Chapter 127
Several days had passed since the rescue.
The medical centre had grown quieter.
Most of the injured miners were recovering well, and every day more of them returned home to their families.
Yet one room remained painfully silent.
Captain Turner still hadn't awakened.
Each morning before sunrise, Aurora visited him.
Each evening before returning home, she visited him again.
She always left hoping that when she returned...
His eyes would finally be open.
But every day...He remained asleep.
That morning, Aurora accompanied Duke Owen through the towns and villages of Emberforge.
They stopped wherever people gathered.
The Duke spoke with blacksmiths.
Aurora examined the medical clinics.
They listened to merchants.
Comforted grieving families.
Checked on recovering miners.
Most people smiled when they saw them.
Some even bowed with gratitude.
Others simply thanked them for standing beside the people instead of hiding behind palace walls.
By the time father and daughter climbed back into the carriage, both looked exhausted.
Owen leaned back with a weary sigh, "The duchy seems... stable."
Aurora looked out the carriage window, "For now."
She hesitated before asking quietly, "What are we going to tell the people?"
Owen turned toward her, "What do you mean?"
Aurora looked troubled, "The mines remain closed. Many families depend on them."
She lowered her eyes, "In a few weeks......many of them won't have work."
Silence settled between them.
Finally Owen nodded, "I know."
Aurora sighed softly, "I hate not having an answer."
Owen smiled sadly, "Welcome to leadership."
Aurora looked at him, "It isn't nearly as enjoyable as I imagined."
The Duke laughed quietly, "No one enjoys carrying the weight of thousands of lives."
He looked out across the fields, "There is nothing we can do except tell them the truth."
Aurora frowned, "Do you really think they'll stay loyal?"
Owen looked surprised.
She continued quietly.
"Human nature can be frightening. When people become desperate...They stop thinking about tomorrow. They think about feeding their children today."
She clasped her hands together.
"Stealing may increase. Violence may increase. Some may even leave the duchy."
The words were difficult to say aloud.
Because she feared they were true.
Owen listened carefully before answering, "We must give our people the chance to prove us wrong."
Aurora remained silent, "I've ruled this duchy for many years," Owen continued. "I've seen these people during harsh winters. Poor harvests. Floods. War. They've suffered before."
He smiled gently, "And every single time...They stood together."
Aurora slowly looked toward him, "You trust them."
"I do ", He reached over and gently squeezed her hand, "And I hope......one day you'll trust them too."
Aurora smiled faintly, "I'll try."
"That's all I ask."
The carriage rolled onward. Soon the damaged mine came into view.
The atmosphere around the mountain had changed. The rescue tents were gone.
In their place stood scaffolding, timber supports, and dozens of engineers carefully examining the damaged tunnels.
The sounds of hammers echoed through the valley.
Workers measured. Surveyed. Reinforced.
Everyone understood that one mistake could trigger another collapse.
As soon as the Duke arrived, the chief engineer hurried over and bowed respectfully.
"Your Grace."
"Lady Aurora."
Owen nodded, "How are things progressing?"
The engineer unfolded several drawings across a temporary worktable.
"We've completed our structural assessment."
Aurora studied the diagrams carefully.
"The damage is worse than expected," the engineer admitted, "Several primary tunnels must be completely rebuilt."
He pointed toward one section, "The underground supports here are beyond repair. We'll have to replace them entirely."
Owen folded his arms, "How long?"
The engineer hesitated.
Aurora noticed immediately, "Tell us honestly."
He drew a slow breath, "It will take approximately two months before miners can safely return underground."
Silence.
The words settled heavily between them.
"And exports?" Owen asked quietly.
The engineer looked apologetic, "Several weeks after that. We cannot resume full production until we inspect every tunnel."
Aurora lowered her gaze, "So...No iron. No gold. No exports."
The engineer nodded reluctantly, "I'm afraid so."
Another heavy silence followed.
Finally Owen thanked the engineer.
"You've done excellent work. The safety of our people comes first."
After the engineer left, Aurora remained staring at the damaged mountain.
She had always thought the mine was the heart of Emberforge.
Now...
That heart had stopped beating.
She felt her father's hand rest gently on her shoulder.
"We'll survive."Aurora looked at him.
"Will we?", Owen smiled with the quiet confidence that had carried his people through countless hardships.
"We've survived wars. We've survived betrayal. We've survived assassins."
He chuckled softly, "And somehow...We've survived your mother's cooking experiments."
Aurora blinked, "Mother can cook."
Owen looked at her in complete seriousness, "Yes. Whether anyone survives eating it is another matter."
Aurora burst into laughter.
The sound echoed across the quiet mountain.
Several nearby workers smiled despite themselves.
Owen grinned, "There."
"What?"
"I finally got you to laugh."
Aurora looked away, her smile lingering, "It only took threatening me with Mother's cooking."
Owen nodded proudly, "A father's wisdom."
Aurora rolled her eyes, "I think Mother would disagree."
"Oh, undoubtedly."
For a few precious moments...
The weight on their shoulders felt just a little lighter.
Then both of them looked back at the silent mountain.
The laughter faded.
There was still an entire duchy waiting for answers.
And somehow...
They had to find them.
Please vote.