Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 26

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

**Chapter 26**

“I will never marry her,” Margaery declared, her voice cutting through the air with an unwavering sharpness. The conviction in her tone was palpable, as if she were carving her will into stone. “Go take care of it. I know exactly what I’m doing. And when you return, send a message to Phillipa for me. Give her this.”

As she spoke, Margaery extended her hand, presenting Amber with a neatly rolled piece of parchment, the edges slightly frayed, a symbol of her urgency.

“Lady Margaery, why are you seeking out Lady Phillipa?” Amber inquired, her brow furrowing in surprise. “You know Phillipa has never been fond of anyone associated with the Chancellor’s estate. The last time we spoke, she even remarked that Lady Tessa didn’t seem like someone we would have brought back from the countryside.”

“It’s fine, just go. I assure you, she’ll come,” Margaery replied, a bitter taste rising in her throat like an unwelcome guest. The thought of Phillipa stirred a mix of longing and despair within her.

Phillipa, the daughter of Roy, the formidable Lord of Warfare, had grown up in a world of swords and shields, her childhood steeped in the clangor of battle. She had entered the palace at a tender age, taking on the role of a personal guard for the Emperor, a position that demanded both strength and unwavering loyalty.

In a peculiar twist of fate, Phillipa and Joshua had become colleagues, their paths intertwined by duty and, perhaps, a hint of affection. Joshua had developed a fondness for her, dreaming of a future where they would be united in marriage.

So, with hopeful intent, Joshua had invited Phillipa to the Chancellor’s estate, introducing her to Tessa, proclaiming that they would all be family one day. Yet, when the moment came for Phillipa to depart, she had flatly rejected him, her voice steady and resolute. “I, Phillipa, will never step into the Chancellor’s estate. I don’t belong there.”

Joshua, taken aback, had pressed her for an explanation. He reminded her of the days of their youth when she had adored Margaery and would seek her out without hesitation. “Why this sudden aversion to the Chancellor’s estate?” he had asked, confusion clouding his features.

Phillipa’s gaze had shifted to Tessa, her expression a mixture of disdain and truth. “I do like Margaery, but she is a girl who was raised in the Gracewind Garden. No matter how you look at it, that place lacks the stature of the main courtyard of the Chancellor’s estate. It simply doesn’t hold that kind of significance.”

She continued, her voice steady, “The one residing in the main courtyard doesn’t appear to have come back from the countryside either. I am accustomed to walking on solid ground. If I were to fall into the mud, I wouldn’t be able to extricate myself. I lack the grace to remain untainted once I am stained.”

With those words, Phillipa had turned on her heel and left, never to return to the Chancellor’s estate. Occasionally, she would send allergy medicine and treats to Margaery through palace couriers, but the warmth of their friendship felt like a distant memory.

As Margaery reflected on this, a heavy weight settled in her chest. Although she resided within the walls of the Chancellor’s estate, she felt isolated, unable to find anyone who would extend a hand of assistance or trust her with their secrets. In the sprawling city of Sinderin, her mind wandered back to Phillipa, the only person she could truly count on.

Yet, deep down, Margaery held onto hope. She believed that if Phillipa were to come, it would illuminate the darkness surrounding her. With her friend by her side, she could sever her engagement with Dominic and put an end to Raul’s manipulative schemes.

—

Meanwhile, at Dashnell’s residence, the atmosphere was tense. Dashnell closed the book he had been absorbed in, his attention shifting to Adam as he entered, his expression taut with concern. “How is she?” he inquired, his voice low, laced with worry.

Adam’s face was a mask of tension as he replied, “When I arrived, Lord Chancellor was coercing Lady Margaery to plead guilty before the King. If she refused, he threatened to imprison her in the cellar. If I had arrived even a moment later, she would have been locked away.”

Dashnell’s pupils constricted slightly, a flicker of anger igniting within him. “Raul is becoming less human with each passing day,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, steeped in disbelief.

Adam sighed, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him. “Exactly. I can’t fathom it. They are both his daughters, born of the same mother. How can Raul and his sons harbor such bias? Lady Margaery was raised like a cherished jewel. How could a father inflict such cruelty upon his own daughter? That cellar is no place for anyone. It’s not just the bitter cold; a girl like her wouldn’t survive the toxic air.”

“Raised like a precious jewel?” Dashnell scoffed, a bitter smile twisting his lips. “Even a dog knows to wag its tail when you toss it a bone. They claim Margaery is being unreasonable now, but that is only because she has always been far too understanding.”

He continued, his voice gaining intensity, “Craig’s prescriptions are invaluable. Just one could earn her the title of Lady from the King. Avery took so much from her and treated her like dirt in return. And Joshua—his sword techniques were honed under Margaery’s guidance. As for Raul, do you truly believe he captured those rebels through sheer skill?”

Adam was taken aback, his mind racing. “Wait, are you suggesting that Lady Margaery played a role in that too?”

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