Chapter 36:
Dominic’s POV
Seeing the fear etched on Kristina’s face, Leonardo’s frown deepened with each passing moment. From the gravity of his expression, I could tell he was beginning to believe my words.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief, feeling a burden lift slightly off my shoulders.
Thankfully, Leonardo was no fool but a man of discernment.
Yet, just as I thought the storm had passed, Frank interjected, “Your Majesty, if I may, a sex slave’s testimony cannot be taken at face value.”
He raised an eyebrow, throwing me a look of sheer provocation. His voice rising, he challenged, “Do you have a witness?”
Frank’s words reignited the tension, and my heart leaped into my throat.
Frank was a Gamma, and Leonardo was likely to trust him more than me.
As I feared, Leonardo nodded in agreement, his stern gaze piercing through once more. “Do you have any evidence?”
Frank’s lips curled into a gloating smile, certain that I had no proof and would soon face the king’s wrath.
We had once shared love, yet here he was, eager to see me fall. Despite having long since seen through his hypocrisy and coldness, a pang of disappointment still stung.
I cast my eyes downward, letting out a bitter chuckle. When I looked up again, I had regained my composure. “Your Majesty, Prince Dominic witnessed the entire event yesterday. He is my witness,” I stated with calm conviction.
I hadn’t planned to bring Dominic into this. His actions yesterday had left me disgusted. Moreover, I realized that he was just as cruel as Bryan. I doubted he would stand up for me, even if I named him.
But Frank had forced my hand. Dominic was the only witness I had.
Leonardo’s surprise was evident when he heard the name.
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I nodded firmly. “Yes, Your Majesty. If there is any doubt, please summon Prince Dominic.”
Frank scoffed, his eyes brimming with disdain and mockery. He likely thought I was too lowly and that Dominic would never deign to support me.
Leonardo weighed my words for a moment before instructing his subordinate, “Bring Dominic here.”
The servant departed, leaving a thick silence to blanket the main hall. The tension was palpable.
Unease gnawed at me. Dominic was different from the other princes. He was quiet and inscrutable, making it impossible to guess what he might do.
If he refused to help, I would have to find another way.
Kristina fidgeted nervously with her fingers, while Frank stood with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on me with unnerving calm.
As time dragged on, my heart began to race. I wondered if Dominic would show up.
Just when I was on the verge of panic, Dominic finally arrived. He entered the main hall and bowed respectfully to his father.
“Good morning, Father.”
Leonardo acknowledged him with a solemn nod and got straight to the point, recounting the incident between Kristina and me. Finally, he said, “Makenna claims you were present yesterday. If so, tell me everything in detail.”
Dominic shot me a glance filled with something I couldn’t quite decipher, but he didn’t answer immediately.
His delay caused a flicker of hope in Kristina’s eyes, while Frank couldn’t hide his mocking smile.
I held Dominic’s gaze, my mind racing to think of a way to resolve this.
Even if he refused to back me up, I had to clear my name today.
To my utter surprise, Dominic suddenly broke into a smile, a rare expression on his usually cold face. Tilting his head slightly, he leaned closer to me.
“You owe me. Don’t forget to pay it back,” he whispered.
I looked at him in astonishment, not yet fully grasping his intentions when I heard him address Leonardo with calm indifference.
“Father, I can confirm that Makenna is telling the truth. Yesterday, it was Kristina who instigated the confrontation.”
