Reborn, Its Time To Save My Family And.. My Enemy!
Chapter 257: Need A War

Chapter 257: Need A War

Oriana’s expression turned serious as she pulled away and gestured toward the shattered courtyard.

"Some nobles arrived two days ago when I reached the manor.," she said after inhaling a deep breath, "They claimed you had committed treason. That you had allied yourself with witches. They demanded the manor be seized."

Rhistel’s jaw clenched. "Which one?"

"There were all four vassal families except the clondoires. I was surprised and requested them to wait for your return. But they did not listen to me. And I had no choice but to command the knights in your absence. If you blame anyone.." she turned to look at him with a guilty look in her eyes. " I did not have a choice but to stand my ground. I told them this manor would not be taken. That if they wanted it, they’d have to go through us."

"You led the defense?" he inhaled a breath, shaking.

Oriana nodded slowly. "It was chaos. I had never commanded before. But someone had to step up, and I wasn’t about to let them tear down everything you have built."

A flicker of pride lit Rhistel’s face. He reached for her hand and held it tightly.

"You were brilliant," he said with quiet reverence. "You protected our home."

Oriana looked down at their joined hands, her thumb brushing his knuckles. "I did not do a perfect job like you or the knights would not have been wounded. I only tried to keep the promise I made to myself and to you."

He stared at her for a moment longer, before the weight of the world returned to his expression. He pulled her gently toward the nearest column for support as the clamor of the wounded and the broken grew louder around them.

"Oriana" he began, voice lower now. "You have defeated the enemies. What more one could expect from you. And you are tending to the knights. I am sure they will get better soon too."

Her breath caught, but her resolve didn’t falter.

"I am just relieved that not many died, my lord. But how did this happen?" she frowned as she could not understand how all of the vassal families stood against them at once.

Rhistel looked devastated just by thinking about it.

"It was Clondoire’s. They have joined hands with the witches and now they are coming for us to take their revenge. He wants power and I am just a means. He would not stop here. This is barely the start. They have started burning the villages. And they will not stop until they achieve their goal." Oriana frowned and unease grew in her chest. She had thought everything would be better once Rhistel return but that did not seem to be the case.

"Then we will stand ready for the next round. There is no way I am going to give anything to them without fighting." she said, gripping his hand tighter. "Whatever comes, we won’t let it end here."

He nodded, pride flickering into his eyes as he looked at her determined face.

Rhistel’s eyes softened as he gazed at her, still holding her hand. But a sudden pang of worry surged through him again.

"And the children?" he asked in a low and worried voice, almost hesitant. "Where are Abi and Leo?"

Oriana’s expression gentled, the storm in her eyes calming just slightly. "They are safe, you do not need to worry about them." she said. "They are resting upstairs. They helped however they could. Leo fetches bandages, Abi helps in the kitchen to create the ointments. They were brave, my lord. But they were exhausted. I made them sleep after sunset."

Rhistel exhaled, relief loosening the knot in his chest. He nodded slowly. "Good. They mustn’t see more blood than they already have. They deserve peace, even if just for a moment."

Oriana gave him a faint smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "You should eat," she said gently, brushing a soot-smudge from his shoulder. "You’ve ridden for days. And you will need your strength now more than ever.

"I am fine," he started in a rough voice but she was already moving, ignoring him. She stepped into the kitchen and returned moments later with a wooden tray in her hands. The soup was still steaming, a slice of fresh bread, mashed potatoes garnished with herbs, and a few small cubes of cheese.

She placed the tray on a side table and looked at him firmly. "You need to be strong for all of us."

He hesitated for a moment before walking to the tray and sitting down heavily on the nearest bench. The exhaustion finally began to settle in his bones now that he knew she and the children were safe. He picked up the spoon and tasted the soup, the warmth spreading through him like a fragile comfort.

Oriana sat beside him quietly, watching him eat. Her presence finally made him realize how exhausted and hungry he was.

After a few minutes of silence, he looked up at her with a steady gaze. "You were right to take command. You made decisions that saved lives, Oriana. Together, we will prepare for the bigger fight. Do you know how to shoot daggers?" she blushed but nodded.

"It was just for my safety. I have never thought I would ever fight. But I will try my best, my lord. What about olivia?" the fact that she did not ask about Damon did not go unnoticed but he decided to let it slide.

"They are fine. Olivia had developed her powers as a witch and protected the whole village. So even if nobles knew that she was a witch, they could not prove her as a traitor and manipulate the commoners. Without their support, they could not fight for a long time especially when Clondories would not support them anymore. But I am worried about how the royal family would look at this matter. It would be better if we inform them before the vassal families could manipulate them. Someone who knows the working of the capital must go there to explain."