Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 80

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

**Chapter 80: Regretted Deeply**

Joshua’s face was a mask of worry, shadows playing across his features as he lowered his voice, almost a whisper. “There’s no point in investigating further. Clyde described the attacker as one from Stormshade Hall. Lord Dominic shares this belief, but I haven’t had the chance to speak with him yet…”

He paused, the weight of uncertainty hanging heavily in the air. “We simply can’t grasp how we managed to provoke them.”

With a furtive glance towards the courtyard, Joshua turned to his father, his brow furrowed in concern. “Father, have you discovered anything? Who exactly is Craig?”

Raul’s expression darkened as he shook his head slowly, a gesture filled with frustration and confusion. “No.”

Initially, he had assumed Craig was merely a childhood friend of his wife, someone from a simpler time. Yet, upon meeting him, a disquieting realization struck him: they seemed worlds apart in temperament and demeanor.

He pressed on, “Are you absolutely certain that those who attacked Clyde were from Stormshade Hall?”

“I can’t say for sure.”

Joshua sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. “I find it hard to accept as well.”

His gaze darted around the room, tension coiling in his voice. “If they truly are from Stormshade Hall, doesn’t that spell imminent danger for the Chancellor’s estate? Why would they target us? I refuse to believe that Stormshade Hall is covertly supporting Margaery. After all, there hasn’t been a single hint of such a connection before.”

“Moreover, Stormshade Hall has never operated within Sinderin City until now.”

The very thought of Stormshade Hall sent chills down Joshua’s spine, compelling him to rationalize the situation. “Perhaps everyone was simply terrified and mistook someone else for them.”

Raul nodded in agreement, a grim expression settling on his face. “It’s likely a case of mistaken identity.”

After a moment of heavy silence, he reiterated, “It cannot possibly be Stormshade Hall. We haven’t committed any truly vile or immoral acts.”

Stormshade Hall, as the rumors in the martial world suggested, was synonymous with “favorable winds and rains, where all desires are fulfilled.” Those who met their end at the hands of Stormshade Hall were deemed irredeemably wicked.

In recent years, Stormshade Hall had positioned itself as a beacon of justice, rushing to the aid of disaster-stricken communities, supplying provisions to the military, eradicating banditry, combating cults, and executing traitors without hesitation.

Their operations mirrored the actions of the Inquisition Court in the martial realm.

But what transgressions had the Chancellor’s estate committed?

Raul reflected on their past actions, sifting through memories of mistakes and schemes, yet finding nothing that could be classified as truly heinous.

“Stormshade Hall doesn’t concern itself with trivial matters.”

With that thought in mind, Raul shook his head again, resolute. “This is likely just a misunderstanding.”

As he spoke, he shifted the conversation, asking, “How is Clyde faring?”

His emotions were a tangled web of complexity.

Clyde had derailed their meticulously crafted plans, yet Raul couldn’t bring himself to wish for Clyde’s demise. He silently hoped that Margaery could find it in her heart to forgive him.

After all, they were bound by blood.

When the subject of Clyde’s condition arose, Joshua’s expression turned grave. “It’s very serious. The assassin clearly sought revenge. The sword not only pierced his shoulder but twisted within, creating a ghastly wound.”

“Lord Dominic personally entered the palace to implore the King for assistance and summoned Doctor Nolan to stitch the injury. Yet, the prognosis remains dire. Doctor Nolan stated that even if Clyde’s wound heals, his martial arts practice may never recover due to the injury’s impact on his foundation.”

“From the nature of the wound, it appears that Clyde’s injury to Margaery provoked this retaliation.”

Joshua gazed toward the courtyard, his mind racing. “But who would go so far as to do such a thing?”

Raul’s brow furrowed deeper as he pondered.

He thought of Dashnell, Craig, Norman from the Chapel of Wisdom, the heir of Morales’s estate, and Simon from the Hall of Divinity.

These were the only individuals who had been frequently around Margaery lately.

With a sharp intake of breath, Joshua declared, “If that’s the case, we must do whatever it takes to earn Margaery’s forgiveness and atone for the harm and neglect we’ve inflicted upon her in the past.”

The cold wind carried his voice away, his words fragmented, sometimes barely audible, sometimes echoing loudly.

Yet, this moment of clarity sobered him.

In that instant, he truly grasped the extent of the wrongs he and his four brothers, along with their father, had committed against Margaery over the past year.

They had previously believed that Margaery deserved every ounce of neglect, harm, and humiliation.

But now, the harsh truth forced him to confront reality. “I fear that once she is with the Hadley family, we cannot allow her to bear the blame for Avery any longer, or we will find ourselves in an irreparable situation.”

Raul, too, recognized the severity of their circumstances. “Indeed, given the current state of affairs, we can afford to lose Avery’s position at the Royal Medical Hall, but we cannot afford to lose Margaery.”

“If we lose her, the Chancellor’s estate will inevitably face ruin.”

Raul closed his eyes, a wave of regret washing over him, twisting his insides like a vice. “Had I known then what I know now, I would never have…”

If only he could have treated Tessa and Margaery with equal fairness, if only he could have shown Margaery a little more patience, listened to her grievances, and investigated the matters thoroughly, the bitter consequences of today might never have come to pass.

But at that time, no one would have believed her.

Raul recalled Paige’s words and the fragments of gold found in her room. His heart felt as if it were being cleaved apart, and he bitterly lamented his past decisions.

‘Regarding the incident at the rockery, if what Paige said was true, then what have I actually done?’

He had forced Margaery to publicly apologize to Tessa.

As Chancellor, as a father, he understood the significance of a public apology for a young girl who had only just come of age and was preparing for marriage.

But he…