Chapter 31: Blessing of being sick
Soon the trusted Vizier of King William, along with Mr. Gilbert, started to interrogate every concubine, courtesan and servant, who could have come in contact with this intruder named Tasia Flores.
After questioning the concubines, Zion, the Vizier, moved to question the courtesans one by one. He probed one of the courtesans, "Do you know who Tasia Flores is? Have you heard anything about her before?"
The courtesan shook her head, saying, "I saw the woman last night for the first time and haven’t seen her after that, Sire."
Marianne, who stood to the side, could feel the blood drain from her face little by little as the Vizier moved to question them, until it was finally her turn. The Vizier questioned,
"Where were you last night?"
"I was at the celebration with the other courtesans, Sire," Marianne’s voice was calm as she said those words. The courtesans were trained to speak calmly even during stressful conditions, and she maintained her composure.
One of the courtesans suddenly asked Marianne, "Marianne, isn’t your last name Flow or Flores?" Though the woman had joined the Paradise Tower before Marianne, she had failed to get recognition like the latter and was more than keen to take Marianne’s spot.
The Vizier’s eyes narrowed on noticing the lush brown hair similar to that of the woman named Tasia Flores, who had danced with Prince Dante last night at the celebration. He took a step forward and demanded,
"Is your last name Flores?" The Vizier didn’t allow her to speak, and he grabbed hold of her neck before threatening her, "How dare you try to deceive the Blackthorn family members?! Lying your way to get close to the royal family while you are nothing but a whore who has been sullied more than a hundred times. You thought you could get away with it?!"
Marianne could feel the air entering her lungs turning scarce. The Vizier glared down at her, wanting her to confess, and though she had a hand in turning her sister into Tasia Flores, she wasn’t Tasia Flores.
"Zion, let go of the woman!"