Chapter 101 The Walls Have Ears

Chapter 101 The Walls Have Ears
ROWAN

I did not go back to Nyra even if I wanted to, every instinct in me pulled in that direction, but instinct was a dangerous thing when emotions were involved and right now, emotions were exactly what someone wanted.

In a way it was still hard to process all of this. I felt to myself that someone was trying to send a message, or perhaps this was a distraction at least that was what this felt like.

My steps slowed as I reached the far end of the main corridor and I exhaled slowly, letting the silence settle around me.

While walking I started pulling everything together starting from the timing.

Dinner had ended not too long ago. People had dispersed, and I was certain that the routines had resumed immediately the guards rotated for that evening.

My attention turned to the guard that was standing before me. He seemed tense but perhaps this was just me overthinking.

“My lord.”

“Who was stationed here an hour ago?” I asked without stopping.

He blinked once, caught slightly off guard by the question. “Rotation changed, my lord. It was—”

“I didn’t ask for that,” I cut in, my voice low. “I asked for names.”

He swallowed. “Darian and Marcus.”

“Where are they now?”

“Darian is still on duty. Marcus was relieved.”

“Bring Darian to me. Now.” I ordered.

He bowed slightly. .

I continued walking, slower now, my gaze moving over everything. From the doors to the windows skeptically m

Nothing looked out of place.Which made my anxiety worse. Because something was off but I couldn't tell what it was.

Just as I was getting to the door. I heard footsteps behind me and turned.

“My lord,” Darian bowed.

“You were on duty closer to here,” I said, stepping closer.

“Yes, my lord.” He muttered.

“Did anyone pass through this corridor?”
“A few servants but nothing unusual.”

I studied with him. “What about visitors?”

“No, my lord.” He replied.

“And you saw no one approach this door?” I gestured lightly toward Aria’s room.

“I…” He hesitated, just enough to make my gaze sharpen.

“Think carefully before you answer again.”

His throat moved as he swallowed..“There was someone,” he admitted finally.

Silence dropped instantly. “Describe them.”

“Hmm …I didn’t see the face clearly,” he said. “The person had a cloak... Hood up.”

“And you let them pass?” I was astonished.

“I was away getting water ” he replied quickly. “I left someone here but caught a glimpse from afar.”

“You left who?” I asked.

“Marcus.”

My expression didn’t change, but something cold settled deeper in my chest.

“And did you get to ask?” I questioned.

“I assumed he already did." His face dropped after he said that

A slow breath left me. “Marcus.” I said. “Where is he?”

“He should be in the lower quarters by now.”

“Should be,” I echoed softly.

That wasn’t good enough.

“Find him,” I ordered the guard beside me. “Bring him to me. Immediately.”

He left without a word and I turned to the guard standing beside me.

“You will not leave this corridor,” I said quietly. “Not until I say so.”

“Yes, my lord.”

I held his gaze for a second longer before stepping past him and finally pushing the door open.

The scent of blood hit again but this time stronger.

Cyril didn’t look up but spoke right away.

“She’s still breathing,” he said, like he knew exactly why I came back.

I moved closer, my gaze settling on Aria. She looked worse with her lips slightly parted, her chest rising slower than before.

My jaw clenched. “Someone came through the corridor,” I said.

That got his attention.

“Did they?” Cyril murmured, not stopping his work.

“One of the guards let them pass.”

“We need to get to the root of this,” Cyril replied flatly.

My gaze shifted to him. “You think it was someone from inside.”

“I think,” he said, finally glancing at me, “that whoever did this knew exactly where to find them.”

Just as we were speaking the door opened and I saw them bring another guard in , he seemed drunk.

The guard shut the door behind him with a click.

“My lord,” he said, bowing his head.

“You were the one at the door today with this other guard,” I said finally, my voice even, almost quiet.

“Yes.”

“And where did you go after that?” I asked.

“To the lower quarters.”

My gaze sharpened slightly. “Directly?”

“I stopped briefly,” he admitted.

“Where?” I asked.

“The south hall.”

“And why,” I asked, taking a slow step closer, “would you stop in the south hall after being relieved from duty?”

Marcus met my gaze fully now. “I was asked to.”

“By who?” I asked.

“Lady Nyra.”

I turned to Cyril who looked up at me as well. It felt like a lie. Not an obvious one. But a lie all the same.

I tilted my head slightly, studying him the way one studies something that doesn’t quite fit.

“You said Nyra?” I repeated.

“Yes sir.” His jaw tightened just a fraction.

Something cold settled in my chest. “I heard you spoke to someone strange…Who was it?”

Marcus didn’t respond immediately this time. He realized it then—too late—that he had given me something.

“It was dark,” he said. “I couldn’t see clearly.”

“But you spoke to whoever it was.”

“Yes.”

“And you still can’t tell me if it is as someone you know.”

I stepped closer until there was barely a breath of space between us.

“Do you take me for a fool, Marcus?”

“No, my lord.” He seemed scared.

“Then stop answering like I am one.” I grunted.

His gaze didn’t waver, but his shoulders had gone just slightly rigid now. “I am not lying, yes I spoke to someone but don't know who it was …Then I was summoned by lady Nyra.”

“No,you lie …Lies” I said quietly. “That is what you’ve decided to offer me.”

Behind me, I could hear Cyril make a grunt. He hadn’t spoken since Marcus entered, but I could feel his attention.

“So you tell me your mistake led to this accident?" I asked.

" No, I briefly left my post like I stated and it happened after that.”

“You left your post,” I said, my voice dropping just slightly, “At exactly the right time for someone else to take advantage of the gap you created.”

“I didn’t create …”

“You did.” I grunted. “Whether you meant to or not,” I added, quieter now “That is what happened.”

His throat moved as he swallowed. For the first time since he walked in, there was fear.

“I followed an order,” he said.

“And that,” I replied, “is exactly the problem.”

Silence fell again, heavier this time. I stepped back slowly, giving space.

“Tell me exactly what happened,” I said. “From the moment you were relieved.”

Marcus exhaled once. “I left my post,” he began. “I was heading toward the lower quarters when I was stopped near the south hall.”

“By the cloaked figure.”

“Yes.” He replied.

“So you spoke to whoever it was?”

A flicker of anxiety crossed his face. “Briefly.”

“Whoever did this,” I said quietly, “Knew this estate.”

My gaze locked onto his. “Knew you.”

Silence swallowed the room whole.

“You can leave,” I said.

Marcus looked up, surprised. He hadn’t expected that.

“My lord?”

“Go,” I repeated. “But don’t leave the estate.”

He hesitated, just for a second, like he wanted to say something else. Then he thought better of it.

He bowed once and turned, the door opening and closing behind him with a soft click that echoed longer than it should have.

The moment he was gone, I sighed deeply.

“He’s lying.” Cyril’s voice cut clean through the silence.

I didn’t turn immediately. “I know,” I said.

There was movement behind me, then footsteps as Cyril moved closer. I could feel his gaze now, more focused.

“He’s not the one who did it,” Cyril added.

“I agree…I don't think he is capable.” I muttered.

“But he knows more than he’s saying.”

I exhaled slowly, my eyes drifting back to Aria.

“We need to find whoever is behind this." I muttered.