The bells were ringing louder and louder as Kathani stepped away to process what she heard.
It was not only her who was in shock but it seemed every person in this room (aside from King, her mother and Victor's minions) were trying to digest this unbelievable truth. After all how can it be Victor because as far anyone remembers he was the first one to pardon Milan and Mary Sharma after they got married.
As bells continued ringing no one heard a carriage arrival nor rushed footsteps as Portia Featherington burst inside. "The Queen carriage got attacked!"
"What?! Mama what are you talking about?" Penelope inquires as she shows her mother the royal family. "You knew about the plan and they are here safe and sound."
"Well you lot didn't inform me that you will attack the decoy carriages in front of the crowd after they were returning from chapel?!"
At these words Kathani attention finally snapped at Portia as she ask. "Attack? What do you mean? We didn't attack any decoy carriages."
Portia stared at her dumbfounded as she spluttered. "But if you didn't do it then why would he announce that the royal family were attacked and abducted by our enemies and that they abducted our King as well."
At this Queen Charlotte walked closer as she demanded. "Who spread this news Lady Featherington?"
Portia quickly bowed as she replied. "Prince Victor Your majesty?" As soon as she said this name few people gasped while few looked stricken.
Prince Frederick walked closer as he asked in disbelief. "Father is here? But I thought he was in Prussia."
Portia looked confused as she continued. "I do not know how but He quickly arrived after your decoy carriages were abducted and he announced that our enemy countries had abducted you all in retaliation for ongoing wars. As for now, until all your other princes and princess arrives he is taking control of the country, law and forces. The entire London is on curfew and he is planning war on all enemy nations."
An eerier silence went by and for a while no one dare to say anything until...
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
They all watched as Kathani crackles madly as she paced the room making her laughter echo in this old house.
"Your brother played a long game, Your Majesty." She mocked King who looked strangely at her as she says words in her hysteria. "He planned this day for so many years and today if your wife, along with your son and nephew were really in that carriage then they would have been abducted by him."
"Why would my father want to harm us?" Frederick asked and Kathani turned her attention towards this gullible boy. "Your father?"
"My stepfather." Frederick hurriedly clarified. "He married my mama after my birth father was died falling sick. He is been taking care of our state ever since my mother fell sick few years ago and I don't know why you all are blaming him because my papa is a kind man who loves me and my mother a lot. He would never hurt us. In fact all he wanted to do was retire so he could be there for my dying mother."
"Oh my sweet, innocent Prince you still don't get it! Do you?" She cooed as she walked closer and pinched his cheeks. As she mock whispers. "Your papa is planning to kill you all."
"Didi! Please stop it!" Edwina pleaded as Kathani turned to face her innocent sister and it was then her anger returned to full force.
Picking up her abandoned sword she marched towards Victor's minions. Her heart was filled with hatred for each and everyone of these people. In her eyes they are all monsters and today she will make them confess their crimes. "Let me tell you one thing, I have planned various torturous ways to kill you all, so now choice is yours? If you want quick death then you will cooperate with me otherwise I will kill you all so painfully that you will be begging for death!"
They all looked scared for some reason. Lord Sheffield and Crane were fuming while Smith and Lady Sheffield were shivering as she yells. "It was all her fault!" She pointed at Mary who looked furiously at her mother as she yells. "My fault! Is falling in love a crime?! You both! my own parents helped that monster to kill my husband! You let that monster rape me in my own house for so many years and you still say it is my fault!"
"It wasn't your fault Lady Mary. If it was anyone's fault it was mine who ignored the monster my brother was becoming." King tried to console her as he told everyone. "From a very young age my brother wanted to covet power and beauty. Call it guilt or brotherly love but when my late Father's will declared that Victor would not get any important title nor he would never be considered as heir of the throne, I tried to give him everything he wanted to compensate for things he couldn't get."
King sighed sadly as he continued. "You see, my father believe Victor was not his real son but a product of an affair my stepmother was having with her advisor. He never got proof but since she confessed about her short affair my father always doubted Victor's parentage. The more he shunned him the more my stepmother and then I spoiled him. I gave him the Prince title as soon as I became the king so no one could doubt Victor's parentage and since my Father's will stop me from giving him any important role in the crown I made him Admiral of my naval forces."
