Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 174

**Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**
**Chapter 174**

The political landscape of the Eastvale Empire was a treacherous one, rife with ambition and rivalry. Raul could hardly blame the princes for their relentless pursuit of the throne; such was the nature of power. Yet, the thought of forming clandestine alliances with foreign entities, coupled with the deceit of both superiors and subordinates, was a betrayal that no loyal citizen should ever contemplate.

But the gravity of the situation struck him harder: this was not merely a stranger’s treachery; it was his own flesh and blood, his son.

“Lock everyone in the secret prison. I will personally interrogate them!” the King commanded, his voice echoing with authority and resolve. With that, the shadowy figure of the royal guard melted away into the darkness, leaving the King to step into his carriage, the door slamming shut with finality.

As the carriage rolled away down the winding road toward the palace, it vanished into the night, swallowed by the swirling snowflakes that danced like lost souls in the icy air.

******

The night was cloaked in an oppressive darkness, and the delicate snow began to transform into heavy, fluttering flakes that fell thickly from the heavens. Raul stood alone on the desolate street, his eyes fixated on the charred remnants of the Springcourt House. A wave of indescribable dread washed over him, tightening his chest as he contemplated the implications of what lay before him.

Moments later, he was jolted from his thoughts by the hurried approach of Joshua.

“Father, have you found Tessa?” Joshua’s voice was laced with urgency, a hint of desperation creeping in.

Raul had not anticipated the King’s mention of Tessa, nor the revelation that she had secretly ventured to the Springcourt House. The very name of that establishment sent a shiver down his spine; it was known far and wide as a brothel.

What could she possibly be doing there? Tessa was the daughter of the Chancellor, a position that carried weight and expectation.

A gnawing fear gripped him as he considered the implications. If she truly had been there, what of the child she carried? The thought was unbearable, and he found himself unable to think further down that dark path.

Raul’s expression hardened as he turned to Joshua. “I haven’t found her, but I did cross paths with Prince Callium. He informed me that the King has ordered a full-scale raid on the Springcourt House, claiming it is a nest of spies from the Southcroft Empire…”

He paused, shifting the conversation. “Have we received any news from the Eastern Palace?”

Joshua’s face fell, the weight of the question evident in his eyes. The Eastern Palace was a complex web of alliances and betrayals, and he found himself at a loss for words.

“Previously,” he began slowly, “Nathaniel attempted to win their favor, but they turned their backs on him, opting instead for Marcus. Yet tonight, in an unexpected twist, the King has granted Margaery’s hand in marriage to Nathaniel.”

“The messengers we dispatched have yet to return,” he continued, his brow furrowing in thought.

Raul studied Joshua’s expression, noting the conflict within. “Given the current turmoil, should we not make a trip to the Eastern Palace?”

“Otherwise, it might raise suspicions,” Joshua added, his voice steady despite the turmoil.

Raul nodded solemnly. “Regardless of the Eastern Palace’s willingness to cooperate, we must make our presence known first thing tomorrow morning. If Margaery were to perish, the Chancellor’s estate would be thrust into the spotlight of suspicion.”

The tension in the air thickened as Raul contemplated the precarious nature of their relationship with Margaery, which had soured significantly.

“Listen, Joshua,” Raul said after a moment’s thought, “you need not concern yourself with matters here for the time being. Go directly to Grace and bring Andrew back. As for Margaery, let Andrew visit her.”

Killing was one thing; orchestrating the aftermath was another entirely.

Before the assassins from Lakeburgh arrived, he could not afford to let Margaery slip through his fingers. He needed to maintain the façade that he was simply a man too proud to reconcile, rather than one filled with disdain for her.

Once Margaery was dead, he would don the mask of a grieving father, and the matter would be settled without a trace of suspicion lingering.

Joshua nodded thoughtfully. “At this point, only Andrew may have the influence to persuade her. They are close in age and have shared a bond since childhood.”

Raul watched him leave, a sense of urgency propelling him forward.

“Sir, we have yet to locate Lady Tessa. Should we continue the search?” one of the servants inquired, their voice trembling slightly against the biting cold.

A shiver ran through the group, each servant wrestling with their own thoughts. No one had anticipated Tessa would find herself in such a place, and the implications were heavy in the air.

Raul’s face darkened as he clenched his fist, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “Let’s head back for now. Perhaps if we wait a little longer, she will return.”

With that, he led the group back toward the Chancellor’s estate, hope flickering dimly in his heart.

Just then, from the shadows, a voice pierced the night, “Father!”

Tessa’s cry was soft and tremulous, laden with fear.

Raul turned sharply, his heart racing as he spotted her huddled in a corner, her appearance disheveled and grimy.

Her face was smeared with dirt, reminiscent of a beggar’s, and the terror etched across her features twisted his heart.

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