Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 34

"Lady Mila... she possesses a beast that no one knew about," Trivett began, his voice heavy with the weight of the revelation. He knew the gravity of his words, and as they left his lips, he could see the shock ripple across the faces of Duke Reynard and Leo.

The room fell into a stunned silence. Duke Reynard and Leo stared at Trivett, their minds struggling to grasp the impossible. For as long as they had known her, Mila had been born without a symbol, without any sign of elemental affinity when tested by the crystal. Yet here was Trivett, a man of unwavering honesty, telling them something that defied everything they believed to be true.

Duke Reynard was the first to speak, his voice tinged with disbelief. "How is that possible? She doesn't have a symbol to maintain or keep her mana controlled." His words were laced with confusion, his mind searching for an explanation that simply didn't exist.

Trivett shook his head slowly, the memory of the encounter still fresh and bewildering. "I don't know," he admitted, his tone reflecting his own bafflement. "I had Edric stop her from leaving, but she... she called out her beast. It defeated Edric with just one attack."

The thought of Edric, a seasoned warrior, being overwhelmed so easily was difficult to comprehend. Trivett himself had never imagined he would witness such a thing, especially from someone like Mila. The sheer power she had unleashed was beyond anything he had anticipated.

Leo's voice broke the tense silence, his concern for Mila evident in his eyes. "Did she say anything?" he asked, his tone soft yet urgent, hoping for any clue that could help them understand what had happened.

Trivett's expression grew distant as he recalled Mila's final words before he had lost consciousness. "She told me... not to punish the knights," he began slowly, his voice tinged with the weight of those unexpected words. "She said she would send letters of some sort once you awoke. And... she mentioned that she would return within, at most, three years."

The room was silent, the Duke and Leo hanging on Trivett's every word. He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "She also warned... to beware of the crown prince. She said there's only so much one can hold in a bottle before it breaks or shatters."

Trivett fell quiet, his mind still grappling with the significance of what Mila had told him. He never expected to hear so much before darkness claimed him.

Duke Reynard's brow furrowed deeply, confusion clouding his thoughts. "What is she thinking?" he muttered, his voice filled with frustration and concern. Why would Mila leave them behind without a word of explanation? His mind raced with possibilities, each more troubling than the last.

'Does she know about her arranged marriage?' The thought struck him suddenly, the possibility gnawing at him. Only the dukes and the emperor were privy to that secret agreement—an arrangement between his youngest daughter and the heir of Zameth. No one else should have known. But then, another thought followed swiftly on its heels, dispelling that notion. 'No, she wouldn't have warned us about the crown prince if that were the reason,' he reasoned, his mind working through the puzzle.

Just as the weight of uncertainty settled over them, a soft glow filled the room. The three of them looked up in surprise as a bright, glowing butterfly fluttered down from above, its wings shimmering with an ethereal light. It gracefully descended onto the brown table at the center of the room, and as it landed, words began to appear in the air above it, glowing brightly enough for all to read.

The message was simple yet filled with resolve:

'Do not worry about me. I have Sara and Sir Emmett with me. I'll be back within three years. I will never abandon my name or family. There are beasts out there who are calling to me. Since birth, I have to go to them since they have been with me. I cannot ignore the voices that are calling me to them. I will send letters as much as I can. Beware the crown prince.' -Mila