Chapter 87 - An Awfully Manipulative Person (1/2)

I stood there staring Franz down as he struggled to find what to say next, rather enjoying myself. It was always fun seeing self-confident people get fl.u.s.tered. Especially when it was because of something I had done.

Was I always this petty? No. Coming to this world and dealing with nothing but nobles day in and day out had changed me.

”So Alpheus is the clan leader's heir,” he said finally. ”I should have known. You're an awfully manipulative person, Catherine du Pont. Pushing him to support me so you could further your own agenda. I suppose being the third princess wasn't enough for you. You want to be a ruler's wife.”

Sparks shot out of my eyes at the nonsense he was spouting. Hearing my fake name—which wasn't even correct anymore according to the marriage register—from someone who normally called me Katie pissed me off.

It briefly occurred to me that my name wasn't even technically Catherine McLeod in this world. Members of the Kanta clan didn't have proper last names; they were identified by which village they lived in. Except the clan leader and his immediate relatives, who were known by 'de Kanta.'

My name had changed too many times in my life. I was tempted to laugh a little bit about the way Katrina de Kanta sounded in my head. It sounded almost like a tribal chant or a witch's spell. I was losing my mind. Katie de Kanta was slightly better.

But I needed to focus. I was also mad about the fact that Franz claimed I was power hungry and using Al to further my own cause. That was so far from the truth that I didn't even know how to respond to such an idiotic statement.

Helping the Kanta had been entirely Al's idea! And we only found out about this a couple of days ago so how could I have possibly been planning this from the beginning? I wanted to slap him.

Mariela spared me from acting on it and potentially getting beheaded by sharply rebuking her husband. ”Katie is not like that and you know it.”

She turned to me, wanting an explanation. I had always been honest with her so she knew she could trust what I had to say.

”We ran into a Kanta clanswoman out in town two days ago,” I admitted. ”I commented on her eyes, saying I hadn't seen anyone else with them but my husband and she got all excited because no one outside the Kanta looks like that. We went back to visit her today and got the full truth because her mother recognized Al. Apparently he looks exactly like his father.”

Mariela nodded. ”I knew there had to be a simple explanation. Franz, apologize right now.”

”Forgive me,” he muttered. ”But you cannot deny that you came here solely with the intent of blackmailing me into getting what you want.”

”You seem to be under the mistaken impression that I'm the one wanting Al to take over the clan. That was entirely his idea. I…had other plans. But he's my husband and I'll support him until the end.”

Mariela and I exchanged a look. She must be remembering how I had wanted to run away before the wedding. She didn't know that I was still planning on fleeing this crazy country until now. Oops. The cat was out of the bag.