Chapter 6: A Wild Swan (4)
Time Remaining: 3 hours, 42 minutes
The system time kept ticking away, and yet Lucien couldn't find Marina in a place where he could talk to her without raising suspicion.
But finally, before dawn, her duties ended.
Marina slipped silently through the courtyard toward the stables. Although confused, Lucien's eyes followed her every step.
Curiosity tightened like a knot in his chest. What could she be doing in the stable?
As far as he knew, his father's horse would be remained there, but apart from that, the other horses were either too young or so emaciated that their skeletons showed through their skin, meaning not important before an war broke out in notice.
These noble creatures, once brought from the southern states of the empire for war, were now left to suffer.
"All other horse would be taken from the stable, why would she go there?"
"Did the Baroness order his horse to be killed?" he wondered. Either way, he would find out. Keeping his distance, Lucien followed her.
She moved past several gaunt horses, their ribs visible beneath dull coats. With a gentle murmur, she scattered a handful of chickpeas into a trough and poured water from a wooden bucket, coaxing the animals to drink.
"Is she feeding them? There's barely food in the manor," he thought bitterly, his parched throat and hollow stomach only adding to his irritation.