Caroline's POV:
As the crowd gathered around, Austin reached for my hand and held it tightly.
Seeing all of these familiar faces, I felt a bit strange, as though I had been cut off from the rest of the
world for ages.
The elders who used to smile at me raised their eyebrows and looked at me with disdain.They must've
hated me to the core.
"Don't be afraid, okay? Whatever happens, I'm here for you," Austin whispered in my ear as he noticed
my discomfort.
Moved, I looked him in the eye and nodded slightly.I would've been lying if I said I wasn't afraid, but...I
could totally understand where their anger was coming from.
"Elders, how can I help you?" Anthony asked in a calm manner.
All of a sudden, the crowd burst into an uproar.
"Mr.Jones! Please explain why you've brought those sinners back to the royal palace?" an elder
demanded angrily.
The rage in his voice made me tremble slightly.
It was finally happening! Ever since I found out that we were coming back here, I knew that the elders
would be furious.
And they had every right.
Austin and I were sinners.
We shouldn't have been brought back here.I didn't know how to face all this, so I just lowered my head
and stood beside Austin in silence.
Anthony's voice continued to ring beside me.
"Everyone, please calm down first."
"No! They're sinners!" someone shouted rudely.
"Mr.Jones, why are they here? I hope you can explain!"
"Yeah! Austin murdered our former king, your father.It was already merciful of us to let him live.How
could you let him come back from his exile? Isn't it obvious that he'll form a rebellion and try to usurp
the throne?"
I clearly felt Austin's grip on my hand tightening.Somehow, I plucked up enough courage to look up.
In addition to the aristocrats and the elders, there were also guards and maids.
Each of them glared at me with hatred in their eyes.
When I inadvertently met the eyes of a noblewoman, she immediately scowled at me.
This woman pointed at me and cried, "And Caroline is a heartless bitch.She almost killed Mrs.Jones,
the woman who took her in and loved her.She's in the same league as Austin.Sparing her life was
already the greatest act of mercy."
Hearing them scold me spitefully, I felt so ashamed that I lowered my head again.
I was at a complete loss and just wanted to find a hole to hide in.
Just then, Jennifer suddenly took my other hand.When I looked at her in surprise, she gazed into my
eyes kindly.
Moved by her warmth, I felt a lump form in my throat.
Jennifer's silent comfort gave me courage.I gritted my teeth and cut those curses short.
"It's true! It was all my fault! I deserve to die.I'm sorry.I committed all those crimes because I was blind."
As I spoke, I bowed deeply to everyone.
"Yes.I apologize as well.I didn't know any better."
Austin echoed my sentiments.
He also bowed to them and apologized humbly.
"What's the point of saying sorry? The previous king is already dead!" An elder pointed at Austin and
me indignantly.
"Go back to where you come from!"
"Enough!" Elizabeth suddenly boomed across the hall.
"It's improper to quarrel like this.And you must know that it was my decision to bring them back."
Anthony nodded.
"And she had a good reason.I hope you can all calm down first so that we can explain things clearly."
Jennifer also chimed in, "The reason why we decided to bring Caroline and Austin back was because
they saved our lives.Our boat capsized at sea.It was Austin and Caroline who risked their lives to haul
us back to shore."
"Yes.I could see that Austin and Caroline have turned a new leaf and grown to be kind-
hearted.Moreover, Alice needs the care of her own mother and father," Elizabeth declared resolutely.
I couldn't help but look at my brother and mother, tears welling up in my eyes.I was so moved that I
was at a loss for words.
"You see? They saved my mother and my queen.Their merits might be able to offset their sins and they
can be pardoned for their previous crimes," Anthony said solemnly.
"I beg to differ!" an elder disagreed.
"Even if you had such a plan in mind, you should've held a meeting with the elders to discuss it with us
first! You can't just forgive these two evildoers so quickly!" an elder said, his voice filled with
emotion.Seeing that everyone was so agitated, I felt sad and guilty.
I couldn't help but steal a glance at Anthony.I had wronged him too many times.Did I really have to
make things difficult for my brother again? I shook my head, secretly gritted my teeth, and pulled Austin
forward with me.
Staring at the audience, I shouted, "Please don't make things difficult for Anthony.Austin and I will leave
right now!"
Anthony's POV: I didn't expect that the once willful Caroline would become so sensible one day.
Her face was pale as a ghost, but her expression was resolute.
She was totally different from the stubborn and domineering girl in my memory.I smiled gently.I was so
glad that Caroline had finally grown up.
Although she had committed many mistakes, I always saw her as the little girl who had grown up under
my watch.
I didn't have the heart to keep on punishing her, not to mention she had saved my Jennifer.
"If you know you're guilty, then get out of here! Don't come back again!"
Although Caroline and Austin apologized sincerely, the elders didn't buy it at all.Seeing their hostile
faces, I couldn't help but frown.
"Please, calm down.Caroline actually lost consciousness after saving my mother.She was worried
about her health and wanted to have a physical examination conducted, which was why we brought her
back to the royal palace on such short notice.Rest assured, I wasn't planning to hide it from you.In fact,
I was about to call for a meeting with the elders to discuss this matter."
"Humph! Anyway, even if we did have that meeting, we would never let them come back!" Primo
wrinkled his nose in disdain.
"It was you and your mother who insisted on exiling them back then, so we compromised and agreed
to let them live.You're going back on your word now.I'm sure your father's spirit in heaven will be
disappointed."
"He's right.How could you forgive them so easily? What will the previous king in heaven think?"
These elders were really stubborn.Just as I was about to put my foot down, my mother spoke up.
"I knew my husband well.He didn't like to quarrel over trifles like this."
My mother looked at the elders one by one.
"I believe that if he was still alive, he would forgive Austin and Caroline, too."
"Humph! Mrs.Jones, easy for you to say!"
The elders still didn't agree with us.
"No matter what you say, we will never forgive them!"
The situation was getting more and more tense.
"Anthony, since they really don't want us here, just send us back," Austin suddenly said.
"Caroline and I were living a happy life.No one would disturb us there.”
"Don't be rash.You've already made it this far, so I won't send you back just yet." I refused Austin's
proposal firmly, but I couldn't help but frown.
This was a tricky situation.
While I didn't want to send them back, the elders were quite adamant and aggressive even.
Just then, an attendant suddenly broke through the crowd and rushed to me.
‘Mr.Jones, bad news! The vampires attacked the Red Sun Pack again.The Alpha of Red Sun Pack is
asking for urgent help and hopes you can send some reinforcements."
What?! My eyes went wide, and anger swelled inside me.
"The vampires are determined to fight us!" I shouted angrily.
"They won't stop until we declare war!"
"Anthony, let me fight them."
Unexpectedly, Austin suddenly stepped forward and put his hand on my shoulder.
He glanced at the attendant who had reported the news and said solemnly, "Let me lead the army
against the vampires.I swear I will end this chaos and atone for my crimes."
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