Confusion filled Axtons face as he seed to weigh the comcry in his hand. The corner of his lip twitched, and he shook his head. I...I dont think I heard you correctly....
Tori heard her mother take a deep breath and slow her voice. Axton, Rebecca Walter, your fathers mistress, was found dead this morning on Sun Gardens grounds. It looks like she was strangled to death and there was dark hair and so blood on her hands. Mr. rced called when he couldnt reach you. They suspect Cillian of killing her.
Axton let out a shallow, trembling breath and Tori reached forward to try to steady him in case he fell. Axton-
Take the comcry. Axton, co sit down. Piers was at Axtons side and had grabbed his forearm to keep him from stumbling. Tori pried her comcry from his hand.
Mama, hold on. Were going to take Axton to sit down.
Im fine. Im just...I didnt expect to hear.... Axton looked at a loss for words. His eyes crinkled up as he shook his head with disbelief. Shes dead?
Piers frowned and looked towards the knights standing a few steps away. They quickly ca forward and stood on either side of Axton. They almost dragged him back to the villa and put him on the nearest seat.
Mama, has Mr. rced reported it to the Alvere knights? Tori asked. Sun Garden was outside of the nearest town and surrounded by fields and forest. There were no local patrols; just the Alvere knights, of which were limited in number. Most were split between guarding the Alvere properties in the duchy and protecting Montan in Horizon.
He has and they have notified Monica. She is sending imperial knights to assist in the search, Antonia told her. I said I would try to contact Axton.
Where...where did they find her...her body? Axton stuttered as his hands tightened into fists. Piers headed into the villa as Tori sat beside Axton and grabbed one hand to offer support.
The Western Rose Gardens gardening house. She was found between the building and the low wall separating the rose garden from the rest of the garden. She was hidden. She wouldnt have been found if they hadnt started collecting so of the roses to move to Nassaun House. Mr. rced said the knights noticed a trail. She was dragged there.
Axton shut his eyes and Tori felt his grip on her hand tighten. Has anyone contacted Montan?
No, no one has his comcry registered. Antonia hesitated. Im afraid you will have to tell him, Axton.
But what about my fa...Cillian? Axton asked. He looked at the comcry still in Toris hand as she held it up.
Monica is sending imperial knights to do a sweep of Alvere to try to find him. Ive dispatched Guevera knights located on the border to secure that place.
Tori heard Axtons voice shake. He doesnt know where my mother is buried.
Axton, Antonia said in a steady voice. We dont know what he knows.
Then, I will keep my comcry with and await news. Wait, call Tori. I need to call my brother, Axton said. Just as he said it, Piers walked out of the villa with a comcry in each hand. Tori recognized one was his and the other was Axtons.
Of course. I will let you know if anything is heard on my end. Tori. Her mother called to her, and Tori turned her attention to the comcry.
Yes, Mama?
I will leave Axton to you.
Of course, Mama. The call ended and Piers handed Axtons comcry to him.
Call your brother first. I will contact my n in Horizon to strengthen security around Duel. Tori, contact-
Mr. Sorset? I need you to proceed with Operation Orange Charm, Tori was already speaking to her comcry.
I will inform the staff at once, my lady. The manager of Duel was more than just respectful. He sounded as if he were accepting a mission from the Marquis himself.
Orange Charm has not yet been notified. Green Knight will notify him montarily. Please ensure he has a place to listen privately, but do not leave him alone.
Understood, my lady.
Tori slid her finger across her comcry and looked at the two n staring at her. She lifted her chin. Do you think youre the only ones who can protect him? Dont forget, hes my employee.
Axtons eyes reddened. He pulled her close and pressed his face against the top of her head. Thank you, Tori.
She let out a hum and squeezed his hand. Call your brother.
Axton nodded and released her. He took a deep breath and opened his comcry. Tori gave him a mont and stood up. She took a few steps away. Piers was giving an order to soone on his comcry and a mont later, he put down the device and walked towards her.
