Chapter 11

....Back at the baroness manor...

The fire crackled merrily in the grand hearth of Baroness Meredith's study, casting flickering shadows that danced across the ornately carved bookshelves. A stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within the room's sole occupant. She sat rigidly in her armchair, her gaze fixed on a spot in the distance, a picture of steely resolve masking a wellspring of worry.

Why did her niece commit such a grueling mistake? Just why?

Weeks had bled into one another since Aurelia's daring infiltration of King Samael's castle, and her crueling mistake. Weeks filled with an agonizing silence, broken only by the terse reports delivered by Baroness Meredith's network of informants. News of Aurelia's capture had reached her swiftly, a cold dread settling in her gut.

Tonight, however, a sliver of hope had pierced the oppressive silence. A coded message, delivered through a circuitous route, had arrived at the manor. It was brief, cryptic, and hinted at danger, but it confirmed one crucial detail – Aurelia was alive.

The message sparked a flurry of activity within the manor. Couriers were dispatched, coded orders relayed, and a tense anticipation hung heavy in the air. She, however, remained stoic, her face an unreadable mask. Only the tremor in her hand, clutching a worn locket adorned with a familiar crest, betrayed the turmoil within.

The oppressive silence of the study was shattered by a discreet knock on the door. The Baroness's head snapped up, a flicker of wariness crossing her features. With a sharp command, she bade the intruder enter.

"Enter,"

The door creaked open, and Gaius, his imposing body, filled the doorway. His usual stoic demeanor was etched with a hint of concern. He bowed low, the glint of his silver sword catching the flickering firelight.

"My Lady," he began, his voice deep and respectful, "the Crestwells are preparing for their departure. Their carriages are being readied, and they will be leaving for their kingdom shortly."

The Baroness's lips thinned into a hard line. A month had passed since she'd taken in the Crestwell family, a week had passed with their neverending questions about Aurelia's whereabouts, prying to matters that weren't their business. Their presence had been a constant annoyance, a disruption to her usual routine.

"They are finally leaving?" she said, her voice devoid of warmth. "See them off, if you must. Ensure their journey is… uneventful." The last word was laced with a veiled threat, a reminder that even in exile, they remained beholden to her hospitality, however grudging it may have been.

Gaius hesitated for a moment, then continued. "My Lady," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "would you not… wish to see them off yourself? It would be a courtesy extended to their noblel lineage."

The Baroness snorted. "Courtesy? They have shown little in return for the safe haven I've provided. Let them go."

The Baroness's dismissive wave hung heavy in the air. A long silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the crackling of the fire. Gaius, ever the dutiful one, remained rooted to the spot, his dark silhouette a stark contrast to the flickering flames.

Finally, he spoke again, his voice barely a whisper. "My Lady," he began, choosing his words carefully, "is there… any other news about Lady Aurelia? Beyond the… confirmation of her being alive?"

The Baroness's lips pressed into a thin line. A flicker of something – anger, perhaps, or fear – crossed her features. She knew Gaius held a certain… fondness for Aurelia. A fact that had irritated her to no end, especially now, when emotions could cloud judgment.

"There is nothing else," she said curtly, her voice leaving no room for argument. "The message was clear. She is alive. That is all we know at this point."

Gaius remained silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the flames. The Baroness knew him well enough to understand the turmoil simmering beneath his stoic exterior. He cared for Aurelia, a fact that was both inconvenient and potentially dangerous.

"My Lady," he finally spoke, his voice low and steady, "with all due respect, wouldn't it be prudent to… gather more information? Perhaps a discreet inquiry, a subtle investigation…"

The Baroness let out a sharp scoff. "Do you think I haven't considered that, Gaius? Do you think I've simply been sitting here twiddling my thumbs while my niece languishes in that… that man's clutches?" Her voice rose in anger, her control momentarily threatened.

Gaius's hands clenched into fists at his sides. He knew all too well the brutality King Samael was capable of. The image of Aurelia, the spirited young woman with a fire in her eyes, being subjected to the King's cruelty filled him with a cold fury. He had sworn an oath to protect the Baroness, but seeing Aurelia, the woman who had unknowingly captured his heart, in such peril, ignited a fierce protectiveness within him.

