บท 79: Trade

"What makes you so certain we won't torture the information out of you?"

Hearing Leonda's words—her hidden frustration—Alex concluded that her assertions held truth. The Duke, using means unknown to Alex, was pulling the strings of the members of the Vespera family. He maintained good control over their actions, watching them, and directing them. The older Vespera siblings knew it as well as Alex did. Yet, for some reason, they couldn't escape.

Whenever either sibling returned to the Duchy, their caution was excessive, as though they were treading on a minefield, wary of covert dangers. Alex was unsure if all their outings were related to the Duke, but she guessed most were. And there was a faint restlessness in the air of the Duchy, as though the facade of stability would soon crack, destroying the status quo and unleashing things no one was ready to face.