Whispers Of Desires: A Sense Of Courage {Book 3}

❀ꗥ～ꗥ❀ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚 𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 ❀ꗥ～ꗥ❀

"Who could do such a thing?" Sorceress Beatriz whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

"I do not know, but we need to get help!" Serena shouted, glancing around frantically. "Someone has to notify the guards and Duchess Camila!"

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, and in walked in Duchess Camila and four guards. Her eyes scanned the scene before landing on Adanna and Serena, who were kneeling beside Larissa.

What is happened here?" she demanded, her gaze sweeping over the scene.

Adanna looked up, desperation in her eyes. "Enchantress Larissa has been pushed down the stairs! We need a healer!"

Duchess Camila's eyes darkened as she knelt beside Larissa, her voice turning commanding. "Guards get the healer immediately!" she ordered, "We need to clear the area. No one leaves until we get to the bottom of this."

The guards ran off in a flurry of movement, their heavy boots echoing down the corridor. After a while, the guards rushed in, followed by a huffing and puffing Curandera Rosa, her medical satchel in hand. She ran up to Larissa, her eyes assessing the situation quickly. "¿Ella está bien?" Duchess Camila asked, her voice laced with concern. (Is she okay?)

"Ella esta sangrando por el corte del florero, esta inconsciente y lastimada, si me lo permites deseo llevarla a mis aposentos para monitorearla." Curandera Rosa's words were urgent and precise, as the guards gently lifted Larissa, carrying her towards the staircase. (She is bleeding from the cut from the vase, she is unconscious and hurt, with your permission, I wouldd like to take her to my quarters to keep an eye on her.)

"¿Cuánto tiempo estará inconsciente? ¿Tendremos que retirarla del concurso? " Duchess Camila asked, her eyes never leaving Larissa's face as the healer worked. (How long will she be unconscious? Will we have to remove her from the competition?)

"Por lo que veo, no parece haber lesiones externas, pero solo el tiempo lo dirá... en el peor de los casos, es posible que nunca más pueda caminar... " Curandera Rosa spoke gravely, her words trailing off as she focused on her patient. (As far as I can tell, there are no external injuries, but only time will tell... in the worst case, it is possible she might never walk again...)

The other ladies watched in silence as they were unable to understand Spanish except from Lady Catalina, Lady Isabella and Olimpia who stared at the duchess and the healer with stoic faces. The gravity of the situation weighing heavily on everyone's mind. The competition had taken a dark turn, and no one felt safe anymore.

As the Duchess, Healer Rosa and the guards walked up the stairs, Adanna noticed a piece of paper underneth the vase shards. She picked it up, her heart racing. It was a note, written in a hasty scrawl: "Consequences... I said, the duke is mine." Adanna's eyes widened as she read the words out loud, her voice shaking. The room grew colder, the air thick with fear and accusation.

The ladies gasped in shock. Countess Seraphine's eyes narrowed, filled with suspicion. "What... who would write that?"

Before anyone could respond, Olimpia sauntered into the room with her trademark smugness, her eyes sweeping over the scene with an almost casual curiosity. Her lips curled into a mocking smile. "Oh dear," she drawled. "What a tragic accident."

Lady Isabella's expression darkened. She stepped toward Olimpia, her hands clenched into fists. "Was it you?" she accused, her voice shaking. "Did you push her down the stairs, Olimpia?"

Olimpia let out a sharp laugh, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. "Darling, really? I was right here with all of you. How could I possibly have done that?" she said, her voice dripping with feigned innocence.