Chapitre 44: Chapter 44 - Change of Plans
The tension lingered in the air even after Edwin secured Harold, binding his hands with a rope they had to ensure he couldn't cause any more trouble.
It was just a temporary solution as a proper knight could break such rope, thankfully he was weakened after being injured. They did keep an eye on him at all times, however.
Seraphina could still feel the residual energy from the Arcane Crystal lingering within her body. She didn't know what it did, but she did know it did something; she felt different.
She took a moment to steady herself, her violet eyes glancing from side to side as she tried to orient herself with the situation. So many things had happened in such a short timeframe.
"Are you alright, Lady Seraphina?"
Edwin asked, his voice holding a hint of concern as he approached her.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Edwin. Just confused."
Seraphina replied, her voice was steady but she had a hint of exhaustion in it. She wasn't tired, not physically, but rather mentally drained after all that had happened.
She glanced at the still unconscious Samuel, relieved that he was still alive, however, she didn't know when he would wake up.
"I think we all are, my Lady. We need to get back to the estate as soon as possible to figure all this out."
Edwin stated his tone firm as he looked at Harold with disdain.
Seraphina paused as she heard the man's words. She knew that returning would be a wise choice, but she couldn't help but shake the feeling that returning might be more dangerous than she knew.
She knew someone had ordered Harold to kill her, and she also knew that the likelihood of it being someone from within her family was much more likely than someone outside.
After all, Harold was a knight who had served her family for years, he was very loyal from what she could tell. His words also didn't sit right with her.
'Who could it be?'
She wondered as she narrowed her eyes in thought.
'My older brother? But he was nice before, he didn't seem like someone to use such a method. But it could be a front.'
Her eldest brother would be the one to benefit the most from her death, being the oldest daughter she did have some right to the family's power. And if she was to grow in power, that could threaten his control over the family.
But she couldn't help but feel like this method wasn't something he would do. From what she could tell, he seemed like someone to handle matters himself.
He was straightforward.
'It can't by my father.'
As likely as it was that her father was the one who ordered Harold to kill her, him being his knight and such. It was also just as unlikely. If her father wanted her death, she would be dead.
He could order all the knights in the family to kill her and none of them would hesitate, if it was his orders, Edwin and Samuel would've killed her alongside Harold.
Not to mention, so far he has done everything she asked; from getting her the Knight Method to providing her training and materials. He had put himself at risk for her, she didn't believe it was him.
'Could it be Telphina?'
As much as she didn't want to believe it, Telphina was a possibility.
Not only was she the second wife, meaning her children would never hold any power as long as the children from the first wife were alive. She was also someone within the family that could influence the knights.
While she didn't hold much power, it couldn't be denied that she was the Duke's Second Wife, and she was part elf. If she tried, she could get some of the knights on her side.
'But she's so nice?'
Seraphina couldn't picture someone like her doing such a thing, but that didn't mean she ruled out the possibility. Her life was on the line, she would never lower her guard in the face of emotions.
'It could also be my mother, I haven't seen her since changing.'
Her mother had not once appeared before her since she had changed. She had also never actively sought her out or tried to interact with her in any way.
Seraphina assumed she was just outside of the estate, but the possibility existed that she just didn't want to meet her.
She couldn't quite put a read on her mother since she never met her yet, and she had little memories of her in the past. But she wouldn't rule out the possibility, the only thing she couldn't figure out was why she would do it.
The uncertainty of all of this gnawed at her, making her hesitate. She realized that returning to the estate without knowing who wanted her dead could be dangerous.
Very dangerous.
She slowed her movement, causing Edwin to look back at her with confusion.
"Is everything alright, Lady Seraphina?"
She took a deep breath, weighing her options before she spoke. However, she came to a conclusion quickly and decided.
"Edwin, we need to talk."
He nodded, moving to the side where they could speak without Harold getting involved, but he kept him in sight.
"What's on your mind?"
Edwin asked, his voice low.
"I don't think it's safe for me to return to the estate. Someone powerful enough to order Harold to kill me is still out there. If we go back, I could be walking into another trap or painting a target on my back."
Edwin's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure as he understood what she meant. He wasn't a fool, he had his own suspicions he just didn't have the right to voice it.
"You suspect someone within your own family?"
He asked, his tone serious.
Seraphina nodded.
"It has to be someone with enough influence to command a knight. My mother, my brother, maybe even my father or Telphina. While it is possible it could be someone outside the family, the likelihood is low, I haven't been public."
She hesitated for a second but eventually sighed.
"I don't know who I can trust right now."
Edwin thought for a moment, tapping his foot on the ground as his brows furrowed. He wasn't sure what to do.
On one hand, he believed that what she said wasn't wrong, and he didn't want to put his Lady's life in danger. But on the other hand, he was a Knight of the family, and his mission was to escort her to the forest and back, not doing so would be breaking his orders.
So the question remaining was if his mission was worth following if it endangered the person he was assigned to protect.
"We need to find a safe place where you can stay and figure this out. Somewhere close enough to the estate so we can keep an eye on things, but far enough to avoid immediate danger."
Seraphina agreed, feeling an immense sense of relief that Edwin understood the gravity of the situation and decided to side with her on this matter.
If he didn't, she didn't know how the situation would have unfolded.
— Un nouveau chapitre arrive bientôt — Écrire un avis
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone