CHAPTER 53 - HEATH WANTS TO KILL JULIAN"Let's just kill him," the Old Duke said flatly.
Harriet and Heath immediately gave off the same gentle and warm smile.
Meanwhile, Miriam looked doubtful and timid.
"What do you think, Miriam?" Harriet asked Miriam in a soft voice. She really didn't want to scare the young girl.
"I…" Miriam let out a long, tired breath. "…just don't want to cause trouble for you, Old Duke, and Sister and Heath… but I indeed want him to be severely punished. For my father, for all my family members who died…"
"Killing him won't cause any trouble for anyone," said the Old Duke, still in a flat voice.
Miriam looked at Harriet. Her eyes wondered what she should do. Last night she had decided to just let them kill Julian, as the Old Duke had said. But she knew there would be many problems that the Duchy of Almandine would have to deal with. It could spread to become a problem in this continent just because of her family.
All of her family members had stated that they were grateful to be alive and well and that they had mourned enough for all those who died. But this was a new continent, a new home. They were newcomers, and they didn't want to cause any trouble once they set foot here.
Everyone had been so nice. Almandine accepted them as brothers, even though they had met on the battlefield as enemies.
Harriet just smiled reassuringly, then looked at her brother. "What do you think, Heath?"
Heath chuckled softly, then took Miriam's hand. The young man looked at the Old Duke and Harriet alternately.
"Since yesterday I said to Crown Prince Hyacinth and the three of you that we should discuss this, it's because I want to hear your opinion," explained Heath.
Harriet nodded, and the woman's smile turned bland as she sighed helplessly. She already knew what her brother would say.
"But I don't care what you think, even though I'd like to hear it," Heath replied. "In this room, if there's someone who wants to kill Julian Hyacinth the most, it is me," explained the young man in a warm voice similar to Harriet's.
Miriam raised her eyebrows high and widened her eyes in surprise. She was speechless. Her gentle and chivalrous husband–
The Old Duke also raised his eyebrows high. He understood now why Heath had been acting so strangely since yesterday. The man seemed to dispel his opinion altogether and hid it tightly from everyone's eyes.
The old man understood that he also wanted to kill Julian Hyacinth himself, but his opinion could still be changed if there was a better and more satisfactory solution. However, Heath was different. This young man would kill Julian Hyacinth no matter what, even if the other three people in the room disagreed with him.
That was understandable. Because of Julian Hyacinth, Heath lost the knights he led, his comrades and trusted men. Not to mention, Julian Hyacinth also killed Miriam's father and caused many of Miriam's family members to be killed in the incident.
"Okay, listen to what I have to say," said Harriet, raising one hand, making everyone turn to her.
"Hyacinth offered to give Almandine and Amaryllis a peerage, right?" asked Harriet.
The other three listened, waiting for what Harriet would say next.
"Let's decline the offer. However, let's accept their request not to kill Julian Hyacinth," said Harriet.
Old Duke and Miriam looked confused again.
"Instead, let's lock up and torture Julian Hyacinth in our dungeon forever," Harriet smiled gently, a hint of joy on her face. "What do you think? Haven't we taken a middle ground? What's more, if we kill him that quickly, it will only be forgiveness for him," said Harriet cheerfully.
Heath sighed helplessly. He already knew his sister would suggest this.
"But they won't accept this deal either, right?" asked the Old Duke who was still digesting the madness of these two Goldlane siblings.
"Of course not," said Harriet.
Harriet remembered Crown Prince Hyacinth's gaze at her and Miriam when he arrived that day. Just the way he looked at the two of them alone was enough to judge many things about the black-haired and red-eyed young man. Harriet really didn't like him.
Harriet smiled.
"We still have time. Let's offer them my offer. We'll see how they react, and then let's make the next offer," said Harriet.
But in the end, Old Duke and Heath still felt that killing the prince was the best option. If they wanted war, then war it is. After all, what other avenues could Harriet find under these circumstances to satisfy both sides?
Harriet laughed blandly, then stood up, taking Miriam away. The pair of women walked out of the room leaving Heath and the Old Duke who decided to prepare what they had to say to Crown Prince Hyacinth tomorrow.
"Let's tell them Sister's offer," Heath said.
"I thought you wanted to kill that guy no matter what?" asked the Old Duke.
Heath nodded. "Sister must have a plan. Moreover, she already knows that they will refuse the offer, right?" he mumbled softly.
Meanwhile, down the hall, where Harriet and Miriam were walking back to their rooms, the two of them got enveloped in silence. Miriam was lost in her own thoughts and felt that there was no need for war between the two continents.
"Why don't Elder Sister and the others just accept the offer from the Hyacinth Kingdom?" asked Miriam wearily.
Harriet smiled and stopped walking, turning to face her sister-in-law.
"People from the West Continent still regard mythical creatures as monsters that can be hunted, harvested, and exterminated whenever they want. Seeing what Julian Hyacinth did to the Amaryllis family has proven all that," explained Harriet.
She added, "There is no difference between receiving a noble title from them while still being considered a game animal."
Miriam's chest ached at Harriet's words. She realized that on the Euclase Continent, they were still monsters, but they were treated like intelligent beings and equal to other creatures. She must begin to forget and throw away the way of life and way of thinking of the people of the western continent.
"Then, is war inevitable?" asked the young girl.
Harriet shook her head.
"I don't think so. They came here because they don't want the war either," said Harriet reassuringly. "But let's try everything we can to punish them correctly," said Harriet then.
Miriam looked up at Harriet.
"Of course, if you end up wanting to kill that guy in the end, that's fine too. I and everyone will support you," said Harriet.
Miriam realized Harriet was doing all this for her sake. She didn't want Miriam and her family to feel guilty, so she tried to find a middle ground as well.
Miriam nodded and said softly, "I don't want anyone to die anymore."
Harriet chuckled. "Alright."
The young woman pulled Miriam's hand away. The two discussed dinner for their respective husbands and decided to separate at a fork in the hall.
The sun had set a few minutes ago.
***
When Harriet saw Liam again, the man had just finished taking a bath. His hair looked a little dark from being wet, and a towel rested on his shoulder.
So Harriet put the tray of food on the table and asked the maids to leave after placing another tray of food that came with it. The young woman approached her husband and helped the man dry his hair gently.