"Is it a threat?" Charlotte questioned him.
"Yes." A prompt reply came from Édouard.
"I refuse," Charlotte answered.
"Isn't your father sick? Do you want him to lose his life thinking about his daughter all the time? Hayden and your other brother will lose their positions, and they may have a condition worse than a beggar. Beromont isn't in a good state. A good government position is necessary to have a life of comfort."
Édouard had no way left except to threaten her. He could not see her in that state anymore. He knew that she would hate him more after today, but he would not mind that. At least she would be alive and safe with him.
Charlotte clutched the fabric of the quilt that had covered her. Tears streamed down her eyes and she moved her head away. Again, one more person was threatening her.
Édouard read her facial expressions and ran his fingers through his golden hair. He stood up and turned his back to her.
"Why do you want to marry me?" Charlotte finally asked. The question that bothered her yesterday for many hours. "Do you want revenge from me? You never liked Mathieu, and now, he is dead, you must want to make my life hell. Am I right?" She asked as she forced herself to move up with the support of her elbows.
"I want the territory of Beromont," Édouard replied.
"Liar!" She remarked.
Édouard turned to her and found that she had sat up.
"Why would you marry a widow merely for the territory?" She didn't believe his words even for a second and wiped the tears from the back of her palms.
"Fine. I want revenge from you. Is it enough to end your curiosity? I won't entertain any more questions. We will leave for Wexnon after having our morning meals," Édouard stated.
She opened her mouth to speak when they both heard a masculine voice. It was the chief guard again, who came in while keeping his head down.
"Your Royal Highness, Butler Walter wants to formally apologize. He has refused to leave until he apologizes to you and the Duchess."
Charlotte was confused to hear the chief guard and wondered what Édouard did to John Walter.
"Throw him in prison," Édouard coldly said. Charlotte glanced at him in bewilderment and asked the chief guard to let John meet her.
"Tell him it is his last chance to save his life. Either he shall go away from here or I will punish him to death," Édouard instructed the chief guard. He bowed and left silently.
"Why did you do that? You are not supposed to threaten the people of Beromont in this way? He served my late husband for fourteen years." Charlotte raised her voice at him.
"I can. I am the Eldest Prince," Édouard affirmed. He lifted his pointed finger and continued, "He didn't perform his duties well. He was sleeping comfortably when he should have been awake. Don't argue with me anymore. I will punish everyone here if you do."
Charlotte gulped the anger inside her and found he had worn the shirt that she had specially made with her own hands for Mathieu. Her temper shot up and she got out of bed.
"Who told you that you could wear this shirt?" She held him by his collar, bewildering him. "It is for Mathieu," she said, and started to unbutton it.
Édouard grabbed her with both hands, stopping her from unbuttoning the shirt. "Now, it is mine," he claimed his authority on the shirt.
"It is not yours. You cannot wear the clothes of my husband," she pronounced and twisted her hands in his grip.
"He's dead. He is no more. It seems like a newly stitched shirt, so it is not even his," Édouard said, and her hand moved in the air to slap him, which he caught in the mid-way. "Accept the truth, Charlotte," he said and he took a step towards her.
His other hand rested on his cheek, and his thumb wiped the tears from her cheek. "You used to be so cheerful," Édouard said in his soft tone.
Charlotte didn't say anything when he pulled her for a hug. "It was not your fault that Mathieu died." His hand caressed her hair for a while before he pulled away. Charlotte's expressions were blank. He took her to the bed and put some pillows behind her back.
"Your fever hasn't gone, so you must take rest." He pulled up the quilt to cover her when she told him that she wanted to freshen up and take a bath.
Édouard stopped and hummed. "I will send the maids to assist you," he said.
"No. There's no need," Charlotte said. She got down from the bed again and asked him to wait outside.
"Show me the washroom first," Édouard said.
"Pardon me?" Her brows furrowed.
"Show me the washroom," he repeated his words again. "I need to remove every possible thing that you can use to harm yourself," he affirmed.
Charlotte walked to the washroom while he walked behind her. She pushed the door open and he walked past her. He carefully checked everything in the washroom, making sure there were no harmful objects in the vicinity of her. Once he was assured, he stepped out while Charlotte walked in and slammed the door in his face before he could speak.
Édouard chuckled and walked out of the room. He instructed the chief guard to tell the cook to prepare a good breakfast for them. He also asked him to prepare the carriage for them.
The chief guard obeyed his commands and left for the royal kitchen to inform the royal cooks.
Édouard returned to the room while a maid entered behind him. She told him that she would clean the room, and he allowed her to.
"Don't touch the table," Édouard told her as she looked at the table covered with letters. Édouard settled on the sofa chair in the bedroom while the maid continued her work. He looked at the pendulum clock and found it was already an hour.
"She didn't return," he mumbled, and asked the maid to check on Charlotte. She complied with his command.
She returned and informed Édouard that Charlotte would come soon.
"You should have helped her with dressing," Édouard stated.
"Her Highness refused to take the help," the maid replied.
"You may leave."
The maid bowed and walked out of the bedroom.
He tilted his head before lifting it and looked at the portrait of Mathieu and Charlotte. It was their marriage day, which was the darkest day of Édouard's life.