Chapter 89
Morning sunlight bathed the Grand Emberforge Duchy in a warm golden glow.
The manor was already alive with activity.
Servants hurried through the corridors carrying breakfast trays, maids dusted polished furniture, and somewhere downstairs, Philip was loudly arguing with one of the cooks.
"I specifically said less salt!"
"But Master Philip, you haven't even tasted it!"
"I don't need to. I can feel the salt from here."
Aurora laughed as she descended the staircase.
"Good morning, Philip."
Philip turned immediately, relief washing over his face.
"My Lady! Please settle this."
Aurora looked between the two men, "The soup?"
"Exactly."
Aurora accepted the spoon offered by the cook and tasted it thoughtfully.
Silence.
Philip watched nervously.
The cook looked ready to defend his life's work.
Aurora smiled.
"...It needs a little less salt."
Philip threw both hands into the air triumphantly, "I knew it!"
The poor cook sighed dramatically, "You two are impossible."
Everyone nearby laughed.
For a brief moment, the manor felt peaceful.
Exactly as Aurora had always dreamed.
Breakfast was unusually lively.
Owen helped himself to another helping of eggs.
Eleanor watched him with narrowed eyes, "Owen."
He froze, "...Yes, my dear?"
"How many servings is that?"
He looked down at his plate, "...One?"
She raised an eyebrow, "Owen."
"...Two?"
Philip coughed loudly, "It is four, Your Grace."
"Traitor."
Philip smiled politely, "I prefer the title 'truthful servant.'"
Aurora laughed so hard she nearly spilled her tea, "I've missed this."
Eleanor smiled warmly, "And we've missed hearing you laugh."
The duke looked toward Aurora.
"How many patients today?"
Aurora unfolded a notebook, "Nearly sixty."
Owen nearly choked, "Sixty?"
"The medical centre has become very popular."
"You've created a monster."
Aurora grinned, "I prefer miracle worker."
Her father shook his head, "My little girl disappeared to the East. And a terrifying administrator came back."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You shouldn't."
Everyone laughed again.
********************'
A short while later...
Aurora climbed into the carriage with Emily.
Turner mounted his horse beside them while several knights followed behind.
The roads through the duchy had changed dramatically over the past two years.
Children wearing neat uniforms walked happily toward the school.
Blacksmiths waved as Aurora passed.
Women carried baskets woven in Hazelwood.
Farmers loaded new iron tools onto wagons.
Emily smiled proudly. "My Lady..."
"Hm?"
"Look."
Aurora followed her gaze.
Several little children were practicing writing in the dirt with sticks while waiting for school to open.
One little boy suddenly noticed the carriage, "It's Lady Aurora!"
Instantly every child began waving excitedly.
"My Lady!"
"My Lady!"
Aurora laughed and waved back.
"Study hard!"
"We will!"
One tiny girl cupped her hands around her mouth, "I can write my own name now!"
Aurora's eyes softened, "I'm proud of you."
The little girl beamed as though she'd just been crowned queen.
Turner watched quietly from horseback.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Emily noticed, "You smiled."
Turner immediately looked forward again, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Emily grinned mischievously, "I saw it."
"No."
"You did."
"No."
Aurora hid her laughter behind her hand, "You two behave."
Emily looked completely innocent, "I always do."
Neither Aurora nor Turner believed her.
When they arrived at the medical centre, dozens of people were already waiting.
An elderly man removed his hat respectfully, "My Lady."
Aurora smiled warmly, "You were here last week."
"My wife insisted I return."
His wife folded her arms, "He forgets to take his medicine."
Aurora looked at the old man, "...Do you?"
The old man suddenly found the floor fascinating, "...Sometimes."
His wife answered for him, "Every day."
Everyone nearby laughed.
Aurora gently shook her head, "You've survived sixty years. It would be unfortunate if your greatest enemy turned out to be stubbornness."
The old man sighed dramatically, "I liked you better before you became a doctor."
Aurora laughed, "I doubt that."
Hours passed.
She treated burns.
Broken fingers.
Persistent coughs.
An expectant mother.
A frightened child.
She barely had time to drink water.
Emily quietly placed a cup beside her, "You've skipped lunch."
Aurora didn't even look up from the patient, "I'll eat later."
Emily sighed, "You sound exactly like your father."
"I do not."
"You absolutely do."
Turner, standing nearby, added without looking up,
"You both become equally impossible when working."
Aurora looked offended. "I am not impossible."
Turner raised an eyebrow.
Emily burst into laughter. "My Lady...You once stitched your own arm because you didn't want to disturb anyone."
Aurora blinked. "...That was one time."
"It was three."
"...Details."
Even several patients laughed. The atmosphere became lighter.
Hopeful.
Peaceful.
Then...
A scream echoed from outside. "My Lady!"
Another voice followed. "My Lady!"
Everyone turned.
A miner stumbled into the medical tent.
His face was covered in soot.
Blood streamed down his forehead.
His chest heaved violently.
He could barely breathe.
Aurora rushed forward and caught him before he collapsed, "What happened?"
The man's lips trembled, "The..."
He swallowed painfully, "The north shaft..."
His voice broke, "It..."
Tears filled his eyes, "The mine......has collapsed."
Silence.
The cup slipped from Emily's hands and shattered across the floor.
Turner's expression changed instantly.
Aurora's heartbeat stopped.
Outside...
The mountain rumbled.
A deep, thunderous roar echoed through the valley.
The ground beneath their feet trembled violently.
Dust rose into the sky.
And in that single horrifying moment...
Everyone realized.
Hundreds of miners were still underground.
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