331: Sisterly insights (part 2)

Sisterly insights (part 2)

Adela took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. She had to remain strong for her sister; that was her duty.1

"Lari, I've sent for Father to return."

Larissa furrowed her brow. "You heard Mother; he has matters to attend to in Kolhis."

"Both of us know the true reason he's there. He'll likely return with a declaration of war against Varinthia."

Larissa's eyes glinted with anger. "That's why we should allow him enough time to strategize with the Empire."

Adela shook her head.

"Your safety is more important than vengeance. Rest assured, nothing will harm you within these walls."

"I won't stay for long, so you don't have to worry about me." 

The idea of getting Larissa out of Lanark sounded promising, but was it truly feasible?

"Where else would you go?" Adela inquired.

"I will go to Kolhis and stay by Claude's side." 

Adela gazed into her sister's solemn hazel eyes, apparently,  Larissa had put considerable thought into this decision, not making it lightly.

"I must warn you, Lari, Andreas is incredibly jealous of Claude."

"I know. He won't follow me there."

On this point, Larissa was mistaken. Adela had no doubt that Andreas who had endured so much for Larissa's sake over the centuries would follow her anywhere, even if she couldn't perceive his presence.

"What about you, Adela? Why are you here?"

Adela gazed at Larissa for a long moment, considering where to begin. Her sister had the right to know about her life as well.

Over the course of the next hour, they conversed without interruption, and Larissa learned about everything that had transpired with Bastian and how Adela's honor had been questioned in that household.

She was furious.

"What about Bastian's honor as he took such a low shot at his brother's wife? It's... It's utterly repulsive!... I was going to argue that you should go where your husband is, but now I'm begging you not to return... In fact, you should come with me to Kolhis."

Leaving him for a change was, indeed, tempting. 

"... I won't be the one to leave Emoria. But I won't question him about where he goes or returns from anymore. I'll simply do what I must, just like he does."

"What do you have in mind?" Larissa inquired.

"I want to go to Destan and search for our mana stones."

"Right now?!"

Adela nodded.

"Emoria needs it now more than ever. We have a signed treaty with the Empire of Kolhis, but the balance of power is strongly in their favor. We must show them our strength." 

Larissa regarded her younger sister with admiration. Despite all she had endured and continued to face, Adela remained level-headed, able to make the right decisions at the right times.

"Perhaps it's wrong for me to say this now, but truly, this land would be fortunate to have you as its queen. You are a legitimate to the throne... won't you reconsider it?"

The heir...

Adela's thoughts drifted to the Oracle's prophecy about her giving birth to the heir, a thought she dared not utter, not even to herself.

"...Father should be the king, Larissa."

"Yes. He should be the king, but you should rule by his side."

She contemplated that for a few moments before she replied. 

"Victory against Varinthia won't be an easy feat. We need to navigate that challenge first before we think about anything else," Adela emphasized, her eyes gleaming with suppressed emotions. "There must be a strategic way to approach it that minimizes the loss of our people's lives and blood."

Larissa sensed the underlying concern in her sister's words, surely Adela did not wish to be the cause of the impending war.

"...Tell me you're not considering becoming bait for that purpose." Larissa warned. 

Adela shook her head. "I can't do that to my husband... Or rather, I'm not sure I could convince him that my actions are solely driven by vengeance for myself and void of ulterior motives. I don't want to be accused of infidelity again."

"Nonsense," Larissa interjected. "You're forgetting about the mate bond between you two. He feels what you're feeling, right? Don't you think he knows of your love and loyalty to him?"

Adela wasn't so sure, not about what the mate bond meant to him or whether her dedication was enough to dispel his doubts.

"Only God knows what he's heard about Emorain women while growing up. I just... I don't know anymore."

"No, Adela. You know him better than this. Don't confuse him with his brother who is a pawn in someone's hands."

Feeling overwhelmed, Adela let her head drop into her hands, but Larissa quickly removed them and stared at her with disapproval.

"Where is Adelaide de Lanark who never took nonsense from anybody when she was determined to follow her own path? Why don't you confront your husband and demand a conversation about everything that happened in Varinthia with Aldric? You do realize that this is the root of your problems, right?"

Adela looked at her sister, confusion etched on her face. "What do you mean?"

Larissa placed their hands on the table and gently squeezed Adela's hands.

"Adela, Egon wouldn't accuse you of adultery or even think it, but he might fear that something happened between you and Aldric against your will."

Larissa's words were like a revelation, describing the situation with clarity and precision.

"...Why didn't I think of that?"

"How could you? Most women would still be recovering in bed, trying to cope with what happened. Meanwhile, you're out there gathering information about your in-laws and battling mutant creatures like a seasoned warrior."

"I did spend much time in bed, trying to process everything that had occurred. But that only made matters worse between me and Egon."

"Everything will be just fine between you two, I'm sure of it."

Adela couldn't help but smile at her sister's optimism. "You know, Lari, Egon was trying to be the perfect son-in-law instead of being himself. Now, he's trying to control everything and force his desires on me instead of listening."

Larissa's smile softened. "You'll find a middle ground, Adela. It may take time, but the love between you two will heal him."

Adela could only hope that Larissa was right.

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