Chapter 61: Whispers of Fate
Amidst the echoes of my turbulent encounter in the dungeon and the unsettling voices that had haunted my reflection, I stood before the Duke, the weight of his unwavering belief in Grant’s innocence gnawing at me.
"Duke, do you think I’m lying?" I inquired, my disbelief evident in my voice.
"I don’t know what you’re doing, Madam. But it seems you’ve begun to view everyone with suspicion. Please, stop this. Grant is not what you think he is. He is loyal to us, loyal to me. I don’t understand why you’re accusing him of something he has never done," the Duke responded, his defense of Grant resolute.
I pressed on, determined to unravel the mysteries that surrounded us. "If he is not what I think he is, then why was he here in the middle of the night? He should have been in his room, sound asleep. Yet he was present in the cell of the assassin. Why?"
The Duke continued to advocate for Grant, explaining that his actions were driven by concern for my safety. His conviction in Grant’s loyalty remained unwavering, frustrating my attempts to uncover the truth.
"You will regret this," I warned in a low voice, but the Duke appeared resolute in his belief.
As the tension between us simmered, a familiar voice broke through the unease. "Duchess, are you okay?"
It was Vix, the Crown Prince, who had arrived, her concern for my well-being evident. However, I found myself unable to respond, overcome by a profound sadness that weighed heavily on my chest.
"Duchess?" Vix tried again, but my silence endured. Without further words, I withdrew from the situation, retreating to my room, where I grappled with the emotional turmoil that engulfed me.
Inside the confines of my room, I sought refuge on my bed, closing my eyes as I battled the overwhelming emotions that threatened to consume me.
***
In the depths of slumber, I found myself in a realm where reality and illusion intertwined. The boundaries of time and identity blurred, and I struggled to discern the threads of truth from the tapestry of dreams.