What is Operation Orange Charm?
Heightened security due to a threat to Montan. The staff is to remain vigilant, and all forr knights are to do patrols around Duel every quarter of an hour. Any guests need to show their identification at the door to the main building and the cafe. The guards will remain outside as per usual for two hours past closing and then retreat inside. Mr. Sorset will arrange escorts ho for employees that dont board at Duel. Montan will also be put under watch and not allowed to leave the building at all, until further notice that his safety is confird by either myself, Henrik, or Ilyana, Tori said. It was planned under the concern that his father may try to force his way in or use so sort of violent ans to kidnap or assault him. We didnt know where his parents went, so I wanted to be cautious.
Piers eyes softened and he reached out to touch her head, only to hear the yell co from Axtons comcry.
Then where is he? Montan cried out.
I dont know. The Empress has sent imperial knights to search for him in Horizon and through the duchy. Marquess Guevera has also sent knights to aid in the search, Axton said as his head hung low. Montan, stay in Duel. Dont go out. If he finds you....
I wont! Ill stay here, Axton. Dont worry! Im boarding here and my als are provided. I dont need to leave! Montan sounded more earnest to calm his brother than sad about his mother or frightened about his missing father.
Then again, considering what Tori had seen that day in Viclya, she couldnt bla him. The delusional couple mustve abused him for years.
Tori has called Mr. Sorset and theyre going to take care of you, Axton told him in as reassuring a voice as he could. Im going to head back to Presidio and see if I can join the search-
No! Montan cried out once more. No, hes crazy! What if he attacks you?
Axtons lips trembled, but he let out a wry laugh. That lunatic can try. Axton stared at the comcry and narrowed his eyes. Montan, I know this is a shock to you. Ill...I will take care of your mothers burial.
Tori sat beside him and leaned against his shoulder. She lifted her arm and rubbed his back. She was sure that if Rebecca werent Montans mother, Axton would have no issue with dumping her corpse in a mass grave with nothing but the clothes she had on.
Tori heard the faint, shallow breathing on the other side of the comcry. Do what you want, Montan said with a tight voice. I dont care.
Axton looked worried. He looked up at Piers, as if asking what to do as the older brother. Assure him youll take care of it and will see him soon, Piers said in a quiet voice.
Axton nodded his head once. All right. Ill take care of it. Ill see you soon. Rember to stay in Duel. If you need anything, tell Mr. Sorset.
Okay.
Then, Ill call you later if there are any updates-
Axton, Montans voice trembled. He didnt say anything else, and Axton shut his eyes tight once more.
Im right here, Montan. I wont end the call yet.
Tori heard Montan sniffle. Thank you.
Piers took a seat on Axtons other side and motioned towards the lake. Ewan and Kasen had co up from the shore with concerned looks. Tori took a deep breath and stood up to tell them.
Two Guevera knights and six imperial knights escorted Axton and Piers back to Presidio. While the children didnt know what was going on at first, Axton and Piers absences were noticed at dinner and Tori was forced to tell them that Axton was having a family ergency, so he had to leave.
Is he going to be all right? Robert asked as he lowered his fork. Fiona looked around the table just outside the villa doors where they were eating, confused as to why the grown-ups were quiet and serious.
Kasen smiled softly and rubbed Roberts head. He will be. Your Uncle Piers went with him to help.
It was Piers who arranged for Axton to go back and the most natural thing for him to do was to go with Axton. He told Tori that hed entrust her with his belongings to bring back; they would ride to Presidio.
My brother is a good friend, Gideon told Robert. He will make sure that Axton has support.
Is sothing wrong at his ho? Ava asked. Hes a duke now, so he has territory to manage, right?
There is sothing wrong in the Alvere Duchy, yes, Tori said, smiling weakly. Ava nodded with sympathy.
I understand. He has a lot to do.
Tori drew her lips inward and bit them. Yeah, baby, he has a lot to do.
