The Duchess' Daughter

Episode 06: The Set-off

Typically, the time when the guest leaves is not up to the host. Lady Lara was facing an unwanted guest now. Grief. It was both an aftermath and a cause of death. She never wanted it. Who would? But she was unconsciously welcoming it with warmth.
 
If it weren't for the mattress' thick material, nothing could fix the crumple Lara's grip had made. The young lady was sitting on the bed with her knuckles out, pursed lips, and fiery eyes. A single thought had made her this way: the duchess' death, triggered by what seemed like her nanny's neglect of the gravity of the grief she was dwelling with now.
 
She closed her eyes as if feeling the cold wind that invaded the room, but then she sighed heavily before opening them again, proving she did it in an attempt to let pass what felt like a heavy load in her heart, and she had no success in doing so. Seconds later, she found herself scanning her dictionary, searching for the word ambush. Besides, her fingers must touch some surface to keep it from shaking.
 
She learned the word means a sudden and surprising attack on a person or group by one or more people who have been hiding and waiting for them. Waiting for them. She tried to imagine her mom inside the carriage, using her fan to ventilate the air, until an unexpected attack occurred.
 
Didn't she fight back? Lara thought while listening to her fast heartbeat.
 
"Mas titiyakin niya pang mabitbit ang pamaypay kesa ang magsama ng guwardiya sa biyahe."
 
She remembered those words from her nanny, which made her bite her lip. She must be seriously injured. And no one helped.
 
She continued to read as the worst case scenario unfolded itself inside her mind.
 
As the targeted force enters the "death zone," all potential cover and escape routes are also targeted if an ambush has been set up properly, which any competent force will ensure.
 
Who could be that competent force in Mom's case? She couldn't help but ponder.
 
"Meet me in the library when the afternoon comes."
 
Lady Lara rooted out her mom's last talk with her. Then she pushed herself up, rushed for something from her drawers, found a map of the whole empire, and took it. Nilapag niya 'yon sa sahig sa baba ng kama. She picked up the dictionary again and then squatted on the floor.
 
Charlotte Dukedom. She knew at least the name of their family's dominion. She scanned the map with her index finger and stopped where that name was written. It was in the southwest part of the empire. She traced the main route from their manor's location to the palace, which was in the center of the large land mass, and she found that the road was crossing through a small forest.
 
A forest was probably a place you can lie in wait to attack.
 
Lady Lara read into the dictionary again and found that the word 'ambush' was often associated with soldiers. Wars. She sighed; she didn't know how to analyze it. Mom wasn't a soldier. She's a woman. She innocently mouthed it.

If there could only be someone I could converse with about it. If only I have enough knowledge about the world outside. If only I could be toughened up and have such power to take immediate action. If only I could see justice from a higher point of view. If only. 
 
Her overwhelming thoughts could have led her to shriek if not for someone who opened the door. Even Ynara's gentle face couldn't make Lara sigh in relief.

Her lips stayed attached to each other while she gritted her teeth inside. At nang makita ang nanny niya sa likuran nito, doon na naderekta ang atensiyon niya.
 
"Nanny, how and where was Mom ambushed?" Lady Lara didn't notice how shaking and outraged her voice was. She was unaware of the stiffening of her nanny and the backward step taken by Ynara. "Why would someone want the duchess dead?"

No one responded. Lady Lara stood up and held her things up. She walked into her closet and took every article of clothing she needed to pack up. When her nanny saw this, she followed her.

"What are you doing, young lady?" Helia's voice was composed, careful not to equate it to Lara's earlier tone.

Lady Lara didn't take a break from her business. She put her things into her luggage, not minding if it was arranged properly.