Chapter 96. Dark Guild
In the heavy silence of a Caulem manor drawing room, Maria’s grief erupted into fury. Her hands held Leo’s collar, trembling as tears streamed down her face. "This is your fault, Leonhardt! Vivien’s gone because of you!" Her voice was a raw, anguished scream, her eyes blind with pain.
Leo stood motionless, his crimson gaze fixed on the floor, his silence a wall against her accusations.
Lucian’s face pale with shock and shouted, "Mother, what are you talking about? Why are you blaming him?"
Maria’s sobs drowned out his words, her grip tightening. Alric rose, and pulled her back. His hand struck her cheek with a sharp, resounding slap that silenced the room. Maria staggered, her hand holding to her face, tears falling to the polished floor as she stared at Alric, stunned.
Alric’s voice was low, edged with steel. "You caused this, Maria, and now you are blaming Leonhardt? Have you no remorse for what you’ve done?"
Lucian, struggling to comprehend, turned to his father, his voice trembling. "Father, please....explain what’s happening."
Alric’s gaze was heavy, his silence a moment of painful restraint before he spoke, his words measured. "Your mother hired the mercenaries to assassinate Leonhardt."
Lucian’s breath hitched, his eyes darting to Maria, his voice barely audible. "That... that can’t be true." It was a plea, not a statement.
Maria stood trembling, her sobs quiet but unrelenting, her lack of denial a confession. Lucian turned to Leo, who sat with a stillness that unnerved him. "Brother, tell me they’re lying," Lucian said, his voice shaking.
Alric shook his head, his tone grim. "It’s true. She orchestrated the first attempt on Leonhardt’s life as a bandit’s attack, the one we believed killed him. I know everything about her involvement but failed to stop it. That’s my failure."
Lucian rose unsteadily, holding his mother’s shoulders, his voice breaking. "Is it true?" Maria nodded, her tears falling faster, and Lucian’s voice cracked. "Why?"