Chapter 19
Aurora immediately entered her mother's room. The Duchess lay pale and unconscious on the bed, her breathing shallow but steady.
Without wasting a second, Aurora went straight to the washroom and thoroughly cleaned her hands. The sight of blood made her chest tighten. Not again. Not after finally getting her mother back. Taking a steadying breath, she pushed the fear aside and focused on the task at hand.
"Mother, you're going to be fine," Aurora whispered softly, more to reassure herself than the Duchess.
Carefully, she cut away the blood-soaked fabric around the wound. The slash from the sword was deep enough to be concerning, but thankfully it had missed any vital organs.
Emily and Julianne stood silently nearby.
Neither woman understood what they were witnessing.
Aurora's hands never trembled. Her movements were precise and practiced.
She cleaned the wound, stitched it closed, and applied a fresh bandage with a confidence that seemed impossible for a fifteen-year-old noble lady.
The room remained eerily silent except for the occasional hiss of pain from the Duchess. Once she was finished, Aurora gave her mother medicine to help her sleep. Fresh sheets were placed on the bed, and the Duchess was settled comfortably.
"Julianne," Aurora said quietly.
"Yes, My Lady."
"Stay with her. Monitor her breathing and wake me immediately if she develops a fever or begins bleeding again."
Julianne nodded, "Of course, My Lady."
Aurora stood beside the bed for several moments after everyone else had stepped back. She stared at her mother. Three days. She had only been back in this life for three days. And already someone had nearly tried taken her mother away. A knot formed in her stomach. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Had her actions changed the future?
Or had she simply uncovered something that had always been hidden beneath the surface? Who was behind the theft? Who had ordered the murders?
And why had they suddenly become desperate enough to silence everyone involved?
For the first time since returning, Aurora felt genuinely unsettled.
Earlier that day, Aurora had been in her room showing Emily the alterations she had made to one of her gowns.
Emily had been horrified, "My Lady, that poor dress."
"It survived."
"Barely."
Aurora had laughed. Moments later, shouting erupted from outside. Both women rushed downstairs. They arrived just in time to see several knights chasing a hooded figure across the estate grounds. Without thinking, Aurora ran toward the stables.
"My Lady!" Emily shouted after her.
Aurora ignored her. Within minutes she was mounted and racing after the knights.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans. On the road ahead, they encountered the Duchess's carriage returning to the estate. Everything happened too quickly.
The hooded figure leapt onto the carriage. The horses panicked.
A scream pierced the air. Aurora's blood ran cold.
By the time the knights reached the carriage, the attacker had already struck.
The figure jumped out from the opposite side and disappeared into the forest. Aurora never even considered pursuing him. Her mother was all that mattered.
She immediately took control, "Sir Turner, take several knights and fetch the medical bag from my room."
Thankfully, she had already prepared one. Old habits die hard, as a doctor in her previous life, she always had an emergency bag ready to go.
After stabilizing the Duchess, Aurora determined that she could safely travel. The carriage was sent back to the estate under heavy guard. Aurora made a brief stop at the physician's clinic to collect additional medical supplies and preserve any evidence that might help identify the attacker.
But now there was another problem.
She still needed to inspect the murder scene.
Three days in this life and already everything was falling apart.
When Aurora entered the drawing room, she stopped abruptly.
Five pairs of eyes stared back at her.
Lucian. Brian. Charles. Isaac. Anton
For a moment, genuine surprise crossed her face, "I wasn't expecting all of you to be here."
Sir Turner shifted awkwardly, "My apologies, My Lady. They simply walked in."
Aurora resisted the urge to sigh. Of course they did. Just then Philip entered with a maid carrying a tea tray.
His expression immediately softened when he saw her.
"How is the Duchess?", The concern in his voice was genuine.
Aurora felt a small sense of relief. At least someone was asking about the Duchess.
"I had to give her several stitches, but thankfully no vital organs were damaged. She's resting now."
Philip visibly relaxed, "Thank goodness."
He turned toward the maid, "Ensure the kitchen prepares chicken soup immediately."
"Yes, Sir Philip."
Aurora almost smiled, "Thank you, Philip."
He nodded., then he handed her a cup of tea, "Tea, My Lady. You look exhausted."
Aurora accepted it, "A shot of whiskey would have been better."
She muttered the words under her breath. Unfortunately, everyone heard her.
Isaac nearly choked.
Charles looked horrified.
Brian struggled not to laugh.
Lucian simply stared.
Lucian simply stared.
Philip rubbed his forehead, "I don't believe that is an appropriate remedy for a young lady."
For the first time that day, a faint smile touched Aurora's lips. Then it vanished.
The room quickly became serious again.
"Please sit," Aurora said.
Everyone took their seats.
Lucian leaned forward, "Do you mind explaining what exactly is happening?"
Aurora took a slow breath, then she began, "A few days ago, I reviewed the Duchy's financial ledgers and discovered several discrepancies. I launched an investigation."
The men exchanged glances.
Aurora continued, "We uncovered evidence that the former head cook and head maid had been stealing from the Duchy for years."
The room grew quiet.
"Today, someone murdered them."
The words landed heavily.
Aurora's grip tightened around her teacup, "They also murdered two accomplices."
No one spoke.
"The attacker fled when discovered. During the pursuit, he encountered my mother's carriage and attempted to murder her as well.", Her voice faltered slightly.
For the first time, the fear she had been suppressing surfaced.
If they had arrived a minute later...
If the wound had been deeper...
If she hadn't been there...
Aurora forced the thoughts away.
Brian was the first to speak, "Why wasn't the King informed?"
Aurora's expression immediately cooled, "I followed the proper procedures and informed the Sheriff."
A bitter smile appeared, "He dismissed the matter."
Silence filled the room.
Then Lucian spoke sharply, "You are the future Queen. The King-or at the very least I-should have been informed immediately."
Aurora slowly looked at him. The warmth vanished from her eyes, "With all due respect, Your Royal Highness Crown Prince Lucian..."
The room seemed to grow colder.
"If I am truly the future Queen, then why was my report ignored?"
No one had an answer.
Aurora laughed softly, there was no humour in it.
"I know exactly what people think of me", Her voice was calm. Too calm.
"If I had gone directly to the King, everyone would have said the same thing"
She looked from one face to the next, "Poor Lady Aurora."
Her smile was hollow, "Unable to survive a single day without being the centre of attention."
Silence descended over the room once more. This time, it felt suffocating. Because every person present knew she was right.
And for the first time, they were forced to wonder whether they had ever truly known Aurora at all.
Was Aurora acting all those times in front of society, which is the true Aurora.
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