247: The seed of doubt

The seed of doubt

The passage of days turned into nights, and nights melted into days once more. At last, the day of the farewell celebration had arrived.2

"Please, nanny," Adela batted her eyelashes at the Baroness a couple of times, trying to sound as miserable as possible—an easy feat since her heart was already heavy. "I haven't seen him for the past three days. Just summon him for me already!"

The Baroness looked as if she had bitten into a sour lemon, reluctant to give an immediate answer, her eyes lingering on the tightly clasped fingers of the Lady's hands, which were grasped together as if she were offering a prayer.

"My Lady, cease putting me in such a difficult predicament. Even your betrothed is honoring our Emorian traditions. You shall lay eyes upon each other on your wedding day."

Adela felt a surge of frustration, questioning why this particular tradition was the one they had to adhere to so strictly. Why was it so important to uphold this one aspect while everything else seemed to be done differently?

"He has been coming twice a day, and I can see him from the window. Please, if he comes by again before I am escorted down to the hall, just let him in, won't you?" Her eyes bore into the Baroness, hoping to find a glimmer of sympathy.

The Baroness lost the sour edge in her expression as she let her eyes wander over the lady's flowing hair, her excessive makeup, and her red gown that contrasted beautifully with her fair skin. 

"You have matured a lot during the last couple of seasons, My Lady, and now... two days from now," the Baroness paused, pressing her handkerchief to her nose. She took a moment to reign in her emotions before continuing. "Forgive me!" She burst out, "If you will excuse me!"

An emotional Frieda fled the scene and closed the door behind her, leaving Adela gaping in surprise. All that she could do now was wait for her sister or her mother to come and accompany her down to the celebration hall, where an all-women farewell ceremony was taking place.

She did not have to wait long, for all too soon, firm knocks came through the door.

"Come in." 

Adela's heart raced when her chamber door opened, and her breath caught in her throat as she saw the unwelcome figure standing before her. It was King Aldric of Varinthia, the very person she considered her adversary, looking down on her with a grieving expression on his face.

"May I come in?" Aldric's voice was gentle, but his midnight blue eyes held a sharpness that made her hesitate for a moment.

Looking at his all-white hair now, she remembered all that had happened in that captain's room inside the ship that she had long since sunk.

"No, you may not," Adela replied, gesturing for him to leave.

He stepped inside anyway, but he was followed by the two knights who were guarding her room, their eyes on her face, waiting for orders.

She truly did not want to cause a scene tonight of all nights.

"Wait by the door. Leave it open."

"Yes, My Lady."

With the two knights standing by, facing Adela right from the outside, she lifted her gaze and concentrated on Aldric's piercing eyes that seemed to search her soul.

She raised her chin defiantly, "Make it fast."

"Tell me... Do you know the true meaning behind this Kolihsan farewell ceremony?" 

Adela narrowed her eyes, immensely annoyed at his presence. "Is this why you are here? You are truly full of yourself."

As if dealt a blow to his gut, Aldric took in a sharp breath, his eyes filled with sadness as they roamed all over her figure. "Up until the last minute, I will fight for the promise I made to my murdered mother...Though my ways may not align with what you see fit, I still believe it is my duty to protect you, for the man you have chosen is no King."

Adela furrowed her brows as he took a step closer, his expression earnest.

"In his culture, this farewell is nothing more than the bride being offered or worse…sacrificed to the groom, as if you are becoming a possession of his. A mere object of his desires and wishes."

Her heart clenched at those words, which were so close yet so far from the ones she had heard Egon say two weeks ago. A blend of anger and disbelief welled up inside her.

"Egon would never see me that way." Her voice was defiant. "He respects my freedom as much as his own. You cannot compare him to your own twisted notions."

Aldric let out a small, sarcastic scoff.

"Lady Adelaide... Two days before marrying that…" He swallowed whatever he was about to say, but the fact that he did so was somehow even more aggravating. "It's essential to question his desires and expectations. What are you?" His eyes suddenly flamed with suppressed anger, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "A falcon that soars in the skies of Lanark? Or some sacrificial lamb that willingly bends its neck because of some witchcraft that a crazed old hag threw upon you many generations ago?"

Adela's anger flared at Aldric's words; how dare he speak of Egon with such disdain? How dare he question her worth and her choices?

"I am not a falcon or a sacrificial lamb," she retorted, her voice low and shaking from deep within. "I am a woman with my own mind, my own heart, and my own choices. Egon respects and supports me, just as I do him... Our love is not based on some ancient curse or witchcraft, but you can go ahead and believe that. Your lectures mean nothing to me."

Aldric held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm not here to lecture you. I only want you to open your eyes. That creature can manipulate minds; he is shameless enough to have manipulated your father's mind right before my eyes!"

Liar!

As much as she wanted to dismiss his words, a seed of doubt had been planted in Adela's heart. She knew Egon was capable of mind control, but she also trusted that he would never betray her trust and manipulate the Archduke of Lanark. It was simply appalling to entertain that possibility even for the slightest second.

She forcefully shut her eyes, hating that her hero was being portrayed as some devil who could penetrate Kaiser de Lanark's defenses and put ideas in his head and words on his tongue.

Repulsive!

Her breaths came quick and sharp as she tried to regain her composure. "If you have nothing else to say, I kindly ask you to leave my chambers."

Aldric averted his gaze. "Take all the time you need. Just remember that I'm here if you ever need someone to talk to."

With that, he went outside the opened door, leaving Adela to face off with her emotions.

Why?

After all that had been said and done between Aldric and her, why was it so easy to find what should have been his blunt lies so plausible?

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