You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 692

The walk down the passage thankfully felt short. Nonetheless, doubt was apparent in every single one of us while quietly crossing it, for what would follow after reaching the end of the path was unknown for all of us.

"Ninth! Finally, you are here!!"

"Estelle!?" — The small creature greeted me, extremely happy yet with a sense of urgency in her demeanour, surprising me as it surrounded us. — "How come you’re here??"

"You cannot cross without this fairy’s guide! Estelle was sent so no difficulty was found!"

"Sent? By who?? Cross what???" — Feeling as if pushed to move I continued going down, noticing the off gazes of Theo and Dioclecià that quietly followed without asking questions.

"Dear Aenean!" — Exhilarated she danced high in the air making me notice how the core of waters had transformed into a large wall.

"??!! Wait! You said we would cross—"

"The Ninth is the chosen by our Calla, our Aenean’s guarded! The ninth is also of the blood of our kind Jørgen! Filled with a Ninth’s power you are, if you enter the wall... fwah!! Jørgen’s lands you will find!"

"Jørgen’s lands??"

"The ninth’s home! Estelle saw the door when she cleaned the stains of the witch at your home. It has been waiting! Jørgen’s blood built his home there after finding the door!"

"... do you mean... the library’s?? Wasn’t that a story without much meaning?"

"It hid books, yes! Many meanings it has, Ninth!"

"..."

"M-Marianne? Who are you ta-talking to?? A fairy? W-What is this place?"

"Rude the child is! Estelle is here! The ninth talks to Estelle!!"

"Er... yes, it is one of my fairy friends... Theo, I am to leave Dioclecià in your care."

"My lady, you cannot leave. I cannot allow—"

"I am not asking for your permission." — Interrupting his determined sentence with a calm tone, Theo’s surprise turned into quiet concern. Seemingly helpless at my order. — "I need you to protect Dioclecià in case someone makes it to this place. Estelle says that if I cross this wall I am to appear at our manor’s library."

"How so? If that is the case we can go with you, my lady."

"No! Only the Ninth may! Even Estelle is to remain here!"

"... it looks like only I am able to use this method. Theodore, I leave his highness in your care. After finding Dad, I will come back."

"However, we don’t know what awaits you there, my lady."

"M-Marianne... d-d-d-don’t..." — Dioclecià’s hand grabbed my skirt weakly in fear, not understanding most of everything going on but certainly aware that the circumstances were dangerous... nevertheless, I cannot let myself be stopped now.

"I need to go... otherwise... things could become worse... your highness, my father is waiting, please release me."

"... nh... no..."

"Wait for your brother here in the meantime."

"... mn..."

His nod hid the tears he did not want me to see. I glanced at Theo who even if reluctant held my little friend in his arms as I stepped back. The wall looked thick just as if made of claye. I had no idea of what to do to make it work... only the memories about touching the door came to mind at the moment... and as I lifted my hand...

"Buhbye ninth!"

I heard the echo of Estelle’s voice and the gasp of Theo far away as I was absorbed with great force without doing much. Pushed, stretched, hit... I felt all of that and much more in a split second, falling to my knees right after on the dark ground outside a familiar tower.

’Ouch! Ugh... It freaking worked...’ — I groaned in pain, quickly realising how noisy and... how unnatural lightning lit my face with hot breath.

"... our home..." — I mumbled aghast at the fire trying to devour half of its surroundings, drowning in the noisy clashes of swords.

Dad’s face, Grandpa Thomas’s and even my mother’s crossed my mind immediately. Making me stand even while my knees made it difficult to run. Rushing inside to see if I could still make it in time.

"DAD!!? DAD!? GRANDPA?!" — I yelled as I ran into the main hall. People were running and many lay on the ground lifeless... Many I recognised for they worked for us... and many chased after those still alive with swords in their hands.

"No! Please!!"

"LEAVE THEM ALONE!!" — I screamed as I saw them about to die right before me. My eyes, hurting from the strain and despair, opened after the silence my voice provoked. The scene seemed to stop thanks to it, and the men fell on their backs right after I gave a step to get to their side. — "Are you alright?!"

"?! Young Miss Marianne?! H-how come you are at the manor??"

"Did they hurt you? What happened? Did they faint???" — I asked while seeing the hands of the men look just as dark as the body I found in the streets. Wondering how this couldn’t be a coincidence.

"... th-this servant does not know... yet I am unhurt... miss Marianne this place is dangerous, you must leave!"

"You escape first, I am here for my father, do you know where he is? Grandpa Thomas too?"

"This servant does not know, my lady..."

"Me neither... yet Butler Thomas... he saved myself a moment ago. He went upstairs in search of his grace."

"! Alright, thank you—"

*BOOM!!*

A sudden explosion sent us flying a few meters back. The main door was nowhere to be found anymore and the destruction replacing it now seemed blurry after trying to stand back up. I managed to see as I crawled how something tried to stand in the middle of it, while right next to that shadow a big volume lay motionless on the ground.

’What the hell was that....?’ — Suffocated and confused I thought trying to focus on who it was. Slowly managing to see how it was a struggling man with a sword. — ’D*mn it... what if he’s here to kill us...’

"F*ck... the horse’s dead... huff... at least I managed to get here..."

’Huh?... that is...’ — Recognising the voice, I felt hope again. — "Clemente?... Clemente is that you?!"

"?! Marianne?! What— How come you are here!?"

"It really is you!" — Sudden happiness filled me as he came closer, helping me to stand along with the servants. — "I’m so glad to see you..."

"... It is an untimely thing to be this happy, Marianne. Your home is burning down, don’t you see?"

"Haha... r-right..."

"You are hurt."

"I am fine. More importantly, why are you here?"

"... why are YOU here? Shouldn’t you be at the palace?"

"Ah... it was attacked and I escaped crossing a wall of water to appear here. It’s a long story... I’m looking for my dad, I saw him being attacked while I was at the palace."

"I do not think I will understand that right now my lady, yet I am also here to look for his grace. My home fell to the attack earlier today so I made my way here to prevent this... although I seem to be too late..."

"Your home was attacked?! And your parents? Where are they?"

"... let’s go look for your father." — When I saw him lower his gaze to look around with a resigned smile, I felt my heart plummet to the ground. The eyes of my friend shone at the lights of fire keeping deep sadness within them... a sadness that answered my question.

"... Clemente are they—"

"We shouldn’t lose time." — His gaze came back to look at me, blocking the emotions I momentarily saw in the nice honey coloured eyes that now looked intense and firm. — "I can feel your father’s aura. He’s weakened. He’s having trouble disguising it."

"!? Show me where he is!"

Clemente was right that it wasn’t the right moment... There was much left to do yet as I followed behind him after telling the servants to find a safe place to hide, I felt sad that I could not comfort him now when he must be suffering so much.

’The duchess and duke... however it happened... this is too cruel, Karina.’