350: A full house in Lanark (part 2)

A full house in Lanark (part 2)

Keep calm, just stay calm. Adela repeated to herself like a mantra. Initially, she had pretended to casually follow in her father's footsteps, but the mere prospect of coming face to face with the man who still held a piece of her heart was enough to break her all over again.2

Even without her once-shared bond with Egon, she found herself anxious.

As they approached the infirmary door, she felt like a little girl again, seeking refuge in the protective shadow of her mighty father. This feeling only lasted until the royal knights made way for them, and then, she saw him. 

I knew it...

Egon, resembling a bear with his long hair, beard, and tattered, dusty brown clothes that belonged to no known kingdom or empire, loomed over two platoons ready for combat.

"At ease," Gustav commanded from behind Adela, drawing Egon's attention to them.

Stay calm. She silently repeated in her mind. Yet, her body betrayed her as Egon's eyes met hers. His smirk vanished as he adjusted his stance to face her, and the pulsing vein in his neck seemed to obey his command, transforming his entire demeanor from beastly to domestic.

Adela composed herself, taking a deep breath and maintaining a proud posture.

Give me everything you have got. I am ready for it.

He wore a deep frown between his thick eyebrows as observing Adela seemed to become an urgent task for him. His predatory eyes traced her from the crown of her head to the edge of her boots and then back up, lingering on her pounding heart.

"Clear the place. Only the Baron and the Viscount stay," Kaiser ordered.

Although the knights may have wanted to fiercely object, they were bound by the absolute authority of their King. A few heartbeats later, only four people remained standing at an awkward distance.

"Welcome to Lanark. Come closer," Kaiser said in a formal tone.

Egon's dark gaze remained fixed on the King of Emoria as he approached and stopped at a respectful distance. "How have you been?"

Kaiser responded with a curt nod. "We have been managing our affairs adequately."

Egon's gaze shifted to Gustav's face and then to the man whose name he couldn't recall, standing a little too close to Adela with his hand on his sword's hilt.

"Yes, Sir Egon, you are here with questions, let us hear them. I will be the one to answer your inquiries. But, for your information, coming here after all of these years and making any kind of demands from the Archduchess of Lanark is inappropriate, if not bordering on impudence."

Egon looked away, seemingly swallowing the insult, before turning his attention back to Kaiser.

"I was near the borders with Latora when I came across a boy known by his knights as the Crown Prince, Noctavian," he explained. His big brown eyes briefly gleamed with emotion before dimming once more. "Seeing him has raised some doubts within me. I would like to inquire about his lineage."

Adela's heart skipped a beat, though her outward demeanor remained as composed as it had been since she left the infirmary.

"Inquiring about the lineage of the Emorian Crown Prince is indeed unprecedented," Kaiser replied smoothly. "And coming here to pose such questions to our Archduchess is utterly pointless. She should not be subjected to such inquiries."

Egon's hands clenched at his sides, and his eyes twitched as if they might dart toward Adela, but they remained locked on Kaiser.

"People say he is about to turn six this spring. In that case-"

"In that case?" Kaiser interrupted, his voice firm. "The life you abandoned has moved forward without you. You shall not simply pick up where you left off because you've chosen to return."

Egon's eyes took on a dangerous glint, resembling that of a feral animal.

"I will learn the identity of that boy's father," he declared in a deep, chilling voice before turning his gaze to Adela. "She is still my wife."

Kaiser's face briefly contorted, his composure momentarily slipping, and he appeared on the verge of taking drastic action against Egon. However, he quickly regained control and covered the moment with a cough.

"Our laws have evolved," The King responded calmly now. "According to our current legislation, if a married couple loses contact for seven full years, their marriage is considered annulled."

Egon continued to glare at Adela. "Does the pen that annulled an oath of marriage, sworn before God, belong to you?"

No. But she was too proud to dignify that question with an answer.

"Does the God you invoke turn a blind eye to what transpires after the marriage oath?" Kaiser questioned. "Or perhaps it is the benevolent tongue you speak with that belongs to another man!"

The King's chin lowered, his blue eyes simmering with resentment as he stared at Egon staring back at him.

"Was your wife supposed to silently endure her suffering while you were absent, only to welcome you back with a smile when you decided to return?"

"Suffering?" Egon exclaimed, seemingly unable to grasp the concept. "I lost my brother that day, and my marriage fell apart while I tirelessly pursued his shadow far and wide only to meet failure at every turn... If her suffering is a burden on my conscience, then I continue to bear that debt to this day."

"No one is indebted to the other; there are no such bonds that tie us together anymore," Kaiser asserted. His gaze swept over Egon's disheveled appearance and weathered countenance before he continued. "It appears that your return was not a deliberate one. I assume you are here to check on Duke and Duchess von Conradie. Once that is accomplished, you should promptly depart from whence you came. I will not grant you permission to remain in Lanark."

"You are correct; I do not intend to stay. Nor would I have sought an audience with your daughter if it were not for my encounter with Noctavian," Egon replied evenly. "Once more, I beseech you: who is the father of that boy?"

"Your insolence knows no bounds," Kaiser retorted, his anger rising. "That boy is of House de Lanark!" He shouted, jabbing a finger toward Egon with a menacing air. "Though you stand here alone, I am aware that Andreas von Conradie is not far away. I will not tolerate his presence in proximity to the Crown Princess of Kolhis while she is under my roof, nor will I tolerate your prolonged presence here. Both of you will refrain from contacting my daughters."

Without another word or a glance in Adela's direction, Egon turned on his heel and vanished into the trees surrounding the infirmary. Finally, she released her pent-up nerves and allowed her body to shiver as it wished.

Kaiser turned to his trusted Commander. His eyes still burning with anger.

"Gustav, I want you to keep a close eye on Egon von Conradie and the rest of the von Conradie family. I want to know their every move, their every plan. Report everything to both Adelaide and me."

Gustav nodded, "Consider it done, Your Majesty. We'll make sure they don't disrupt the peace of Lanark."

Peace?

One thing Adela was certain of: Egon von Conradie would not be leaving her alone anytime soon.

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