Chapter 49
News of the incident at the banquet spread through the kingdom like wildfire.
The dance between Crown Prince Lucian and Lady Aurora.
The confrontation with Bella.
The attack on Aurora's carriage.
And finally, the miraculous awakening of Duke Owen Ambrose.
Every noble house had heard some version of the story by morning.
Unfortunately, most of those versions were wildly inaccurate.
Rumours spread that Lady Bella Palsen had become jealous after witnessing the dance and had arranged Aurora's attack.
Others claimed that Aurora and Lucian had reconciled, causing Bella to lose her temper.
Some even whispered that the attack had been a crime of passion rather than an assassination attempt.
The gossip grew more outrageous with every retelling.
The Palace was forced to intervene.
An official announcement was quickly released stating that the attack had been the work of bandits.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
At the same time, another announcement spread throughout the kingdom.
The engagement between Crown Prince Lucian and Lady Aurora had not officially been dissolved.
And Lady Aurora Ambrose was currently recovering under the care of the Royal Physician.
The announcement only created more speculation.
Nobles immediately began choosing sides.
Some believed the engagement would survive.
Others believed it was already over.
Meanwhile, House Ambrose was in complete turmoil.
The moment news of Aurora's attack reached the Duchy, Duke Owen and Duchess Eleanor insisted on traveling to the capital despite their own injuries.
They arrived at first light.
The sight of their daughter lying unconscious in the palace nearly shattered them.
Eleanor broke down in tears.
Owen's face turned deathly pale.
For a terrifying moment, both were reminded of how close they had come to losing her.
Again.
The duke immediately demanded Aurora be returned home.
The Duchess agreed without hesitation.
Neither of them wanted their daughter out of their sight.
However, Queen Catherine personally intervened.
The Queen gently explained that moving Aurora too soon could worsen her injuries.
Reluctantly...Very reluctantly...
The Duke and Duchess agreed to allow Aurora to remain at the palace for another day or two.
But only under constant supervision.
The Queen breathed a sigh of relief.
The duke looked ready to declare war on anyone who disagreed with him.
The moment they returned to Emberforge, Duke Owen summoned an emergency meeting.
Despite still recovering from his wounds, he sat at the head of the study table.
His expression was terrifying.
Gone was the warm father.
Gone was the patient ruler.
What remained was the Lord of Emberforge.
The man who had led soldiers into battle.
The man whose enemies feared his name.
Young Duke Brian Vale of the Vale of Shadows arrived shortly afterward.
Together with the Ambrose knights, an investigation was launched immediately.
No expense would be spared. No lead would be ignored. Someone had dared to target Aurora Ambrose. Someone had nearly succeeded.
And Duke Owen wanted blood.
His fist, slammed onto the desk. The sound echoed through the room.
Several knights flinched.
"No one touches my daughter and lives to boast about it."
His voice was low...Dangerously low, "If I discover who ordered this attack..."
His eyes darkened, "I will personally ensure they regret the day they were born."
The room fell silent.
Every knight present understood. The duke was furious.
Not as a ruler, Not as a noble.....As a father.
And that made him far more dangerous.
At the palace, Lucian was equally restless.
He had requested permission from the King to join the investigation alongside Duke Owen's men.
Sitting around and waiting was driving him mad.
It had already been two days since the attack.
Two days.
Two days of watching Aurora sleep.
Two days of unanswered questions.
Two days of hearing her whisper another man's name.
Lucian stood by the window of his chambers, his jaw clenched.
Outside, the palace grounds were peaceful.
Inside, his thoughts were anything but.
The physician had assured everyone that Aurora would recover.
Her wounds were healing.
The fever was fading.
The exhaustion from weeks of stress had simply caught up to her.
She needed rest.
Yet Lucian found no comfort in those words.
Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered the attack.
The blood.
The fear.
The sight of her collapsing.
Then another memory would follow.
Aurora in Turner's arms.
Crying.
Seeking comfort from another man.
His stomach twisted.
Why?
Why did that image bother him so much?
He loved Bella.
Didn't he?
That was what he had always believed.
Then why did the thought of Aurora loving someone else make him so angry?
Why did the name Dante feel like a blade being twisted into his chest?
He hated not knowing.
Hated it....The uncertainty was driving him insane.
With a frustrated growl, he pushed himself away from the window.
Before leaving, he found himself walking toward Aurora's room once again.
His feet seemed to move there on their own.
The guards stepped aside.
Lucian quietly entered.
Aurora remained asleep.
Her brown hair spread across the pillow.
Her breathing was calm.
Peaceful.
For a moment, his anger faded.
Slowly, he sat beside her bed. Without thinking, he reached for her hand.
Her fingers felt warm against his.
He gently squeezed them, "Aurora..."
His voice was barely a whisper.
For a brief, moment, her brows furrowed.
Then her lips moved.
"Dante..."
Lucian froze.
The name struck him like a physical blow.
Again.
Always that name.
"Dante..."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
As though she were dreaming of someone she loved.
Lucian's grip tightened involuntarily.
A dangerous emotion surged inside him.
Jealousy.
Raw.
Hot.
Unreasonable.
Who was Dante?
What was he to her?
Why did she smile when she said his name?
The questions haunted him.
And for the first time, Lucian felt something dangerously close to fear.
Fear that Aurora's heart belonged to someone he could never compete with. Fear that he had realized her worth far too late.
His jaw tightened. Without another word, he stood.
If he stayed any longer, he feared his emotions would get the better of him.
The investigation awaited.
Someone had tried to kill Aurora.
And Lucian intended to find them.
No matter who stood behind it.
No matter how powerful they were.
Because the next time someone came for Aurora Ambrose...
They would have to go through him first.
Please vote