Rina stared at the ground as if time had stopped at that moment…
The dark stains that marked the soil, the bodies lying like lifeless dolls.
As for Ron… he stood in the midst of the scene without a trace of disturbance.
His face calm, his features steady, as if he had only done something ordinary—like picking up a book from the ground or closing a door.
Rina froze in place.
She had known Ron since she was six… seven years of friendship, seven years of laughter, small quarrels, secret outings… and she had never witnessed any force like this.
No thirteen-year-old could reach such precision, speed, and composure unless he was…
noble…
or trained in imperial armies…
or something else entirely.
She swallowed hard, then turned to him, her voice trembling despite her attempt to hide it:
"Ho… how did you do that?"
Ron returned the pistol to his pocket with a calm motion, carrying neither pride nor hesitation, then said in a low, steady tone:
"This isn't the time to talk… don't you see you should return to the palace before your father goes mad searching for you?"
He was right.
She was a missing noble in the dead of night, a target, and no one at the palace knew where she had gone or why…
Yet she noticed something else—Ron was avoiding the topic. Avoiding talk of his power, of his true nature.
She didn't press him, seeing the shadows in his eyes that he did not wish to reveal.
Still, she asked, her tone a mix of awe and confusion:
"And what will you do… with them?"
Ron remembered the scene behind him, then turned swiftly, and after a brief moment, faced her again:
"Wait here for a moment. I won't be long."
He ran quickly toward the house where he spent most of his time and disappeared inside.
Minutes later, he returned, looking even more resolute.
"The Vershi knights will handle the bodies."
Rina nodded slowly.
She had no choice but to trust him… despite all the questions blossoming in her mind like dark doors.
She whispered softly: "Accompany me back to the palace…"
Ron didn't hesitate.
He immediately moved with her, their footsteps light along the dirt paths, until from a distance they noticed the Vershi knights patrolling, searching for something.
"Apparently, they're looking for you," Ron said, watching them with his eyes, then turned to her and took off his warm wool jacket, offering it to her.
She raised an eyebrow in surprise: "It's not cold."
He smiled faintly: "Not for the weather… cover your face and hair, smart one. If people see you tomorrow, you'll make the headlines: 'Duke's Daughter Roams at Midnight.'"
She stifled a small laugh as she understood his reasoning, then pulled the jacket over her head, trying to cover half her features as best she could.
"They'll say I've been kidnapped… or ran away… or worse…"
She said it, analyzing the possibilities with dark humor, and couldn't help but laugh.
A small laugh in the heart of the night… hiding a great secret walking beside her, named "Ron."
Rina and Ron continued to walk quietly, but each step felt heavy, as if sinking into the darkness. The night around them was silent, save for the quickening beats of Rina's heart and the rhythm of their steps on the cold ground. From afar, the Vershi knights spotted them approaching, beginning to encircle them cautiously, their faces filled with concern and suspicion, weapons at their sides, eyes scrutinizing Rina's every move.
"Miss, where have you been?"
"Are you alright?"
"What exactly happened?"
Rina froze for a moment; each question pierced her heart like a spear. She said nothing, not even moving her lips, her brows furrowed, eyes fixed ahead. Each word could reveal the truth before her father even knew.
She entered the palace with steady steps, each one climbing the staircase of her fear, until she found her father standing in the middle of the hall, a pillar connecting the sky and earth.
She paused.
Her heart trembled.
She knew this meeting wouldn't be calm. He would be angry… he would question… he would demand the truth.
Thiou bent slightly to reach her height, his smile tinged with mockery, yet not hostile. His calm voice mixed reassurance with sarcasm:
"Where was my well-mannered daughter? Did you start wandering while asleep?"
Rina felt a pang in her chest. It wasn't anger… but a strange sense of caution and awe. She didn't answer, freezing in place.
Her father's tone dropped, low but sharp:
"Why do you not answer? Do you think my anger is limited to your wandering? Tell the truth, Rina."
She clicked her tongue, lifted her eyes to him, her voice trembling:
"There… were bandits… who tried to attack… Ron… th—"
Thiou laughed briefly, unexpectedly, carrying a mixture of surprise and mockery:
"Playing the hero now? If you went there, you and Ron would've ended up dead together."
She swallowed, warmth filling her cheeks, feeling helpless.
He then asked, curiosity and concern in his voice:
"And how did you know there were bandits?"
She froze, but this time she did not retreat.
She lifted her head steadily and said clearly, piercing the silence:
"Robinson… the guard who accompanied me… he hurt me and targeted Ron."
In that moment, Thiou's expression changed completely.
He shifted from a calm father to a stern duke, his eyes charged with an anger no one had ever seen. Everything around him seemed to tighten as if the walls themselves absorbed his fury.
Ossana appeared behind him, her steps quiet and steady, like a cold light illuminating the space. Thiou said to her:
"Rina… go to your room now. Rest, read a story, leave this to me."
Rina nodded, her heart racing, knowing that any attempt at discussion now would be dangerous. She ascended the stairs slowly, each step heavy with thought, pain, and the full awareness of her father's ruthless authority.
She sat on her bed, hand on her bandage, reflecting on every moment of the day, everything she had felt, and everything that had happened. She felt a pang—not in her head, but in her heart—for having caused this suppressed anger.
Below the palace, commands echoed, the palace coming alive: servants, guards, knights, all summoned quickly.
Thiou stood in the center, his face rigid, voice heavy:
"You have surely heard what happened today. Carina was injured… we do not know by whom."
Ossana adjusted her stance, looking sternly at everyone:
"I do not believe any of you could harm the heiress."
Thiou nodded, voice strict:
"We trusted you for years… gave you everything… and this is the result."
