The Lady Is Mine-Chapter 186: Bloodline With Issues

"Nikolai was found dead?"

Rhane arched his brows. He had taken a walk around the estate after leaving Jenna to talk with Kali. It had been days since his return to full consciousness, and the estate now demanded his attention like a restless beast.

With the recent title given to him, servants moved even more carefully around him, unsure whether to address him as "my lord" yet. Even Rhane wasn’t sure if the title fit.

And among everything that had changed, receiving the news of Nikolai’s death sounded like a big surprise. The man walked around like he was untouchable and really, he was. People feared his influence and cruelty.

Rhane leaned against the table, his weight shuffling the furniture against the marble floor. His father had enemies, hundreds of them. Men he’d humiliated, women he’d ruined, families he’d crushed. Everyone had long whispered that Nikolai’s soul was already half in Hell, only his body too stubborn to follow. And Rhane agreed with that.

But who had the courage or the hatred to finish the deed?

So many had vendettas against Nikolai. Every merchant he’d cheated, every soldier he’d dismissed, every noble he’d insulted and reduced to nothing. But none had carried hatred like Rhane and Kali. Their father’s cruelty had carved them into shapes they were still learning to live with.

Rhane pressed his hands against the desk. Could Kali have—? No. He shook the thought away almost violently. His sister had her fire, but not that kind of darkness. If she wanted to take Nikolai’s life, she’d first seek his permission.

"How sure are you about this?" Rhane asked Percy, who had brought the news.

Percy would not have believed it himself if he hadn’t reached out to a more trusted source. "At first, it was a rumor, but then... I met with someone who worked with Lord Nikolai before now. It was confirmed that his body was found this morning. And it wasn’t just him... some noblemen were also found dead."

Percy paused, his brows knitted. "Could it be an assassin killing noblemen?"

Rhane shook his head. If it was an assassination, then the news would have passed through him first. Living on the road and fast had made Rhane know a few mercenaries. And if they were going to kill his father for ransom, courtesy demanded they tell Rhane first.

Nikolai is dead. Rhane repeated it this time in his mind. It wasn’t sadness he felt; it was disappointment.

For everything Nikolai had done, death felt more like a gentle slap on the wrist. He was meant to taste hell while alive. Though the man had so many enemies, Rhane didn’t know of one person who would be bold enough to have killed Nikolai, not anywhere else but in his home.

"And the culprit?"

Percy sighed. "Not found." He wasn’t sure what reaction to expect from Rhane, but he was worried. What if people accused Rhane of being the killer?

"You don’t have to worry," Percy began. "Everyone knows you’ve been in bed. I’ll have the servants tell visitors that you had just woken up. That way nobody would suspect you of anything."

Rhane sucked his teeth. Something just wasn’t sitting right. "What about Gerald?"

"Some say he has lost his mind... but he is still alive and in his house." Percy rubbed his palms together; he didn’t know whether to console or celebrate with Rhane.

The relationship between father and son wasn’t quite remarkable, as everyone had clearly seen, but despite it all, Nikolai was still Rhane’s father.

"Rhane?" Percy’s voice was cautious now. "Are you—"

"And his body?" Rhane interrupted. He asked quietly this time.

Percy hesitated but replied, "I didn’t get that much, but I can—"

Rhane stopped him with a wave of his hand. "What does it matter? The man had the time to atone for all that he had done but chose not to until his death. It doesn’t matter anymore," he muttered, walking slowly toward the door.

Rhane didn’t know how to feel. Relief? Rage? A bitter triumph? Or the hollow ache of something too tangled to name?

Rhane leaned back, his lips curling into a half-smile. "Dead," he murmured to himself, the word tasting strange. "How?"

Before he could reach the door, it burst open with Kali standing at the doorpost, her hand around the knob and her eyes wildly searching for someone.

Rhane’s eyes shifted behind her to see Jenna running after Kali.

"I’m sorry about earlier, brother," Kali apologized quickly. Once her eyes fell on Percy, she frowned. "I want to speak to Percy."

Rhane turned to look at the young man, then at his sister. "Why?"

"Jenna thinks I am in love with him, but I need to find out myself because it’s a little confusing. Don’t you think so too, brother?"

Percy’s mouth dropped open, his eyes almost out of their sockets. He wasn’t sure if he was hearing right.