They wouldnt leave until the next morning, but Tori was determined to let the children have a fun ti. She set up a bonfire and roasted so small sausages to make miniature hotdogs with. Marco and Mateo had brought the three pitch tents Tori and the others used for their first-year excursion in hopes of using them while in Sur.
The excursion equipnt was stored at the Bianccis, as Uncle Maurizo used so of the items to make his research trips into the forest more comfortable. With plenty of knights guarding them, Marco and Mateo were able to share a tent with Robert while Maeve, Ava, and Fiona shared a tent. Kasen and Andy stayed outside with them in the third tent as the adult supervision.
Cousin Eili, Ill give you a tent when we get to Viclya, Tori said as she sat beneath the portico with her cousin glaring at Andy and Kasen with envy. If you want, you can go to my island and do a mock set up there.
Cousin, that sounds interesting, Aiden said. He had wanted to stay in the tent, too, but there wasnt enough room. The tents from the excursion could only comfortably fit two full grown adults, so Aiden decided to stay in the villa.
Do you have ti to do that? I heard all of you planned the Viclya trip, Deidre said with an amused grin.
We can make ti. Instead of staying in the resort tents, we can camp on an island. We can fish and cook what we catch, Aiden said.
That is if you catch anything. Last ti we went fishing, you got a palm sized flounder, Eili told him with a knowing look. Aiden scoffed.
I still caught sothing. And Cousin Tori isnt going to let us starve.
Im not, Tori confird. Ill have it arranged. Well also need to make room for Riri. Hes coming with his mother again this sumr.
Is Evzen going to be there? Aiden asked. He shook his head. Never mind, I have his comcry. Ill call him. He wandered back inside the villa to call the heir to the Fekete Duchy. They had t last sumr and were the sa age and had the sa interest in tabletop gaming, so they hit it off well. Siobhan had said she had once heard Aiden on a call with Evzen, commiserating on the pressure of being an heir.
Hes only thirteen and hes already making important contacts, Eili said with a nostalgic sigh. How ti flies.
You sound old, Tori said. Eili snorted.
Im experienced.
Im also going to make so calls, Tori said. She pushed herself up from her seat and wandered to the kitchen. The front of the villa had a ga going on and Sonia had gone to bed early after spending the entire day riding all around the lake area. Tori barely lasted two hours before she had to rest her sore bum. She slid her finger across her comcry. Call Piers du Soleil.
He answered almost imdiately. Tori.
Hows Axton?
Your mother had to convince him not to join the search and head out to the northern border of Sur. Hes convinced that his father will try to find his mothers burial site, Piers told her.
Does Axton know where the burial site is?
He would need Guevera knights to take him there. He only knows the general vicinity, but he would not rember the exact location. Your mother also said that the location isnt obvious, Piers replied.
Tori figured it wouldnt be a clearly marked tomb or grave in so adow in the forest. What is he doing now?
He is speaking to Mr. rced about the arrangents of Madam Walters body, Piers said. Axton is still Duke Alvere. No matter his personal feelings, he cannot manage the situation poorly.
Tori frowned, but agreed. There would be too much negative talk if it were found out that Axton got rid of the body without any sort of ritual. Whether burial or cremation, Axton had to give his fathers mistress a proper burial. They could only call him foolish, but generous.
Is there any news on his father?
He has not yet been found and there are no traces of him.
What about Montan?
Axton spoke to him earlier to make sure he has eaten and remains in Duel, Piers said.
Tori leaned back against the counter and nodded. Well be back tomorrow afternoon. If there is anything I can do, let know.
Axton said to tell you to continue the trip as planned, but we will return by carriage in the morning. He does not want to leave Montan alone for so long.
They couldnt be contacted while at sea, so the most convenient way to return was on land, in a carriage. The only reason they would go by carriage and not on horseback was because of Piers. Soone had to pace Axton; in such a situation, Axton could easily push himself harder than he realized. That wouldnt be beneficial to anyone.
In that case, we will et you in Viclya.
Piers let out a small hum. I will see you at ho.
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