505 Searching Rosalie Withers (4)
In the afternoon, Scarlett asked for time to talk with her father. Because something was bothering her regarding her mother's past when she visited M Country, and she needed to discuss it with him.
Maybe she could find a lead to find her mother by doing so.
She entered her father's lounge area and joined him in enjoying the afternoon while they gazed at the greenery in the backyard.
"Scarlett, I heard from Allen that you're now running the program created by Mel Tan," Roland asked.
"Yes, but it's too early to know the result. The area we need to cover is so fast, these entire nations. And I also expanded my investigation to include all Scandinavian countries."
"Is that really necessary?" he inquired.
Scarlett didn't rush to answer her father. She sipped her Earl Grey tea and then glanced at him.
"Yes, because I believe Mother is only passing through this country. She's not here. My team might have already found some clue about her if she were here."
"Well, you're right. I've also moved my people to track her down, and we didn't find anything about her." Roland said while sighing deeply.
"Father, why didn't you tell me you also ask your people!?" Scarlett was surprised by this information.
"This is because I don't want to burden you," Roland said apologetically.
Scarlett, "..."
She feels amused because she finds another similarity between her father and her: stubbornness.
"Father, I hope... what you're doing won't cause my mother to flee again if she notices you're still searching for her," Scarlett said, shaking her head. nove.lB-In
Roland frowned upon hearing Scarlett's words. Suddenly, the question that had been troubling his mind resurfaced. It was what he had also wanted to know: Why had Rosalie left him?
"Scarlett, that's been puzzling me all this time," he admitted, gazing directly into Scarlett's eyes. "Why did your mother leave me? Why did she run away from me?"
"Well, that's what I wanted to discuss with you. Initially, I thought my mother ran away from you because she feared your status, especially since she was pregnant. But as time has passed, that reason doesn't seem to make sense," Scarlett explained.
"Didn't you mention that she ran away because of Jude Withers?" Roland inquired.
"Yes, but it's been several weeks since Jude Withers was arrested, and yet Mom hasn't reappeared," Scarlett said, taking a deep breath in frustration. "So, I can only guess that something else still holds her back."
"Scarlett, if that's the case, it might be related to me?"
Scarlett smiled at her father. "Indeed, I'm beginning to consider that possibility. That's why I wanted to talk to you about this."
Observing her father's silence, Scarlett pressed on, "Father, even as the king of M Country, I believe not everyone likes you, right?"
"Absolutely, I can't please everyone," Roland responded with a bitter smile. "There are always people unhappy with my policies."
When Roland's memories brought him back to the time when he chose to abdicate, he remembered how tired he was of the royal affairs. To others, his kingdom may have seemed peaceful and tranquil. Still, only those in his inner circle understood the underlying chaos. After his wife's death, he had left everything behind, worn out from the demands of royal life.
Fortunately, his son Simon had been ready to step up. Being young, he had been able to manage the kingdom effectively and lead it towards prosperity, making it competitive with other nations.
"But... Father, have you ever considered the possibility that someone might have hated you so intensely that they'd send an assassin to kill you?" Scarlett asked. She feels weird because the question made her own heart tremble, and the idea of her mother plotting such an act against her father was horrifying.
'Oh, father, it's a terrible thought that my mother may have wanted to kill you. If you were to learn of this, it might make you sad, wouldn't it? Or perhaps you would come to resent her...' She silently talks to herself, feeling gloomy with her parents.
...
Scarlett's question was enough to make Roland's heart tighten. He recalled that he had received several death threats in the past, but none of them ever happened.
While Roland was lost in thought, he recalled the Withers. Scarlett had informed him that the Withers were involved in an underground business and had an assassin division.
Several minutes later, his blood ran cold as he thought about this possibility. He sat up straight, fixing his gaze on Scarlett.
"D-daughter..." Roland's voice trailed off, and he was shocked by the thought that had crossed his mind. "D-Daughter, could it be... your mother was sent to kill me?" His voice trembled.
Scarlett could only inwardly chuckle. Finally, her father had connected the dots and realized this. Just before Scarlett could respond, her words caught in her throat when she heard her father's laughter filling the room.
"Hahaha... Hahaha... that's impossible. Rosalie would never do that to me. Back then, we were both deeply in love. If she wanted to kill me, she wouldn't have bothered sleeping with me, right? She would have just done it the first time we met," Roland stated, shaking his head.
Scarlett, "..."
"Scarlett, I believe in your mother," Roland continued, appearing more at ease.
Scarlett didn't know how to respond because she knew the truth. Her mother had been an assassin sent to take her father's life; this was a fact.
She quietly sipped her Earl Grey tea, gazing outside as the sky changed color and the garden lights began to illuminate. The night was falling, and her conversation with her father had yielded no clues, leaving her somewhat disappointed.
Nevertheless, just as she was about to excuse herself, she heard her father speak again, and his words were compelling enough to make her stay.
"I'm certain that the person who made her run away from me and forced your mother to hide until now is probably connected to me. Someone who wanted to bring me down and intended to use Rosalie as my weakness," Roland confidently said.
