Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 109

**Chapter 109: Russell Witnessed Margaery’s Final Moments**

“So, you truly believe that Prince Dashnell can keep you safe?” Amber’s voice was laced with concern, her brow furrowed as she searched Margaery’s eyes. “But can he really? The Hadley family is powerful, and it’s not just Lady Alicia you have to worry about. Prince Marcus is also in the picture.”

“Marcus is at the peak of his influence, and he happens to be Dashnell’s elder brother,” Amber continued, her voice dropping to a whisper as if the very walls might betray their secrets. “If he decides to act against you, I fear Dashnell won’t stand a chance.”

Margaery felt the weight of Amber’s gaze, filled with genuine worry. “And let’s not forget, the Lord Chancellor won’t take kindly to this either. After all, Dominic’s mother is your aunt.”

“If we sever this engagement, it won’t just tarnish the Hadley family’s name; it will also create a storm for Lord Chancellor,” Amber added, her voice trembling slightly.

“That’s precisely what I desire,” Margaery replied, her tone resolute, though a flicker of uncertainty danced in her heart. “Only when it becomes a challenge for him will he let us go. Once he does, we’ll finally be free.”

Margaery yearned to escape the confines of the Chancellor’s estate, but her freedom hinged on Raul’s willingness to let her leave. Despite their familial bond, Raul’s title as Chancellor loomed large, casting a shadow over her desires.

As long as he denied her, her fate was sealed; with a mere command from Raul, the world outside would turn its back on her.

She would be utterly isolated, abandoned by all she once knew. Every step forward would feel like an uphill battle.

In her previous life, during the two long years she had been cast out from her home, Dashnell had gone off to the frontlines to oversee the war, while Craig had been forced to attend to urgent matters.

Without the dozen beggars Craig had introduced her to, she might not have survived even three days.

Later, though she managed to cling to life, it was only in a crumbling chapel that she found refuge.

Margaery squeezed her eyes shut, memories flooding her mind like a relentless tide.

‘This time, it must be different,’ she thought, a flicker of hope igniting within her.

With the Chapel of Wisdom, Dashnell, Bernard, and Craig standing behind her, she felt a semblance of security. Yet, she couldn’t shake the nagging doubt that once she severed ties with the Hadley family and the Chancellor’s estate, those who currently supported her might not remain steadfast. They might provide temporary shelter, a brief respite, but under pressure, they could easily choose to sacrifice her.

Her past experiences had taught her a harsh lesson: trust was a fragile thing, and her outlook was tinged with a deep-seated pessimism.

She had to brace herself for the worst.

“Amber, you don’t need to accompany me to the Hadley family tomorrow. First thing in the morning, seek out Craig. If things go awry on my end, you must leave with him. He’ll take care of you,” Margaery instructed, her voice firm yet laced with an underlying current of worry.

Amber’s eyes immediately glistened with tears. “Lady Margaery, I won’t! Even if it means facing death, I refuse to leave your side!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Margaery, holding her tightly.

At that moment, Russell, who had been standing dazed in the doorway, finally stepped inside and caught the tail end of their conversation. His expression shifted to one of alarm. “Enough with this talk of death! Get out!” he barked, his voice echoing with authority.

Startled, Amber quickly released Margaery and stood at attention. “Lord Russell,” she stammered, her surprise evident.

She hadn’t anticipated Russell’s arrival.

Margaery, too, felt a jolt of surprise. She had spoken in such a low tone, convinced that those outside the door wouldn’t hear her.

“Russell, what brings you here?” she asked, her curiosity piqued as she studied his expression.

Russell lingered in the doorway, his gaze fixed on her with a complexity that spoke of turmoil and anguish. Confusion and guilt warred within him, making it difficult for him to confront his own feelings.

Earlier that morning, he had sought out Walter again, parting with five hundred silver coins, and under duress, had finally persuaded Walter to perform a divination for him.

The revelations had left him reeling. He stood alone in the biting cold for nearly four hours, frozen in shock, grappling with the horror of what he had learned, before finally seeking Margaery.

He had seen glimpses of her final moments in her previous life.

To save Tessa, Joshua had cruelly cut out Margaery’s tongue; Avery had poisoned her; Clyde had callously cast her aside to protect Tessa from arrows; and Andrew had severed her legs without a second thought.

‘And if they hadn’t acted so cruelly, if Margaery hadn’t been given this second chance, why would she have changed so drastically?’

The thought made him tremble, his body betraying his inner turmoil.

Margaery studied him in silence, noting his unusual demeanor. He neither spoke nor hurled accusations at her as he typically would, and he didn’t make a move to leave. For a moment, she felt lost. “What is it that you want from me?” she finally asked, her voice a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Russell opened his mouth, his voice raw and strained. “Margaery, are you… truly never going to forgive us again?” The question hung heavy in the air, and before he could contain himself, tears streamed down his cheeks.

This was the first time Margaery had witnessed Russell’s vulnerability, his tears a stark contrast to his usual bravado.

“Russell, why would you say such a thing?” Margaery frowned, confusion etched across her features.

While she could never forgive the family, Russell’s character seemed incapable of such emotional displays.

He cast a glance toward the door, urging Amber to leave, then closed it behind her. He approached Margaery’s bedside, his expression clouded with despair.

With tears cascading down his face, he pleaded, “You’ve been given a second chance, haven’t you? In your previous life, we wronged you, and now you’re filled with disappointment toward us, right?”

“You apologized, not out of guilt, but because you wished to escape the confines of the woodshed, the Chancellor’s estate, and the Wallen family, didn’t you?”

As he spoke, the weight of his guilt became too much to bear, and he collapsed to the ground, sobs wracking his body. “Margaery, I was wrong. I see that now. Please, grant me another chance. This time, I promise to be the brother you deserve, to never repeat those mistakes.”

If the horrific scenes he had witnessed were indeed true, then he and the Wallen family had been nothing short of monstrous.

If Margaery still remembered those atrocities, if they lingered in her mind as if they had happened mere days ago, how could she possibly look at them without feeling an overwhelming wave of pain and betrayal?

Russell dared not imagine the depths of her suffering.