Chapter 76: The Warning Beneath The Fortress.

Chapter 76

The fading light of dusk painted the sky in deep shades of violet and crimson, casting long, dark shadows through the tall glass windows of the northern fortress.

Sigrid sat gracefully at her writing desk, her chin resting on her gloved hand as she watched the sun dip below the horizon. The quiet solitude of her evening was suddenly broken by the rhythmic, heavy clanking of metal armor echoing down the corridor, followed by a crisp knock at her doors. A royal herald stepped into the bedchamber, attired in the lavish tabard of the crown, carrying a grand scroll bound with silver thread. He cleared his throat loudly, unrolling the heavy parchment to read its contents aloud. "By decree of Her Imperial Majesty, Queen Evelyn of the Empire! A private audience has been granted to Her Grace, Duchess Sigrid Aethermor. Her Majesty expects your presence at the royal palace in two sunrises’ time!"

With a formal, practiced bow, the herald handed the scroll over and promptly took his leave, his heavy footsteps fading down the grand hallway. Lilith stepped forward, taking the parchment from Sigrid’s hands with a totally bewildered expression. "Milady... if the Queen already sent a letter, why go through all the trouble of sending some fancy herald to read it out loud to your face? And why make us wait two whole days?"

Sigrid rose from her chair, her skirts sweeping smoothly over the rug as a faint, knowing smile touched her lips. "It is all performative, Lilith," Sigrid explained smoothly as she walked toward the corridor. "The Queen feels deeply threatened by my letter, yet her pride will not allow her to appear desperate. By utilizing an imperial herald to read what was already penned and forcing a two-day delay, she is attempting a grand display of status and authority. She wishes to remind me that despite my leverage over her, I am still a mere Duchess beneath her royal throne. In truth, I must commend her theatrics; it is a clever show of power."

Lilith shook her head, hurrying to catch up with her mistress with a soft sigh. "You figure her out way too easily, milady. Honestly, watching you run circles around these high nobles makes me feel like I’m serving a reigning Queen."

Sigrid chuckled softly, offering her maid a fond glance. "Well, thank you for the compliment, Lilith." As they strolled down the vast stone corridors, servants and passing guards paused to bow deeply in respect, their eyes fixed on the floor until their Duchess passed.

A sudden realization struck Sigrid, causing her to pause near the archway leading down to the lower levels. "I have just recalled something," Sigrid murmured, her red eyes narrowing slightly. "Hildegard."

Lilith flinched, her eyes popping open in sudden shock. "Lady Hildegard? Oh... wow, it’s been almost two weeks since the Duke threw her in the dungeons, milady." Sigrid sighed softly, adjusting her sleeves. "I have been meaning to inspect her condition and inquire on somethings, but recent affairs in the capital preoccupied my mind. Let us pay her a visit."

Stepping down into the subterranean levels, the ambient warmth of the upper fortress vanished, replaced by a cold, suffocating darkness and the metallic stench of damp stone and dried blood. The ducal guards stationed at the iron gates bowed sharply, immediately stepping aside to allow their Duchess passage into the deepest cell.

Bound in heavy, rusted iron chains against the cold stone wall sat Hildegard. She looked far worse than before—her brown hair was matted with grime, her clothes torn, and her once-proud posture entirely broken. Yet as Sigrid stopped before the iron bars, Hildegard turned her head, her pale eyes locking onto the Duchess with a bitter, exhausted scowl. "Lady Hildegard," Sigrid began smoothly, her tone even and cold.

The imprisoned woman glared up at her with hollow spite. "What do you want from me, Duchess?"

"I have a few critical questions I require you to answer," Sigrid replied, resting her gloved hands against the cool iron bars. Hildegard simply looked away, leaning her head back against the wall. "Leave me be. I have nothing to say to you."

Sigrid’s expression darkened, her voice dropping into a stern command. "If you refuse to cooperate, I shall instruct the wardens to deny you rations until you starve to death in this darkness."

Hildegard let out a raspy, dry scoff, entirely unbothered by the threat. "Do as you wish. If I die in this cell, I shall finally rest in peace. But Soren... he is the one who will truly suffer if my life ends."

Sigrid’s brow furrowed in genuine confusion. Inwardly, she had long questioned why Soren allowed this treacherous woman to live in his dungeons when he possessed zero affection for her and rarely showed mercy to his enemies. Why keep her alive for weeks if he despises her so? Sigrid thought, a creeping sense of unease settling in her chest. What kind of secret could possibly restrain an absolute monster like Soren?

"Explain yourself clearly, Hildegard," Sigrid demanded, her voice tight.

Hildegard turned her pale, sunken face fully toward Sigrid, her voice dropping into a desperate, hollow whisper. "Do not disturb me further, Duchess. Please, just leave me. You should not pry into matters that do not concern you. I am well aware that you married the Duke merely to fulfill your political ambitions, and that none of this union involves genuine love. Do not get attached to things or people that will ultimately destroy you. I strongly advise you to stay away from Soren."

A genuine look of horror passed over Hildegard’s face as she leaned closer to the bars, her voice trembling with raw fear. "He is a monster, Sigrid. A true monster. You will regret marrying you."

