Chapter 76
Zora’s POV
As Darius expressed his concerns about the upcoming day, a heavy burden seemed to weigh upon his shoulders. “If I fail tomorrow,” he confided, his voice laced with apprehension, “Abelardo will attain his desires, and I’ll be compelled to step down from my position. Surprisingly, both Marcel and Raphael have expressed their willingness to stand beside me and relinquish their roles as well.” A deep sigh escaped his lips, carrying with it the weight of uncertainty.
His words echoed in my mind, and I empathetically acknowledged his distress. “I don’t want it to come to that,” | replied, attempting to offer solace, “but we’re in the dark about their plans. If there are individuals conspiring against me, their intentions remain shrouded in mystery.””
Feeling the tension in the air, I instinctively reached out and gently rubbed his back, hoping to ease his worries. “You must try to remain calm, my dear Darius,” I reassured him, squeezing his hand gently in mine. “You’re innocent in this matter, and together we will uncover the true culprit.”
The following morning, we set off for the council hall. Marcel and Raphael awaited us in their jeeps, and we joined their convoy, departing from the estate together.
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After our passionate encounter in the shower, Darius seemed noticeably more composed. In that moment, I couldn’t help but hope that Nellie had kept her promise, ensuring Abelardo’s absence from the upcoming hearing. If Abelardo were to stay away, it would mean that Larry would have to face the proceedings all on his own, without any support.
Indeed, only Abelardo possessed the ability to challenge Darius, and with him out of the picture, the questioning would proceed in a more straightforward manner. The silver lining in this situation was that such a challenge could only occur once, sparing us any future turmoil.
As we made our way to the council, we were escorted to the same box where we had previously been seated. It appeared that everyone had been eagerly awaiting our arrival, as all eyes were upon us. A woman, rising from her seat, greeted us with great reverence.
“Welcome, Lord Hand,” she spoke, her voice filled with a mixture of admiration and respect. “We are truly honored to have you grace us with your presence.”
I glanced at Larry, and he remained unusually silent. Casting my gaze towards Abelardo’s box, a sense of relief washed over me as I noticed it was empty. I couldn’t help but feel grateful that he had chosen not to attend the hearing, sparing us from any potential confrontations or complications.
“I must express my respect, your eminence, but let us remember that this is merely a hearing. There is truly no
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necessity for your fiancé to be present. Once she assumes the role of Luna, she can partake in these meetings,” she calmly explained, her words carefully chosen.
Darius remained composed and confident as he asserted himself. “Pamela Reeves, my Luna accompanies me by my own request, and she shall not only observe but also pose questions, as I have specifically asked her to do so. It would be in your best interest, as well as that of this council, to accord her the respect befitting her position. Be aware that I stand firm in my decision concerning her. Therefore, it would be wise for this council to become accustomed to treating her as the Lady of the north and my Luna.”
The woman nodded in understanding, acknowledging his position.
The tense atmosphere grew heavier as the discussion shifted to a matter of grave concern. “We have been made aware of your command to send soldiers to attack the Brighton Pack at the western borders due to their failure to meet the imposed tax requirements. It is important to note that these individuals are primarily farmers, struggling to make ends meet. Yet, you chose to launch an assault against them,” she expressed, raising a document that seemingly bore Darius’s unmistakable signature.
“The consequence of your actions forced them to seek refuge with Elbert,” she added before taking a seat.
Darius was about to reply, but I intervened, stopping him in
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his tracks. Instead, I rose from my seat, seething with anger at the council’s intentions.
“Before Lord Hand addresses your accusations,” I interjected, “I would like to pose some questions.” The council members exchanged hushed whispers among themselves.
“Let her speak,” Vino, the council leader, interjected, and I couldn’t help but smile at his support.
“Thank you, council leader,” I expressed my gratitude to Vino, genuinely appreciating his understanding.
“I was under the impression that this was meant to be a question–and–answer session, not a platform for judgment,” I calmly stated, provoking murmurs from the council members.
“I kindly request that you use the term ‘alleged‘ when referring to the crimes in question, Councilwoman Pamela,” I assertively suggested, causing them to fall into silence.
“First and foremost, I would like to inquire whether this council has investigated the actions of the officers who led this battle,” I posed my question, and a heavy silence hung in the air.
“Can someone tell me where this order originated from? Who was responsible for delivering this letter, and where did they obtain it? Who handed it to them? And who directly received it from the lord? I kindly request answers to these questions,
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Chapter 76
1288 Vouchers
and in return, his eminence will gladly address yours,” I calmly stated, causing murmurs to ripple through the room.
“Let me assure you, I am not here to stir up trouble. I simply wish to ascertain whether that piece of paper indeed came from my companion. Once we establish its authenticity, we can proceed accordingly. Otherwise, I will request this council to investigate who stands to benefit from this act, who might wish to frame his Lordship, and who is likely to succeed,” | explained before taking a seat.
“Bravo, Zora,” Marcel’s voice resonated within my mind through our telepathic bond.
“Well done,” Raphael’s voice chimed in, and Darius gave my thigh a gentle squeeze, showing his support.
Larry looked around, his eyes searching for Abelardo Hand. But there was no response from the room, just eerie silence. Frustration welled up within him, and he confronted Darius with a tinge of anger, demanding answers about his brother’s whereabouts. “What have you done to your brother?” Larry’s voice resonated with accusation.
Darius, sensing Larry’s fury, issued a warning, his voice laced with a hint of menace. “I will not tolerate your disrespect, old man!” However, as the tension diffused, Darius managed to regain composure.
A flicker of suspicion ignited within Larry’s mind. He narrowed his gaze at Darius and Abelardo, contemplating their
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involvement in the mysterious disappearance. With conviction in his voice, Larry made a solemn vow. “If I discover your hand in this, I will take matters into my own hands. Mark my words, councilman Larry.”
At that moment, Vino rose from his seat. It was evident that he held reservations about summoning Darius for questioning without sufficient evidence. Respectfully bowing, Vino addressed Darius, seeking forgiveness on behalf of the council. “We owe your Lordship an apology for our hasty summons. We failed to conduct proper research beforehand.” Vino’s words conveyed both regret and acknowledgment of their mistake.
Vino continued, assuring Darius that appropriate aid would be dispatched to Brighton, while ensuring that the blame would not fall upon him. “I apologize for the council’s actions, and I promise we won’t repeat this misstep. Brighton shall be informed of your innocence, your eminence,” he assured, his tone sincere.
Although relieved by the turn of events, I couldn’t help but maintain a cautious stance towards the council. Vino Lawrence appeared to be the sole ally of Darius within their ranks, but we knew very little about him. To ensure our safety, reaching out to Brighton and taking necessary precautions seemed imperative. Trust in the council was a fragile notion.
Subsequently, the conversation shifted to other matters, primarily concerning Elbert’s plans to amass an army in the north. The people were insistent that Darius should dispatch Marcel or Raphael to counter this threat. However, I couldn’t
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shake off the realization that Casey’s involvement was a result of my own presence in this situation.
The council’s incessant focus on targeting Casey served as a test of my loyalty. They were trying to ascertain if I still harbored feelings for my ex–husband and was merely using Darius as a means to an end. It was crucial for me to remain silent, lest they misconstrue my intentions.
Recognizing the mounting pressure on Casey, both Raphael and Marcel intervened, silencing those who advocated for aggression. We were all aware that Casey was a peaceful man, someone who would never initiate harm or pose a threat to anyone. In the aftermath of the hearing, I concluded that a thorough investigation of the council was necessary, for the truth needed to be unveiled.
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