A Marriage Alliance for Revenge - Chapter 8

Lucas refilled his goblet and turned his gaze at Briella.

 

The wine in her goblet hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

 

Lucas lifted his glass toward Briella and raised it at mouth level. .

 

“I hope you adjust to your new status quickly. You’re not quite there yet.”

 

Briella scrutinized the papers containing the details in her hand.

 

The identity of the person she took on had always longed for the capital.

 

Briella Ford was a young lady of twenty, she should add.

 

She must have had some barbarian blood in her, because she was quite spirited.

 

“Was she a noble one of yours?”

 

Lucas raised one eyebrow at the unexpected question, then nodded.

 

“I see,” muttered Briella.

 

“She was beautiful and daring, and neither cajoling nor capture could break her spirit.”

 

She had been the only source of laughter on the battlefield against the barbarians.

 

Briella’s laughter, for a moment would suspend reality, even for the bloodthirsty and ferocious knights on the battlefield. 

 

There wasn’t a knight who didn’t adore her. When she chased after scavengers, she’d nagged them like a little sister.

 

When the battle was over, she’d come descending from the hill, her hair the color of moonlight.

 

“What happened to her?”

 

“Dead.”

 

Lucas replied, swishing the last contents of the wine in his mouth as his mind wandered to the past.

 

There was no hint of longing in his dry tone.

 

‘I wonder how many deaths that man has witnessed.’

 

Familiarity doesn’t make loss any less sad.

 

All you can do is endure it and move forward.

 

‘‥‥‥Somehow.’

 

“The day the barbarians attacked. When I found her, she was gasping for breath with a knife in her stomach.”

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

Briella rubbed her flat stomach, goosebumps rising on her forearms from the phantom sensation of a knife.

 

And the fact that even Briella Ford had met a similar fate reminded her of the existence of God.

 

‘Our bond is a tragic but unique one.’

 

Briella cast a grim gaze down at the papers in her hand.

 

“The savages could have swiftly killed her with a single strike, but they were cruel enough to avoid outright killing her. Instead, she died a slow, agonizing, and dreadful death.”

 

Lucas slowly looked down at his hand.

 

It bore the calluses of years spent wielding a sword.

 

“Smile,” he said, “turn your lips upward like this; that’s how happiness comes!”

 

Lucas looked out the window with Briella’s voice still ringing in his ears.

 

Laughter and happiness.

Laughter and happiness felt distant in a life filled with daily border-town barbarian raids, but she was the only who’d never lost her smile, even amidst the bloodshed.

 

She could be as drenched in blood as the battlefield itself, and when Lucas patted her on the shoulder, she’d laugh and say that she had toiled to keep his smile alive today.

Yet she too faded like a flickering light.

 

What was she protecting?

 

Why else had she taken the lives of others to protect them?

 

Memories he thought he’d buried in his mind resurfaced, leaving a long trail of soot in his mind.

 

Alongside familiar headaches that accompanied the remnants of old, distant memories. 

 

Lucas rose from his seat to pour another drink when Briella, who had been reading the papers he’d given her, suddenly grabbed the goblet from the table.

 

“Whoa!”

 

Lucas’s exclamation was a belated surprise. Briella downed her goblet in one swift motion.

 

She set the goblet down on the table, picked up the papers Lucas had given her, and moved closer to the fireplace.

 

She didn’t forget to take off the jacket Lucas had draped over her.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“I memorized everything.”

 

The papers outlining her new identity flared in the flames.

 

Lucas didn’t make much of a fuss over her words.

 

The thought of drinking more had long since passed.

 

There was a certain dignity in the way she stood before the roaring fire and watched the papers burn.

 

The way she stared down at the flames, casting long shadows, was intense.

 

It wasn’t something that could be mimicked.

 

He couldn’t help but reflect on her familiar gesture, one that had been instilled in him during his time in the Imperial household.

 

A click.

 

“There you are.”

 

Lucas slowed his steps.

 

Before the lights could be extinguished in the honeymoon chamber, the news of Empress’s death rushed in.

 

“A messenger has arrived from the imperial palace.”

 

Obviously, Lucas had already been told of Empress Olivia’s death.

 

Nevertheless, Vinter’s face displayed confusion. 

 

As he glanced at Briella in front of the fireplace, he had many questions, but they would have to wait.

