Chapter 46
Back at Riverwatch Duchy, the banquet continued long after Aurora's departure.
Music drifted through the grand hall while nobles laughed, gossiped, and exchanged pleasantries over expensive wine.
Not everyone, however, was enjoying the evening.
Bella stood amongst a group of young noble ladies; a perfect smile fixed upon her face.
Inside, she was furious.
Lucian had left shortly after Aurora.
He had barely spared Bella a glance before disappearing.
Her fingernails dug into her palms.
For years, Aurora had chased after Lucian.
Now Aurora was walking away.
And somehow that made Lucian chase after her.
Bella hated it. No. She feared it. She had worked too hard to secure her place beside the Crown Prince.
She would not allow Aurora Ambrose to take it away.
Not now.
Not ever.
Meanwhile, in a quieter corner of the hall, Anton, Isaac, Charles, and Brian sat comfortably around a table.
Glasses of whiskey rested in their hands.
For the first time all evening, they could relax without being dragged into polite conversations by ambitious noblewomen.
Anton swirled his drink thoughtfully, "When exactly did Aurora change?"
Isaac nearly choked on his whiskey.
Charles immediately smirked.
Brian raised an eyebrow.
"Why?" Isaac asked suspiciously. "Are you interested in Lady Aurora?"
Anton looked horrified, "Don't be ridiculous."
The others laughed.
"I have no interest in Lady Aurora."
"That sounds exactly like something an interested man would say," Brian replied.
Charles nodded in agreement.
Anton rubbed his forehead, "You people are impossible."
"So, you admit it?" Isaac asked with a grin.
"I admit nothing."
"Then why are you asking about her?" Charles pressed.
Anton sighed dramatically, "Because unlike all of you, I actually pay attention to business."
The table fell silent.
Then Isaac burst out laughing, "That might be the most boring thing you've ever said."
"It happens to be the truth ", Anton pointed his glass toward Charles.
"I am still fully committed to marrying your sister, Lady Cecilia, and becoming your brother-in-law."
Charles groaned, "Please don't remind me."
Isaac laughed harder, "Poor Charles. First his sister. Then the rest of his family."
"At this point, I think Anton wants the entire Barrett Duchy."
"Not a bad investment," Anton replied casually.
The table erupted into laughter.
Once the amusement settled, Anton became serious again, "But I am curious."
"About Aurora?" Brian asked knowingly, "About business."
"No one believes you," Isaac said.
Anton ignored him.
"When Lady Aurora spoke to me earlier, she requested a meeting regarding trade exports."
The others exchanged glances.
"Trade exports?" Charles asked.
Anton nodded, "Specifically, Riverwatch's shipping."
That caught everyone's attention.
Riverwatch controlled the kingdom's busiest ports.
Any noble discussing trade was discussing serious money.
"Maybe she was speaking on behalf of the duke," Isaac suggested.
"No.", Anton shook his head, "That was the strange part."
"What do you mean?" Brian asked.
"She spoke as if she were the one making the decisions."
The men fell silent.
They all knew Duke Owen Ambrose was a capable ruler.
None of them had ever expected his fifteen-year-old daughter to involve herself in trade negotiations.
"Do you think she understands what she's doing?" Charles asked.
Anton took a sip of whiskey.
Before tonight, he would have immediately answered no.
Now...
"I honestly don't know."
That answer surprised even him.
Brian leaned back in his chair, "I met with her recently."
The others looked at him.
"And?"
Brian smiled slightly, " She asked remarkably insightful questions. It makes me wonder if she's been pretending to be na?ve all these years."
"What kind of questions?" Anton asked.
"Military "
Isaac nearly spat out his drink.
"Military?"
Brian nodded, "Without directly criticizing our methods, she managed to identify several weaknesses in our training. It was subtle, but remarkably perceptive"
Anton starred.
Isaac starred.
"Are we talking about the same Aurora?" Isaac finally asked.
Charles gave a short, incredulous laugh. "The same woman who once spent every banquet following Lucian like a shadow? I was with Brian at that meeting, and I scarcely recognized her."
"The very same," Brian replied.
Isaac shook his head, "This is unsettling."
"Why?" Charles asked, "Because the kingdom has spent years dismissing Aurora as a pretty face. The day they discover she's anything but, she'll become the woman every nobleman wants to marry—and every noblewoman fears competing against."
The table burst into laughter.
Anton nearly dropped his glass.
Brian covered his face.
Charles pointed at Isaac, "There it is."
"There what is?"
"The real reason you're worried."
Isaac placed a hand dramatically over his heart, "I am deeply wounded."
"You flirt with every woman you meet."
"Not every woman, only my Bianca.
Isaac grinned shamelessly.
"Can you blame me? My fiancée is beautiful."
Charles groaned again, "Please stop talking."
"No."
"When are you getting married anyway?" Brian asked.
Isaac immediately brightened, "February fifth."
"That's soon."
"It was Bianca's decision."
Anton smirked, "And naturally you obeyed."
"Of course."
The others stared at him.
Isaac shrugged, "A smart man knows when he's already lost an argument."
The entire table laughed.
As the laughter faded, Anton's gaze drifted toward the ballroom doors.
Toward the path Aurora had taken.
For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that tonight had marked the beginning of something important.
Not because of her beauty.
Not because of her broken engagement.
But because for the first time, Aurora Ambrose had spoken to him as an equal in business.
And that made him wonder just how much the young Duchess had been hiding from the kingdom.
Unbeknownst to all of them, while they sat comfortably discussing trade, marriage, and gossip...
Several miles away, swords were clashing in the darkness.
Blood stained the road.
And Lady Aurora Ambrose was fighting for her life
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