349: A full house in Lanark (part 1)

A full house in Lanark (part 1)

Sasha's body was covered in bruises, and despite her attempts to hide it, exhaustion was written all over her face. Meanwhile, Leopold who stood awkwardly in the corner of the infirmary didn't make things any less uncomfortable. 1

Adela figured it was time to make her exit.

She grasped Sasha's hand, causing the Duchess to rouse from her near-slumber and cast a regretful glance at Adela.

"Are you absolutely certain you don't want me to expedite your natural recovery process?" Adela inquired.

Sasha responded with a teasing smile, "Deplete your own energy when we have so many enjoyable activities planned for tomorrow once I'm back on my feet?"

Adela glanced at Sasha's leg that was wrapped in a cast. Her friend wouldn't be engaging in her usual activities for quite a while, at least not for another month or so.

"...In that case, I shall bid you farewell. Get plenty of rest."

"Do you have to go so soon?" Sasha grumbled.

"Arkin is likely located by now, and he should be en route to my estate. I'd prefer to meet him before my son does," Adela explained.

While her son did appear eager to reunite with his uncle, Arkin might have many questions regarding Noctavian. A sudden urgency to leave began to take hold of Adela after that thought.

As she rose from her seat, an unexpected announcement echoed through the infirmary's corridors.

"His Majesty, King Kaiser de Lanark has arrived!"

When a royal guard in golden armor opened the door to the room, everyone present except for the bedridden Sasha bowed in reverence before the King of Emoria.

"Adelaide," Kaiser greeted, extending his arms. Commander Gustav stood a step behind him.

Adela straightened her shoulders, her face lighting up with a broad smile as she swiftly walked to her father and embraced him. "What a delightful surprise," she exclaimed before turning her attention to the Commander. "Welcome to Lanark, Baron."

"Thank you, Your Excellency," Gustav replied in a dry tone, his bloodshot eyes telling the story of his knowledge about his son's return to the Archduchy.

...It can't be helped. 

"I arrived as soon as our artifacts in Destan detected the attack on the harbor, but I only managed to gather the intel on the way here." The King said. "Your mother and Larissa are here as well, both of them rushed to see Noctavian instead of coming here."

Kaiser's casual mention of her son's name around Leopold was reassuring, much like Rauul, the King was unperturbed by the questions that were bound to emerge.

Kaiser placed a gentle kiss on Adela's forehead before shifting his attention to Sasha who winced as she waved her hand at him.

The King's expression turned somber as he looked at Duke von Conradie. "Duke Leopold, I offer my sincere wishes for a swift recovery for both you and the Duchess."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Leopold replied earnestly.

"Sasha," Kaiser addressed her with a grave tone, "It pains me to see that you are the one targeted the most among us."

"Not this again. Just because they were able to actually hurt me this time doesn't mean that I won't get back at them. The more they come at me, the better my chances of slaying them and avenging both Adela and Alphonso."

As she spoke, Leopold walked to the other side of the bed and sat in a nearby chair, holding Sasha's hand tenderly and casting a worried glance at Adela.

I need to reassure them both...

"Due to the proximity of this estate to mine, both locations have been fortified with defensive mana stones... As long as we are not the first to breach the barrier, no warlock can penetrate it."

It was this protection that came at the cost of separating the falcons from their natural habitat at Adela's estate. She was on the verge of discussing this further when Viscount Mathew rushed into the room looking flustered as he passed between the two royal guards stationed by the door.

"Your Excellency, there's a rather peculiar man outside insisting on entering the infirmary," he slurred, his face growing red. "He claims to be Sir Egon von Conradie."

The mere mention of that name felt like a physical blow to Adela's gut. Instead of the usual flutter, Egon's name brought waves of pain, and she found herself frozen in place, unable to respond.

"Did you have any knowledge of their crossing the border?" her father inquired in a flat tone.

"No, I only just crossed it myself," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Viscount, inform this man that he will not be granted access while Her Excellency is present. He should leave now and return at a later time," Kaiser ordered.

Leopold, who hadn't seen or heard from Egon in the past three years, was now visibly anxious.

"Please, Kaiser, let's be reasonable," Sasha interjected sharply as Viscount Mathew left the room to deliver the message.

As Sasha and the Emorian King engaged in a tense standoff of glares, Adela once again confirmed what she had suspected three years ago.

Even in such close proximity, there was no bond between them. It was clear evidence that Egon von Conradie had moved on, completely severing any emotional connection to her. If her father hadn't been present, if his strength hadn't reached her in that crucial moment, much like what happened to her three years ago, she might have crumbled entirely.

"Duke Leopold," Kaiser addressed Egon's uncle, "I understand that your wife may not appreciate this, but surely you grasp my position. Your nephew has come to see you. This is not only your estate but also my daughter's Archduchy."

"I have no objections, Your Majesty. I will receive him later," Leopold replied with a heavy heart.

"I'm pleased we are in agreement," the King continued, casually dismissing the earlier topic as if it were of little consequence. "Now, do you happen to know the whereabouts of Sir Arkin?" Kaiser asked, his eyes brushing over everyone in the room.

Adela managed to breathe but it wasn't without difficulty.

"I have summoned him, Father. He should be on his way to my estate right now."

Recognition flashed across Kaiser's face, and Gustav tensed noticeably.

"We should make haste there," Adela added, keenly aware that nobody wanted Arkin to encounter all the royals at the Archduchess's estate while she and the Emorian King were absent.

That was when Viscount Mathew re-entered the room, his face a shade of purple, a vein on his forehead about to burst.

"Your Majesty, the man outside is demanding an audience with Her Excellency. He claims she must answer questions about a boy he met on the road to Lanark. Her Excellency's knights and I plead with you for permission to take him to the dungeons immediately!" Mathew stammered, shaking slightly as he spoke.

Adela's heart raced, had Egon already crossed paths with Noctavian? Or had he heard about him and deliberately sought him out? A pale Adela exchanged a look with her father who appeared unsurprised but clearly displeased by what was happening.

"Permission denied, Viscount" Adela stated with a cold tone. Escalation would benefit no one.

"I will go see him," Leopold declared gravely, looking embarrassed by his nephew's persistence.

"Wait, Duke Leopold," Kaiser interjected, raising his hand to stop the Duke. Then, he turned to the Viscount. "Her Excellency and I will go out to meet him."

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