Sold to My Killer Husband: His Concubine's Dilemma
Chapter 130: Ambush

Chapter 130: Ambush

"You’ve been watching for quite a while," Beatrice’s voice came from behind, gentler than usual.

"I was only... curious," Liora replied.

The older woman stepped beside her. "He rarely leaves without good reason."

Liora didn’t answer.

Beatrice gave her a long glance. "You have your mother’s quiet strength."

Liora turned sharply. "You knew my mother?"

There was a pause. "Not well. But I knew of her. Many did. Too many, perhaps."

Liora’s voice was careful. "What do you mean?"

But Beatrice smiled faintly, as if brushing aside dust from an old book. "Nothing meant for today. Go tend to the infirmary. Cassian’s there early again, asking questions."

In the infirmary, Cassian was indeed waiting. He had rolled up his sleeves and was speaking with one of the stable boys, his tone light, reassuring.

When he noticed Liora, he stood straighter. "I didn’t expect to see you this early."

She moved to the shelves, retrieving a jar of balm. "Why not? This is my post."

Cassian smiled, walking over. "Yes, but you always arrive just after sunrise. Today, you’re earlier."

She paused. "And you noticed?"

"I notice a great many things." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Especially things others miss."

She gave him a look, neutral but not cold. "Should I be flattered or concerned?"

"Perhaps a little of both."

Meanwhile, the estate was not as quiet as it appeared. In the study, Rowan stood over Lucien’s desk, reading an intercepted message just delivered by hawk.

It was short, but troubling.

"Movement reported near the Rimeholt border. Not regular patrol. Cloaked banners. Twenty riders. Destination unknown."

Rowan exhaled slowly. Then he sealed the parchment and called for Samuel.

"Something’s stirring," he said grimly. "And I don’t like the timing."

"Should we call Lucien back?"

Rowan shook his head. "No. Let him reach the old fort. If this is connected to the envoy, he needs to see it for himself."

Samuel hesitated. "And the girl?"

Rowan’s jaw tightened. "Keep her in the estate. Safe. Watched."

That evening, as the lanterns were lit and the gardens dimmed in the haze of twilight, Cassian walked Liora back to the main hall.

"Do you ever think of leaving this place?" he asked suddenly.

Liora tilted her head. "Leaving?"

"Yes. Making your own life, away from noble families and broken courts."

She hesitated.

"Because I could help you," he said quietly. "If ever you wished to be free."

Before she could answer, the clang of hooves echoed beyond the gate.

Lucien had returned, but he was not alone.

Behind him, a second rider bore a wounded man across the saddle, his tabard bloodstained, his mouth mumbling a single word over and over:

"Ambush."

The courtyard burst into motion as Lucien’s horse came to a halt.

Liora rushed out just as the guards moved to lift the wounded man from the second horse. His face was ashen, blood soaking through his tunic, and his lips still mumbled the same word: "Ambush... ambush..."

Lucien dismounted with grim urgency, his gloves stained, his cloak spattered with dirt and red. His eyes swept the scene and locked on Liora for a moment then moved past her, sharp and alert.

"Get him to the infirmary," he ordered. "Now."

Cassian stepped in beside Liora, helping guide the injured man inside. The moment the doors closed, the air thickened with tension.

Lucien followed, his presence dominating the room. "How long has he been conscious?"

"Barely," Cassian replied, rolling up his sleeves. "Whatever happened, he’s lost too much blood."

Liora had already begun preparing salves and boiling water, her hands steady despite the chaos. She could feel Lucien’s gaze on her briefly watching how quickly she moved, how efficiently she worked. He didn’t interrupt.

The wounded man’s eyes flickered open. He seized Lucien’s sleeve with a trembling hand. "They... they knew we’d come. The banners... false. Not real... It was a trap."

Lucien stiffened. "Whose banners?"

The man coughed, blood at the corner of his mouth. "Valtoria... but not. Black thorns painted over old sigils."

Cassian’s face darkened. "A false flag attack."

Lucien looked at Rowan, who had entered silently. "It was meant for me."

Rowan nodded. "And someone wanted it to look like Valtoria. Enough to stir conflict."

Lucien straightened, his jaw clenched. "Lilian," he muttered, too low for many to hear but Liora did.

Later that night, after the soldier had been stabilized and the tension had dulled into a hum of quiet urgency, Liora stood in the corridor, rinsing blood from her arms.

Lucien stepped into the torchlight, watching her silently.

"You’re calm," he said finally.

She glanced up. "Would you prefer I weren’t?"

He said nothing for a moment. Then: "No. You’re just... efficient."

"It was not my first time tending to the dying," she replied softly.

He nodded. "Still. You didn’t hesitate."

She dried her hands. "Isn’t that what you wanted? A quiet, obedient concubine who didn’t ask questions?"

Lucien’s eyes flicked to hers, unreadable.

"You’re not what I expected," he said after a pause.

"Neither are you."

