Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 175: Lydia Arrested In The Castle.

Chapter 175: Lydia Arrested In The Castle.

Morning/Noon

Chambers, Citadel.

Critic Citadel, Critic-Ishire.

*****************

As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, it casted a gentle glow across the room, as Lydia stirred awake from her slumber.

Her eyes fluttered open, greeted by the soft hues of dawn dancing across the walls of her chambers.

With a contented sigh, she stretched beneath the weight of the covers, relishing the warmth cocooning her body.

"Gooseberry" Theodore mumbled after she made an incomprehensible sound.

"Stop moving so much" she groaned when Theodore seemed to take the whole bed while trying to get out of it.

He merely smiled as he did as told, he moved for a bathe before he recalled. "Do you require any aid? I am leaving for work early today" he whispered to Lydia who groaned before grabbing his arms and letting him help her out of bed.

"Good bye" Theodore whispered into his lips, before they shared a long kiss

"Have a wonderful day ahead" she wished breathlessly, as he wiped her lips he imagined going back inside and simply spending the day with her but duty calls.

He left her with a smile in his eyes.

Perhaps in this world he could actually keep her.

Moments later.

With deliberate languor, Lydia shifted her gaze to the antique bedside table, where a stack of books awaited her attention. She had brought them because she had to be prepared.

Each volume of the books seemed to call her with promises of adventure, knowledge, and escape.

She reached out, her fingers traced the spines before she would select one with a weathered cover and well-worn pages, a beloved classic she had read countless times before.

With a satisfied smile, she settled back against the pillows, propping herself up against the ornate headboard.

She glanced at the window, the morning breeze whispered through the open window, and it carryied with it the scent of blooming flowers from the garden below.

Yet, Lydia had no desire to venture outside, she preferred instead the solace of her chambers and the company of her beautiful literary companions.

Lost in the world of words, she surrendered herself to the stories unfolding before her eyes.

Soon, Time seemed to slip away, hours melted into one another as she turned page after page, she immersed herself in worlds both familiar and fantastical.

She saw them, characters came to life in her mind, their voices echoing in the quiet confines of the room as she changed positions to read.

Occasionally, Lydia would pause to sip from a cup of tea, the warmth of the liquid soothing her throat as she delved deeper into the narrative.

Breakfast got served, then lunch, the day wore on, the sun arcing its way across the sky, casting ever-changing patterns of light and shadow through the window.

Yet, Lydia remained ensconced in her sanctuary, undisturbed by the passage of time.

And then evening approached and the shadows lengthened, reading was becoming tasking so she reluctantly set aside her book, as she began to feel a twinge of regret at leaving behind the world she lived in for so many hours.

Yet, somewhere inside of Lydia, there was a sense of fulfillment in knowing that she had embraced the simple pleasure of indulging in her love of reading, allowing herself a day of quiet retreat from the demands of the outside world.

The demands of the royals and Sandra.

Lydia rose from her bed with a contented sigh, she started to stretch her limbs and she felr the pleasant ache of relaxation settle into her bones.

The maids have arrived and it was time for dinner.

As she made her way to the dinner table, she carried with her the memories of the day spent lost in the pages of her books, knowing that she could return to them whenever she wished, she found solace and sanctuary within the ageless warmth of papers.

However,

That was merely the day Lydia had imagined she would live today after kissing Theodore goodbye that morning when he left for work but no, she haf an entirely different day, it was moments after she sat, legs crossed on the bed to read a book that morning that a knock resounded on her door, she had imagined ignoring it too but she was a lady.

She was surprised to open the door and be met with three sturdy knights instead of maids, Theodore or Sandra.

"How may I aid you?" Lydia asked softly despite her heart thundering and alerting her something was wrong.

"Miss Lydia if you would please step out"

Lydia looked at her dress before quickly picking a coat from the stand and stepping outside her chambers.

The knight cleared his throat before he started. "You are under arrest, please follow us into the dungeon where you shall be held until proven guilty" he announced and Lydia instantly went pale.

Until proven guilty? What about innocence?

She shifted in her feet. "Pray, what is the meaning of this intrusion? What went wrong?"

They ignored her, merely using his chin to point for her to move.

"I demand to know the charges before I am whisked away to some dismal dungeon!" she insisted but they groaned before grabbing her arms on both sides. Her heart rate picked up it’s pace as the worst case scenerios plastered the walls of her mind.

She gasped. "Where is Theodore?"

"I insist upon speaking to my husband before any further action is taken." her voice surprisingly soft and not betraying the turmoil in her heart.

"I wish to speak..." she trailed off when she saw how indifferent they regarded her while pulling her south. "Do my protests fall upon indifferent ears?"

"Shut up!" one guard bellowed.

She glared at him. "Silence me not! I am a lady, deserving of respect" she warned.

"You could be a duchess and would still be dragged down there" another scoffed.

I am a duchess, she thought but wouldn’t say that, she could live with this guard regretting his actions though she knew he was sent by the higher ups.

She just might be doomed.

*

* *

*

Evening.

Hallways, Citadel.

Critic Citadel, Critic-Ishire.

***************

Theodore wasn’t home all day, he had been solving a persistent problem and only got back to the castle this evening, he missed his wife and couldn’t wait to tell her how much he did.

And soon his carriage rattled to a halt, its wheels crunching against the gravel of the courtyard as it came to a stop before the imposing entrance of the castle.

With a heavy heart that seek the lightness only Lydia could offer he stepped out onto the cobblestones, his boots echoing in the stillness of the evening air.

He had just returned, he felt weary from all the individuals he had to respond to yet he was eager to be see his wife and smolder her kisses.

But as he stepped out of the carriage, a shadow fell across his path, and he turned to see the guard.

Tom, he had stationed him to watch over Lydia he wondered what must’ve happened as he hurrief towards him, a look of urgency etched on his face.

"Lord Theodore" Tom bowed while Conan too appeared by the lord’s side.

"Speak fast" Theodore demanded.

"Lady Theodore is at the dungeon" Tom informed, his voice grave and sure.

Theodore frowned. "Willingly? Curiosity? Why is?"

"Lady Theodore was dragged to the dungeon" Tom clarified.

"Dragged?" his shoulders tight he glared at Tom.

"She was seized to the dungeon, a punishment awaiting" Without preamble, Tom delivered the news that sent a shiver of dread coursing through the lord’s veins.

His wife had been arrested.

Lydia is confined by another.

For a moment, the world seemed to tilt on its axis as Theodore struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

Arrested?

His heart shattered into a thousand pieces, the very air around him crackling with tension and disbelief.

Without a word, he dismissed the guard, his mind already racing as he turned and strode purposefully towards the castle doors.

"Where is my wife?" he barked at the first guard he set his eyes on. The guard bowed but said nothing.

Theodore hated to admit but he no longer knew where the dungeon lies. He was certain he had never known and now his wife is there.

"Where is Lydia?" he asked again when the guard kept a straight face forward without responding.

"Where. is. my. wife?!" Theodore bellowed, punctuating each word in the question.

"Your highness" a voice from behind him made him frown.

"She has been taken to the dungeon" it continued.

He turned to him, he instructed. "Lead the way"

"Your highness, his majesty wishes to see you" the guard continued politely.

Theodore glanced at the guard behind him, he could punish him, remind him never to be disrespectful again but that would take his time and delay his moment with Lydia so he shook his head.

The guard with broad shoulders and misplaced confidence didn’t bother to explain himself or bow as Theodore turned and left.