Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 73

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

**Chapter 73: Curry Favor With Her**

Joshua pressed his palms against his temples, feeling the relentless throb of a headache building within. “Dominic mentioned she went out,” he murmured, his voice strained.

Raul’s voice boomed in response, filled with urgency and frustration. “Then go find her! What are we waiting for?” His anger was palpable, a storm brewing just beneath the surface. “Are we really going to sit here and let her waltz off to Dashnell, stirring up trouble at the palace? If the King gets wind of this, how on earth am I supposed to explain it?”

“Fine! I’ll go look for her right away,” Joshua replied, his heart racing as cold sweat broke out on his brow. A rush of anxiety washed over him. He had already dispatched eyes to watch over Prince Dashnell’s estate. If Margaery had indeed made her way there, they would have heard something by now. The silence was a small comfort, hinting that perhaps she hadn’t sought out the prince just yet. “Hurry up and go find her!” Raul waved him off, his impatience evident, practically shooing him away.

Dominic, observing the escalating tension, interjected, “Raul, remember, Margaery is still engaged to me. She wouldn’t just head straight to Prince Dashnell. And I doubt he would involve himself in matters concerning the Chancellor’s estate at this moment, would he?”

“This isn’t merely about Prince Dashnell anymore,” Raul replied, sinking into a chair and rubbing his temples in a futile attempt to ease the mounting pressure. “Simon from the Hall of Divinity has already informed the King that Margaery is the Star of Fortune. Today, he told me that as long as Margaery is safe, he is safe, and so is the entire kingdom.”

Raul’s voice dropped to a near whisper, laced with dread. “Now that Margaery has been harmed, if this news reaches the King, whispers will begin to circulate. People will start to question whether we care for him or the fate of the kingdom at all.”

He leaned forward, his voice growing more intense. “If that happens, the entire court will be in an uproar—who could withstand such an impeachment? My headache is only getting worse. We cannot talk our way out of this.”

Dominic’s gaze turned sharp as he shot a glare at Clyde, who had been silent until now. “At this point, our only option is to have Clyde take the blame and offer a sincere apology. It’s the only way to demonstrate that we never intended to harm Margaery. This was just Clyde acting recklessly on his own.”

“I’m not going!” Clyde retorted defiantly, a hint of panic creeping into his voice. He shrank back into the corner, internally grappling with the unfairness of it all. ‘Why should I be the one to take the fall?’

Having trained under Sullivan, Clyde had always held himself in high regard, and the man’s reputation alone set him apart from many of the other young nobles. He thought bitterly, ‘If I go and accept the blame, how could I ever show my face in public again?’

His mind raced with thoughts of Avery, who had taken refuge at Lakeburgh, hiding away from the world. ‘Is that my fate? To become a recluse, never to emerge?’

“If you don’t go, I swear I’ll kill you myself,” Raul barked, losing his last shred of patience. His eyes were wild with rage as he turned to Clyde. “Clyde, if you go, there might still be a way out for you. But if you refuse, you won’t even know what hit you—and no one will dare to come to your aid,” he threatened.

Clyde protested, “Dad, this is ridiculous! She just bled a little. She’s not going to die from it. No one is going to end my life over that.”

Raul’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Clyde for a long, tense moment. Finally, he rasped, “Bring out the family punishment.”

“No, no, no! I’ll go!” Clyde exclaimed, panic flooding his features. “I’ll go apologize to her.” His heart raced as he thought, ‘Anything is better than facing the family punishment.’

The family punishment was notorious for its brutality—not everyone survived a beating from that iron whip. Just one lash could leave skin shredded and flesh exposed. The alternative of confessing his mistake and sincerely apologizing seemed far more palatable.

Raul’s gaze was icy as he fixed his stare on Clyde. “If you mess this up, I’ll personally hand you over to the King. You’ll be charged with defying the late King, and then let the Clan Court deal with you.”

Clyde’s complexion drained of color at the thought.

It was hard for him to comprehend how, in just six short months away at Lakeburgh, Margaery had transformed into someone so formidable, so untouchable.

Clyde thought to himself, ‘Now I can’t even mess with her?’

Yet he was acutely aware that ending up in the Inquisition Court or the Clan Court’s private cells was not an option he could entertain, especially with a charge as serious as defying the late King. He would surely be beaten to death.

Now that his own future was at stake, Clyde sobered up quickly.

Raul, sensing the shift in Clyde’s demeanor, warned him, “When you see her, just do whatever she asks. Our goal is to ensure she marries into the Hadley family, no matter what it takes. Do you understand?”

Clyde frowned, genuinely confused. “I really don’t get it.”

He was baffled by the entire situation. “Isn’t this just a marriage alliance? Why does it have to be her? I think Tessa would be just fine!”

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