 

“Let’s go downstairs.”

 

Lucas glanced back at Briella, still standing in front of the fireplace, and left the room.

 

A shadowy figure, coming to terms with her master’s death.

 

“Your Grace.”

 

“An empty square. Our gamble has already commenced.”

 

As he walked down the long corridor, Lucas steeled himself.

 

His first love had passed.

It had already happened; there was nothing more to linger on.

 

It was time to let go.

 

With each step he took, he buried the memory of Olivia.

 

She had been his enemy since the day she turned her back on him.

 

“And the priest?”

 

“He’s on his way back. I sent a swift-footed knight to ensure he reaches the shrine before word of the Empress’s death gets out.”

 

Vinter said, matching Lucas’s pace.

 

“It’s not just a matter of getting to the temple, is it?”

 

After the ceremony, a priest had to return to the temple and receive the High Priest’s seal before the couple’s marriage was officially recognized.

 

Lucas licked his lips and looked out nervously.

 

The first night was the reason he sent the priest back to the temple early.

 

“Is the knight still with the priest?”

 

“I’m afraid not, but he knows the importance of this job better than anyone. What you fear will not happen.”

 

He curled his lip nervously as he stared out the window, the empty square now completely dark.

 

It was all he could do now to believe.

 

As they descended the central portico, an imperial knight in black robes bowed to Lucas.

 

“I am Philip Miller of the Imperial Knights of the Rhone Empire, First of the Order. I have a letter from His Majesty himself.”

 

The knight held out an envelope to Lucas that bore the seal of Gusto.

 

The stolen seal engraved with the depiction of a roaring dragon with a crescent moon over it.

 

Silently, Lucas reached down and took it from the silver tray.

 

It was an envelope with a black ribbon announcing the Empress’s death.

 

“The Empress?”

 

“Yes. It was sudden; the entire palace is in a state of shock.”

 

“I see. I last saw her in good health at the banquet.”

 

Lucas’s heart sank heavily as he received the invitation for the funeral.

 

He knew it.

 

He’d seen it coming.

 

He’d mourned and anticipated it many times.

 

But as he stood before the black envelope, he had to steady his pounding heart once more.

“I have a message for you to prepare yourself and come to the palace as soon as possible.”

 

“Of course.”

 

The facade of calmness thinly veiling intense emotions gave way to a stiff tone.

 

“Farewell, then.”

 

The knight had just finished and was turning to leave.

 

“You’re going straight to the palace?”

 

“Yes. That’s right.”

 

The knight looked back at Lucas questioningly.

 

“Tell the palace butler that two Viterpans will be attending the funeral.”

 

“What?”

 

“Because I got married today.”

 

The knight’s mouth dropped open in surprise at Lucas’s abruptness.

 

“Pass the word to the imperial butler. The Duchess Viterpan will attend the funeral.”

 

“I see. I see.”

 

The knight hurried out the door, obviously taken aback.

 

Seeing him, Vinter approached Lucas.

 

“Your Grace.”

 

Vinter rarely showed emotion on his face.

 

Their gazes shifted to the second floor, where Briella was.

 

“Have two fast knights on standby. We don’t know how many days it will take, so ensure they are well supplied.”

 

With that, Lucas hurriedly left and headed for the second floor.

 

Meanwhile, Briella, who had gotten changed with the help of the maids, calmly sat down in a chair to greet him.

 

“Let’s save the first night for another time and cut to the chase. Where is Serena?”

 

His impatience was evident in his tone.

 

Now that he was conspiring with Briella, he had no choice but to take her word for it.

 

“Look for a fourteen-year-old boy named Noah at the Catamina Orphanage in Leneve.”

 

“What?”

 

Lucas had been scouring the empire for Serena.

 

But never once had it occurred to him that Serena might be living as a boy.

 

Moreover.

 

“Leneve.”

 

Bewildered by Briella’s words, Lucas’s eyes darted across the room.

 

He sat down slowly.

 

He wanted to undress and get comfortable, but this was just the beginning.

 

It wasn’t time to retire for the night just yet.

 

“If we hurry, we can make the trip in half a day.”

 

It was dark outside.

 

And the news of the empress’s death was spreading throughout the capital.

 

A swift horse and knight maneuvering through the chaos and darkness would get Serena to the manor before dawn.

