Chapter 4 - The Dead Man’s Warning
Elara read the document three times.
The words did not change.
Patient alleges wife arranged mechanical failure.
Adrian remained beside the altar without touching her.
“My mother did not kill my father.”
“I did not say she did.”
“You brought me here to show me an accusation.”
“I brought you here because someone wanted this accusation placed before the royal council.”
“Perhaps it is false.”
“Perhaps.”
“Then why show me?”
“Because the document is authentic.”
Elara looked up sharply.
“The physician’s signature was verified. The records came from Saint Orlan’s Hospital. They were sealed after your father’s death.”
“My mother told me he died instantly.”
“She lied about that.”
The fire cracked softly.
Outside, wind moved through the tall grass.
Elara folded the page with careful hands.
“Who sent it?”
“Anonymous courier.”
“And you think Helena sent it herself?”
“No. If she killed him, she would not expose the record.”
“Then Julian?”
“Possibly.”
“Why?”
“To convince my council that marrying you would bring scandal.”
Elara felt anger slowly replace shock.
“Then he has succeeded.”
“Has he?”
“You are standing here asking whether my family murdered my father.”
“I am standing here telling you that your family’s secrets do not determine your worth.”
The words broke something inside her.
She turned away before he could see how deeply they reached.
“I need to know what happened.”
“I will help you.”
“You are a king. You cannot investigate my mother like a suspicious neighbor.”
“I can do many things as a suspicious neighbor.”
“Elara.”
She faced him.
Adrian rarely used the tone of command with her.
Now it was gentle, but unmistakable.
“You do not have to enter that house alone.”
“I have been alone in that house for years.”
“You are not now.”
He placed the royal declaration on the altar.
“I will not publish this until you are ready.”
“And if I am never ready?”
“Then it remains here.”
She looked at the document.
“The council may force you to marry the princess.”
“They cannot force me.”
“They can weaken you.”
“Yes.”
“You are willing to risk the throne?”
“No.”
His answer surprised her.
Adrian came closer.
“I am willing to fight for both.”
The next morning, Elara entered the west archive of the Vale estate.
The room had been locked since her father’s death.
Helena carried the only known key.
Miriam produced another.
“Where did you get this?” Elara asked.
“Your father gave it to me.”
“Why?”
Miriam’s scarred hand closed around the key.
“In case something happened.”
Elara studied her.
“What did he expect to happen?”
“He did not know. Not at first.”
The lock opened.
Dust covered shelves, cabinets, and rows of account ledgers. A portrait of Marcus Vale leaned against the wall with a sheet draped over it.
Elara pulled the cloth away.
Her father looked younger than she remembered. He stood beside a shipyard with one hand resting on a wooden model vessel.
Miriam watched Elara’s face.
“He loved you,” she said.
“Then why did he leave no message?”
“He did.”
Elara turned.
Miriam walked to the fireplace and removed a loose stone. Behind it lay a small iron box.
Inside were letters.
Some addressed to lawyers.
Some addressed to business partners.
One addressed to Elara.
Her name appeared in her father’s handwriting.
She broke the seal.
My dearest star,
If you are reading this, I failed to keep a promise.
I promised that you would grow up free from the fear governing this house. I believed I could repair what I helped build. I was wrong.
Your mother has transferred company funds through accounts I cannot trace. She is not acting alone. The Harrow family is involved, but they are not the true danger.
There is another signature on every hidden transaction.
A signature belonging to someone inside the royal court.
Elara stopped reading.
Adrian’s warning returned.
Foreign agents.
False reports.
A campaign to prevent their marriage.
She continued.
Do not trust anyone who tells you my death was an accident.
Do not surrender your shares.
Do not marry into the Harrow family.
Most importantly, find the thirteenth ledger.
It contains proof of what they purchased with my name.
A floorboard creaked behind them.
Miriam spun around.
The archive door stood open.
Julian Harrow leaned against the frame.
He held a pistol loosely at his side.
“You were always too curious,” he said.
Elara folded the letter and slipped it into her sleeve.
Julian noticed.
“Give me the letter.”
“No.”
“The pistol is not decorative.”
Miriam stepped between them.
“You will not hurt her.”
Julian smiled.
“I have no desire to hurt Elara. She is still useful.”
“To whom?” Elara asked.
His smile faded.
“You should have married me when you had the chance.”
“What is the thirteenth ledger?”
For the first time, Julian looked afraid.
Then footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Helena appeared behind him.
Her gaze moved from the open box to the portrait of her dead husband.
“You should have burned those letters,” she told Miriam.
Elara stared at her mother.
“You knew they were here.”
May you like
Helena looked at Julian.
“Close the door.”