There was no doubt that Aurelia was being tortured both physically, mentally and emotionally... That man…the king... he took everything from her already. He destroyed her family, her life…His jaw clenched. Gaius knew the king won't hesitate to break her spirit as well...He just hoped the king wasn't aware of her real identity.

Gaius remained expressionless despite her outburst, but his stance remained firm. "Forgive me, My Lady," he said, his voice respectful yet firm. "However, information is power. Knowing more about her situation could be crucial in planning her rescue."

The Baroness glared at him, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. A part of her admired his loyalty and concern for Aurelia. Another part, however, bristled at the subtle defiance in his tone.

"And who," she hissed, her voice laced with ice, "would be best suited for such a delicate task? You? A simple bodyguard with a misplaced sense of… chivalry?"

Gaius didn't flinch. "If that is what is required, My Lady," he replied calmly, "then I am prepared to undertake the mission."

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. The Baroness stared at Gaius, his unwavering gaze challenging her. For a long moment, silence reigned.

"And what exactly do you propose we do, Gaius?" she inquired, her voice regaining its usual sharpness. "Ride north with a handful of men and demand the King release her? Such a venture would be foolhardy at best, suicidal at worst."

The Baroness's voice turned steely as she addressed Gaius. "A mistake. A 'grueling' mistake, Aurelia has committed. She took a life, Gaius. Lord Arnold's life, one of the King's advisors. Do you truly believe the king will view it as anything less than a blatant act of defiance, a challenge to his authority? She would obviously be punished...dearly"

The air crackled with a tension that rivaled the flames in the fireplace. Gaius stood rigidly, his jaw clenched so tightly it threatened to crack. The Baroness's words hung heavy in the air, a harsh indictment of Aurelia's actions.

"A mistake?" he echoed, his voice low and dangerous. "You call it a mistake, which she must be punished for? She was a child, barely more than a girl, forced to witness the slaughter of her entire family at the hands of that monster! And in her grief, her rage, she took the life of the wrong man. But you can't blame her for what she did, you, my lady, orchestrated the whole mission. "

Fury simmered in his dark eyes, a stark contrast to the usual stoicism he presented. He knew the Baroness's history with the King, the simmering tension that had fueled Aurelia's desperate mission. But his loyalty, his unwavering concern for Aurelia, wouldn't allow him to remain silent.

"Perhaps," he continued, his voice laced with a hint of accusation, "if you had provided her with a likeness, a drawing, anything to help her identify the true monster, this wouldn't have happened."

She sighed, a flicker of pain crossing her features before being masked by her usual icy demeanor.

"A likeness?" she scoffed, her voice laced with bitterness. "How in the seven hells was I supposed to acquire one? I haven't seen the King's face in a decade, not clearly. Only the highest ranking lords are granted an audience in his grand courtroom. A mere Baroness like myself can only dream of such a privilege."

A sharp rap on the door interrupted the tense exchange between the Baroness and Gaius. Both turned towards the sound, a flicker of surprise crossing their features. The Baroness cleared her throat, composing herself with practiced ease.

"Enter," she commanded, her voice regaining its usual authority.

The study door creaked open, revealing her ever-reliable butler. His face held a hint of urgency.

"My Lady," he began, bowing his head in a respectful greeting. "There is a guest at the manor requesting your immediate attention. They claim it's a matter of utmost importance."

Her brow furrowed. Unexpected visitors were a rarity, especially at this late hour. "A guest?" she echoed, a flicker of curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Who is it?"

Edgar straightened, his voice devoid of emotion. "They refused to identify themselves, My Lady. Only that you would recognize the significance of their visit."

The air crackled with unspoken possibilities. She exchanged a fleeting glance with Gaius, a silent question hanging in the air.

"Very well," she finally said, her voice laced with a hint of steel. "Show them to the drawing-room. I will be with them shortly."

Her butler inclined his head once more and withdrew, the heavy oak door closing with a soft thud. The silence returned, but it was a different kind of silence now, charged with anticipation.

"Gaius," She said, turning to him, "see to the Crestwells' departure as planned."

Gaius bowed his head in acknowledgement, his jaw still clenched tight with worry. His focus, however, remained on the urgent matter at hand. Aurelia's plight gnawed at him, but the Baroness's orders were clear.