The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 107 : Cartier's Compensation

The investigation into the Cartier Manor Incident, as it was now popularly known, continued as the coverage grew wider. Dusk and Susco continued to read the new details on news and social media every day, but no one gave them any direct information. Susco knew little more than Dusk and understood why the investigations took time but could not share the detail.

On the next 1st day, in the third week of the grounding, Dusk was called by the Emperor to the main palace, alone. She was apprehensive because in the previous visit over dinner, the Emperor was not happy with her resistance to being made Duchess. She still hoped that, maybe he will give up the plan, but deep down, she did not expect it. She wondered how she will manage that when she also has to run companies and still attend Uni-Viva.

When she came to the audience room, she was surprised to see that instead of the Emperor, the handsome Crown Prince was sitting, as usual, in his trademark White and Purple suit. The Crown Prince smiled when she entered and indicated that she should sit in the seat next to him. Dusk was surprised that he still remembered who she was.

She was even more surprised to see that the other person sitting was Lord Cartier.

She had not met since the night of the party. He looked hassled and stressed, some of his hair seem to have turned grey and there were bags under his eyes. She felt anger, not sympathy, remembering what all had happened and how his son had tried to trick Catherine.

She was upset to see Prince Julien sitting calmly. If she was in his place, she would have cut off Cartier's head with the ceremonial sword she had seen him carry sometimes. She expected Crown Prince Julien would be very protective of Catherine. She did not know that the ceremonial sword would not even cut uncooked meat easily.

"Good Morning, Ms. Hale." Crown Prince Julien said in a deep voice that, again, was somehow familiar. "Would you like coffee?"

Seeing her nod, he instructed the attendant who quickly got the same for her along with a platter of exotic cookies. Julien waited for the room to be empty except for the three of them. Then he indicated to Lord Cartier to proceed.

"Ms. Hale, first, I wish to sincerely apologise for what happened in our Manor during your visit. I can imagine what you are thinking, but the reality is that I had no idea of what was happening under my roof. That my own son could be capable of such heinous behaviour, I still find it hard to belief. How our teaching and upbringing could be so poor and faulty, I do not know." He started.

Dusk was about to say that it was because the Nobles and the Rich were immoral, arrogant and thought that money could buy anything, so this was natural behaviour. But since the Crown Prince was also present and was a Noble himself, she kept quiet.

"We owe you a debt of gratitude that you identified the plot and put a stop to it." Cartier stopped seeing her scepticism. After a pause, he continued, "Yes, we are grateful. If the plot had continued and harmed someone, our house would have been erased from the record of Nobles. In fact, I am sure the family would cease to exist. Even now, I had to plead with His Majesty to consider that we are innocent. I mean, the rest of us."

Dusk chose not to say anything, looking grim.

"There is nothing we can do to turn the clock back, unfortunately. Our family is suffering, we are facing a social boycott. Our businesses are hurt very badly as our partners want to punish us for what happened. You probably have plans of revenge against us, but I do not think you can make it much worse for us than it already is. It will be many years before we get any respect from anyone."

"You need to pay the price of your failure, Lord Cartier." Julien said quietly.

Lord Cartier nodded, accepting the criticism and judgement of the Crown Prince, happy his head was still on his shoulders. He then turned back to Dusk and addressed her.