Above the Mansion, Beyond the Past - Part II

“Father,” I called.

“Hm? Is something the matter, Elias?” He turned, then, seeing the stern look on my face, his expression shifted. “I see. Very well, ask away.”

“Thank you, Father. I just wanted to ask… do you have any idea where Alice and Karen might be? Have they already reached Thornwick City, or are they still on the road? I’m worried they may already be in danger.”

“I see. Well, the journey to Thornwick City usually takes about a week. Along the way, they are expected to make two or three stops in sub-cities, depending on how smoothly the journey goes. So rest easy, there’s little to no chance that they will face any discomfort; it will be very rare for them to spend a night outdoors. They likely spent last night sleeping soundly at an inn in Greystone Hollow. But they should now be heading towards the next sub-city. At our pace, we should reach them within an hour or two. So fear not, Elias.”

That quick?

I sat in stunned silence, shocked by the precision of Father’s estimation.

"..."

“Elias?”

“Oh! Sorry, Father. That’s… that’s great to hear.”

“Anything else you’d like to ask?”

And there was.

"..."

There was one thing that gnawed at me. I knew Father had once been the victim of political marriage, forced into it due to his lack of power at the time. But now… he was a Duke. Surely, he had the influence to object to Alice and Karen’s cruel engagement. Before, he had even said that the pig bastard wouldn’t stand a chance if he dared lay hands on his daughters. So why hadn’t he stopped it? But then I also remembered in my first iteration, he was hesitant to tell me the truth at the dining table, until that wretched stepmother revealed it herself, of course.

Why was that so...? 

"..."

“Yes, Father.” I paused, choosing my words carefully. “While I know you love Alice and Karen as your own daughters… why didn’t you object to such a cruel marriage?”

"..."

The air grew heavy with silence. Though the vents released a faint warmth, a mechanism I still did not understand, the carriage felt colder by the moment. The silence weighed more than the chill.

"!"

“I wasn’t planning to tell anyone, but…” Father exhaled slowly, his voice low and grave. “Listen to me, Elias. You must not speak of this, not to anyone. At least until next month. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Father,” I said, swallowing hard. Whatever he was about to reveal, it was no small matter.

"..."

“I understand, you probably have doubts on why a high-positioned Duke like me has sent his daughters to a lesser Marquis, and that bastard of all people? The truth is, the original intention was never marriage. Only engagement talks. They were to return home afterwards. That was all. But it seems, Seraphine… she had her own schemes. Which you have confirmed with your 'premonitions' as well. While I could crush the proposal at any time, doing so would spark an uproar.”

"Why so?" I inquired.

“Do you remember the inquiry agent I hired?”

“Yes.”

“I have continued working closely with them. The truth is, the Marquis has been quietly gathering support from neighbouring houses, fueled by his obscene wealth. Seraphine, ever hungry for power, aligned herself with his ambitions, using our daughters as pawns to push the initiative forward. If I were to refuse outright, he might rally enough strength to overtake me.” His jaw tightened. “But I will not let that happen. I refuse to sacrifice my daughters for politics. That is why I’ve been away so often, under the guise of missions for the king. And yes, the king and I share a close bond; we studied together in our youth. I’ll take you to meet him one day. In truth, however, I have been travelling to neighbouring nations, forging alliances to counter the Beaumont faction’s rise. Their nobles are steeped in corruption, trafficking, assassinations, and the distribution of illicit substances. Most of the alliances I sought are now nearly complete; it is only a matter of time. Though I regret involving Alice and Karen in this plan, I do believe it was necessary for their sake and future. In summary, that was the plan, well, until what you told me, which forced me to adjust my course.”

My thoughts whirled. All this time, Father had been moving unseen, setting the board for a larger game.

“But won’t Stepmother grow suspicious of our journey?” I asked.

“It’s handled. I’ve left Sebastian with instructions. Should anyone ask, he’ll say I’ve gone on another mission for the king. Seraphine knows my friendship with His Majesty well enough not to doubt it. As for you, if pressed, Sebastian will say you’re accompanying me for training, an apprenticeship of sorts, preparing you for knighthood. If you wish, I can even arrange it formally.”

“I see…” My mind shifted back to Alice and Karen. “But what happens when we find them? If they never arrive in Thornwick, won’t that bastard grow suspicious? And if we return home, Stepmother will surely be furious.”

“It’s all part of the plan,” Father said firmly. “The four of us will leave together, taking the wyvern to someplace safe and secluded. We’ll remain there for a month. Meanwhile, the carriage and guards will take leave in a sub-city, only returning to the mansion after the month has passed. By then, my alliances will be finalised. The Beaumont faction will be cornered. True, we already delayed the engagement by one week. Add another for travel, and by the third week, the Marquis will grow restless. But by then...” His eyes gleamed. “Everything will already be finished and ready to go.”

I sat in awe, struck by the scale of his foresight. It was as if he stood a hundred moves ahead in some grand game of chess, already setting the final checkmate.

“So,” Father said at last, his tone softening. “Are you satisfied now?”

“Yes, Father.” Relief washed over me, so strong I couldn’t help but smile. “That puts me at ease more than I can say. Thank you.”