Kingsley's Bride

Chapter 37: The last Heir

The atmosphere in the room felt suffocating. Heavy. I sat in the corner, my hands clasped together tightly as I watched the scene unfold. Lord Darius was sprawled on the sofa, his head in his hands, shoulders hunched over as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him.

His face was marred with a darkness I'd never seen before his eyes hollow, lost.

Across the room, Mr. Alistair sat with a note in his hand, reading it over and over again as if he hoped the words would somehow change. But they wouldn't. They couldn't.

Henry Kingsley, Lord Darius's older cousin, had committed suicide.

The last remaining family member before Lord Darius once in the line for the dukedom, and now... he was gone.

I couldn't look away from Lord Darius. His silence was unbearable, like a scream trapped in his throat that would never be heard. He hadn't said a word since Mr. Alistair had read the note aloud.

"I can't bear it anymore. The blood stains the throne... the throne stained with the blood of our family. Every night, I see the red, the violence that haunts our lineage. I can't live with it."

The words were seared into my mind.

Henry's final note, his confession of the madness that had consumed him, was so raw, so painful. He had lost everything his family, his sense of peace and now Lord Darius was left to bear the burden of the Kingsley legacy.

No one was left in line except for Lord Darius.

He sat up suddenly, reaching for the glass of whiskey on the table in front of him. His hand shook as he gripped the glass tightly, downing the contents in one gulp before reaching for the bottle to pour himself more.

"My Lord..." I whispered, stepping forward cautiously. "Please, you've had enough."

He didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the floor, the bottle now half-empty as he drank again.

I moved closer, gently placing my hand on his arm. "My lord, talk to me."

He finally looked at me, his eyes dull, pained.

"Henry taught me everything, you know." His voice was low, rough, barely above a whisper. "Swordsmanship, tactics... he was more like a brother to me than a cousin."

I nodded, encouraging him to continue. "He was a good man."

Lord Darius let out a bitter laugh.

"He was... but he was also broken. Just like the rest of us. You know what he said to me the last time we sparred? He told me, 'The blood never washes off, no matter how much you fight.' I didn't understand what he meant then."

He paused, staring at the glass in his hand before setting it down with a sharp clink. "Now I do."

My heart ached for him. I could feel the weight of his grief, the pain of losing the last connection to his family. I had my own problems with Meredith, but in this moment, they seemed so small compared to what Lord Darius was going through. His entire family, is gone.

I knelt beside him, gently taking his hand. "You're strong, my lord. Stronger than you know."

He looked at me then, his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "Am I? I don't feel it, Scarlett. I feel like I'm drowning."

"You're not drowning," I said softly. "You're surviving. And you're not alone."

Without another word, I helped him to his feet, guiding him toward the stairs. He didn't protest, didn't fight me, just followed my lead. We reached his room, and I helped him sit on the edge of the bed. He looked so lost, so broken.

I gently pushed him back against the pillows, sitting beside him as I whispered, "Rest, my lord. You need it."

He didn't argue. His eyes closed, and his breathing slowed as he drifted into a fitful sleep. I stayed by his side, holding his hand, refusing to leave him alone in his grief. As I watched him sleep, the realization hit me Lord Darius had lost everything, and here I was, fretting about my sister. My problems suddenly felt insignificant in comparison.

I stayed with him through the night, and eventually, sleep claimed me too, my hand still entwined with his.

The next morning, I woke up to find the bed empty.

Panic shot through me as I sat up, scanning the room.

Where is he?

I hurriedly dressed and rushed out, my heart pounding. Lord Darius was already dealing with so much, I couldn't bear the thought of him being alone right now.

I searched every corner of the estate before finally hearing voices down the hall. I followed the sound until I reached the study.

Through the crack in the door, I overheard the conversation that made me stop in my tracks.

It was Lord Darius, talking to his grandfather.

"You need to stop being hard on Scarlett," Darius's voice was calm but firm. "We can't forget that she's also going through a traumatic situation with her sister."

I froze.

He was... defending me?

In this situation?

"You were worried about Henry," Darius continued. "I kept telling you to bring him here, that something was wrong with him. I saw it when I met him last time, but you didn't listen. Now look what happened."

There was a long pause, and I could almost feel the tension between them.

"You can stop worrying about Scarlett too," Lord Darius added. "Her business is my business, and mine is hers. I'll protect her and punish her sister for helping in the assassination. Don't worry, Meredith will be caught sooner or later."

My heart clenched at his words, but then he said something that nearly took my breath away.

"Please leave Scarlett alone, grandfather."

Respectful, calm, but commanding.

He was standing up for me in front of Mr. Alistair.

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. I had doubted him, doubted his feelings, his intentions, but hearing him now... it was like a weight had been lifted. He wasn't just protecting me because it was his duty. He cared.

I took a step back, my mind racing. Lord Darius was not the man I thought he was. He was more. He had suffered so much, yet here he was, trying to shield me from even more pain. It was just me, who had never walked with him. He had always been there for me, whenever I needed him. But all I did was selfishly think about myself and my relations. And here he was suffering. All because of me and my family.

I wiped the tears from my eyes, determined. If anything, I wouldn't doubt him again.

Not after this.

I quietly turned away, deciding not to interrupt. There would be time for that later. But for now, I knew one thing for certain.

Lord Darius wasn't just my protector; he was my partner in all of this. If I wanted to save Meredith, I had to walk beside him, not against him. And if anyone could save her, it would be Lord Darius.