 

The door opened.

 

“Come in.”

 

“I have the knights ready.”

 

“They must be trustworthy.”

 

“Of course. Lord Carter says he’ll be there himself.”

 

Lucas’s fists clenched at the mention of the loyal knight’s name.

 

Carter had stood by his side for more than a decade.

 

Hearing the name of one of the few loyalists he could trust made him feel both relief and despair.

 

Lucas closed his eyes and willed his clenched fists to relax.

 

Although he knew his sister was alive and well, his mind remained brutally pragmatic.

 

If Carter, who had always been at his side, disappeared during this tumultuous situation, Gusto would undoubtedly suspect his whereabouts.

 

“‥‥‥Not Carter.”

 

The words were spoken through gritted teeth and contained deep regret.

 

Lucas’s jaw twitched as he tried to contain his anger.

 

“Your Grace?”

 

Vinter couldn’t understand Lucas.

 

He was entrusting the safety of the princess to his most loyal knight.

 

He hadn’t expected Lucas to refuse Carter’s assistance.

 

“Gusto won’t be pleased if he discovers that Carter is absent.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Finally realizing what Lucas meant, Vinter lowered his head.

 

Tension permeated the air between the two men.

 

Lucas’s sister required someone he could trust, someone to ensure the safety of the missing princess.

 

Lucas furrowed his brow.

 

“It’s not safe for her to enter the capital.”

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

Lucas and Vinter’s gazes shifted to Briella.

 

“The emperor is not an easy man to please. He’s shifty like a rat, and he’s prone to catastrophizing.”

Lucas and Winter’s gazes shifted to Briella.

 

Her expression was serene but weary.

 

She brushed back her silver hair, which shimmered in the moonlight, and gazed out at the illuminated palace.

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

“With the Empress gone, the imperial household must be in a state of disarray.”

 

“So is this not a good time to make your move?”

 

Vinter tilted his head.

 

“No. The more you act, the closer the Emperor will keep an eye on you.”

 

“…”

 

“He’s someone who follows his instincts.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

A deep sigh settled over the room.

 

After hearing Briella’s words, neither Lucas nor Vinter could form a decisive suggestion.

 

“Leneve is a seaside town, but it’s also situated on the Lena River.”

 

“The Lena River?”

 

“If you follow the river south, you’ll find Borteaux, the largest wine-producing region in the empire, and there’s a festival coming up soon.”

 

Lucas’s expression changed at Briella’s words.

 

“I suppose the nobles will be flocking there to enjoy the festivities.”

 

“Yes. Why don’t we attend the festival under the pretext of attending the festival? We’ll have her escorted to Borteaux where she’ll meet us at the festival.”

 

It would postpone the meeting between brother and sister, but it was also the safest course of action given the circumstances.

 

Lucas nodded slowly.

 

The wait began again.

 

But it was worth the wait compared to the time he’d spent not knowing if Serena was alive or dead.

 

“Who else can we send beside Carter?”

 

“Sir Usher.”

 

“Very well, dispatch Usher and Bennett.”

 

“Your Grace!”

 

Vinter raised his voice.

 

These were the men who safeguarded Lucas from the shadows, unseen.

 

With not one but two missing, surely Lucas’s safety could not be guaranteed.

 

“Don’t you realize that Gusto’s dragged me around all this time?”

 

At Lucas’s words, Vinter’s face contorted fiercely, and he lowered his head.

The gesture was to conceal the emotions on the verge of exploding. 

 

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

 

“Have them be ready.”

 

Briella watched them depart in silence.

 

When they were out of earshot, she rose to her feet.

 

She stood in front of Lucas, her steps like a swaying flower.

 

“Your hand is injured.”

 

Examining Lucas’s hand, still tightly clenched, Briella knelt on the floor.

 

Even as the nails pierced and blood trickled, Lucas’s hand refused to uncurl.

“Ahhhh.”

 

Briella quietly kissed Lucas’s fist, which was still clenched and unable to release.

 

At the touch of her moist lips, his fist, which conveyed his intense emotions, lost its strength.

 

Briella slowly untangled his fingers and gently brought them close to her lips.

 

‘Please let my presence be nourishing, and may flowers bloom on the path you take.’

 

The crescent moon, which had been hiding behind the clouds, shone down on the two of them.