"But it was still wasn't enough! Am I right?" Kathani inquires in angry tone and both King and Queen looked guilty as she confesses. "We knew how spoiled and rakish Victor was becoming as year passed. He was not interested in wedding but George thought that if he married a nice proper lady then he could change and so we decided to invite him in London season and surprisingly he chose my Diamond." At that her eyes fell on Lady Mary who looked nothing like that beautiful young girl who was presented in front of her.
( Flashback)
The King and Queen were walking with Prince Victor trying to introduce him to matured ladies from young widows.
He looked bored and was only interested in flirting until his eyes fell on someone. "Who is that?"
King and Queen stared and saw Lord and Lady Sheffield conversing with other members of ton while their daughter Miss Mary Sheffield who looked quite stunning in lilac gown stood quietly beside them.
"That's my Diamond Mary Sheffield. She had just turned eighteen years old when her parents presented her at court."
The King felt uneasy because in Victor's eyes he couldn't see love but the same kind of gleam when he set his sights on something he wanted to have.
"We are hoping to introduce her to my son once he returns from his training." King told his brother who scoffs. "My nephew is not interested in marriage brother and beside a woman fine as her could do well in the arms of an experienced man."
"Victor, you are two decades older than this girl." The King tried to reason with him. He scoffs as he reminds him in taunting way. "And our father was thirty years older than my mother but that didn't stopped him? Did it?"
With that he left and walked over to Lady Mary as he introduced himself and as they watched him kissing her hand an uneasy feeling settled inside their heart.
( End of Flashback)
"From that day onwards he became obsessed with Mary and when her parents also gave him their blessing he came to us for our blessings which we gave him reluctantly in hope that one day he would become better."
He stopped when Mary burst into tears as she told everyone. "I never wanted to marry him! Not even before I met Milan. Its true Victor showered me with flowers and expensive gifts and in front of ton he would act as perfect gentlemen but whenever we were alone he would make my parents leave and touch me inappropriately. At that time I couldn't understand what he is trying to do but I knew one thing that his touch repulsed me. I would dread his visits and if Milan didn't came in my life then I would have killed myself rather than marrying him."
Violet came by her friend side and embrace her as she told everyone. "You and Milan were perfect match for each other and anyone who has heart could see that."
"We thought Victor finally got that heart." The Queen began as she remembers his reaction to the news of Mary's and Milan elopement. "He told George that he has forgiven them, he assured him that he will never stand in a way of true love and that's why he left the country."
"It was a lie Charlotte. Victor never forgave them in fact he wanted me to annul their marriage and force Mary to marry him instead. I obviously denied him since I was not comfortable with their match and Victor didn't left his rakish ways while courting Mary to show he genuinely loves her. He became angry and decided to leave country and since I didn't want anyone to think bad of him I not only lied about everything but also suspended Dr Sharma for his own safety in case Victor tried to harm him." King George told her as he glared at his step brother minions. " I never knew until it was too late but from that moment on he planned to take revenge on everyone who took away his things that he thought were rightfully his."
"When did you found out the truth about your brother?" Anthony ask and King looked crestfallen as he replied. "The night Milan Sharma came to cure me, the night Victor killed Milan Sharma right in front of my eyes.
( Flashback)
George woke up from deep slumber as thunder struck on Palace grounds.
For past few months he felt like his reality is slipping away from him and he feared one day he will die forgetting all about his life and the people he loves. Such lonely death he would never wished on his worst enemy that seems like his fate nowadays.
Another thunder rolled and feeling uneasiness rising in his chest he stood up. George was just about to rang for his servant when suddenly his balcony door slowly opened and someone crept inside.
George picked up his sword as he shouted at the intruder. "Who is it?! Show yourself before I cut your head off."
"Your Majesty calm down! It's me Doctor Milan Sharma."
"Doctor Sharma? What are you doing here at this hour and why you sneaking inside?"
