" I know . " After a moment , Margaery looked up at him . " But what did I do wrong ? " Joshua frowned . " To be fair , you didn't do anything wrong . Your mistake was bringing family matters out in public , which affects the entire Wallen family and ruins Avery's career . " In other words , you betrayed this family . " Margaery bit back a snort at his oh - so - serious " impartial " act . " Since you think so , then it must be my betrayal . " There wasn't much to argue about . It was all her fault anyway ; she had gotten used to it . " So why did father and big brother call me here today ? " Her smile faded as her cold eyes landed on Joshua . Joshua looked uncomfortable , replying , " To salvage the situation . " " How ? " asked Margaery . " Explain what happened at the Royal Medical Hall today to the King , " Joshua explained his plan . " But didn't l'already explain clearly at the Royal Medical Hall today ? " Margaery pretended to be dumb with a hint of sarcasm . " I think I made myself clear enough for Nolan , and even Prince Dashnell understood . " With that , her gaze sliced to Avery playing dumb behind Joshua . " What part of that didn't reach your ears , Avery ? " Avery looked extremely uncomfortable right now . Joshua shot him a glance before turning back to Margaery . " What I mean is that you need to go to the palace and tell the King yourself that you deceived Prince Dashnell , who knew nothing about it . " You took Craig's prescription without permission and gave it to Avery , who thought it could be used at the Royal Medical . Hall but never expected you would dare deceive Prince Dashnell into causing such chaos . " Margaery couldn't help laughing upon hearing that . She couldn't stop laughing , staring him down with pure sarcasm . " Joshua , listen to yourself ! All those years drilling ' honesty ' into me and ' live with a clear conscience ' . " Now , do you still have honesty or conscience ? " Still playing the impartial judge here ? Doesn't it make you sick ? " Joshua's face turned completely dark , " So , you're not going to explain yourself ? " " Is this even an explanation ? " Margaery's expression cooled down . " Can you explain what explain means ? " " You- " Joshua was so angry his eyes turned red . 1/3 64 % 23:47 Wed , 20 Aug O Chapter 22 When Avery came looking for him in a rage earlier , he thought Avery was overreacting . A little girl could get him that worked up because he lacked stability . The irony choked him - now he was the one swallowing bile after her verbal gut - punch . " Me what ? " Margaery looked at them . " You're older than me and have been bossing me around all these years . And I bought it . " But look at yourselves now . " Her gaze fell on Raul's face . " Lord Chancellor , is this how you handle the state business ? " Though there weren't harsh words , the formal " Lord Chancellor " itself was an ultimate insult to Raul , especially since he knew , as a father , he hadn't treated every kid equally and had taken sides unfairly . He roared , " Wretched creature ! Still refusing to bend until you break ? Fine - the cellar will cool that hot head of yours . When the rats become your audience , maybe you'll learn how to speak to your betters ! " ' How did I produce such a defiance of a daughter ? ' Blood pooled in Raul's throat - couldn't swallow it down , couldn't spit it out . " Lock me in the cellar ? " Margaery sneered as tears welled up in her eyes . " Just like how my wet nurse died , right ? " Her wet nurse was framed by Tessa . Last winter , Fessa deliberately knocked over a coffee pot and said it was the wet nurse who poured hot water on her body ; if she hadn't dodged quickly enough , she would've been disfigured . After framing the wet nurse , she pretended to plead for mercy and said she understood why the wet nurse didn't like her since her presence threatened Margaery's interests . With fuel added to the fire , Raul got furious and locked the wet nurse in the cellar as punishment . Three days . That was all it took . When Margaery dragged her out , the wet nurse had already gone cold , stiff as the cellar stones . Raul squeezed out two crocodile tears . " Her old illness , " he croaked . " Couldn't survive three days . " Then the kicker . " Failed your mother's dying wish … not gentle enough with the wet nurse , not strict enough with the daughter ." But everyone in the family knew how the wet nurse died . Even Raul had his suspicions . When he heard Margaery's words , Raul was like a cat whose tail was stepped on . " Damn it ! How dare you bring up old stuff again ! Guards , take her away ! " Margaery became even more certain that her wet nurse didn't die because of any illness she had . The real death blow ? Raul's palm shattered her ribs - ruptured something deep inside . That was why three days in the cellar finished her . Tears welled up in Margaery's eyes . " Lord Chancellor , you can lock me up , but if you do , your precious daughter's stomach 2/3 23.47 wed , zu Aug 64 % Chapter 22 ailment might never be cured." She glanced at Tessa . " Are you threatening me ? " Raul was so angry his chest hurt . Margaery remained silent and stood stubbornly where she was , with an icy look in her eyes that Raul had never seen before . " Daddy , maybe we should give up . " Tessa tugged Raul's sleeve , her voice trembling . " Margaery only stormed off to the Royal Medical Hall in a fit of pique . " But the cellar … that damp air chokes . What if something happened to her down there ? " Her tears welled . " I'm just sick over her nanny's death . If I'd only known she was unwell , I'd have begged you to show mercy." With that , she let out a soft sigh . " Father , my stomach hurts . " Hearing that , Raul was heartbroken ; he hurriedly said , " Tessa , go back to bed right now . " With that , he carried Tessa to bed . Seeing her paper - pale face , drenched in cold sweat , then glaring at Margaery , that jealous viper , he felt every ounce of his patience snap . " Option one ," his voice dropped like a stone . " Hand over the cure now , then beg the King to clear two , the cellar . Your choice . " your brother . Option He braced to drag her there himself . ' Let her play stubborn . Just a soft girl . That cellar ? Pitch - black . Air thick enough to choke on . Three days max , she'd break . ' After the mess was fixed ? I'd smooth things over . Plenty of time , ' he thought to himself . He waved his hand , signaling Astrid to drag Margaery out . " Miss , please ! " Astrid snarled , drunk on borrowed power , and dug her claws into Margaery's arm . The other two matrons swarmed , grabbing and dragging - straight for the cellar's gaping mouth . Then , a figure burst through the doors . " Sir ! Prince Dashnell's man is here now . He demands Lady Margaery's presence- immediately ! " 3/3 ୦