Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 25

**Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows**
**by Aren Cole Vale**
**Chapter 25**

Margaery pivoted on her heel, her gaze locking onto the austere figure of her father, a man nearing fifty, whose expression was as unyielding as stone. Her eyes, cold and piercing, conveyed a silent challenge. “Father, do you have anything further to say?”

Raul’s voice rumbled like distant thunder, heavy with authority. “You and Dominic should marry sooner.” After relentless attempts to sway her resolve, he finally reached a conclusion that felt inevitable.

“It’s a fine day in two weeks,” he continued, his tone brooking no argument. “I’ll ensure every detail is arranged for your wedding. On that day, I will have Dominic come to propose. You’re not exactly in your youth anymore; it’s not right to keep you tethered to us.”

He invoked his parental authority, the weight of his words pressing down like a heavy cloak. “This isn’t a discussion; it’s an order.”

Margaery felt a chill run through her, understanding the implications of his demand. Raul intended to sever Dashnell’s connection with her by orchestrating a situation where Dominic would shatter her heart, thus compelling Dashnell to relinquish his pursuit.

Yet, the truth was glaringly evident to all: Tessa and Dominic were entwined in a romance that was as passionate as it was public.

Margaery’s lips curled into a sardonic smile, her eyes shimmering with a mix of defiance and bitterness. “Father, you make a valid point; Dominic should indeed marry me sooner. But will he consent to such a union? The one he truly desires is Tessa.”

She paused, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “These days, they’ve taken to openly displaying their affection in front of me, embracing and kissing as if I were invisible. He often spends the night at Tessa’s place. Do you think it’s appropriate for me to marry Dominic under these circumstances? Or does he even deserve to be my husband?”

With that, Margaery turned her back to him, her chin raised defiantly as she strode away, leaving Raul to grapple with the storm of emotions swirling within him.

Raul’s fists clenched tightly as he watched her retreating figure. Initially, it hadn’t mattered to him which of his daughters would marry Dominic, as both Margaery and Tessa were his beloved children. He had previously reached an understanding with Tessa that, when the time came, he would inform Margaery of her relinquished engagement.

However, the dynamics had shifted drastically. Dashnell’s interest in Margaery complicated matters, compelling him to hasten her marriage to sever Dashnell’s hopes. Yet, Margaery was resolute in her defiance.

As thoughts raced through his mind, Raul felt as if the universe had conspired against him; calamities seemed to pile upon one another, creating a perfect storm of chaos.

Avery, witnessing Margaery’s fierce reaction, felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his own chest. “Father, what are we to do now?” he asked, his voice laced with urgency. “She’s acting as if possessed! She refuses to listen! With Dashnell and Lady Serena entangled in this situation, we can’t simply force her into marrying Dominic.”

After all, Margaery had received the late King’s personally bestowed hairpin, a symbol of royal favor, resting delicately atop her head. If something were to happen to it, the consequences would be dire.

But if Margaery didn’t venture to the palace to address the situation, Avery feared he might never return to the Royal Medical Hall. ‘What then? Am I supposed to open a small clinic? That’s hardly a future I envisioned,’ he thought bitterly, recalling how Margaery had once looked at him with admiration.

With a hint of frustration, he suggested to Raul, “Why don’t we summon the High Priest? Think about it: she was fine when she was locked away in that lumber room. How can she be so different just two days later? She must be possessed by some malevolent spirit. Otherwise, how could she speak to you in such a manner?”

Raul’s brow furrowed as he reflected on the events of the past few days. He recalled Margaery kneeling in the snow, pleading with him to cancel Tessa’s reunion party, enduring the biting cold for far too long and succumbing to illness.

In stark contrast to that desperate girl, the Margaery before him now seemed transformed.

“You make a compelling argument,” Raul conceded, nodding thoughtfully. “I’ll visit the Hall of Divinity myself later.”

“If she is indeed possessed, then everything she uttered at the Royal Medical Hall can be dismissed as mere folly. We can inform the King that she was simply spouting nonsense.”

Raul’s mind raced with possibilities. “The King despises all things supernatural. Even if he is skeptical of my claims, he will trust the High Priest’s judgment. This way, you can return to your position at the Royal Medical Hall!”

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