Chapter 96:
Makenna’s POV:
The voice, though devoid of emotion, carried an undeniable authority. Everyone stopped in their tracks. Instinctively, I turned toward the sound and saw Dominic. I was stunned. Why was he here?
With a detached expression, Dominic walked over. The scar-faced man noticed him, and his previously menacing demeanor was quickly replaced with a flattering smile.
“Your Highness, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”
Alice watched him with a look of disdain. “A prince who oppresses the weak and cowers before the powerful.”
Dominic gave the man a brief glance. His voice was cool yet tinged with anger. “How dare you lay a finger on women from the palace!”
“Your Highness, this is a misunderstanding,” the scar-faced man protested quickly. “These ladies disrupted my duties, leaving me no choice but to act. I merely intended to push them away, not to hurt them.”
“Bullshit!” Alice was furious. She practically leapt forward as she pointed at him. “You kidnap and traffic women. We’re here to help them.”
“Oh?” Dominic raised an eyebrow, turned to me, and asked, “Is she speaking the truth?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” I confirmed. I quickly filled him in on the situation and stressed, “They’ve violated the law.”
Lily chimed in, tears streaming down her face. “Exactly! I was attacked and knocked off the street. Next thing I knew, I was here against my will.”
“Really?” Dominic seemed intrigued. He gave the scar-faced man a brief, unreadable look.
The man trembled in fear. His legs shook as he almost fell to his knees before Dominic. “Your Highness, we merely follow orders from above. We know nothing beyond that.”
His defense instantly irritated me.
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com is where imagination thrives
The scar-faced man attempted to distance himself from his crimes, subtly hinting that the mastermind behind the red-light district operations held a significant position, possibly even within the palace walls.
With this thought, I tensed up.
What if Dominic chose to leave us here to avoid trouble?
While my unease grew, Dominic said casually,
“Regardless of the circumstances, abducting and trafficking women is a serious crime. Guards, take him for questioning.”
The color drained from the scar-faced man’s face as he protested vehemently, “No! Your Highness, I was just following orders. You can’t arrest me. Your Highness!”
Dominic paid him no heed and calmly signaled to his guards. In an instant, the man’s protests were muffled by a hand over his mouth, and he was dragged away.
He struggled fiercely, to no avail. Once he was gone, his men gathered and dropped to their knees in front of Dominic, quaking with fear.
Dominic looked over them with a lazy gaze and sharply commanded, “Get lost!”
At his word, they scattered. Their relief was palpable as they fled.
With the ordeal over, I let out a deep breath of relief.
A gust of wind blew. I felt its coldness against my skin and realized I was drenched in cold sweat.
