V2: Chapter 90: She is a Mother, and So am I
Miranda pulled a small silver knife from her sleeve.
Although Auston couldn't move, his eyes revealed a kind of terror.
A tear rolled down Miranda's cheek, her expression frantic as she raised the knife high in the air. "Auston, you should understand me, for... our son!"
Auston's eyes widened, his consciousness struggling frantically. He wanted to dodge, but his body wouldn't allow him to move. He could only watch helplessly as his once beloved wife slashed his wrist.
Blood dripped out.
A deep, gruesome wound marred his wrist. The bright red blood slowly seeped out, a stark contrast to the white sheets. However, he couldn't cry out in pain like a normal person, unable to express his discomfort.
His pain could only be conveyed through his weak breathing and the tears that occasionally streamed down his face.
Miranda, however, seemed oblivious. She pulled a small bottle from her bosom and greedily collected the blood flowing from Auston's wrist.
"Great... I can finally give it to Her Majesty the Queen." Miranda wept with joy, capped the bottle, and left without looking back, not even glancing at Auston on the bed.
Auston's wound was treated by Miranda's maids.
Auston thought this torment would only last once. But he didn't expect that three days later, Miranda would return to his room and once again pull a knife from her sleeve.
“Auston, there was no other way. The Queen ordered me to do it.” A flash of ruthlessness crossed Miranda’s face. “You know, ever since that bitch Liang Di ruined your position, there’s no place for Edwin and me in the Langwendi household. With you down, our protector has fallen.”
Miranda paused before continuing, “Now I can only cling to Doris’s coattails. We need her as our protector to make our son and me feel any better.”
“Auston, for our son’s sake, you’re willing to make sacrifices… aren’t you?”
As she spoke, Miranda slashed her husband’s wrist again, creating another gruesome wound just below the previous one.
Bright red blood flowed, and Auston’s eyes filled with pain and despair.
“Auston, I know you can't speak right now, but I believe that even if you could, you would willingly let me cut your wrists and draw your blood to pave the way for our son.”
Miranda muttered to herself, trying to reassure herself as she drew blood.
Auston cursed inwardly. This man loved no one but himself. He was selfish; besides himself, his son was the only person he truly loved.
After drawing blood several times, Miranda hurried to the palace again.
“Your Majesty, how many more times must I draw blood?”
“Soon,” Doris didn't even lift her eyelids, only letting out a cold laugh. “What? Feeling sorry for your man?”
Miranda was trembling with fear. “If Auston could speak, and knew we were working for you, he would be very happy!”
“Very… happy, huh…” Doris's laughter remained cold.
“Alright, give me the blood, go back. After you get back, collect blood three more times. After that, you can go back to the palace. I have something else for you, and then you can go to the city walls to take care of that matter.”
Doris saw Gael's figure and immediately urged Miranda to leave. “Go back now. Remember, don't tell Gael anything about the city walls, do you understand?”
Miranda nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
After Miranda left, Gael came to Doris's side.
He frowned, puzzled, and asked his mother, "Why did you still let Miranda into the palace? She's a useless pawn now, what use is she?"
Before Doris could answer, Gael continued, "I heard you recently asked Miranda to do some things, but I don't understand, what useful things could she possibly do? We have people among the other nobles, though fewer, but they're still more useful than that woman Miranda. You know, right now, the real power in the Langwendi family is held by Liang Di and Donald. Miranda has no place in the Langwendi family at all; she's just a figurehead, with a title but no rights whatsoever."
"Gael, you're still too young," Doris sighed, looking at her son with some worry. "We do have some informants, but is their reputation as great as the Langwendi family's?"
“Most importantly, they are all cowards who fear death and have a way out. Most of them are cunning old foxes, extremely valuing their lives and very adept at sensing danger. If I order them to do something dangerous, they will immediately sense it and either refuse or run away.”
Gael retorted, “Mother, we also have loyal dogs.”
Doris smiled and shook her head.
“Since you said they were loyal dogs, I can’t let them die so easily. Training a loyal dog is incredibly difficult. Of course, I can’t let our dogs die; of course, I have to let the other useless dogs die.”
“The task I had Miranda do was very dangerous, a fatal blow to the Langwendi family. Once discovered, their reputation will be ruined.” Doris cruelly curled her lips. “If the Langwendi family’s reputation is damaged, then I think the King won’t force you to marry that… disgusting woman, Liang Di.”
Gael seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to; a hint of confusion flickered in his eyes.
“Since you’ve said it yourself, Miranda is a useless pawn, then do you think I wouldn’t know?”
Doris toyed with the expensive bracelet on her wrist, her pupils gradually swirling with vortexes.
“Besides, she said she would do anything, pay any price, for her son. What a great motherly love! Well then, I can only grant her wish.”
“Mother, why do you trust a duchess who rose from humble beginnings so much? Aren’t you afraid she might escape?” Gael asked.
“No, if she escapes, what about her son? What will happen to him?”
“Son…” Gael’s voice trailed off.
Doris chuckled softly.
“Because she is a mother... and so am I.”
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