Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 39

Once they had all settled, Mila decided it was time to address the pressing matter that had been on her mind. She turned to Thelma, her expression serious, and asked, "Thelma, were there other slaves with you?" Her arms were crossed over her chest, her gaze steady as she awaited the young woman's response.

Thelma hesitated, sensing the gravity of Mila's question. She could see that Mila was genuinely concerned, but speaking about her past was not easy. Looking down at the ground, Thelma's face took on a sad, distant expression, as if recalling painful memories. "There were many," she began softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. "They were either sold or captured by the men of Mireraweth's kingdom. My father... he sold me to pay off his huge debts."

There was a pause as Thelma took a deep breath, gathering the strength to continue. "I made sure they thought I was a boy," she explained, her voice trembling slightly. "Not even my father knew I was a girl. I didn't want to be treated like the other women who were enslaved. Women are treated far worse than men." The sadness in her tone was palpable, and it was clear that she had endured much suffering to protect herself.

Mila felt a pang of sympathy as she listened, her heart heavy with the weight of Thelma's words. "How did you escape?" she asked gently, curious about how Thelma had managed to free herself from such a dire situation.

Thelma looked up at Mila, her eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and determination. "They eventually found out that I was a woman," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "The man who tried to buy me was old. He... he tried to use me, but before he could, I got lucky. He was too old and weak, and that gave me the advantage I needed. I ran and kept running until I reached here."

"Did you come from Wildeford?" Mila asked, her tone calm but with an undercurrent of intensity. She watched as Thelma's eyes widened in shock, the question clearly catching her off guard. The look on Thelma's face was all the confirmation Mila needed. "How many slaves were there?" Mila's voice was steady, but there was a fire in her eyes as she stood up, already feeling the pull to head straight to Wildeford. The thought of people being treated as less than human, as mere livestock, ignited a deep anger within her.

"There were too many to count," Thelma replied, her voice tinged with sorrow. "The governor there doesn't care about his people. He's the one who runs the slave trade in that area."

Mila felt a surge of rage swell inside her. 'Every governor the emperor has assigned seems to be corrupt. Slavery is illegal, yet the Mireraweth emperor does nothing to stop it. This cannot be allowed to continue.' The thought of the emperor's negligence, of the suffering that was allowed to fester under his rule, fueled her determination. She knew she had to see the situation in Wildeford for herself, and more importantly, she had to do something about it.

Mila looked around at her group, her resolve clear in her eyes. "We're going to Wildeford," she declared, her voice firm. "Emmett, you and I will go with Vivian. Sara, Thelma, and Cotton will stay here."

Sara's eyes widened in alarm. "My lady?!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with concern. The thought of parting from Mila, especially knowing the dangers that awaited in Wildeford, filled her with dread. Cotton, sensing the tension, whined softly, not wanting to be separated from Mila either.

Mila turned to Sara, her expression gentle but resolute. "Sara, I need you to stay here with Cotton and Thelma," she said, her voice soothing yet firm. "It will be too dangerous for all of us to go. Emmett and I can move more quickly and quietly on our own. We need to stay hidden as much as possible, and a smaller group will make that easier. We'll be back after we've dealt with the situation in Wildeford."

Sara bit her lip, wanting to argue, but she knew that Mila was right. Reluctantly, she nodded, understanding the necessity of the plan, even if she didn't like it. "Be careful," she whispered, her concern evident in her eyes.