339: Leaving Lanark

Leaving Lanark

As Adela entered the royal carriage, she was taken aback to find her mother and Larissa waiting inside. The Archduchess wore a somber expression, her gaze distant and reminiscent of times long past. Larissa, on the other hand, appeared both sour and resolute.0

"Are we all going somewhere?" Adela voiced her curiosity, but there was no immediate response. Instead, her father's voice carried in from outside as he conversed with one of the knights who had been accompanying her.

"…Is that so? They're all leaving then," Kaiser's words were tinged with a suppressed anger that Adela recognized all too well, the kind the Archduke preferred to keep hidden, a prideful restraint.

She wasn't sure exactly when Larissa's hand found hers, but its warmth offered a sense of comfort. If the Archduke's words pertained to the von Conradies, her father's information network was indeed impressive.

"I see," Kaiser added in a tone he typically used to conclude conversations. "Go and receive your orders from Commander Gustav."

As they settled inside the carriage, the Archduke took a seat next to Grace who remained silent, her eyes on the unchanging scenery.

"Move forward, Bernard," the Archduke instructed, and it was only then that Adela grasped who was driving the carriage. Her bewilderment had momentarily blinded her to the familiar faces around her.

"What is happening, Father?" Adela inquired, the motion of her chest was painful as she spoke.

"Adelaide, Larissa has informed us about the recent events involving you and Bastian von Conradie," Kaiser spoke in a measured tone. "It is utterly unacceptable, and I would like to hear all the details from you. In fact, while we are in this carriage, I want no more secrets to linger within the confines of my household."

His words barely registered through the ringing in her ears, but she wasn't entirely surprised as she had agreed with Larissa on this approach when she had confided in her earlier. However, the prospect of revealing all the secrets felt like a daunting task. There were just too many hidden things between them.

She was lost in thought when the sound of approaching horses reached her ears, and her widened eyes shifted to the window. Platoons of mounted soldiers surrounded their carriage, and her heart skipped a beat.

She regarded her father with caution, her eyes wary and questioning.

"These are the combined forces of Kolhis, Lanark, and our neighboring kingdoms to the East and West," he explained.

Adela hesitated, struggling to find the right words. The weight of the situation becoming too much to bear.

"You mean... this is..."

Is this war?

"This is the appropriate response to the grievous offense committed against an Emorian royal by the Kingdom of Varinthia. We shall lead these operations from our Emorian capital, Destan."

Destan? The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning.

"But..." She blinked, her mind racing to process everything. "What about the investigation you were supposed to conduct here first?"

"There was never a need for an investigation," Kaiser declared.

No need? Her confusion deepened.

"The investigation was a lifeline we extended to the von Conradies, but it seems we were too generous with those unworthy of such gestures."

Adela's gaze shifted toward her sister and mother, both appeared to be in complete agreement with her father's statement.

"The Princess of Kolhis and I witnessed it firsthand," her father continued, "And even if we hadn't, my daughters' word is absolute. You claim you were taken against your will, and that alone is reason enough for our kingdom and our allies to take action and hold those responsible for such a blasphemous act accountable."

Tears welled up in Adela's eyes, blurring her vision of her father's stern expression.

Her hand was suddenly gripped tightly. "Don't you cry, Adela," Larissa spoke with an unusual firmness. "Let those who dared to harm you or doubt you be the ones shedding tears."

Kaiser leaned forward, his hand reaching for the linked hands of his daughters, pressing them together more.

"The two of you are direct descendants of our first rebel Queen, she was our mighty falcon in life, and it is her spirit that guides our soaring falcons through the skies of Emoria and the forests of Lanark. We follow the path of righteousness, but we shall never allow anyone to look down upon us. We appreciate those who stand by our side, and we have no use for those who abandon us. Those who have wronged us shall pay for their deeds for as long as it is humanly possible. Shame and regret shall be theirs, while glory will always be ours."

His words acted as a soothing balm to Adela's wounds, clearing her thoughts and reminding her of her responsibilities.

"Father," she sniffled then she furrowed her brow. "Sasha was waiting for my response."

"She can handle her own affairs," Grace interjected with a flat tone. "Right now, you should focus on yourself."

Kaiser nodded and placed his other hand over his wife's hand.

"Now, regarding the transparency we seek," he began, his gaze shifting between his two pale daughters. "Your mother and I also have much to share about the past. However, we would like our daughters to start first. You don't have to provide a comprehensive account; just begin with what you feel most sensitive about, and we can go from there."

Adela hesitated for a moment, glancing at Larissa. She wondered if her sister would reveal the truth about Andreas's identity for everything seemed to revolve around that, and despite the pain of denying their father what he wanted to hear, Adela was determined to protect that secret with all her heart.

"You go first, Adela," Larissa said, her eyes filled with understanding, extending the same courtesy to her sister.

Adela nodded, fully aware that there was something she needed to share, something that held greater importance than anything else – the reason why her heart, missing a crucial piece, still kept beating.

"Yes, I would like to share something that has been on my mind recently, something that might change all of our lives, as well as the lives of our people."

As she placed a hand on her womb, the first gasp came from her mother who sat across from her, her eyes widening with shock and fear.

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