CHAPTER 871: CHAPTER 871: THE STOLEN KISS

"Does my father really love those concubines?" Kira murmured, but what she really wanted to ask was—

Did her father ever really love her mother?

Kira’s mother waited for her father all her life, but even in the end, she did not get a glimpse of him.

Later, when Kira, with dissatisfaction in her heart, questioned her father about this, his response was—

Yes, he had loved her mother.

Ann Vaughn couldn’t see Kira’s expression, she said softly: "Love is something that will leap from the eyes even if you cover your mouth. You can’t hide the heartbeat, can’t control the longing; your heart and eyes are full of that one person."

"True affection is impossible to hide."

Kira remained silent.

After a long time, Kira spoke again, "I really envy you, sister, at least my brother genuinely likes you."

But in the future, if my brother truly inherits the throne, it might not be avoidable that he would have many concubines.

No matter how intense the feelings are at the beginning, in the end, they may only revert to ’once loved.’

"He does not like me," Ann Vaughn refuted Kira’s claim. "Your brother is used to being the one on top, savoring the taste of having everything under control. I was merely an unexpected variable beyond his grasp, and he cannot accept that."

There is no such thing as groundless affection in this world.

Yet Warren Vance’s obsession with her has always been without reason, as if a deep entanglement once existed between them.

So unreal it felt fake.

Standing behind Ann Vaughn, Betty hesitated to speak. She always had the feeling that the prince was not as the Princess described, yet couldn’t find a point to argue.

With Kira as company to chat away the boredom, plus Warren Vance not appearing the entire day, Ann Vaughn was finally not as downcast as the past couple of days. Her appetite improved significantly at dinner.

Before sleeping, Ann Vaughn routinely refused Betty’s proposal to guard her room and sent her away.

Betty agreed, but still stood guard outside the door all night.

Only then did Ann Vaughn have the opportunity to use the medicine Kira had sent, and then re-bandaged with gauze, lying in bed preparing to sleep.

In the middle of half-sleep and waking, Ann Vaughn drowsily felt a scorching gaze fixedly on her back, impossible to ignore.

But Ann Vaughn was truly exhausted, and after a while, that gaze suddenly vanished, as if just a figment of her imagination, so she didn’t dwell on it and fell into a deep sleep.

A dreamless night.

The next day, Ann Vaughn recalled last night’s occurrence and cautiously tested Betty.

"Princess, rest assured, the prince instructed that no one is allowed to come disturb you after dark, even he himself wouldn’t come casually. You can rest peacefully without worries," Betty replied.

Ann Vaughn let out a sigh of relief.

Indeed, the gaze she felt last night was just her imagination.

Just then, the door was knocked.

"It must be Dr. Silas Lowell; the prince specifically instructed him to come early to change your dressings before leaving The Royal City this morning," Betty explained considerately, then went to open the door.

Silas, clad in black, walked in with lowered eyes, coming straight to Ann Vaughn and placing down the black leather case in his hand.

Ann Vaughn listened to the sounds approaching her ear, her red lips pursing slightly.

This morning, she slightly treated the ointment applied last night, hopefully, it wouldn’t be discovered...

Amidst her thoughts, Ann Vaughn suddenly realized a warm hand picked up her chin, startling her. The mechanical duck on her lap fell to the ground.

"The Princess’s injuries look much better than the last couple of days," Silas observed Ann Vaughn’s eye injuries and commented.

"Princess, you dropped something," Betty immediately squatted down to pick up the book.

Since going blind, any slight disturbance caused immense unease within Ann Vaughn.

The feeling of not seeing anything and having to rely on others is truly uncomfortable.

For instance, at this moment, if Silas hadn’t explained, she would probably think he intended to take liberties with her—

"Hmm?" Just as the thought rose in her mind, Ann Vaughn felt a sudden warmth surprisingly kiss her lips, a light peck.

The softness of the touch, it was easy to guess what it was with a strand of hair.

Ann Vaughn was shocked, almost widened her eyes in anger, her face alternating between shyness, anger, and suspicion, filled with an impressive mix of emotions.

Was Silas insane?!

Ann Vaughn immediately reached to push Silas away, but he was faster, withdrawing from her lips just before Betty’s return from retrieving the duck under the couch.

When Betty placed it back on the table, she noticed Ann Vaughn’s unusually unpleasant expression and couldn’t help but ask worriedly, "Princess, are your eyes hurting again?"

After speaking, she reminded Silas, "Dr. Silas Lowell, please be careful while applying the medicine, the Princess is afraid of pain."

"Hmm, rest assured," Silas replied calmly, without any guilt, as he leaned over to remove the gauze from Ann Vaughn’s eyes.

Ann Vaughn was nearly boiling with anger.

"Get out!" Ann Vaughn angrily shoved Silas’s hand away, her voice seething, "Betty, help me."

If she could see right now, she would make this scoundrel pay!

Silas raised an eyebrow, saying nothing.

Betty did not know the source of Ann Vaughn’s ire, assuming she was simply in a bad mood due to the pain, and hesitantly said, "Princess, I may not be as skillful as Dr. Silas Lowell..."

"I don’t care, just make him leave!" Ann Vaughn was at her wit’s end, hurling the cushion in her hand forcefully to the ground, "Get out!"

Betty was startled.

In the past few days of interaction, Betty had somewhat gauged Ann Vaughn’s temperament.

She was easygoing and gentle, always with a smile on her face, without any airs, and even on her lowest days, she wouldn’t get angry without reason.

This was the first time Betty saw her so furious.

"Dr. Silas Lowell, the Princess doesn’t want the dressing changed today, you might as well come back tomorrow," Betty spoke with unprecedented firmness, shielding Ann Vaughn.

Silas showed no special expression, "I will come back tomorrow."

"Don’t ever come back, you’d better get as far away as possible!" Ann Vaughn spat venomously.

In the future, it’s best she doesn’t run into him!

Or she’d make sure to use him as a dish for wine!

"Take care, Princess." Silas said leisurely, then picked up the black case and left.

Betty hurriedly patted Ann Vaughn’s back, "Princess, calm down. If you don’t like Dr. Silas Lowell, you can have him replaced by the prince. Though throughout Gothasen, no one matches Dr. Silas Lowell’s medical skills..."

To replace Silas would indeed be a loss for Ann Vaughn.

"Not necessarily," Ann Vaughn took a deep breath, gritting her teeth, "Why depend on others, if it comes down to it, I’ll do it myself!"