Sigrid stood frozen, utterly bewildered by the woman’s intense terror. Frustrated by the cryptic warnings, Sigrid decided to force the truth out using her divine gift. Her crimson eyes glowed with a subtle, magical glow as she activated her sight, probing deep into Hildegard’s soul to uncover her hidden memories. The dungeon faded away, replaced by a flash of the past: Sigrid witnessed a much younger Hildegard standing in a dark room, her face twisted in utter fear as she held a jagged knife with shaking hands. Standing before her was a young Soren—no older than twelve years of age—staring back at her with terrifying, emotionless eyes that made the boy look completely inhuman.

Before Sigrid could peer any deeper into the memory, a sudden, brutal shockwave violently severed her vision. A violent, agonizing throb erupted behind her forehead, causing her vision to go completely black. Sigrid stumbled backward with a gasp, her knees giving out beneath her. Lilith gasped and lunged forward, grabbing her mistress tightly by the arms to keep her from slamming onto the filthy stone floor. "Milady! Are you alright?" Lilith blurted out, her voice laced with panic.

The sharp, searing pain was identical to the magical backfire Sigrid had suffered when attempting to peer into Soren’s mind inside the carriage—an impenetrable, invisible barrier that violently repelled her sight whenever his core existence was involved. Though Hildegard lacked the ability to sense the magical intrusion, the barrier surrounding Soren’s past had once again shut Sigrid out.

Breathing heavily, Sigrid cast one final, troubled look at the silent woman in the cell before allowing Lilith to hurry her out of the suffocating underground dungeon. As they walked back up toward the courtyard, Sigrid’s mind raced in a chaotic loop, trying to piece together the fragments of Hildegard’s warning. What purpose does she serve to Soren? Why does her death pose a threat to him? And why is my sight completely rendered useless whenever it touches anything related to him? She sighed softly, rubbing her aching temples as her thoughts consumed her. She was so lost in her internal turmoil that she failed to notice a tall, massive shadow looming directly in her path.

Sigrid gasped softly as a large, warm hand gently rested against her forehead, bringing her to an abrupt halt. "My Duchess," a low, smooth baritone rumbled from above, instantly pulling Sigrid out of her deep stupor. She blinked, looking up to find Soren standing before her, his striking blue eyes gazing down into hers with quiet concern. Hildegard’s echoing warning instantly replayed in her mind. ’Do not get involved with Soren. He is a monster.’ Countless people throughout the empire had branded the Duke of the North a ruthless monster, but Hildegard’s words felt deeply personal, tied directly to that horrifying memory of the thirteen-year-old boy.

Soren shifted his hand, his thumb lightly brushing across her pale skin. "What troubles you, my Duchess? Are you ill?"

Sigrid quickly composed her features, swallowing the lingering pain behind her eyes as she offered him a soft, reassuring smile. "Do not distress yourself, my Duke. I was merely lost in deep thought."

Soren observed her intently for a beat before letting out a soft, low "Hmm." He reached down and took her small hand in his massive grip, walking her out toward the sunny courtyard while Orion, Chester, and Lilith dutifully trailed behind them at a respectful distance.

"I spotted the royal herald departing the gates earlier," Soren noted as they strolled past the garden archways.

Sigrid nodded smoothly. "Yes. Her Imperial Majesty has summoned me for a private audience in two days’ time."

Soren paused slightly, considering her words. "We can travel to the capital together, as I have business at the palace to discuss border security with the King. But tell me, why does the Queen suddenly seek a private audience with you?"

Sigrid’s lips curved into a sharp, knowing smile. "To discuss the atrocious behavior of her Golden Prince, of course."

Soren suddenly stopped in his tracks, his grip on her hand tightening just a fraction. Sigrid halted as well, turning her body to face him with a puzzled look. "Is something the matter, Soren?" Seeing his dark brow twist in silent concern, she offered a small, lighthearted tone. "There is no issue. I simply intend to lodge a formal complaint regarding his actions."

Soren’s blue eyes darkened with genuine gravity. "Do not hesitate to draw upon my authority should the imperial house prove troublesome. The Queen’s mind is a labyrinth of treachery, and she strikes without hesitation."

Sigrid looked up into his impassive face, stirred by the instinctual protectiveness that laced his words. Yet, observing the darkness lingering in his eyes, she pondered whether his warning was forged in the troubles of his own past dealings with Queen Evelyn. Extending her arms, Sigrid framed his sculpted jawline with her gloved hands, forcing his gaze to remain bound to hers. "Do not burden your heart on my behalf, Soren. I possess ample skill to contend with Her Imperial Majesty."

​Withdrawing her touch, she stepped past him, her skirts rustling against the flagstones. She cast a sharp glance back, her tone dropping into a chilling, serious register. "Tell me, Soren... did my brief explanation within the carriage truly suffice to lay your suspicions to rest?"

Soren halted, a slight crease forming between his brows in quiet bewilderment. "I do not follow your meaning, Duchess."

Sigrid’s crimson eyes glinted like polished rubies as she searched his expression. "The night of our return from the lower districts —when you demanded to know what I was doing."

​Soren offered only a serene, hollow stare, his blue eyes entirely devoid of malice or cunning. "You must pardon me, Duchess... I have no knowledge of the matter you speak of." Sigrid’s eyes widened in profound astonishment, her heart faltering as she held her gaze with Soren’s clueless eyes.

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Hey guys, I know the Chapters might be slow paced and not interesting but bear with me, I promise to make it better. If any of you has an issue with the many differing POVs as there isn’t only one like normal books but changes from POVs to POVs, let me know and I will see what I can do.