Leysa:
"I will speak with my mom and then co back to you, okay?" Troy murmured, his tone low and guarded as he gave a subtle hand gesture, assuring everything would be fine.
The reason for his awkwardness was obvious.
The mont we arrived and slipped into the mansion, then crossed toward the guest house that stood at so distance from the main building but within the sa fence where his mother lived alone, everything spiraled into chaos.
The second we rushed inside and he locked the door of the two story guest house, complete with a basent and several furnished rooms, his mother saw Clentine.
Troy lunged toward her and clamped his hand over her mouth to stop her scream. He used all his strength to calm her before she finally allowed us to stay in one of the rooms.
I stayed beside Clentine at first, then rose and followed Troy. If they were going to discuss anything, I needed to be there.
After what Yorick had done, I trusted no one. Not even Troy’s mother.
Her eyes already carried a strange intensity. The way she looked at Clentine made her feelings clear.
She had never liked her. Not after the entire fallout of their broken friendship.
I stepped outside and stood near the doorway, watching Troy speak to his mother.
"Why is she here?" she demanded. "Did you not hear the announcent? She is a monster. Why would you bring a monster into your ho when your mother lives here alone?"
I had expected this.
"Mother, she is not a monster. Do you not understand? This is their way of trapping her. If anyone spots her, they will report her so they can silence her before she reaches the news and exposes them," Troy insisted, gently reaching for her elbow.
She slipped her arm free and pushed his hand down, making it clear she was not convinced.
"Then tell ," she pressed, folding her arms. "What exactly will she tell the news? Why would they lie? Everything that needed to be revealed was already said by Ian."
It was a fair question. I had wondered the sa. The council was clearly targeting the strongest threat.
"Mother, you know Clentine speaks up against injustice. That is what they fear," Troy replied, trying again to reason with her.
I watched him quietly and allowed myself a faint smile. It was strange to be standing beside him like this.
We had never worked together before, yet we had crossed paths often. I used to feel jealous of Clentine for having secured his friendship.
I had always found him attractive.
"That makes no sense," his mother snapped, dragging back to the mont as she argued with him again.
"Mother, all I am asking is that you trust . Do you trust ?" Troy stepped closer, gripping her arms just below the elbows and giving her a firm shake, stopping her from pulling away this ti.
She stared at him, bitterness clouding her expression. Then she exhaled heavily and lowered her hands.
"Fine," she muttered. "But the mont I find out she is dangerous, I will not tolerate it." She pointed a finger at him in warning.
"I will not let that happen. Now co on," Troy urged.
As they turned around, their eyes t mine.
The way she looked at was strange. We had interacted before, and honestly, there had never been bad blood between us.
She had once been close to my mother, almost friends. She disliked Clentine because my mother disliked her.
My mother often reminded her that Clentine had ruined Troy’s reputation, while she praised instead. But the expression she gave now was different.
"Leysa, I heard you were getting married to Yorick. I am shocked he only summoned you to feed you to his sick brother," she said quietly.
Her tone carried genuine regret. She was apologizing for sothing she had no part in.
"It is fine," I replied with a small laugh. "I suppose I was desperate." I straightened my posture and glanced away from Troy.
"Please be careful," she continued, rubbing her hands together. "Do not think I do not want to help Clentine. I am just scared."
She hesitated, then added, "Ever since Troy told the truth about those fake ssages, about the leaks and who was behind ruining his reputation, I have felt guilty for how I treated Clentine." She took a steady breath and faced us fully.
"And my fear has nothing to do with hatred," she insisted softly. "I am just afraid."
It made sense. Anyone would be.
I looked at Troy, then stepped forward and reached for his mother’s hands.
"I understand what you are saying," I began gently, holding Lady Lydia’s fingers. "I feel the sa. We have all wronged Clentine in so way." I sighed.
"I also understand why you are frightened," I continued. "But there is nothing to fear from her. I know what they are doing and why. I have been inside Yorick’s mansion. I have seen how his parents were preparing to create monsters." I gulped at the mory.
"You would be shocked at the lengths they are willing to go to silence Clentine and keep the academy running," I explained.
Lady Lydia nodded slowly, her expression softening as she absorbed my words.
"I will prepare food for you guys," she said at last. "But you must keep a low profile. After the announcent, everyone is looking for Clentine." She lifted her hand and gave a gentle pat on the head.
There was a certain shine in her eyes whenever she looked at , and then at Troy.
When she stepped away, Troy and I faced each other. We both exhaled at the sa ti, as if we had finally found a mont to breathe.
"Anyway, I will sit beside Clentine and wait for her to wake up. I need to talk to her," I said, rubbing my hands together as I turned to leave.
"Actually, can you co to the basent with ? I need to get sothing," Troy called out suddenly, stopping in my tracks.
For a mont, alarm bells rang in my head. I could not explain why, but sothing felt off.
I forced myself to dismiss the thought. He was Troy. We were working together.
It was not as if I had not known him since childhood.
"Sure," I replied, even though I did not know what he intended.
I followed him toward the basent.
User Comments
0 comments from readers