Chapter 688 You Forget Yourself (Part One)


    When the news that Lucas had been assassinated and killed reached the imperial capital, it came as a


    great shock to everyone. However, they only sighed slightly rather than feel sad about it. After all,


    Lucas had gained quite a bad reputation when he was alive. Now that he was gone, the courtiers


    merely chatted about him curtly. It didn''t take too long before Lucas had beenpletely forgotten.


    Because of this, Harper couldn''t help but think that it was quite hrious. The image of Lucas as a


    yboy who indulged in gambling and sex was a masterpieceid by thete emperor himself. He had


    shaped Lucas so sessfully that all of the courtiers were fooled into thinking that Lucas was nothing


    but a yboy whose death was not to be regretted. If thete emperor only knew that his effort had all


    been in vain, he would probably furiously jump out of his coffin.


    "What are you pondering about?" Francis asked. After a couple of days of recuperation, he was already


    able to get out of bed and have a walk. Although he had been seriously injured, he managed to recover


    very quickly. Perhaps it was all thanks to the Imperial Academy of Medicine not hesitating to use any


    precious medicine to treat him.


    Looking at the huge Imperial Pce which extended into the distance, Harper slowly said, "I heard that


    Lucas unfortunately died, but the courtiers all said that there was nothing to regret about his death. I


    wonder why they all think this way. Had Lucas done anything so outrageous that was so against reason


    and nature? Had hemitted murder and arson, raped the wife or daughter of any man, or forced a


    girl of good family to be a prostitute? As a noble prince of the Bright Dynasty, his death is


    considered as something not to be regretted. Given all of the things they are saying, I believe that he


    would not be able to rest in peace."


    Clutching his chest with his hand, Francis coughed violently. When Harper turned her head to look at


    him, she couldn''t help but frown slightly. "You haven''t fully recovered yet. You should note out in


    case you may catch a chill. If you get sick because of that, you''ll be the one to suffer."


    Francis stopped coughing and said, "Today during the imperial court session, I reprimanded the


    courtiers for their rudements about Lucas'' death and ordered the appropriate department to


    investigate and find out the murderer. I believe there''s going to be a result real soon. Lucas hadn''t done


    anything outrageous. It just so happened that he was a yboy."


    "Yes, he was a yboy who lost his life through ying," Harper said in a light voice,pletely devoid


    of any emotion. "By now, your wound should have already scabbed and your health is steadily


    improving. So, when will you allow me to leave the Imperial Pce?"


    A glimmer of light shed across Francis'' eyes. "The imperial capital is not peaceful at the moment.


    The situation is so bad that even a prince could be killed. Uncle Matthew has a lot of enemies. I cannot


    allow you to stay in his mansion all by yourself," he replied.


    "Our mansion will be having a guest in a couple of days. As the hostess of the mansion, I have to go


    back to make arrangements in order to receive the guest. It''s the duty I have to fulfil," Harper gently


    said as she looked at Francis. "Besides, the secret guards will be there to protect me. I''ll be fine."


    "If..." Francis looked Harper straight in the eye. "What if I say that I want you to stay?"


    Avoiding eye contact with Francis, Harper turned around and continued to look at the red walls and


    green roofs in the distance. "The courtiers have been asking you to ascend the throne as soon as


    possible. You are not getting any younger, and it''s about time for you to get married. You should have


    someone take care of the household for you. I carefully observed the daughters of the courtiers who


    are at marriageable ages. It''s just not a handful of them who are beautiful, talented, and gentle. Once


    you see them yourself, you''re going to like them for sure."


    "I won''t like them!" Francis roared in anger. Perhaps it was because he was being too emotional that it


    even affected his wound, and he even had to hold onto the railing to keep himself upright. Seeing that,


    a young eunuch rushed to his side to support him, only to be pushed away. Instead, Francis reached


    out to grab Harper''s arms, forcing her to look at him. "Harper, I''ve told you many times before. I don''t


    like those women, and I''ll never like any of them!"


    "Francis, you''re going overboard," Harper said in a rather indifferent tone, looking at Francis calmly.


    Despite her reaction, Francis didn''t loosen his grip on her arms. Instead, he stared at her with a pair of


    eyes filled with such pain and asked, "Harper, why? Why are you so cruel to me?"


    Harper quickly turned her head away to avoid looking at Francis directly. Her heart was much too small


    to amodate any man other than Matthew. In truth, she just couldn''t see, or simply chose not to


    see the merits of any other man.


    "Harper..."


    Before Francis could say anything else, Harper shook off his hands and turned awaypletely. She


    didn''t want to listen to whatever it was that he was going to say. Seeing his empty hands and the


    repulsive back of Harper, Francis could not help clenching his fists. In an instant, his eyes burned red


    with hatred. ''Is it because you only have eyes for Matthew that you''re unwilling to give me a chance?''


    he thought to himself.


    "Francis, you''ve forgotten yourself." Jason''s voice came through from behind. Francis then turned


    around toward the direction the voice came from. The hatred in his eyes had disappeared, reced by


    the usual tenderness.


    "Jason, when did you arrive?"


    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    "I got here the same time you did," Jason replied, looking at Francis, who looked like such a perfect


    actor. "Don''t you ever get tired of pretending even in front of me?"


    "What are you talking about, Jason? I don''t quite get what you''re saying," Francis said with a gentle


    smile on his pale face. "Lucas'' remains will be sent back to the imperial capital in a couple of days. By


    then, I will have to bother you with his funeral."


    "Francis!" Jason eximed, reaching out his hand to grab Francis'' robe. "Why are you still deceiving


    yourself?"


    Francis calmly tugged his robe from Jason''s grip, straightening it without leaving so much as a wrinkle.


    "Jason, aren''t you deceiving yourself as well?"


    "You can''t keep her in this ce forever. Let her leave, Francis." Jason didn''t want to let Harper to stay


    in the Imperial Pce any longer, which would only torment Francis. As far as he was concerned,


    Harper''s indifference, her coldness, along with her behaviors and expressions, were only bringing


    Francis great pain, because none of them showed that she cared for him.