199: The trials of unprotected Healers (part 1)

The trials of unprotected Healers (part 1)

"Majordomo," she greeted Bernard as he opened the door for her, desperately attempting to flee from the enclosed space with Aldric, as if the entire manor had become a confining prison with him inside.1

"My Lady?" Bernard responded, bowing and wearing a concerned expression, his gaze darting to the two knights closely following her.

She had little time to relish the fresh air outside, only faintly sensing the relief of being able to take deeper breaths as she descended the first stair. Her focus shifted to a carriage parked a short distance away from the Archduke's carriages, conveniently lacking the House de Lanark emblem. Standing beside it was an unfamiliar coachman, his face obscured by a shadowy hat.

This must be my means of escape!

Hurrying down the stairs, she barely registered Arkin's voice informing her that they needed a moment to fetch their horses from the stables. She didn't even bother to look back and acknowledge him; proper ladylike behavior was the least of her concerns. Right now, her priority was to distance herself from Aldric and find a way to remove the metallic anklet that had transformed into a bracelet on her wrist.

The new coachman, his head bowed, opened the carriage door with his right hand and extended his left hand for her to take as she entered. Grasping his hand with one hand and her dress with the other, she stepped into the carriage with a frown on her face, for even in her haste, she noticed the slight trembling in the hand that supported her weight.

Is there something wrong with him?

She shuddered as he closed the door behind her, her mind filled with memories of Leopold's condition that had awakened her the previous night. Her eyes traced the coachman's movements through the window as he walked away with his back turned then settled into his seat at the front. Despite her efforts, she couldn't perceive any indications of anything awry with him.

Her eyes flickered to the metallic object on her hand. Could it be that Aldric's dark energy was manipulating her ability to sense pain? In an instant, she felt as if the anklet-turned-bracelet was a shackle on her wrist, enabling him to control her like one of those dolls inside a box, their movements dictated by the strings that are connected to invisible fingers.

Her expression turned into a scowl as the carriage started moving.

Surveying the unfamiliar carriage, she came to the realization that there was no cloak available for her to drape over her dress and cover her hair, a detail the Baroness would have never neglected.

Where could the Baroness be, anyway?

"You there..." she started, briefly pausing as annoyance crept into her voice when the new coachman failed to halt or respond. However, she reasoned that the lack of responsiveness from new staff members was often a result of improper guidance from their superiors. She knew better than to blame him, but at this moment, she had no patience for ignorance.

"...New coachman," she called out again, emphasizing her words.

"Yes?" The man responded without turning around or using a title, a clear breach of etiquette for a staff member.

She silently counted to ten.

"...Where is Baroness Frieda? She was supposed to accompany me,"

"She will follow in a separate wagon."

Now that she heard him speak a complete sentence, in addition to his evident lack of respect, she also noticed a peculiar accent in his voice.

A sense of foreboding came over her, an internal voice whispering that something was amiss with this situation. However, she dismissed her fear as irrational. After all, this was the Archduke's estate, with knights stationed throughout the premises. Not to mention, Arkin and Bastian were nearby, keeping a watchful eye on her.

It's all Aldric's fault...

She placed a hand on her chest, attempting to calm herself. It couldn't be possible. Unlike the metallic ship, no man would dare to harm her here. Furthermore, the carriage would stop at her command. In fact, she didn't have to endure any of this.

"Stop the carriage," she ordered.

When the man disregarded her direct command, another surge of fear coursed through her.

"I said stop!" she snapped, forcefully stomping her foot.

Still receiving no response, a sudden, crucial recollection struck her. The Baroness had explicitly instructed her to proceed to the manor's back door once her duties were completed in the celebration hall, and the carriage she had boarded was parked out front. Her neck and hand tingled. This was, most likely, a malicious act against her, taking place right under her father's nose.

It was unforgivable.

"You there! In the name of Kaiser de Lanark, I demand that you halt this carriage immediately!" she shouted in a commanding tone.

"Hiah!" The man suddenly let out a yell, striking the horses with a whip. The sound of loud neighs filled the air as the horses broke into a full gallop. At the same time, the coachman flung his hat aside and turned back to look at her, his eyes filled with wildness.

"Saintess, it is me! Don't you remember me!" he shouted back, desperately trying to make himself recognized.

Adela, gripping the seat tightly with all ten fingers, was terrorized by the name he called her. A renewed wave of terror flooded her chest and arms as she suddenly recalled his identity. It was none other than the captured mercenary she had rescued from certain death back in the Archduke's dungeon.

"Stop that carriage! Lady Adelaide is inside!" Arkin's distinguished voice rang out from behind her.

"Arkin!" She screamed at the top of her lungs using every ounce of her strength.

"Hiyah! Hiyah!" The man persistently snapped the reins and struck the horses, urging them on before turning his gaze back to her. "You saved my life back in that dungeon where they slaughtered us! I am forever indebted to you, my saintess! I will not let them harm you!"

"Arkin!" She cried out once again desperately as she glanced back to where Arkin and Bastian were mounted on their horses galloping after her. Shock was etched across their faces, their eyes darting between her carriage and the impending danger closing in on it. It didn't take long for her to understand the source of their horror as she looked ahead once more and saw the closed iron gate rapidly drawing near.

"Halt right there! They'll kill you before opening that gate! The guards will never let you through! Please!" Adela pleaded with the man who was clearly unhinged. She had saved him from death in the dungeon only to witness his slaughter right before her eyes?

Their fates were cruel.

"Open the gate, damn it!" Bastian's voice thundered, surpassing even the galloping hooves and the ringing in Adela's ears.

"Open the gate immediately!" Arkin shouted with a voice full of authority.

pqdm.com