How to Tame My Beastly Husband

How to Tame My Beastly Husband — Chapter 110. Jack (1)

Consoled by Annette’s experienced reassurance, Celestine calmed down quickly, and even looked a little refreshed, as if a good cry had been just what she needed.

“That was unworthy of me, I apologize,” she said.

“Not at all, it was nothing,” Annette said pleasantly.

Celestine couldn’t help frowning a little at Annette’s generosity. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

“To be honest, I would love to be Crown Princess,” she said, her face smoothing into a pleasant mask. “To restore my family’s lost fortunes, and to make my parents happy. The position might not mean much to House Bavaria, but in our current position, it is a miracle.”

Annette nodded. Actually, even for the Bavaria family, the position of Crown Princess was quite valuable. That was why Annette’s father had raised her so strictly, even from a very young age. Celestine bit her lip at the sympathy in Annette’s eyes.

“But not like this,” Celestine said. “It might sound silly, but I want to decide my own future. I don’t think even the most powerful person in Deltium has the right to play with my life, as though I’m a puppet, never mind ruin someone else to raise me up. I hate it.”

Celestine’s chin jerked upward. It was such a concise description of both their situations, Annette felt sorry that she had ever suspected Celestine of faking her own kidnapping.

“You’re right,” Annette agreed, a little shocked at her passion. “You shouldn’t be anyone’s puppet. You are more than that.”

“Hmmph! That’s enough of such unpleasant things,” Celestine said. “I invited you here to talk about something else. And…there’s something I want to show you.”

To show her? Annette looked curiously at the other woman. So she had not invited Annette to this outbuilding merely to avoid the eyes of her family.

Nudging the tapestry aside, Celestine pressed something with her foot and half the floor beneath it sank downward, revealing a hidden staircase to a lower level.

“Follow me,” said Celestine. “Watch your step.”

And she descended the steps. Left behind, Annette blinked for a second as she looked at the door. She couldn’t know what was down there, but she had a feeling she ought to see it. Clutching her gloved hands together, she slowly walked down the stairs.

Annette’s eyes narrowed as she saw the man’s face.

Ivan? No. Then who is this?

At a cursory glance, this man did look like her old coachman, the man responsible for Celestine’s kidnapping. His real name had been Ben March, Raphael’s maternal uncle.

Kneeling, she examined the bound man. No matter how she looked at him, she couldn’t place him.

Celestine woke him with a surprisingly ferocious kick.

“Argh!”

At the kick to his shoulder, the man woke with a scream, his shocked eyes scanning for the kicker. Looking at Annette and Celestine, he looked as terrified as if they were the witch sisters of folklore.

“You looked comfortable,” Celestine said, folding her arms and looking down at the man arrogantly. “You’ve slept long enough.”

“No! Lady, please, help me!” The man bowed his head, his face twisted, and would have fallen if his arms had not been tied behind his back. Celestine’s face showed no sign that she had been sobbing only a few minutes ago, and jerked her head in Annette’s direction.

“Introduce yourself to my guest.”

The man looked at Annette in confusion that matched Annette’s own. She didn’t understand why Celestine was introducing her to this man.

“M-my…my name is Jack,” the man said awkwardly, his eyes rolling between them. “I was a dealer working at the Lucky Casino at 77 Vassetti Street.”

“You’re a casino dealer?”