Lady Of The Night

05| dangerous accords

chapter 05: dangerous accords
date edited: 11.01.23

It was difficult. For someone who used to trust so wholeheartedly to mistrust on sight. Because that was the kind of person Raven used to be. Long ago, when the sun always shined and everything happened for a reason. Innocent until proven guilty—that was what Amma had taught her. Until five years ago when she had gone to Crescentia. Until four years ago on her birthday. Betrayal stung. But it helped her remember. And memory made mistrust come easy.

Raven turned the page as she waited for her brother to do as she had told him. She had read the same paragraph three times now. What was taking her brother so long?

         After midnight, Safiyah crept down the stairs and into the library.
        There had to be something that tied the duke to the murder and she would not rest until 
            she found it.

"Come, Tithy! Catch me!"

"Your highness! You must not leave your quarters!"

"I shall help with the chase." Another thud of footsteps followed.

"No, wait! Lady Orabelle!"

Raven set her book down and walked quickly to the door. The dark material of her dress swished around her ankles. As soon as she heard the sound of their footsteps fade, she lifted the hem up an inch and began to run. Down the corridor and left—into her parents' room. She shut the door behind her. She went to a side table, grabbed a glass and crept up to the adjoining door to her father's study. Placing the glass on the door, she began to listen.

"Do you not want to keep this quiet, Demarques?" she heard her father say.

"Quiet? Quiet? That is the last thing I want to do." The grand duke responded; his voice deadly. "The people of Crescentia and the hexstate must know of the murder that happened here,"

"This is absurd." murmured her uncle, Derek Petrov, the Count of the White Vales. She could imagine him standing by a corner, his golden hair in a neat ponytail, hands folded neatly behind his ramrod straight back. "If you have something to confess Saroy, do it now. I'm tired of letting you get away with things that you shouldn't."

Uncle Derek hated their father as much as everyone else. The only reason he tolerated him was because his sister was married to him. That too was a marriage arranged for harmony between the two countries. The relationship had not festered as most did, but Raven knew what passion looked like, and her parents were not in love with each other the way—

"I really don't understand why I must weigh in on this. Saroy has called the feds, who will be here soon, and they will tell us where the blame truly lies." God, even his voice was annoying. He had the authority and the ability to challenge everyone in the room and yet he remained passive. Raven would have replied to each insult with a cold, cutting remark on their own state of affairs.

"Your majesty," came the oily voice of the grand duke, "I—"

"I am not King yet, uncle. Do not place my father's mantle upon my head when his body has not even been buried yet." Niklaus' voice was dark—and a little strained. Raven realized the prince was more affected by his father's death than he cared to admit. She'd seen it in his eyes downstairs, she could hear it in his voice now.

The grand duke's next words sounded contrite, "Of course, your highness. But someone must take charge, for our king is dead. Your father needs to be avenged, and you are his heir."

There is a shuffling of feet before someone bursts, "This is absurd!"

Oh no. Her father was spiralling into hysteria. It was understandable considering the situation, but one needed a calm head when dealing with these people. If only she could be in there. If only she could take charge.