw and pleading.
Still simmering from the earlier apology, Lord Rosethorne found a convenient excuse to round on Elena. Keeping a protective arm around Elyse, he shot Elena a cold glare. “I don’t care whose guest you are, Healer. Putting your hands on my companion is crossing a line. I expect an explanation.”
A dismissive glance from Elena landed on the necklace glittering on the floor. “Maybe you should be more worried about explaining that to whoever the necklace belongs to.”
Confusion furrowed Lord Rosethorne’s brow. “What necklace are you talking about?”
Elena gave a small tilt of her chin, gesturing toward the floor.
Following the direction of her gaze, Lord Rosethorne suddenly stiffened. “It… Isn’t it Her Majesty’s engagement necklace from His Majesty? Why in the world is it here?”
.
.
.