61: Test before revelation (part 1)

Test before revelation (part 1)

We do not disobey the will of our Kings. Adela grew up hearing these words so frequently that they have all but become an inseparable part of her ears now. Her mentor's life centered around them.1

Kaiser's loyalty to the monarch was unquestionable, as his unyielding allegiance surpassed any reservations he may have had about the King's policies. This was the kind of devotion that was not based on reason, but on the deep-seated beliefs of House de Lanark. It formed the foundation of Emoria's stability, ensuring that the Kingdom could withstand all internal and external divisive forces and remain steadfast for generations to come.

The Archduke's loyalty to the King's rule was blind.

Claud met Adela's startled gaze calmly, maintaining his serene expression that she had come to recognize concealed his true emotions. Yet, despite his composure, the distress in his light green eyes was unmistakable.

"If your Crown Prince was to ask for a kiss, how would the Lady reply?"

In the face of such a dishonorable demand, Adela took solace in the hypothetical question and tightly sealed her lips shut.

"Am I that repulsive?" He whispered.

"Certainly not," came her honest reply.

"Won't you answer me then?"

When silence stretched between them, his face changed into something that she could not defend herself against. He looked a decade younger, brimming with insecurity and a longing for reassurance.

"Farewell, Lady Adelaide. Keep the cape on you while you're outside,"  Those were the Crown Prince's final words before he turned and began to walk away.

A sharp pang of pain lodged itself in Adela's stomach, The alliance with Claude was too important to lose now of all times. She hurried after him, the echoing cadence of her footsteps eliciting a frown from him as he glanced back over his shoulder. 

"Claude, please wait," she pleaded, her hand grasping onto his arm and feeling the bend of his elbow.

The correct conclusion he drew about her motives for stopping him transformed his countenance, rendering him uncharacteristically harsh and cold.

"Please don't fret about Uncle, Dela. I assure you he will be fine. That...That thing is up to some tricks, and I won't allow him to seize control of the situation and steal you in the process... That will only happen over my dead body," he added with a forced laugh.

His last words struck her like a physical blow. The casualness with which he spoke about dying pierced her deeply.

"...You possess a talent for inflicting a man's suffering...You turn me down, only to chase after me in the next breath." He let out a heavy sigh. "If only you were more akin to your father's ways, then our situation would be far more manageable."

It took him a moment, but his gaze softened, and he spoke more gently after that.

"You may not be aware of it, but you bring me tremendous joy. I shall fight for you, for I cannot conceive of possessing your heart in any other way."

Her fingers, which had clung so tightly to his elbow, slackened as a wash of shame overtook her. She knew that her lack of reciprocation would inevitably lead him on.

"Make no mistake, My Lady," he warned, "The next time we meet, I shall not leave matters to chance," His gaze shifted beyond her as he spoke, "They have arrived to collect me. I have taken care of everything for you; simply wait for their arrival," he informed her before abruptly departing.

Adela tilted her head back to observe the bleak heavens. The Crown Prince will send someone for me. Realizing that she needed to conserve her strength, she pivoted on her heel and started to go back where she came from.

Just when she thought that the night cannot possibly hold more surprises, she saw something she never thought she would.

A massive bundle of ivory fur was nestled at the edge of the garden where it met the sweeping staircase of the manor. A portion of the colossal white mass shifted, revealing two piercing grey orbs with a distinct steel-like quality. The irises of the creature — presumably a female wolf — were bordered by a dark pigment, further emphasizing the keenness of its unwavering stare. Those eyes shone with intelligence, staring with what Adela could have sworn was an accusation.

Much like the dukedoms and the King's County, the Archduchy had strict rules when dealing with certain animals. Wolves, in particular, were always to be reported upon sight and never to be touched. However, the law was rendered useless since nobody had ever actually seen a wolf in Lanark.

Suddenly, the wolf's chest began to rise and fall as if it was taking its last breaths, reminding Adela of her falcon's final moments.

She hurried over to where the wolf lay, swiftly removing Claude's cape on her way there and draping it over the magnificent animal. It didn't seem startled by her approach allowing her to move even closer. It was clearly wounded, but Adela couldn't determine the source of the injury.

The wolf emanated the musky scent of the woods and the clean water of the forest. It was almost sinister for something so breathtakingly beautiful to have reached such a state. 

"How come you are in this garden?"

When Adela was suddenly wary of the guards by the gates, the wolf's immense paw made a curious and unfamiliar gesture as it touched Adela's hand.

What is this sensation? It was as though the wolf was assuring her that the guards were unaware of her presence within the manor.

The movement of the wolf's paw revealed her neck, and Adela noticed a glimmering clear blue crystal loosely hanging from the pristine white fur.

"To whom do you belong?" Adela inquired with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.

Before she could gauge the wolf's reaction, a sudden fatigue overtook Adela, causing her vision to become blurry. The realization that she had not eaten anything since morning had suddenly come back to punish her.

A small scoff emitted from the wolf, jolting Adela back to awareness. She was puzzled by the sudden stillness of the wolf's chest which had been heaving just moments prior. As their eyes met, Adela once again discerned an intelligence in the wolf's gray eyes that was beyond that of any mere animal.

"Are you a she-wolf... A shapeshifter?!"

The white wolf's eyes turned cold, imparting an almost venomous glare at the Lady.

"I don't know whether you can understand me or not, but it is very dangerous for you to be here..." Adela attempted to continue speaking, but her queasiness hindered her.

She was in no way ready for what happened next. 

'I fail to comprehend who is saving whom in this predicament,'

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