The man stepped into dim candle light and he was drenched from rain outside. "I was trying to get inside for hours but someone instructed Palace guards to not let me inside and that's why I had to sneak inside your room."
The king frowned as he wondered out loud. "Who could gave these orders?"
"I don't know your Majesty but apparently they do not want you to get better but worry not I managed to find the cause and cure of your illness."
King George heart a light with hope as he ask. "You found cure?!"
In answer Sharma showed him small bottle with green liquid inside. "It took time your Majesty but once I figured out you got your sickness because of Doctor Crane concoction I was managed to find the cure for it."
"Doctor Crane?! But why would he want to make me sick?"
"I don't know your Majesty but he couldn't slipped it to you all by himself. I fear there is someone closer to you he is working for."
"You are right Sharma!"
George and Milan both turned and watched Victor slipping inside through old trap door followed by Doctor Crane and few guards.
He snapped his fingers and before they knew it few guards grabbed Doctor Sharma and forcefully took cure from his hand.
While few took hold of King as they watch Crane start burning the herbs. "No! No! Take that away from me! Brother why are you doing this to me!" George cried out while Doctor Sharma tried to break free from his guards.
"Oh let me think!" Victor mocked as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Our father took away my birth right just because he suspected I was not his son! He treated me like dirt while you Oh righteous brother always pity me when everyone knew I am better then you!"
"I always loved you brother!" George cried feeling pain in his heart but Victor sneered. "Well not enough to give me my right in crown! No, instead you make me your Admiral as if you are honouring me but in truth it only proves to everyone that I was your bastard brother! You claim to love me but you did nothing when this filth stole the woman I wanted to marry!' By doing so you made the fool out of me and deeply hurt my ego!"
"You never loved her!" Milan screamed and Victor turned around and punched him on his face. "I only want to marry her because its my right to fuck the most beautiful woman in England! That Diamond was my property that you stole from me before soiling it with your filthy hands!"
He spat on Milan's face as he told him in his venomous voice. "The day my brother refused me was the day I swear I took revenge on him, on this kingdom and on you."
He snapped his fingers and Milan watch as Doctor Crane bring his burned herbs in front of the king who was trying to struggle hard as he heard his brothers words. "I am going to laid waste on these lands and as for you Sharma do not worry I will fuck your wife for you and I will soiled that daughter of yours just like you soiled Mary before I could get to her and finally when my revenge is done I will take your youngest as my whore and fuck her for the rest of her life and that will be my true revenge on you."
And as king consciousness slipped away he watched as Milan Sharma managed to throw his guards of him as he charged towards Victor as he screams . "You monster!"
Victor quickly draw his sword and stab Milan Sharma right in front of him and as George heard footsteps getting closer he himself start screaming. "Murderer! Murderer!"
(End of Flashback)
"He killed your father in front of my eyes and marked him as a traitor but my child your father was a hero! A kind hearted doctor who tried to save my life at cost of his own."
Kathani felt drained as she stared at this old king who was saying the exact words she longed to hear all her life but.
"You are speaking about cost! My Appa lost everything for his kindness! He lost his life to that monster and then he violated Mary all her life! He took away my innocence in that dark cell and Dina!"
Kathani gasp as she stared at the Sheffield and then marched towards them as she inquires. "What was he planning to do with my sister?!"
When they didn't answer she grabbed Lady Sheffield by her hair and put sword on her neck. "Answer me you bitch! What was he planning to do with my sister!? Why you all planned her marriage with prince!"
Edwina and Frederick flinched as they watched Kathani pressing her blade harder on the skin until finally Lady Sheffield gasp.
"Its a law in Prussia that Prince has to get married before his twenty fifth birthday and Master chose Edwina as his bride. He was going to get them married and then soon Frederick would left with Prince George for war where they were going to get killed by master's men."
"Stop talking you dumb woman!" Lord Sheffield screamed and Kathani moved away fast and slapped him hard on his face as she stared threateningly at them. "Continue Lady Sheffield."
