Chapter 31
The carriage bounced along on the winding road as we approached the manor.
I felt a strong sense of hope rise in my gut.
This is it, it's now or never.
I gazed out the window at the striking walls of the countryside manor.
I just had to hope that Edith, Julian, and Gareth would do their part. ..
"So this is your... personal knight?" My father questioned, looking Rowan's tall figure up and down. There was blood staining his armour from the men he had slain earlier. However, that didn't seem to bother my Father at all.
I nodded. "Father, I have not formally introduced you. This is Rowan. Rowan, my father, Duke Leeland,"
"The man needs no introduction," Rowan bowed, grinning. "I am happy to be of service to your grace."
"No last name?" My father remarked. "A mercenary, perhaps?"
Rowan nodded, unashamed. "Yes, that's right. Though I have no affiliation with a guild, of course. I've been traveling the country for the last two years before I settled in these wonderful lands."
I eyed Rowan. Where the hell did all this elegance come from all of the sudden? First the tent, and now this! I might actually start believing you're a real knight, I shook my head. That was besides the point.
My father, unexpectedly, leaned forward and patted him on the shoulder with a grin. "Well, your skills precede you, Rowan! I would've never thought. You are incredibly talented. And, was that aura from your blade?"
Rowan nodded. "Indeed, I learned from my master in Ceredulia."
"Ceredulia!" Father exclaimed, his voice nostalgic. "Why, they have the finest whisky. Rosaria, you know I met your mother there, right?"
I raised my brow. "Mother was from Ceredulia?"
He nodded. "The most beautiful woman I had ever met..."
Clara's words flashed to my mind. "Father, I have something to tell you, about..." Before I could speak and break the news about the truth behind his wife's death, we were interrupted by the carriage halting.
Finally, we'd made it to the gates. It's game time, I realized, looking at Rowan, who nodded.
Four brave servants had donned the armor of the fallen guards, in hopes to trick the manor guards for a brief moment.
The rest of the servants were working to cover up the absence of those missing, so the traitors would have no idea something was amiss, or that Rowan and I would be inside this carriage.
Once again, my hands tightened around the pulsing dagger.
A servant with a blue ribbon on his arm opened the carriage door with a smile.
"Ah, Duke Leeland! Welcome back," he assisted the Duke from his carriage, then winked at Rowan and I.
We exchanged glances. Julian's work, I assumed.
For this plan, I had put all my trust in him doing the heavy lifting.
For the most part, this was out of my control.
It's up to you, I thought.
The carriage driver brought the carriage containing Rowan and I to the stables. An announcement rang out through the manor grounds, calling every staff member present to meet in the grand ballroom. Perfect... I thought, casting a glance at Rowan. He nodded.
Carefully to avoid being seen, we exited the carriage, as the servants made their way to the manor. When they had all left, we snuck our way to the backside of the manor, where the servant's door was. I glanced at Rowan.
"This is it..." I said slowly.
He nodded. "The plan will work," he assured me. "Have trust in your comrades."
"I do, it's just..." My hands trembled. I'm scared, I realized. Had I really come this far just to chicken out all of the sudden?
Rowan placed a steady hand on my shoulder. "Rosaria, everything's going to be ok, alright?" He assured me. "Now, you're going to go in there, and expose those dirty bastards for all their traitorous deeds, alright?"
I nodded, steeling my resolve. "Be safe," I told him. He would survey the perimeter, and ensure everyone was inside the manor.
He shrugged, then grinned. "I should be the one telling you that, my lady," With that, after a performative bow, he disappeared, like a shadow in the night. I really don't know all that much about him... I realized.
I gulped, entering through the servants' doors. It was time.
Instantly, I fell into the arms of Edith. "Rosaria, you're here! I was so worried about you!" She cried, and hugged me with an intense force I thought she'd never let go. Eventually, I managed to pry her off me, drying her tears.
"Edith, calm down, it's alright, I'm here now," I smiled.
"My lady, you have no idea how scared I was without you," her blue eyes looked up at me brightly.
Grabbing me by the hand, we weaved through the hallways and passages, which were eerily empty, all the servants having gathered in the main hall.
She brought me to the balcony, overlooking all of the servants.
It was my job to boost morale, and bring some of the servants whose loyalty was unknown to our side. We needed them, or we might lose this battle.
Below, my father was making quite a scene. Just like we'd planned. "What do you mean? My darling daughter ran away with some lover?" He was positively perplexed, flailing around the room in disbelief. "Oh my poor heart, it can't take it!"
One of the servants, with a blue ribbon, stood by to steady him. "I'm very disappointed! This is outrageous! How could you all fail me like this? I demand answers!"
Clara stepped forward. "I Assure you, Duke. We are looking for her, and hope to find her by the morning."
The duke protested. "Silence! I don't believe it, You've failed me so far, I ought to—" he continued on with nonsensical prose, pretending to be all upset about a daughter that "ran away".
I smiled. Perfect. He was doing a wonderful job stalling for time. Settling the uneasiness in my gut, I stepped forward into the light, my voice ringing out through the ballroom.
"It's all a lie!" I said. "Clara, Vince, Alaric, they're all lying to you! I never ran away, they tried to kill me!" Pulling back my sleeves, I revealed the wound in my chest, peeling back the bandage.
For a moment, everyone was stunned. Clara's eyes widened, taking on a villainous tone. She shrieked. "You wench!"
"If we do not fight, they will take over us all!" My voice rang out. "We must fight!"
Like an explosion, the ballroom erupted into a battle.
Servants and guards turned against each other as battle cries rang out.
My gut twisted, as I looked at Edith. She grabbed my hand, rushing me to the safe room like we'd planned.
Below, Gareth had already ensured Julian and the Duke's safety before joining the fray.
No, I should be out there, fighting.
With them... my gut twisted. I felt the dagger in my chest. There had to have been a reason that I'd bought this.
Before I could fight against Edith to protest, a vicious crack rang out, that deafened my ears.
I looked around, frantically. No, it couldn't be!
At the top of the stairway stood Vince, the butler, with a smoking pistol in his hands.
Edith collapsed in front of me, the shot piercing her side. The shot that had been meant for me.