239: A wait worthwhile

A wait worthwhile

The carriage that had taken two of the ladies of House de Lanark to the adjacent state returned with both of them, along with the Archduchess, who kept looking out of the window with the expression of a person who had suffered great injustice.0

"Friendship!" Grace scoffed for the third time in a row.

"Mother, please," came Larissa's composed voice as the carriage neared its parking place at the Archduke's estate.

Grace's expression softened upon hearing Larissa's heartfelt plea, and Adela could empathize with her mother as she sensed Grace's inner struggle.

Without her knowledge of Andreas's true identity as a vampire, his ability to form a mate bond, and the fact that he had a mate before Larissa who was his second mate, the Archduchess's reservations about Andreas were firmly grounded.

"Where were you, really, Larissa?" Grace finally asked, her tone soft but still guarded.

"I told you, Mother, I was powdering my nose when I heard your voice downstairs. My conversation with Andreas had already been concluded by the time you arrived. That's why I asked if we could leave the moment I saw you in the living room. But I was truly about to find Adela, who was waiting outside the living area's door, and ask her to leave, even if you were not there."

Regardless of the fact that Adela was slightly shaken by how easily Larissa lied to their mother with such a straight face, neither the Archduchess nor Adela appeared convinced that the conversation between Andreas and Larissa was really over.

They spent a few moments in silence, then Larissa, who was looking out of the window, suddenly frowned. "Isn't that the princess's carriage?"

"Oh, it took her long enough to come," Adela commented.

"Why would she come at this late hour?" The Archduchess asked.

Both girls looked at each other, tongue-tied. Adela had hoped that her father had informed her mother about the jacket, but by the looks of it, it seemed that the task was left for Adela to handle.

She took a deep breath, "She is here to collect an important clue about the murder."

"What clue?"

Adela swallowed. "Egon's jacket."

Grimacing, Grace glared at Adela.

"What jacket? What are you talking about?"

"Mother, the night of the murder. The truth is…" She steeled herself, "The truth is that Egon was in my chambers that night."

"Wh…" Grace began, but the syllable hung in the air as her features twisted. "What does it mean he was in your chambers!" She shouted, causing both of her daughters to flinch and wince. The Archduchess's eyes grew large as she processed the information. "Does your father know about this?"

Adela gave her mother a cautious nod.

"Calm down, Mother," Larissa said quietly, observing her mother fuming.

"I won't calm down! On one hand, a single nobleman visits a single noblewoman's chamber in the blind of the night and goes out unnoticed by those useless knights! And on the other hand, it is an important clue for the murder? Is Egon being treated as a suspect? Of all the ridiculous things!" 

Adela looked utterly bewildered. Her mother's fervent defense of the man Lady de Lanark loved was the most unexpected turn of events.

"Don't look so surprised! I saw all of his letters with his poetic words, young lady," Grace shook her head with disapproval. "Is this truly the time to indulge in romance?! Have you learned nothing from your sister's experiences? Can you not marry someone without entangling your heart in the matter?!"

Embarrassed, Adela took a deep breath, striving to maintain composure.

"…Have you been searching my room, Mother?"

"Not meticulously enough! I did not chance upon any jackets!"

Adela was appalled by this. She knew for sure that her mother would not step into her chambers without a good reason. Whatever that reason was, she had to push it aside for now. She straightened her posture, determined not to let her mother's accusations affect her. If anything, she was only glad that Egon's jacket was left in her room.

"It is, indeed, not the right time to indulge in romance. That's why we waited to tell everyone."

"Really? Because it sounds like I was the last to be informed of whatever is taking place in your life recently!"

Once again, the Archduchess was not entirely off course; what she objected to was not untrue. Adela gave her mother a long, calm look. Weren't you the one to hide everything from me to begin with?

"Mother," Larissa interjected, "We need to step out of the carriage. We have been parked for a while now, and it is rude for us not to step out and greet the Princess of Kolhis."

Grace's eyes cut to Larissa, her face flushing. Her hands extended across the carriage, clutching Larissa's hands in hers. Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke with emotion, "You are acting all high and mighty now, but if you think that my heart can't feel the burn in your heart, you are mistaken!"

The Archduchess's tears overflowed, her head going down, her shoulders slightly trembling.

"I am a mother, Larissa. When you, your sister, or your brother, when any of you places sugar in your tea, I feel the sweetness going down my throat..." A soft sound of sniffing escaped her, "You think your pain doesn't reach me? It is all the von Conradies' fault… Why can't they leave my daughters alone?!"

Larissa's arms enveloped her mother's head in a gentle embrace, yet her own countenance remained oddly impassive. And Adela could sense that her sister's emotional barriers were fortified, reaching their maximum height at that moment.

I have to get Larissa out of the carriage and into her chambers as soon as possible.

Silently, Adela rapped on the carriage door, acknowledging the knight who opened it for her. As she descended, she squinted at the scene before her. The Princess, clad in her dark armor, lounged against her carriage, flanked by her imposing bodyguard. Nonchalantly, she held the jacket and the bottle in her arm, appearing rather disinterested, almost bored.

Seeing Adela approach, the Princess waved with a wide grin. "Ade- Lady Adelaide!" she greeted cheerfully.

"Princess," Adela curtsied gracefully, "Thank you for attending to your royal duties even at this late hour; it is truly admirable. Is there anything I may assist you with?" From the corner of her eye, she observed her mother and sister descending the carriage.

Her plan had indeed worked.

"I'm waiting for your father." Sasha said with a lower tone now, "The majordomo informed me he's in his study with a guest and should not be disturbed unless it's a matter of warfare." With an exaggerated gesture, she rolled her big brown eyes.

Adela's heart sank as she gulped, anxious about the identity of the guest meeting her father at such a late hour.

Her worries were soon confirmed.

Emerging from behind the massive fountain, Kaiser de Lanark appeared, accompanied by none other than Leopold von Conradie.

Sasha, beside Adela, let out a soft whistle, drawing her attention.

Curiously, Adela glanced at Sasha, wondering about her peculiar gesture. But the Princess's eyes remained fixed on the approaching men.

With a slow, seductive smirk, Sasha remarked, "What do you know, looks like waiting was worthwhile."

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