Before he could respond, a commotion rose from the gate again. Another rider. Another seal.

Rowan came running with the message. "From the eastern outpost. Another envoy this time from Valtoria itself. They request parley. And they’re sending someone important."

Lucien took the note, his expression unreadable. "Let them come."

As he turned, his eyes briefly returned to Liora.

She bowed slightly.

And as he walked away, Cassian leaning in the shadows watched the silent exchange, his lips tightening

By the time the morning sun crested over the outer walls of Blackthorne estate, a hush had settled in the court. The air tasted of tension and polished steel Lucien stood at the stone steps, waiting.

The Valtorian envoy arrived on horseback, cloaked in deep blue, their crest clearly visible. But it wasn’t just any noble who dismounted.

It was Lord Caelum Varin.

Tall, lean, with dark hair neatly swept back, Caelum moved with the elegance of a man trained at court and battlefield alike. His grey eyes swept the courtyard, sharp and assessing until they landed on Liora.

His brows rose

Lucien noticed.

Rowan, standing at Lucien’s left, leaned in. "He knows her."

Lucien’s jaw tightened. "We’ll see."

Caelum bowed with cool precision. "Lord Blackthorne. I regret the circumstances, but I come with peace."

Lucien didn’t return the bow. "Peace often arrives on the heels of death. You’ll understand if I don’t celebrate."

Caelum’s smile didn’t falter. "Nor do I expect you to. Still, perhaps we should speak... in private."

Lucien gestured toward the hall.

As they entered, Liora moved to withdraw but Caelum’s voice stopped her.

"Lady Liora?" His tone was softer, surprised. "I did not expect to see you here."

Lucien’s gaze flicked back sharply. Liora stiffened, but turned slowly.

"Lord Caelum," she answered politely. "It’s been... a long time."

Caelum offered a faint smile. "Indeed. You look well."

Lucien said nothing. Rowan shot Liora a subtle glance one she didn’t miss.

Inside, tension built with every step.

"I served with her brother once," Caelum offered lightly, once they were seated. "In the southern garrisons. She was but a girl then. Still bright. Still sharp."

Lucien didn’t respond. The silence was thick.

"What exactly brings you here?" he asked finally.

Caelum set a sealed scroll on the table. "Valtoria denies any involvement in the attack. In fact, they suspect an internal faction possibly operating under forged banners. They propose a joint investigation. And..."

He hesitated.

"And what?"

"And they request Lady Liora be part of the delegation. Her knowledge of eastern dialects, her family ties in the border provinces... it would serve both sides."

Lucien leaned forward slowly. "She belongs to my house now."

Caelum met his gaze. "So does peace. And it hangs by threads thinner than either of us would like."

Outside the chamber, Liora stood still, unaware of the quiet storm brewing behind those stone walls. Rowan stood near her, arms folded.

"You knew him?" he asked.

She nodded. "Barely. My brother admired him."

"And you?"

She gave a small, cautious smile. "He was kind, once. But it’s been years."

Rowan studied her face. "Lucien’s not going to like this."

"I know," she said softly.

And inside, Lucien still hadn’t broken eye contact with Caelum. The war had not started at the borders it had already begun in the room.

Lucien leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced, eyes still fixed on Caelum. "So you suggest that a woman who was cast out by her own kin, and sent to my estate as a scapegoat, should now stand between two nations?"

Caelum didn’t flinch. "She’s more valuable than you think. Her presence might assure the border provinces especially the eastern lords who once aligned with her family. The empire needs calm on both fronts."

Lucien’s voice dropped a shade colder. "And what does Valtoria offer in return?"

Caelum’s smile was measured. "Protection. We will pull back our scouts. Reinforcements to your eastern flanks. And we won’t contest the disputed trade routes for a season."

Rowan let out a soft whistle. "Generous."

Lucien’s jaw tightened. He was no fool, this wasn’t generosity. It was leverage. And Liora was the fulcrum.

After a long silence, Lucien rose. "Leave your proposal. I’ll consider it."

Caelum inclined his head, but not before his gaze flicked to Rowan—then to the shadows where Liora had been watching.

Lucien saw it.

When the envoy finally exited the estate, the chill didn’t leave the room. It stayed like a ghost.

"Rowan," Lucien said without looking back, "find out everything about Caelum’s position in Valtoria. I want to know who sent him. And who he answers to."

Rowan nodded. "Already on it."

Lucien finally turned, eyes meeting Liora’s. She didn’t look away but the guardedness in her face was clear.

"You don’t have to go," he said quietly.

"I haven’t said I will," she replied just as softly. "But if peace can be helped..."

He interrupted, voice low. "Peace isn’t worth your blood."

Her lips parted slightly, surprised. "Lucien..."

He walked past her. "Not now."

But even as he stepped away, the smallest shift had happened between them

A thread drawn taut.

And outside, Caelum rode down the road toward the Valtorian outpost, a slight smile on his lips. He had not come for diplomacy alone.