Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 72

**Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**
**Chapter 72: Won’t Let You Hurt**

Dashnell’s brow furrowed, shadows creeping across his face. “No one but someone from the Chancellor’s estate would have the audacity to do something like this,” he muttered, his voice laced with anger.

Craig, standing beside him, nodded gravely. “She’s a young lady from the Chancellor’s estate. Outsiders wouldn’t dare to lay a finger on her. With that royal hairpin gifted by the late King, anyone who recognizes it knows better than to harm her. And as for the rest, they have no motive to pursue her.”

Dashnell’s heart raced as he recalled the moment they found her. “She collapsed right on the path leading from the Chancellor’s estate to your home. That means she was hurt there, but no one bothered to help her. She must have rushed straight to you.”

“But she didn’t make it,” Craig interjected, his voice heavy with frustration. “She passed out on the road.”

Fists clenched, Dashnell felt a surge of rage. “Some members of the Wallen family are really asking for trouble.”

Craig sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “We’ll deal with the Wallen family later. Right now, we need to focus on her. How is she holding up?” He could feel Margaery’s small hand in his palm, still icy, despite his attempts to warm it with his own.

Dashnell’s heart mirrored that coldness. “She’s going to be fine,” Craig reassured, taking a deep breath, though uncertainty lingered in his voice.

“Thank goodness you brought her here in time. If she had been left out in the cold for even another hour, she wouldn’t have survived. But she’s lost a significant amount of blood, and when she wakes, she’ll need proper nourishment to regain her strength,” Craig added, his brow furrowing in concern.

“I’ll take care of that,” Dashnell replied, feeling a slight easing of the tension in his chest.

Finally, Dashnell exhaled, a new determination settling in his bones. “I need to marry her as soon as possible. This can’t continue. There’s always something keeping us apart, and I can’t protect her the way I should.”

Craig looked at him, skepticism flickering in his eyes. “You’ve been in hiding for years. If you suddenly step into the light now, isn’t that a gamble?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Dashnell shot back, his resolve hardening.

His eyes narrowed, a fierce determination igniting within him. *If I can’t protect her, then what’s the point of hiding?* he thought, his mind racing with possibilities.

Craig nodded slowly, casting a glance at Margaery’s still form. “But this girl is incredibly strong-willed. Some decisions are better left until she wakes up, so we can hear what she truly desires. Otherwise, it could backfire on us.”

Dashnell nodded, understanding dawning upon him. “I see your point. She’s always been under the control of the Wallen family. If I make decisions for her without her consent, she’ll never feel truly safe.”

“I’ll support whatever she wants,” he added, a sense of responsibility washing over him.

Now, all they could do was wait in anxious silence for her to awaken.

With a gentle touch, Dashnell caressed her face, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. The sight of her frail form tugged at his heartstrings, threatening to unravel his composure.

Craig squinted at the sky, which had just begun to clear. “Raul has been far too arrogant these past few years. From now on, he can’t blame me for severing our old ties,” he murmured, frustration evident in his tone.

Suddenly, a faint, hoarse cry emerged from the bed, laced with despair. “Mother…”

Dashnell’s heart shattered at the sound. The chaos of court politics faded into the background; all that mattered was Margaery. He bent down, gathering her into his arms, his voice trembling with emotion. “I’m here.”

“Mother…” Margaery whimpered, her voice barely a whisper.

In a daze, she reached out, clinging to his neck as tears streamed down her cheeks like a torrential downpour. “Mother, Mother…”

Then, overwhelmed by her emotions, she broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably. Her body trembled as she whispered through her tears, “Mother, it hurts. It hurts so much!”

Dashnell’s eyes blurred with tears of his own, his heart aching for her pain. “Don’t cry… Mother is here. I promise you, I swear, I’ll never let you get hurt again!” His voice quivered with emotion, filled with a fierce protectiveness.

“Mother…” Margaery murmured, comforted by his presence. She nestled her face against him, slipping back into unconsciousness, her body finally relaxing.

Craig observed the scene, tears rolling down his cheeks as he let out a heavy sigh. “Being the Star of Fortune is never as simple as it sounds,” he reflected, the weight of their situation sinking in.

Without a mother in the house, the sons had always been close to Raul, relying on him for guidance and support.

Raul rarely resorted to physical punishment, making this moment all the more shocking for Clyde.

It was the first time Clyde had ever been struck, and he couldn’t help but feel the sting of betrayal. “What did I even do wrong? Wasn’t it Margaery who started this trouble for our family in the first place?”

“You seriously don’t understand the gravity of your actions?” Raul’s voice was a mix of anger and disbelief.

“Do you know why the King favors Lady Serena so much? It’s because when Lady Serena got married, the late King declared she was his own flesh and blood! And now, that royal hairpin the late King bestowed is resting on Margaery’s head!”

“Even the King must show restraint when he sees that hairpin! And you think you can just lay a hand on her? What, do you want to drag all of us down with you?” Raul’s fury escalated, and he slapped Clyde once more. “Do you even realize what you’ve done? You’ve jeopardized everything we’ve worked for!”

Clyde stood there, dumbfounded by the slap and his father’s words. Holding his face, he stammered, “Dad, is it… is it really that serious?”

Yet he still struggled to grasp the situation. “But why does Margaery get to wear that hairpin anyway? She…”

Raul inhaled deeply, frustration threatening to boil over. “Because Prince Dashnell has set his sights on her! If you keep treating her this way and she ends up marrying Prince Dashnell, it will spell disaster for the Wallen family. You’re essentially dooming us all!”

Earlier that day, Raul had visited the palace, trying to gauge where Serena and the King stood on the matter. Serena had whispered a few words into his ear, and without hesitation, the King had declared, “Lady Margaery is the Star of Fortune. If she thrives, so do I. And if I thrive, so does the entire kingdom.”

There was no need for further explanation.

And now, his foolish son had actually gone and stabbed Margaery.

Raul felt as if his head might explode. He turned to Joshua, urgency in his voice. “Where is Margaery? Did you call for a physician from the Royal Medical Hall? How is she?”