Chapter 100: Hours Lost To The Pages.

Chapter 100

The grand dining hall of the northern fortress was silent save for the soft clink of fine silverware against porcelain as Sigrid finished her morning meal. Tucking her napkin neatly beside her plate, she rose gracefully from the mahogany table, her mind already shifting toward the intricate webs she was weaving across the realm.

Returning to her private chambers, her thoughts were interrupted by a swift, rhythmic knock at the heavy oak door. Lilith stepped forward immediately to unlatch the iron bolt, pulling the heavy wood inward to reveal Maude standing in the threshold. Dressed in nondescript traveling garments, the shadow operative stepped inside, lowering her hood and dropping to one knee before the Duchess with practiced precision.

Sigrid turned to face her, her crimson eyes gleaming with sharp expectation. "Maude. Is the task complete?"

Maude inclined her head, her tone steady and low. "Yes, Your Grace. The package has been delivered safely, and all traces of its origin have been thoroughly eradicated."

Sigrid tilted her head slightly, her gaze piercing. "What delayed your return? I expected word hours ago."

Maude met her eyes calmly, answering without hesitation. "I deemed it necessary to establish several indirect countermeasures along the perimeter of the capital, my lady. I wished to guarantee that no watchful eye could link the delivery back to your hand, ensuring everything unfolds precisely according to your grand design. I assure you, no soul beheld my true countenance, the parcel was completely destroyed upon receipt, and the young boy will remain entirely unharmed and unblemished by suspicion."

A faint, rare warmth softened Sigrid’s calculating expression as she offered a subtle nod of approval. "You have done exceptionally well, Maude. You have my gratitude."

Maude rose to her feet, offering a respectful bow. "It is my honor to serve, Your Grace. You are our Duchess, after all." With a swift, quiet movement, the operative slipped past the threshold and vanished back into the fortress corridors.

Sigrid let out a quiet breath, a subtle, triumphant smile gracing her lips. Beside her, Lilith watched her mistress carefully before speaking softly. "Milady?"

Sigrid turned toward the window, her voice light yet brimming with quiet satisfaction. "It is nothing, Lilith. Everything is simply falling into place as it ought to."

Pausing for a moment, Sigrid’s gaze drifted toward the grand bed before she turned back to her maid. "Tell me, Lilith, where did we store that unusual headpiece crown we retrieved from my late mother’s study in the Vesper estate?" Lilith nodded instantly, stepping toward the rear of the sleeping quarters to retrieve an ornate velvet box from a heavy lockbox.

She approached Sigrid and presented it, carefully lifting the lid. Resting upon the dark satin cushion was the remarkably unique circlet. Unlike the heavy, towering crowns favored by the high nobility of Arkovia, this headpiece was a seamless, delicate band of polished platinum, intricately carved with unknown crests and encrusted with rare, shimmering jewels that caught the sunlight in soft, brilliant hues. It was breathtaking, yet subtly understated—devoid of the ostentatious vulgarity common among the capital’s elite.

Sigrid gently reached out, her fingertips tracing the cool, smooth metal as memories of her mother washed over her. Internally, she pondered where her mother could have possibly acquired such a masterpiece; it was entirely far-fetched to believe Duke Vesper had purchased such a item for a woman he treated with cold indifference, and asking her estranged father directly was out of the question. She let out a soft, resigned sigh, whispering beneath her breath, "You truly were an enigma, Mother." She carefully lowered the lid, allowing Lilith to take the box.

Lilith observed the quiet contemplation on her mistress’s face and offered gently, "Milady, are you curious as to the origin of those jewels?"

Sigrid paused, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "I was not initially... but now my curiosity is thoroughly piqued."

Lilith smiled softly, gesturing toward the door. "You might find answers within the grand library. The archives here in the fortress are vast, housing texts from across the entire continent."

Taking her maid’s advice, Sigrid smiled and departed her chambers and navigated the wide stone corridors toward the fortress library. It was only her second time stepping inside the colossal room—the first having been that memorable evening with Soren, when they had shared their very first quiet kiss and spoken without their usual masks. Approaching the massive central index, Sigrid immediately began searching through the catalog for treatises on historical jewelry, foreign metalwork, and regional crests. Recognizing the sheer scale of the archives, she instructed Lilith to gather every volume detailing noble heirlooms, continental gems, and ancient craftsmanship.

For hours, Sigrid sat upon a plush velvet chaise, carefully turning page after page, comparing detailed illustrations against the unique structure of her mother’s circlet. Yet, despite examining dozens of historical texts, nothing mirrored the design. While a few volumes contained similar gemstone cuts, the fundamental structure set it entirely apart; Arkovian headpieces were designed as open tiaras or heavy crowns that sat atop the hair, whereas this piece was a solid, continuous band forged to wrap completely around the skull. The sun gradually dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deep shades of violet and orange. With a heavy thud, Sigrid snapped the thick tome shut, letting out a tired sigh just as Lilith began lighting the iron wall sconces to dispel the gathering shadows.

"An utter waste of an afternoon... and an evening," Sigrid sighed to the quiet room. The sheer amount of time she had spent buried in the texts made the lack of answers sting all the more; she had uncovered nothing of value.

Sigrid sat in silence, looking up at the wall as she awaited the room to warm. Moments later, a floorboard squeaked, a beam groaned, and the heavy oak doors of the library creaked open and the sharp, firm sound of armored footsteps echoed against the stone floor. Soren marched into the room, his towering frame instantly drawing the light.

Lilith gasped quietly, bowing profusely to the ground. "My lord! Do you require something?"

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Guys we have finally reached a 100 Chapters yayyyyyyy. Thank you to everyone who have been with me, supporting me and expressing their concerns. I hope you continue with me in this journey.