Lady Sheffield gasp as blade removed but she still continued in angry tone. "Once they were murdered Victor is going to get rid of Frederick's mother and tell everyone that Edwina is with child. It wouldn't matter if she get pregnant or not because Victor will make sure to get her pregnant so he could marry Edwina in name of protecting her and the heir in her womb and become king of Prussia and we will be king and Queen only close relatives."
Kathani tilted her face as she ask in hollowed voice. "You both let that monster rape your own daughter and now you will let him violate your only grand child so you could become the relatives of King and Queen of Prussia?"
Lady Sheffield scoffed as she says. "That brat should be grateful Master is planning to make her his Queen otherwise he could take her for his whore for all we care, after all she is the daughter of our ungrateful daughter and that poor filth..."
Slash !
Prince George and Frederick looked horrified. King George looked shocked along with his wife and Lady Danbury.
Edwina along with Francesca, Hyacinth, Daphne, Eloise and Penelope screamed as Kathani slashes her sword and Lady Sheffield head was cut off her body and rolled towards carpet.
Violet and Portia clutched their heart in terror while Anthony and everyone else looked stunned about what just occurred.
"Such bad manners for a Lady." Kathani sighed as she wiped her sword with her hand.
She then stared at other minions and found Smith wetting his pants while Crane and Lord Sheffield looking frightened.
"Jacopo, bring me the souvenir you brought from Crane house."
Jacopo hesitated but then something flash in Kathani's eyes as he quickly left and bring two glass jar full of bees.
Anthony realise with anger and hatred rising inside his heart that these were the bee they used to kill his father and apparently that what his wife thought as she ask with vengeance in her eyes. "These were the bees you both used to kill my uncle! Answer me! You bastards!"
It was then Smith admitted something in his fear that sealed their faith worse than before. "We never meant to kill him! I was hoping that the bee would sting his eldest son who often used to sit near lilacs so Lord Bridgerton get devastated by his death and I could control him in his grief and use his lands for our purpose !"
The second he said it everyone knew he was doomed as Kathani's eyes flash in fury as she scream madly. "You monsters were planning to kill my Anthony! You were going to kill My Anthony!"
"Kathani!" Anthony tried to stop her but she quickly grabbed a sack from table and put jars inside.
They watched horrified as she covered Smith and Crane heads with it before smashing the jar inside as she hold onto the edge of sack tightly in her hands.
In front of everyone eyes Smith and Doctor Crane trashed and screamed while Lord Sheffield screamed beside his companions as he watched them dying with hundreds of bees stings.
By the time they stop moving Kathani kicked them off and the sack fall from their faces leaving them dead with their face red/ blue and swollen as dead corpses of bees were clinging on their faces and bodies.
Kathani heaved with heavy breaths as finally her eyes fell on remaining minion. "You are worse than Victor! You let him rape your daughter! You send me to that hell and you were going to give same fate to your innocent grandchild! You turn on your blood for what? money and power!"
Even in face of death Lord Sheffield couldn't help himself as he sneered while he admits. "Money and power is everything! After all because of it you were managed to get your revenge otherwise filthy whore like you would never be able to hurt us.'
At that moment Anthony wanted to struck this vile greedy monster down but Kathani has other plans as she ask in amused voice. "So its money you wanted? Jacopo go bring my chest!"
Jacopo left and few seconds later returned with chest filled of gold and silver coins.
They all watched as Kathani grabbed handful of the coins as she smirk at Lord Sheffield. "You wanted money? Let's see how much money you can digest?"
With that she made him open his mouth and start inserting coin after coin inside his throat.
"Stop It! What are you doing!?" Edwina screamed as her mother hold her back as she tell her daughter in heavy voice. "Your grandfather was always hungry for money and your sister is finally quenching his hunger."
Sure enough as they watched Lord Sheffield start choking as his throat got swollen with all the coins stuck inside his throat.
Finally he turned red and blue and his hate filled eyes turned frightened as more coins forced down his pipe until all was left was money inside him and no room for breathing.
Kathani finally stood away and watched with everyone else as Lord Sheffield trembles violently gasping for air but as life left his eyes all that was manage to came out of his mouth was silver and gold coins.