Chapter 378: Lizard

"I believe I already heard how 'bad' my father is," Anna uttered. "Sadly, I didn't come here to hear stories about his evilness."

"Oh?" The smile on King Agostos' s face deepened. It looked like he already expected this as well. "You came here to inquire about his killer."

"I want to know the why."

"Oh? Interesting." He gave a low chuckle. "But not surprising. I never thought that man would have a daughter like you. To be honest, I saw him as brute and unreasonable. It seems that you have a different perception."

She pursed her lips in response.

"Why did they kill him?"

"Hmmm…. Annabel, is it?" King Agostos said before he waved his hand. "Leave us."

"But your highness…"

"Leave."

The man named Rudy grunted. He glared at Anna before leaving the room.

"Sit…"

"I would rather stand."

"Then… let me ask you this. Have you seen a lizard before?"

She nodded. But what does it have to do with this?

"You know what lizards do when they feel threatened?"

"They cut their tails."

"Very good."

"So you are saying my father is the tail?"

Instead of answering this, the man continued, "Lizard did it as a defense mechanism. If they feel threatened, they wouldn't hesitate to cut their tails and leave. Do you understand what I am talking about?"

"So the King killed my father because he was threatened. Or at least someone or something threatened him."

"That is a bold assumption. But I am not saying anything else."

Anna glared at the man.

"You can leave if you want to." King Agostos said. "Despite the daughter of the man I hated the most, I wouldn't hurt you."

"Why?"

"Because just like your father… I have principles."

"He hurt you."

The King laughed. "Look at the other way. He didn't kill me. While crippled, I am alive and living well. Do you understand?"

She didn't say anything.

"The palace is a treacherous place. One mistake and you will end up dying. Being a cripple means my presence would less likely irritate anyone."

"The King could still kill you."

"Hah! That man? He is a coward. He wouldn't harm me simply because he didn't want the others to dislike him. He grew up wanting other people to like him. And well… he succeeded. At least he thought he did."

Anna has so many questions.

"One thing is for sure… in this kingdom. No one else but the King is capable of killing your father. As for why… I don't know. That man might not be as strong as Isaac, but he had friends, people who support him, the people who made him the king."

"People who made him the King… are you talking about the Queen Mistress?"

"You are sharp. Yes. That woman… is just one of his supporters."

"What about Queen Luna?"

"Oh? It seems that you made some research before coming here. I like it. You are indeed very smart." King Agostos grunted before coughing. He then asked her to bring the medicine to him. Without saying another word, she complied. She watched as the King finished the medicine.

"You do know… it is poisoned, right?" Anna could smell it. There is no way that a Lycan with a caliber like King Agostos wouldn't be able to smell it too.

"Right."

"Why drink it?"

"Why not?"

"You are scared they would kill you."

"How did you know that the poisoned wouldn't kill me?"

"I could smell it." Anna lied. "It was meant to make you weak, not dead."

"Hah… hahaha! You are right. If they wanted to kill me, they would have done that a long — long time ago. Of course, since he was a coward, he would rather keep me at bay, weak and useless. Wouldn't that be better?"

Again, she didn't say anything. Since she came here, she had been observing the medicine, and she knew that it was poisoned. This man is drinking it without even asking questions.

"If I don't drink it… he would kill me. In my opinion, staying weak is better than dead." He leaned back and used a pillow to stay seated. He was staring at her with curiosity. "You are one brave woman."

"And you are one brave man."

"Hahahaha… your mouth is really well equipped with bullshit."

"I am taking that as a compliment."

"Tell me, Annabel, have you… loved someone before?"

Love? For some reason, the word reminded her of Mo Li.

No, that's impossible.

She was just like a cloud, always moving. She would appear, then disappear. Her life was fleeting. There is no way that she would fall for someone… temporary.

The thought of it seemed to hurt her chest. She grimaced inwardly. She would like it if they stop talking about this.

"No, " she answered.

"Fair enough. You are quite young, after all. Well… you have asked me why am I drinking the poison? You must have wondered. I am already a cripple. What's the use of living? I couldn't enjoy my life, anyway." Before she could answer, the man added, "Well, that's because of love. One day, I was given a chance to live like this with the woman that I love… or dead. I chose the former."

"Woman that you love…"

"Rudy's mother."

"She's…"

"A maid."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Hah? You will figure it out, anyway. There is no need for me to hide anything now. Rudy could fight against you, but… he couldn't defeat you."

"I am not going to hurt you." That is not something she would do to someone who did nothing to her.

"I know."

"But I could betray you."

"I know." King Agostos nodded. "I already said this. You can do… what you want."

Anna squinted at the man. Despite all the facade, she could see the exhaustion in his old eyes. "I have a proposition," she said.

"Proposition?"

"I need your help."

"I can't fight against the King."

"I am not going to ask you to do that."

"Then…."

"I am going to ask you to help me find out the truth about my father's and pack's death. In exchange… I will kill the King. For you."