330: Sisterly insights (part 1)

Sisterly insights (part 1)

The new dawn breaking over Lanark's sky announced the impending arrival of winter as it ushered out autumn with its chilly wind. It seemed Lady Adela de Lanark von Conradie's husband was also on the verge of departing.0

Their gazes met: he, standing on the ground beneath her chamber, she, peering down at him through the window with an icy stare.

Just leave already.

She released a heavy sigh as he strode away from the Archduke's manor, wondering when she would get to see his handsome face again.

"Do you have any more instructions for me, Lady Adelaide?" The Majordomo inquired, secretly hoping to alleviate the melancholy that marked Lady Adelaide's countenance.

Only her head turned in his direction, her body still struggling to maintain the fading connection as her husband moved further away.

Despite the exhaustion plaguing everyone in the manor, Bernard displayed no signs of weariness. Few had managed to find any sleep that day, and Adela and the majordomo were not among them.

"Thank you for handling the letter, Bernard."

She cast another glance at the sky, where the number of falcons had doubled, filling the airspace. Her frown deepened; the original plan had been for the falcons to serve as an alert system for the knights in case of an attack by the mutant creatures. However, it seemed they were overusing the falcons, leaving them fatigued and vulnerable to the imminent assault. Everyone needed rest, but it appeared no one was heeding her words.

"Whose orders were they to increase security?" She inquired, mentally recalling the faces of the most obstinate knights from the funeral.

"Sir Egon's orders," Bernard replied, his expression remaining impassive. "He insisted that the creature that reached your window should have been targeted and fired upon before it reached you. The knights concurred with him."

"..."

She couldn't argue with that. The letter she had received from Aldric had left her with her hair standing on end, further fraying her already tense nerves. Even when she had written to summon her father, her handwriting had still trembled.

Bernard cleared his throat. "My Lady, will Sir Egon be staying here for the time being? If so, allow me to prepare a room for his comfort as well."

Her fingers gripped the sides of her nightgown, her gaze following the path Egon had taken until he was no longer visible.

"...Your guess is as good as mine."

No one, not even his own wife, could discern what was on Egon's mind.

She had shared every detail with her husband regarding the hyenas, recounting how she felt their distress and suspected someone was controlling them. She explained Larissa's belief that she was the target of their attack, and how Adela initially brushed off the idea but had since reconsidered it.

Her only hesitation was confronting Andreas about her suspicions concerning his first mate's involvement. However, when she shared this particular information with Egon, he abruptly excused himself.

"May I come in, Adela?" Larissa's voice came through the open door.

"Did we wake you, Lari?"

"I couldn't sleep for long, but Mother is still asleep."

"Come in, let's sit down. I brewed some herbal tea to offer you in the morning, but it seems we can both enjoy it while it's still warm."

Larissa offered a weak smile, wrapping her knitted scarf snugly around her frail figure as she entered her sister's chamber.

"If you'll excuse me, My Ladies," Bernard said before departing from the room, leaving the two sisters alone with the cups of tea he had prepared.

Adela nodded at Bernard's departure, then locked eyes with her sister once more as they both settled into the tea corner of her room.

Taking a sip of the herbal tea, Larissa's faint smile broadened. "This is delicious. Your tea is the best."

Adela returned a similar smile. It was a custom for Adela to brew tea for her sister every time Larissa was feeling unwell.

"I heard Egon's voice," Larissa mentioned carefully.

Adela's smile turned bittersweet.

"He stopped by and then left, most likely to see Andreas."

Larissa winced at the mention of Andreas's name, and Adela couldn't help but wonder if her sister's heart was having second thoughts about the decision to annul the engagement, especially after Andreas had saved her from the attack.

She shouldn't have to go through this...

"Lari... Are you having doubts about ending the engagement?"

Larissa met her with an uncharacteristically cold expression.

"On the contrary, I am more certain than ever that my decision was the right one."

Adela was taken aback by Larissa's confident response. She took a sip of her tea, but the flavor didn't register as she lowered the cup and locked eyes with her sister once again,.

"...Honestly, I was concerned that the recent events might make you realize that you have lingering feelings for your former betrothed."

"Lingering feelings," Larissa tasted the words and frowned, "My feelings remain unchanged. Andreas will always be the one for me."

Adela's heart ached. The idea that such a profound sense of belonging could be disregarded was especially concerning to her. Why? She couldn't quite pinpoint it.

"I can't help but blame him, Adela. I can't explain it, but that woman he refuses to let go of... I don't think she was who he believed her to be."

"Lari..."

She raised her finger, signaling her intent to continue her thoughts.

"Everything we took for granted has turned out differently from what we were taught. I'll only believe what my eyes see from now on."

"...And what do your eyes tell you about Andreas?"

"That he's hiding something, as always. That he still wants to protect both of us," her teeth gleamed in the first rays of the sun, her eyes shimmering. "Is it strange that I'm almost glad this is happening? If her spirit desires my blood, then he'll have to make a final decision about it... I mean... Is it possible that he would allow her to harm me just to be kind to both of us?!"

Adela's eyes welled up. It was strange to despise a woman she had never met, an Oracle at that, but she couldn't help it.

What if indeed that woman wasn't what Andreas had believed her to be? What if the Empress's twin shared more than just her sister's appearance?

pqdm.com