Some whispered apologies, but Ossana cut them off sharply:
"Apologize now? Do you know how Vershi was? How my husband was? Do you want to return to those days? Anyone who argues… will be killed."
In the past, the Vershi family's rule over servants and all was extremely strict, until the eldest duke, Thiou's father, passed away.
At that time, Ossana focused only on raising her children and eased the palace's severity.
Fear seeped into everyone's hearts as they remembered those times.
Then Ossana gestured for Carla to step back:
"She is not just a maid… she is the second mother of my granddaughter… I will not say a word to her."
Thiou nodded, speaking more calmly:
"You may leave… and make sure Rina hears nothing of what is happening now."
Carla nodded, bowed lightly, and left, taking all envy and jealousy with her.
Thiou then turned his focus to the rest, his voice strict:
"Why do you not serve the princess as she has served you? Do you realize what a child her age has accomplished? Seven years… seven full years of study and diligence, while children her age only play… Why? To be prepared to bear the responsibility of the Southern Duchy… For whom? For the people of the South."
All fell silent… the silence heavy as a wall.
Rina felt the full weight of her sacrifice, her loneliness, the responsibility she carried, and how everything around her watched, judged, and expected her to stand strong… because she was the heiress… and she had to learn the burdens that were far too heavy for her age.
Thiou sighed deeply, then stepped forward. His commanding voice pierced the hall:
"I know the person… the one I trusted… but, as always, betrayal comes from where we least expect."
He cast a sharp, sword-like gaze at everyone present. Robinson's heart shrank with fear, and he shifted his feet in a desperate attempt to appear merely attentive, while casting secret threatening looks at those he had bribed to defend him.
Thiou's voice rose, eyes burning like embers:
"Robinson! Step forward, here, before me, now."
Robinson trembled, his steps faltering, voice shaking with fear:
"Y-yes, my… my lord… have I done… something…?"
Ossana's gaze sharpened, and Thiou's reply was decisive:
"I am the one asking questions here! What did you do? Did you think I wouldn't know? Or that I would stay silent? I made you my daughter's companion, and this is the result?"
Robinson trembled, trying to salvage some confidence:
"My lord, this is nonsense! I am innocent, witnesses will confirm I did nothing."
Thiou laughed briefly, mockingly, then waved his hand:
"Fine! Let the witnesses step forward. Let's see who dares claim my daughter lies."
Fear hardened the hearts of those bribed; they stayed silent, whispering nervously, unsure what to say. But one summoned courage, stepped forward, bowing tensely:
"My lord Thiou…" After a pause, he blurted out: "Robinson… is the culprit!"
The silence shattered. Robinson shook his head violently, screaming:
"No! He's a liar! A scoundrel! Stop lying!"
But a resounding slap from Duchess Ossana cut him off:
"Shut your mouth! Is this how you speak before us? Even if you were innocent—you are not—you would be punished for your insolence alone!"
Thiou raised his hand to restore calm, then signaled the witness to continue. The man took a deep breath:
"My lord… he gave us… a bribe… to keep quiet."
The rest of the false witnesses had no choice but to remain silent, terrified of punishment.
Thiou signaled them to step back, then turned his gaze to Robinson. Anger blazed in his eyes, a look unseen for a long time, sending shivers through all present.
Robinson tried to speak:
"My lord duke, hear me… yes, I erred, but… Lady Elena threatened me into doing it!"
It was a blatant lie. Elena never threatened him; she had immediately agreed.
Here, the fury of Thiou and his mother Ossana ignited together. Thiou's hoarse voice commanded:
"Bring her now! Quickly!"
A guard dashed forward. Robinson's lips curled into a mocking smile.
Minutes later, Elena arrived in surprise, and when Thiou addressed her, his question was harsh and direct:
"Do you hate your sister so much? Is this the stewardship the duchess left to you? Ridiculous!"
Elena did not understand at first, but when she saw Robinson's mocking grin directed at her, she realized the plan. She shouted:
"This scoundrel is lying to you! He is a liar!"
Robinson interrupted quickly, handing Thiou a stack of letters—agreements with bandits, all details of the plot.
Thiou read them, hands pressing on the papers until they nearly tore, then he ripped them violently and threw them aside:
"I do not believe it! You toy with the heiress's life as if she were a mere chess piece! Do you think I will let this go easily? This is a lesson for all of you."
He tried to calm briefly, then looked to his mother as if consulting her. Ossana stepped forward and spoke clearly and firmly:
"Let all hear: this is not just my opinion, but mine and Thiou's. Whoever harms Carina, the heiress, harms the future of the entire South. If anything happens to this girl, the entire South suffers. We will not seek another heir; we will leave you in chaos, without security, civilization, or anything."
Thiou nodded in agreement, adding:
"This time, I will not carry out the sentence. But next time, if Carina is harmed—by anyone, guards, servants, knights, or others—everyone will be executed."
The room's occupants held their breath, hands trembling. They realized this anger would not pass easily. Even Elena froze in fear.
After a moment, Thiou turned to her:
"And you too, my wife's ward… be grateful you are the ward, otherwise I would have cut you down here. You haven't even inherited a fraction of your sister's kindness and warmth. It seems I erred… Revilina is unparalleled."
His tone carried regret and doubt—a lingering suspicion about the authenticity of the wardship, which Rina knew was indeed forged.
Then Ossana whispered in her son's ear, loud enough for everyone to hear:
"Kill him."
Thiou did not hesitate. In a single swift motion, he drew the sword at his side and raised it high.
Before everyone—servants, guards, knights—the blade fell with a decisive strike.
Robinson's head was severed… blood gushing across the floor.