Stolen Crown Princess (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 72

Caliph, with an utterly indifferent expression, struck Dwayne right where it hurt and once again tilted his teacup to his lips. At the same time, he nimbly rolled his eyes to observe any change in Dwayne.

Outwardly, there seemed to be no noticeable shift—except for Dwayne’s cunning eyes, which moved in a strangely unsettling way. It was clear proof that he had never expected to hear such words from Caliph.

To Dwayne, Lellia was merely one among many cards he held—likely the easiest one to wield. She certainly held no greater value than that.

Dwayne, who never easily revealed his true thoughts to anyone, surely hadn’t even imagined that Caliph might have already grasped this.

Caliph leisurely savored his tea. In that moment, it felt as though he could clearly hear Dwayne’s mind whirring busily.

Caliph was more than willing to wait. After all, Dwayne’s response was already predetermined—and granting him just enough breathing room would allow Caliph to quietly bring him under control.

“What did you see that made you feel that way?”

“I inferred it from the look on your face in my mother’s reception room when you asked me why I had ordered Lellia imprisoned.”

“It seems you’ve misunderstood. I was merely taken aback by the sudden news of the young lady’s imprisonment—it must have appeared otherwise to Your Highness.”

“Hmm. Rather than taken aback, you seemed thoroughly annoyed—and thus quite displeased.”

“How could that be? It was none other than Lellia herself who offended Your Highness and was consequently imprisoned—how could I possibly find that troublesome?”

“Is that so? Then I suppose I must have mistakenly invited you. I thought perhaps you and I shared the same intentions—but it seems I was mistaken.”

To the duke’s fully anticipated excuse, Caliph delivered the words he’d prepared long in advance and rose abruptly from his seat. Or rather, pretended to.

In truth, he had no intention of leaving so soon. He simply judged that a bit of acting was necessary to coax Dwayne into revealing his true thoughts.

“Your Highness.”

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