Chapter 85 - Revenge and love in the balance

Isabela

When I sneaked up on the wolf, who was aggressively concentrating on Fernando in the cave, I noticed that he wasn't alone. To my joy, the woman I so wanted to avenge was there with him.

I was holding the musket tightly, although my hands were shaking, making my nervous breakdown evident, because I knew that a single shot was all that stood between me and my goal. At that crucial moment, doubt took hold of me: who should I shoot? Would it be better to save the duke by eliminating the ferocious wolf that threatened his life, or would it be more satisfying to take revenge on that woman who had committed so many evil deeds, ruining the dreams of innocent people?

For a moment, hatred pulsed strongly inside me, crying out for justice and revenge. Then a more noble and powerful feeling arose in my heart: love. Even in the face of everything that woman had done, I couldn't allow hatred to dominate me and turn me into something as cruel as her. Revenge is like a double-edged sword that cuts both ways, perhaps it's like a drug that lifts us to the heavens when we're riding the wave, but what about after the wave has passed?

I decided to act according to what was most important in my life, after all, revenge is fleeting, and my love for Fernando is eternal. Without hesitation, I turned my sights on the wolf and, with a single shot, saved the duke's life. The poor animal, who was not to blame either, fell to the ground inertly, while the woman looked on with surprised eyes.

My gesture of love by sacrificing my tempting revenge was not understood by her, who got up from the ground and walked over to Fernando, but it didn't matter what Lucia thought.

"I chose to walk a different path, where love prevailed over hate. And from this moment on, the love I feel for this man will be the fuel that will make me face everything."

"Don't be selfish, what about me?" Lucia asked, her gaze stubborn. I could tell she was hiding something behind it.

"You're the only selfish one here, who planned everything up to this point? Who ran away from the future of her own free will to hurt the feelings of people who wouldn't even want to know her?" I raised my musket towards her and left her in my sights.

"Do you want to drop that archaic weapon? Don't play games with me, the last shot you used on the wolf... although that gun is familiar. It was in the possession of that insufferable man, your bodyguard." She grinned like a madwoman. "I loved hitting him, he talked a lot of shit; but tell me, did you meet him on the way here, Mom? He died, didn't he?"

Finally, she showed her intention in her hand, holding a stone. I asked Fernando to move away, but the duke ignored me and remained in the same corner of the cave, looking serene, couldn't he feel grateful and relieved to be safe once again?

The duke looked at me with gratitude in his eyes and silently understood the choice I had made.

"I knew you would make the right choice, my sweet lady, in choosing to save me." He said coldly, curving a smile that transported me from hell to the clearest heaven.

"Hey, I'm still here! Don't ignore me, Daddy!" Lucia shouted and raised her hand, about to throw the stone.

For a moment, I felt unable to react. I wanted to help him, but my movements, my voice, everything stopped. It was as if my body was made of metal, and I was standing in the rain, slowly rusting away as I watched him being killed in front of me.

Suddenly, when the peculiar sound of a firearm brought me back to reality, I noticed Lucia Ortiz falling backwards and Fernando still panting, holding the gun in his right hand. The duke had shot our evil daughter from the future at point-blank range.

"It's over!" He said regretfully.

Without ceremony, the duke dropped the gun beside his body, stepped away from it, and walked towards me. His bulky body enveloped me in a strong, satisfying hug, and I finally felt safe when I was completely enveloped by him.

"Hey, are you okay? Are you hurt?" I asked with concern.

"Why did you come here, my beauty? You could have died... just like everyone else."

"Don't worry about it, I'm fine."

"Did she hurt you?" He turned away from me anxiously as he examined my body, and I saw his eyes light up with concern.

Which made me have even more good feelings for that tall man.

"How could she have hurt me if she stayed here the whole time? But before I came to you, I met with Ana de Hanover."

"So that cretin was part of this conspiracy too." Gradually, the duke's gaze recovered from its agitation, which calmed me down.

"Yes..." At the mere mention of that woman's name, my mind drowned in sadness, bringing back memories of Raul Torres. "Even with his life at risk, and before he died, Raul Torres saved me, we need to take his body and have a proper wake," I muttered painfully, but I wasn't going to cry.

The duke remained silent, looking at me; perhaps he didn't want to broach the subject or show his sentimental fragility.

"We need two horses. Today, we lost two good friends with the same name." The duke said without enthusiasm and returned to the darkest part of the cave.

As soon as I saw him again, carrying someone's body on his back, I dropped the useless musket and went off to look for the horses, which I'm sure were scattered around.

~

In the cemetery of the marquis' mansion, which was at the back, past the olive trees, Raul's wake took place differently from all the others. Joy and local music filled the atmosphere, in contrast to the usual sadness at such moments. It was a special farewell, a celebration of the life of our friend, who always wished for a world without conflicts or regrets.

The women, brides or wives, agreed to bury the bodies in the same local cemetery, avoiding the long process of transporting the bodies to their towns, which were very far from the mansion. Fernando and I were visibly emotional, but we tried to keep a smile on our faces, which was very difficult because we were so close to Raul's coffin.

As we watched the people around us, I spoke in a soft tone:

"Remember that time Raul organized a fake invasion, and you almost spilled your pants?"

Fernando nodded with a sad smile on his lips.

"Yes, I've never been so angry as I was that day." The duke shook my hand firmly when the men who would carry the coffins to the graves arrived. "Even though he was a deserter from his empire, he was always willing to help, to listen, and to offer a friendly shoulder. Raul will be remembered for the excellent human being he was while he was among us."

"It's my fault he's gone..."

"Hey, hey, don't say that, my love. The only one to blame is dead, don't carry that burden for yourself, okay?"

I sighed, looking at the flower-covered coffin.

"If I hadn't been so weak, he wouldn't have had to face Ana, and maybe he'd still be alive, if he tried too hard, it was my fault, a pathetic woman who couldn't defend herself."

"I'm sure he doesn't regret it. Instead of carrying a trunk of bitterness, carry one full of longing and gratitude." The men began to cover the coffins. "Now it's time to say goodbye."

Fernando put a hand on my shoulder, offering comfort.

"You're right." With the back of my hand, I wiped away the tears that kept streaming down my face. "Raul left his dream with me, we can start from scratch and create our own village, without crime or war."

"His generous spirit will continue to inspire us all. We will honor his memory by making the world a better place, as he always dreamed." Fernando said and then patted me on the head.

Amidst the music and shared memories, the bodies were buried.