Chapter 222 You're All Alone, Maribel

Chapter 222 You're All Alone, Maribel
~Rhaedon~

"Her Highness passes along her gratitude, Alpha Rhaedon."
Lars's voice came from behind me as I remained in front of the window, my gaze still fixed on the courtyard even though Aveline's carriage had already disappeared from view.
"She also asked me to pass along the message that she'd like to discuss something urgent with you over dinner later today," he added.
Something urgent.
I played the words over in my head.
“She's come to confess the truth.” Dmitri's voice sounded in my mind, almost as though he'd been waiting for the right moment to offer his thoughts.
I didn't bother responding.
Not because I didn't want to, but because, for the first time in forever, he was wrong.
Aveline had no further truth to tell me that she'd hidden from me. At least, not one that would put me at a disadvantage.
Without responding, I turned away from the window and made my way toward my table, passing the lavender bouquet that now sat there.
In the absence of a response, Dmitri spoke once more.
“You've grown to trust her, haven't you?”
Again, I offered him no answer.
For a second, something strange spread through me, almost as though my silence had satisfied Dmitri, or rather, as though he'd drawn the answer he wanted from it.
The corner of my eye twitched, but I didn't dwell on it. Instead, as I sat down, I fixed my attention on Lars.
"Have the chef change up the menu for tonight's meal," I instructed.
Hearing this, Lars's eyes brightened slightly, and he nodded.
"I'll do just that."
He paused before adding, "With that aside, we've been keeping an eye on Emperor Valerius as instructed. He's currently preparing some troops to head toward Rosenthal. Shall we have them intercepted?"
"No," I said without hesitation.
Intercepting them would mean ruining whatever was keeping Valerius occupied for the time being. I'd originally planned to take Rosenthal for myself, but it seemed that, in journeys like this, little sacrifices had to be made.
"If that's all, you're dismissed."
Lars bowed.
"Understood. I'll inform you when dinner is ready and Her Highness is back, Alpha Rhaedon."
With that, he turned away and walked out while I opened an official document. Yet even as my eyes scanned the words, nothing seemed to stick.
My thoughts kept drifting elsewhere.
Unconsciously, my eyes moved toward the brass desk clock before I looked away.
I had eight hours to finish the work on my desk.

~☆~

~Aveline~

The ride to the royal dungeon passed by fairly quickly.
When we arrived, the door was held open and I climbed down, just as two guards stepped forward and offered me a bow.
"Greetings, Your Royal Highness."
Once they straightened, one of them spoke.
"His Royal Majesty has informed us of your arrival. Please, this way."
I glanced at Daisy.
"Stay in the carriage, Daisy."
She looked hesitant.
"But, my lady—"
Rowan stepped forward before she could finish.
"Luna Aveline has me with her, so rest assured."
I glanced at him.
Had he really proven Daisy could be rest assured?
Even Daisy seemed uncertain, but after a moment, she gave a small nod.
"I'll wait for you, my lady. Please be careful."
I reached out and gently rubbed her hair, and she leaned into the touch.
"I'll be back soon."
With that, I turned and followed the guard, Rowan falling into step beside me.
As we walked deeper into the dungeon, I couldn't stop my eyes from wandering over the familiar corridors, taking in everything that had changed and everything that hadn't.
Years from now, I'd been forced into this very dungeon by the same person walking beside me.
The memory made my fingers curl into a fist.
For a brief moment, I felt Rowan's gaze on me before it disappeared.
I didn't bother looking at him.
Once I've dealt with Maribel today, I'll truly straighten things out with him.
Pushing that thought to the back of my mind, I focused instead on the weight of the pouch tucked into my dress pocket before fixing my eyes on the cell coming into view.
It wasn't the same cell I'd been placed in, but the familiar structure was enough to make my stomach churn.
At the back of the cell, pressed against the wall with her head lowered, sat Maribel.
She didn't even look up, almost as though her spirit had finally been broken.
I see Lucien has paid her a visit. Well, she hasn't seen the worst of it yet.
"As per His Majesty's instruction, you'll have ten minutes of an unsupervised visit," one of the guards said as he reached for his keys and unlocked the door, pulling it open before stepping aside. "Don't hesitate to call for us if you need anything, Your Highness."
I offered him a smile.
"Thank you."
He bowed before gesturing for the other guard to follow him. The two of them walked away, leaving me alone with Maribel, Rowan standing close.
I stepped into the cell and stopped directly in front of her, and for a second, staring down at her, reality seemed to glitch.
I saw myself sitting there instead—lifeless, betrayed, and completely broken.
But now, the tables have turned.
"How does it feel?" I asked aloud.
Maribel slowly lifted her head and her eyes looked lifeless as they met mine.
"You came here to mock me, didn't you?" Those were her first words, but they lacked their usual bite.
"Not quite," I said. "Mocking you would be too... merciful."
A flicker of something crossed her eyes before she asked,
"Then what is this?"
I didn't hurry to answer. I took my time, letting her simmer in the torturing uncertainty before I spoke once more.
"As of yesterday, the Thorne household ceased to exist."
I paused, allowing the words to settle.
They did.
Her expression twisted almost immediately.
"W-what?"
I didn't bother answering.
"Your mother is now in a vegetative state, and Perrin… your father, has been arrested on several capital offenses and is most likely going to be executed three months from now.”
"W-wait... What are you—" The rest of her words trailed off as she looked overwhelmed by everything I'd just told her.
Her eyes darted around the cell, almost as though she were desperately searching for something that could make sense of the reality I'd dropped at her feet.
"In simpler terms," I started, stepping closer until I was standing directly over her, "you're now all alone, Maribel Briar."
I held her lifeless gaze.
"So tell me, what are you going to do now?"