The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride

Chapter 407: Traitor (2)



Tyrion sent guards to Simon and William's homes to inspect them both more carefully until the group arrived.

Tyrion, Edgar, and Rafael arrived at Quinn's home to test if Tyrion's guess was right.

Tyrion took notice of the guards as he exited the carriage. "If he manages to slip by all of these guards, then we must worry."

There were countless palace and town guards all around Quinn's home, so he shouldn't be able to get away unless there was someone around to help him.

Edgar walked inside, paying no mind to the guards. His attention was fixed on Quinn alone.

"I thought we were going to deprive him of a visit from you, Edgar? I stand on the fact that neither you nor Tobias should grace him with your presence. Leave it to Tyrion and me," Rafael suggested.

Rafael didn't have any part in the downfall of William; therefore, he might not be a man Quinn wanted to see.

"I will be near," Edgar replied, continuing to make his way inside.

"You can't kill him just yet, Edgar. You're a wise man to know killing him too early might cost us. We need to keep it so that he cannot get out, and not many of the guards speak to him alone. The bastard will get what is coming to him in time," Tyrion promised.

Tyrion wanted to kill Quinn just as much as Edgar did, if not more. Alongside the duchess, Penelope was the one they decided to use to get Edgar's attention.

"Duke Collins," Mark's voice got the attention of the three men. "I wasn't told you would be coming here today. What can I help you with?"

"Getting out of our way would be a good start," said Tyrion.

Tyrion didn't have the patience to listen to Mark and Edgar bicker with each other.

"I must escort you to Quinn if that is where you intend to go. Should anything happen to you, I will be the one at fault, so please, listen to me just this once," Mark pleaded.

Just as Mark expected, Edgar ignored him.

Mark smiled, preparing himself for a fight. "Edgar-"

"Duke Collins," Edgar corrected Mark. "I have a title."

"I have not forgotten. I thought we had become close over the years. I humbly ask that you do not make this difficult for me. We have all decided that Quinn is to be questioned by men hand-selected by the court. The town guard's captain is preparing to go," said Mark.

"If it is the man I met as of late, then you shouldn't send him anywhere near Quinn. His emotions get the best of him, and he doesn't know how to follow orders. There is an interesting fact he despises the duke," Tyrion pointed out. "Why send a man who hates the duke to speak to another?"

"It troubles me to say that we are short of men who don't hate the duke. If you must speak to Quinn, I must be near to protect you. I want the same as every man here, which is to see that this bastard gets what he deserves and any victims are found. Can we settle our differences for now?" Mark asked, extending his hand to Edgar.

Edgar stared at Mark's hand for a moment and soon walked around Mark. "I don't intend to argue with you today. To think I would shake hands with you over this makes you look even more like a fool. Rafael and the prince will speak to him."

Mark lowered his hand and scolded himself for thinking Edgar would shake his hand. Rather than stand around being offended, Mark moved on and followed the group of men.

Mark noticed a man walking out of a room and said, "Just in time."

Henry looked up, and instantly, his mood turned sour.

Tyrion chuckled. "You must all be fools to think of sending this man to Quinn. You were to be removed as the captain. Can someone enlighten me as to why he still stands here?"

"The other man who shall be the town captain fell ill, so we thought to make use of Henry for a moment. He has decided to leave the town guards once this is done," Mark explained.

"Oh, is that so? You just happened to decide to leave without a fight? I fail to believe you would go peacefully after that fire you had in you when you spoke. It is even more amusing that the man to replace you has suddenly fallen ill," Tyrion said, sensing something more was at play here.

"I know what you are trying to accuse me of doing, and it isn't so, Your Highness. I have given plenty of years to the town guards and realised, as of late, that my emotions get the best of me. It is time that I step back to let someone else step forward. I will finally settle down," said Henry.

"Felix, his replacement, is a good man. He has been under Henry for most of his time among the town guards. It takes guts to step down from a position you love dearly. Henry, you won't need to join us. The prince and Sir Rafael will speak," Mark informed Henry.

"No, Henry will join us," Tyrion said, surprising Henry. "It is his last time with the guards after all. One should make it memorable for him. Look at that expression he wears now. It is as though we have delivered news that may cost his life. Come along, Henry."

"Which way is it to see Quinn?" Tyrion asked.

Mark was puzzled by what Tyrion was doing, and it seemed he was the only one to feel this way. Rafael and Edgar seemed to understand the prince's behaviour because they glared at Henry like he was a dead man walking.

Henry was reluctant to go with the prince. He was close to speaking with Quinn alone and showing a man of the court that he could not be replaced by Felix.

Henry was far from ready to leave the town guards. He had matters to settle before he would ever step away from being captain. It was a shock to him that the position was stripped from him and handed to Felix.

As luck would have it, Felix was ill and could not perform his duties, so here Henry was.

'Royal bastard,' Henry thought, clenching his fist as he looked at Tyrion.

Tyrion came in and made a mockery of him.

Henry didn't know what Tyrion was plotting, but he intended to carry out his plans to show his worth and, at the same time, unmask the duke's crimes.


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