Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 143

**TITLE: Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**

**Chapter 143**

Raul’s gaze fell heavily upon Tessa, his heart a tumult of frustration and disappointment. Today, his daughter, who usually carried herself with such grace and intelligence, seemed to embody foolishness in its most profound form. It was as if he could almost feel the weight of his own thoughts pressing down on him, wishing he could somehow send her back to the safety of her mother’s womb to be remade, free from the mistakes that had led her here.

“I’m sorry, Father. I am afraid of losing you…” Tessa knelt on the cold ground, her tears spilling forth in weak, pitiful streams. The sight twisted something deep within Raul, a mixture of anger and sorrow.

“Margaery…” Dashnell’s voice broke through the tension, steady yet filled with an unspoken urgency.

In a sudden, instinctive motion, Dashnell reached out and grasped Margaery’s wrist with a firm yet gentle grip. She turned to him, her eyes swimming with regret, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dashnell felt his heart skip a beat. “I know,” he replied, his voice low and reassuring. In that moment, he didn’t care about her innocence or guilt; he simply wanted to protect her. It was clear to him that if Margaery had indeed been bullied, the true culprits should face the consequences, not join the throng that sought to belittle her.

“Just hold on a little longer,” he urged, his voice barely audible above the chaos surrounding them. “Observe the situation for now. I will help you soon. Do not be afraid.” Margaery’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and for a fleeting moment, she felt a flicker of hope. “Thank you, Dashnell,” she whispered, her heart swelling with gratitude.

Their hushed exchange went unnoticed by the rest of the gathering, all eyes drawn unrelentingly to Tessa, who was now the center of attention. In the midst of this turmoil, Callum seized the moment, a sly smile creeping across his face as he turned to Marcus. “Marcus, are you truly that desperate? Margaery’s reputation is already tarnished, and you still wish to marry her? Wouldn’t that make you the laughingstock of everyone here?”

His words dripped with mockery, and the crowd murmured in response, glancing at Marcus with a mixture of pity and disbelief. “Besides,” Callum continued, his voice laced with disdain, “your wolfish ambition is painfully obvious.”

Nathaniel, sensing the growing tension, interjected with a measured tone. “Marcus, perhaps it would be wise to reconsider. The royal family cannot afford such disgrace.” He cast a wary glance at Margaery, knowing full well that the Star of Fortune should never be associated with Marcus in any capacity. If Marcus were to gain favor through the Star of Fortune, Nathaniel’s own position as crown prince would be jeopardized, leaving him vulnerable.

Alicia, her temper flaring, nearly lashed out at Tessa. “Tessa Wallen, you have no evidence! Do not speak so recklessly!” Her voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife.

“Lady Alicia, you certainly seem keen to defend Margaery,” Bernard scoffed, amusement dancing in his eyes. “How intriguing.” He leaned closer to Margaery, his tone conspiratorial. “What if I help you escape this marriage? From the look on your father’s face, it seems he won’t rest until you’re wed. Let’s run away together. Once we’re far from here and the King, no one will be able to control us.”

Margaery was momentarily taken aback, her mind racing. “Don’t make trouble, Bernard,” she replied, her voice a mix of disbelief and desperation. She was already teetering on the edge of a precipice, and the last thing she needed was more chaos.

Yet, in that moment, Marcus made a firm decision, his voice ringing out with conviction. “Regardless of whether she is innocent or not, I will marry her. My mother has told me that Tessa speaks recklessly, making accusations without any evidence and slandering others. Such behavior is profoundly disrespectful.” His eyes locked onto Margaery’s, filled with a fervent trust that felt almost suffocating to her.

“Margaery, I trust you,” he declared, his gaze intense. But to Margaery, it felt like a heavy chain binding her to a fate she did not choose. This was not the love she had hoped for; it was a forced marriage, and with Raul’s agreement, her options for escape were rapidly dwindling. She longed for Halle to arrive, praying that he would bring a solution to her plight.

Tessa, caught in disbelief, stared at Marcus as if he had just spoken a foreign language. She hadn’t anticipated that, despite her desperate warnings, he would remain so resolute in his desire to marry Margaery. And where was Halle? Why hadn’t he shown up yet?

Just when Tessa’s heart began to sink further, a coarse and brash voice erupted from outside the door, shattering the tension. “Hey, Margaery? That day in the latrine beneath Pero Cela, did I make you feel good or not?” The words were shockingly vulgar, and a collective gasp swept through the crowd.

“Good heavens, isn’t Lady Sophia’s birthday party today? How did someone like that get in here?” The onlookers exchanged bewildered glances, instinctively turning their eyes toward Callum and Nathaniel, both of whom wore expressions of surprise.

“Indeed, does Marcus still want to marry her?” Callum added, a smile playing on his lips, relishing the unfolding drama.

Rage surged within Marcus, but it was not directed at Margaery. Instead, his anger simmered toward Tessa, whose reckless insistence on stirring trouble had transformed this day into a spectacle. He was equally furious at the fact that the Minister’s estate could not manage such trivial matters, allowing such lowly characters to mingle at a respectable birthday party.

Raul, too, sensed that the situation had spiraled out of control. He shot Tessa a reproachful glance, his voice laced with disappointment. “Tessa, don’t make trouble! You have always been sensible before. What is going on this time?”

No matter how he calculated the circumstances, he had never anticipated that his own daughter, whom he had brought home with such care, would become a source of chaos today. Yet, under the scrutinizing gaze of the crowd, he knew he could not simply have her taken away. Wouldn’t that be a clear admission of guilt?

Tessa, her voice trembling, replied, “Father, I’m afraid Marcus will eventually learn of this matter, blame you, and accuse me of deliberately concealing it.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she spoke.

Raul felt a wave of frustration wash over him, his gaze hardening as he looked at her. “Since when did the affairs of the Chancellor’s estate become yours to decide?”

“Father…” Tessa’s voice quavered, her head bowed in submission. “If you do not wish for me to speak, I will remain silent. I beg you, do not abandon me…”

This was the first time Raul’s anger had been directed at her, and it struck her like a bolt of lightning. Though she had come seeking revenge, she had grown accustomed to calling him ‘father’ for a year, basking in the attention of the Chancellor’s estate. Now, faced with such hostility, a wave of distress washed over her.

She cast a furtive glance at Margaery, her heart hardening. It was all Margaery’s fault for leading her to this brink. Having sacrificed so much today, she vowed that one day, Margaery would pay her back a hundredfold.