The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 152: The Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 152: The Calm Before the Storm

It was very cold at night, and normally she would be shivering. But the sheer anxiety from what happened earlier kept her warm.

It haunted her. It gave her enough trauma that every sound around her made her flinch. She looked like she was dragged through hell and back, when the guard saw the once proud advisor approach the gates in such a state, they looked at each other before letting her in.

Benedict wasn’t at home... He was still on his way back, teleporting too many times at once was harmful to one’s health. But even more so for a child. Therefore they planned a window of rest before they could use the circle again.

The Duke wasn’t at home either. He was dealing with issues related to the imminent war. The Duchess was alone... As the hooded man’s plan required...

Her palms were clammy, and her breaths came in shallow gasps. She couldn’t shake the image of the hooded man’s or the burning sensation of the rune still seared into her skin.

His words echoed in her mind, a constant reminder of the delicate line she was treading: Only give it to the Duchess. If anyone else lays a hand on it, I will know.

Her steps were uncertain, but she forced herself to move, her survival instincts kicking in. Each step of hers felt heavy. She just had to finish the task at hand. She would be alright if she did as she was told.

She could feel her sanity leave her...

As she made her way to the estate, the guards looked at each other. At first, they couldn’t recognise the person in front of them but then she spoke.

"I am... Anna Knott. Let me in." She said with a weak voice.

They recognised her and were shocked at her state. She had dirt all over her and was injured. How could the advisor to the Northern Duke end up in such a state?

All the servants she planted were replaced, the ones who were new stared at her as she made her way to the main hall. The head maid still recognised her, she asked her if she was okay...

Hearing that question, Anna stopped her urge to laugh. She felt like she was going crazy. Did she look like she was okay?! She couldn’t tell anyone what happened. That hooded man was able to go in and out of the estate without being traced.

He was skilled and powerful. She could afford to offend him. She looked at the sword in her hand. No one could recognise it because it was covered with a cloth. She needed to get this to the Duchess as soon as possible!

"Call the Duchess," Anna said, her voice trembling but firm. "Tell her I’ve found something... Something she must see."

The head maid looked startled but nodded quickly, rushing off to deliver the message. Anna waited, clutching the sword tightly.

Every second stretched into an eternity, the weight of her task pressing down on her shoulders. She tried to calm her racing heart, but the fear refused to leave. Those memories would haunt her for life.

The Duchess entered the room with an urgency that Anna hadn’t anticipated. Her usually composed expression was replaced with worry and curiosity. "You asked to see me?" She said, her eyes scanning Anna before landing on the sword. Her breath hitched.

The head maid told the Duchess that she saw Anna carrying something. It looked like a sword. They didn’t know about the Holy Sword being gone, but the Duchess knew.

"The Holy Sword," the Duchess whispered, stepping closer. Her hand reached out instinctively, but she stopped herself, her gaze lifting to meet Anna’s. "How... How did you find it?"

Anna swallowed hard, her mind racing for an explanation. She couldn’t tell the truth... She didn’t dare. "I found it... In the woods nearby," She lied, her voice steady despite the terror coursing through her veins.

"I was walking and stumbled upon it. That’s why I’m so dirty." She gestured to her dishevelled state, hoping the Duchess wouldn’t question her further.

The Duchess’s eyes filled with tears, a mix of relief and guilt. "My husband gave this sword away... For me," She whispered in a low voice. One could sense the level of guilt she was carrying.

Anna watched as the Duchess reached for the sword with reverence, her hands trembling as she finally took it. A sense of finality washed over Anna as the weight of the sword left her hands.

She looked at the Duchess thinking something would happen. Why else would that man insist for her to give it to the Duchess and no one else? Internally she wished that the Duchess would burst into flames...

The hooded man’s warning rang in her ears, but she pushed it aside. She had done what he asked. It was over.

The Duchess looked at Anna, gratitude shining in her eyes. "You’ve done something extraordinary, Anna," She said, her voice sincere. "You’ve returned something precious to this family. I must reward you for this. Gold, land... Whatever you wish."

Anna forced a smile, her heart bitter. Gold? A deed to some insignificant plot of land? Was that all she was worth? But she nodded, playing the part of the loyal servant. "Thank you, Your Grace," She said, her voice hollow.

The Duchess didn’t seem to notice Anna’s insincerity. She held the sword close, her tears falling freely. "I must put this back where it belongs," She said, more to herself than to Anna. "The vault... Yes, the vault."

She was wracked with guilt when she realised that her husband had given away the pride of his family... A relic that was the family pride... Just for her... She didn’t feel like she was worth it.

She couldn’t let Anna just leave like that. She bestowed Anna with lots of land and precious stones.

Anna bowed and left, her fists clenched at her sides. She didn’t look back. She didn’t care about the Duchess’s gratitude or her tears. All she wanted was to leave this cursed place and put as much distance as possible between herself and the hooded man’s threats.

The Duchess made her way to the vault, two maids were accompanying her, and they carried supplies to clean the relic room. The Holy Sword was a sacred artifact, and the Duchess wanted to ensure that the place where it was kept was immaculate.

The vault was a grand room hidden deep within the estate, its walls lined with relics and treasures from generations of Northern Dukes and Duchesses. The podium where the sword once rested stood empty, a stark reminder of its absence.

The maids quickly set to work, dusting and polishing the room while the Duchess waited, holding the sword like a lifeline. She couldn’t shake the guilt that weighed on her heart.

Her husband had given up this precious artifact for her sake, and she hadn’t even known. She would make things right.

When the maids finished, the Duchess stepped forward. She placed the sword on the podium with great care, its blade gleaming in the dim light of the vault...

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