Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 42

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

**Chapter 42**

“Well, it seems like you two are determined to keep digging until you hit a wall,” Bernard mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. He abruptly produced a small device from his pocket and pressed a button, causing the room to fill with the unmistakable voices of Avery, Joshua, and Dominic.

Avery’s voice resonated clearly through the device. “Calm down, Joshua. Everything is already in place. The moment Margaery heads upstairs, the plan will unfold just as we envisioned…”

Joshua’s voice followed, firm and unwavering. “This is crucial. We cannot afford a single misstep. Dominic, just endure it for a moment longer.”

Dominic responded with a smooth confidence, “No need to worry. She’s already my fiancée. I’m just expediting the process a bit, that’s all…”

The expressions on Avery, Joshua, and Dominic’s faces drained of color, as if they had just encountered a specter.

Those were the precise words they had exchanged just moments prior, while making their way downstairs!

How on earth was their conversation being replayed?

“Now, do you have any further comments?” Bernard taunted, his tone icy and filled with contempt.

He let out a derisive snort. “Still need more evidence?”

The audience exchanged uneasy glances, and for a fleeting moment, the complexity of their expressions toward Joshua and Avery was palpable, a mixture of doubt and suspicion.

Joshua’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment, yet he stood his ground. “Lord Bernard, I don’t know what kind of tricks you’re employing, but all this does is attempt to frame us. It doesn’t prove that we drugged anyone!”

He wasn’t entirely mistaken.

The device Bernard wielded was a bizarre invention of his own making, something most people would dismiss as untrustworthy. The only reason the crowd was casting suspicion on Joshua and Avery was due to their visible reactions, not because of the device itself.

Thus, this alone couldn’t be considered substantial evidence.

Someone in the crowd nodded thoughtfully. “Lord Bernard certainly has a collection of peculiar inventions, and they are genuinely impressive. However, we can’t simply take this at face value as proof.”

After all, this incident involved both sons and daughters of the Chancellor’s estate, along with Dominic from the Hadley estate.

None of these individuals were people anyone would dare to cross.

“Then let’s examine the fingerprints,” Quinn suggested, stepping forward with determination.

He produced a box of ink and extended it toward Avery. “Come on, let’s see if the fingerprint on this device truly belongs to you.”

Avery felt a rush of fear. There was simply no escaping this. The fingerprint was undeniably his.

Observing Avery’s anxious demeanor, the crowd murmured in concern, “Avery, what are you trying to accomplish? Margaery is your sister. Why would you betray her like this? Even if your intention was to see Tessa marry Dominic, you didn’t have to resort to such underhanded tactics.”

“Ultimately, which daughter from the Chancellor’s estate marries whom is your own affair, and no one would fault you for it. Just let Tessa marry him if that’s what you desire. Why go through all this trouble?”

By this point, the audience had sobered up considerably.

Yet, no one could quite grasp the bizarre events that had unfolded in this restaurant tonight. It was all too surreal.

In a desperate attempt to defend himself, Avery shook his head, trying to clarify, “Yes, I purchased those medicinal materials, but I swear I never used them in the incense. I didn’t do it.”

Quinn let out a chilling laugh. “So, Lord Avery, if you didn’t use those materials for incense, could you enlighten us as to why you bought them in the first place? And where are they now?”

Even in the biting cold, beads of sweat began to form on Avery’s forehead.

Before he could concoct an excuse, Quinn interjected sharply, “Or are you actually the elusive assassin known as Titan Wheeler?”

“No, no, no, it’s not me…” Avery stuttered, his complexion paling to an ashen hue from sheer terror.

*I never saw that coming!* Avery thought, utterly blindsided and gripped by fear.

“And to top it off, Lord Chancellor actually forced Margaery to apologize to Tessa? What a farce!”

“Poor Margaery.”

The crowd scoffed in disdain, and someone even spat on the ground in front of Tessa.

At her breaking point, Tessa collapsed right then and there.

At this juncture, even the dimmest among them could see there was no salvaging the situation.

Joshua finally discerned the truth and turned to Margaery with a grave expression. “What did you say to Prince Dashnell?”

Today, they had attempted to drag Margaery’s name through the mud, but after her initial protests, they were essentially steamrolled from all angles.

Bernard, Simon, and Quinn—three influential figures—stood united in support of Margaery. Unless Prince Dashnell was orchestrating this, Joshua genuinely couldn’t fathom any other explanation.

Margaery regarded the way he preyed on the weak yet cowered before the powerful, nearly bursting into laughter. She replied coolly, “That’s between me and Dashnell. It doesn’t concern you.”

Joshua was left utterly speechless, his mind racing.

Just then, Raul burst into the scene, having received the news.

He shot a fierce glare at Margaery before striding over to the most influential person in the room, Simon, bowing with respect. “High Priest, what brings you here?”

Simon let out a cold chuckle. “I came to the opening of the Pero Cela for a drink, but I never anticipated the Chancellor’s estate would put on such a spectacle. This performance is truly one for the ages.”

Then, with a frosty edge to his tone, he delivered one final remark. “Lord Chancellor, at this point, I have but one thing to say to you:

“Never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.”

With that, he didn’t spare Raul another glance and turned to depart.