"You are... what is even going on here?"

Jenna finally arrived. "Rhane... Nikolai is dead."

Rhane nodded. He reached forward to take Jenna’s hand, hitting Kali’s hand out of the way. "Percy just told me about it, but that isn’t the issue right now. What is wrong with her?" He gestured with his head at Kali.

"W-hat?" Jenna glanced at Kali. "Did she do something?"

Kali dropped her hand on her waist. "I’m asking Percy to follow me right now so I can understand if I’m in love with him or not. It’s not possible, and I want to show Jenna just how wrong she is!"

"Oh no! Kali..." Jenna closed her eyes. The girl was hopeless. "You weren’t supposed to... you know... not here," Jenna tried to signal for her to leave and not embarrass herself more than she already had.

Rhane pulled Jenna closer, letting her head rest on his chest. From the corner of his eyes, he watched Percy.

"I asked that you watch over my sister, and what did you do, Percy? Seduce her?"

Percy raised his hand, jumping from his position to stand in front of Rhane. "I’m not sure I understand what she is talking about."

"What don’t you understand? Is it because we kissed?"

"Kali!"

"Good Lord!"

"You kissed my sister?"

The room remained quiet for only a second. Kali gave it back the tension with a chuckle.

"Percy here is a fool, brother. He doesn’t know what happens next with a woman after a kiss."

Rhane turned properly to look at Percy, his glare sharp with intent. "Didn’t know you had the skills in you... I trusted you, thinking you were innocent. And...?"

"I—" Percy gulped. He turned to Kali. "Please tell your brother exactly what—" He focused on Rhane, his palms sweating.

"She— we... I didn’t do anything, and that was the last time. I would never seduce your sister. I swear on my life."

Rhane’s gaze intensified. "You wouldn’t?"

"I swear it."

Rhane tutted. "So you think my sister isn’t beautiful enough. Is that it?"

This time Kali flipped her hair, touching her nose and pressing her lips.

Percy sputtered. When he found his voice, he said, "I... I didn’t say so... I think she’s... Lady Jenna, please help me," he cried.

Jenna was struggling not to laugh that her face had almost turned red. She had never seen a woman confess her feelings to a man so boldly, and a brother accept his sister’s love with a threat to life.

"So, brother... if you’re done with him, I’d like to talk alone with him. That is what I should do, right, Jenna?"

Jenna gave an approving nod.

"I need to understand why I’m confused when Percy is standing next to me. So move, young man," Kali snapped her fingers, beckoning him to come over.

Percy didn’t move. He stood at a point as if waiting for Rhane’s approval.

"Go ahead, but you and I will need to have a long talk after now." He cocked his head to the side. "Go with her."

Percy mouthed, "But I don’t wish to."

"I can hear you," Kali snarled. "Don’t make me wait." She turned to leave but paused.

"I heard about Nikolai’s death too. It wasn’t me." She pointed at her chest. "Though I’d wanted to, I know you wouldn’t approve of that. So instead of killing him, I did something else that felt better." Kali grinned, giving Rhane a quick wink as she left.

Percy paced back and forth, but in the end, followed her behind.

"What just happened?" Jenna finally let go of the laughter she held. Though she loved every bit of it. Their love flowed naturally like they’ve always been a family.

Jenna faced Rhane with her hand on his chest. "Did you both have to scare poor Percy?"

Rhane leaned, stealing a kiss from her as she spoke. "I had to be her brother... you know how Kali can be."

Jenna smiled. "I do. And I think she really likes Percy."

Rhane shrugged. "As long as she’s happy and alive."

Reaching for Rhane’s face, Jenna rubbed his chin, feeling the coarse texture of his skin on her palm.

"Does Nikolai’s death worry you?" she asked with a tender gaze.

Rhane turned his face to the side, pecked her palm, and smiled. "You’re really the one who completes my heart."

"I was worried earlier, but not anymore. All I want to do right now is finish what we started earlier." Rhane wrapped his arm around Jenna’s waist, then carried her to the table.

Jenna bit her lips before wrapping her legs around his waist. Rhane pushed his body closer, reaching for Jenna’s chest.

"Jenna!"

Both of them turned— and at the door, Olivia and Rachel stood there, waving at Jenna.

Rhane groaned. "Of course. The entire kingdom’s here. Anyone else want to walk in? The King maybe?"