Chapter 8
Suddenly, the capital erupted in a sweeping parge..
Officials lived in terror, afraid that a single wrong glance might cost them their heads at the Regent Duke’s command.
Meanwhile, common folk celebrated.
Though the bloodshed was brutal, every victim’s crimes were listed clearly, Most were connected to the decades–old military embezzlement case.
Those once protected by General Vitement wept and rejoiced in equal measure.
Even Ronan’s reputation cose anew.
News reached me, thousands of miles away.
A fruit vendor woman whispered in awe,” Duke Rona is truly honorable–he not only cleansed the corruption that cost General Viremont his life years apo but still holds family close.”
“Many courtiers begged him to claim the throne, but he refused.”
A passing servant woman sighed, “To renounce royal favor for loyalty? Few nobles would dare.”
The vendor nodded vigorously, “But that’s not all.”
“My nephew serves in the capital’s Kitchens. After the Duchess’s death, the Duke dismissed all the consorts and now keeps solemn vigil by her tomb.” The servant’s eyes widened, “Is there such a hopelessly devoted man in the world?”
1 chuckled quietly to myself.
Ronan? Love whoever dies? Hardly devotion
They knew I arrived alone with the children, yet spoke no word of my past. Their silence bespoke a belief that I harbored deep resentment toward men, and thus they held their tongues.
After settling my debts, the fruit vendor was about to leave whep her grandson came running, breathless,
“Grandmal Grandma! The town’s full of royal guards!“‘
“There’s a strange man wallding down the street with a coffin.
Curious, everyone poured outside.
The servant lugged me along, “Eleanor, don’t sit alone in your chambers–come see
The guards cleared the streets.
A long procession of mourners in black followed behind. The plain white line stretched to the very end of the street.
I spotted the strange man immediately,
It was Ronan–his hair white as snow, as it had been on the night of my passing.
His eyes were dull and empty, holding nothing but the weight of his grief.
Clasping tiree stone plaques, be took a step, then fell to his knees in reverence.
He moved as though a shade, lost to the world.
The crowd murmured, reading the inscriptions aloud
Beloved wife, Lady Eleanor Viremont.”
The two smaller plaques bore no names.
Whispers stirred among them:
“They say the Duchess’s children perished before they could be christened.”
The Regent Duke vows to guard their memory until they are reunited in eternal rest, so she may name them in heaven. Reunited in heaven?”
“The Duke has journeyed from the capital to this place, kneeling at every shrine along the way, neither eating nor drinking for three days.”
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A servant wiped her tears.
*Such devotion… it is scarce to be believed.”
“Was, why could the Duchess not have lived longer?”
The procession moved onward, hearing the sealed hier within.
That bier held the body the Queen Dowager had placed as my substitute–three months hence, and it lay preserved, as though untouched by death’s decay.
Behind it came a prison cart.
Inside was a woman, wild–eyed and filthy–her wounds crawling with maggots
After staring a long time, I recognized her—Annabelle.
From her broken ramblings, I caught curses almed at Ronan, calling him no man at all.
Further behind was a massive iron cage holding a white tiger.
My heart sank, a nameless sorrow gripping me as I followed the procession, drawn by divine decree to the hallowed valley I had once vowed to Ronan would be my refuge
Though I swore never to entangle myself with him again, Annabelle’s treachery had wrought my death, yet here I walked, a shade bound to his path. Ronan stopped, carefully lifting the coffin into a freshly dug grave. He filled the earth with his bare hands, over and over
When finished, he sat before the tombstone, touching it tenderly again and again.
“Eleanor,” he whispered, “I know you don’t want to see me anymore.
“I can only talk to you here.”
“I’ve wronged you for two lifetimes, blind and cruel.”
“For three months, I’ve prayed to the gods constantly.”
“If there’s another life, I want to see you once more, but I also hope you never meet a beast like me again.”
“Let me be a butterfly that rests on your shoulder, just for a moment, alright, Eleanor?”
“I’ve talked too much—surely I’ve annoyed you.”
“Go now, Eleanor. Take the children with you.”
Tears welled in his eyes as he stood.
When his gaze shifted to Annabelle, it turned cold and murderous
He dragged her forward and threw her into the tiger’s cage.
He watched without blinking as the beast tore her apart.
The villagers scattered in horror.
I followed the palli away,
Days later, villagers said Roman still sat by the grave.
The guards, well paid with wine and meat, complained, “Though the reward’s goud, this job’s truly were”
“The Duke died yesterday, but he ordered has corpse not be moved until it decomposes, his bones crushed and scattered.”
My heart lurched, wine spilled from my hand.
Gathering cou
courage, I looked up at the tombstone
Hogan leaned his head against it, his face pale and lifeless,
Yet à grutle smile rested upon his lips, his hand clasping the ring the very one I bestowed upon him on our nuptial eve
Bathed in the glow of tapers hallowed by the priest, he had held my hand, pressing the ring gently, whispering, “Eleanor, shall we grow old in faith
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together?”
A guard’s voice brought me back.
“Miss, why do you cry?”
I wiped my eyes roughly, forcing a smile. “The chill air stings my eyes.”
Gathering my basket, I walked home.
Ronan Whitmore, you aged in my stead.
Our bond is fulfilled, and we owe
Iwe owe each other naught.
Chapter.B
