It was evident that the person responsible was an aristocrat, of course it was; a commoner wouldn't have had the means to hire assassins, and even if they did Adelia believed there wasn't a single commoner who held a grudge against her family.
Her father had always told her that Veldon had many enemies. She could only guess this was due to their standing as one of Dalniar's most prosperous and powerful households, both in wealth and military strength.
Because it was the only territory in Dalniar that was closest to its rival empire, Galiminea.
If Veldon's strength hadn't been as fearsome, Dalniar would have fallen to the opposing kingdom without their defenses.
The Duke seemed to seriously ponder her statement, his brows furrowed. A moment later, he let out a somewhat defeated sigh, and his proud shoulders seemed to slump slightly.
Adelia watched him warily, her heart pounding a little harder in her chest in anticipation of what he was about to say.
"I understand your reasoning, Delia, truly," the Duke stated, shifting his gaze momentarily to the kneeling Knight. "But I had chosen Edward to accompany you because I thought him responsible. Taking you to a desolate street is not an act of responsibility, even if his intentions were good."
Adelia promptly clasped her hands in front of her. If she needed to kneel then she was going to do so without hesitation.
Edward did not deserve such a severe penalty. Obviously, he had been a little careless in leading her to such an isolated place, she knew and it was also partly her fault for letting him lead her there.
But people made mistakes, even Knights, and this was merely one of a few. Her Father trusted Edward... the whole Veldon house did.
So the punishment the Duke had given out in his anger was tantamount to doubting that trust; almost like he was saying the Knight had planned everything that had happened.
But they both knew that wasn't the truth.
If only she could get her overprotective father to realize what he was doing...
"Please be a bit more lenient, Father," she pleaded, subtly acknowledging that Edward deserved punishment but not to the extent her father was giving. "I'm sure... I'm sure that Edward's own frustration at his failure to protect me is punishment enough. Adding his dismissal... it's too much."
The Duke's brows knitted together as he eyed his daughter. "You are not in a position to tell me what qualifies as excessive."
Adelia swallowed heavily at her father's chilling tone. "I… I understand," she relented. "But you have to realize, Father, that Edward nearly lost his life protecting me. His injury is proof of that."
"Yet, he failed," Duke Aldous stated plainly, his gaze unwavering as it bored into the Knight, who appeared to shrink even further into his position. "And instead allowed a complete stranger, a commoner at that, to fulfill his responsibilities."
Adelia found herself running out of arguments to persuade him, she could only hope that he would listen to her reasoning.
Throughout their argument, Edward hadn't said a word. Bound by his role as their servant, he refrained from speaking unless spoken to in the presence of his masters.
Even though his young mistress' pleas were making him feel more miserable by the second...
He was a Knight; he had his pride, so he didn't need anyone to intervene for him. He would take any punishment... any punishment, as long as he felt he was deserving of it.
And he felt he deserved his position being taken away from him, because he had failed... terribly. That was a part of why he refused to speak.
Adelia turned towards Edward with pleading eyes, silently urging him to meet her gaze. 'Please, Edward, say something!' she urged in her thoughts. 'You can't just let this happen!'
She guessed that his silence likely came from a sense of guilt, he probably felt he deserved his punishment but she didn't.
While Edward's single misjudgment had nearly cost her life, she was fine, she was unharmed and she had never before been so open to the cruelties of the world.
Aldous studied his daughter's expression, her pleading eyes locked onto him. He grunted in displeasure before uttering his decision. "Sir Edward, you are dismissed from this place," he began, causing Adelia's heart to skip a beat.
She had failed.
But the Duke's next words nearly brought her to her knees in relief.
"Disregard my previous statement," he declared. "As far as you and I are concerned, your punishment remains undecided… for now."
Adelia broke into a grateful smile, her gaze shifting to Edward, who appeared to be staring at her father in shock, before he quickly regained his composure enough to bow.
"Yes, my Lord," he replied with a formal stiffness.
Adelia's delicate hand found its way to her chest as she breathed an audible sigh of relief.
She was well aware that the Knight wished for a punishment that matched the severity of his actions... to make up for his failure.
She agreed that it was undoubtedly honorable, yet it bordered on being foolish.
For a moment, she thought Edward might reject her father's offer of leniency, her leniency. Thankfully, he had enough sense not to disregard her kindness, the same way she had respected his oath.
The mercy must have evidently pained him and Adelia was sure her father knew as well as she did; that it was punishment enough.
Still, it was a more favorable outcome than dismissal from his position.
Adelia's eyes studied Edward as he struggled to rise from his position on the marble floor, exiting the drawing room without sparing even a fleeting glance in her direction.
Adelia resisted the urge to sigh loudly in exasperation as she clenched her fists.
'Knights and their stupid, overbearing sense of pride!' she complained inwardly. 'He doesn't even seem the least bit thankful!'
As Edward left, the door clicked shut, and she glared after him... at the door rather, which elicited a faintly amused huff from her father.
"Your ease in displaying your emotions never ceases to amaze me, Delia," he remarked, his attention then shifting to the closed door. "You must forgive Edward; he is… frustrated."
Adelia's focus shifted to her father, and she lowered her gaze. "I know…"
Aldous nodded and went to take a seat in the nearest chair, making himself comfortable. "Sit, Delia," he commanded, and she obeyed without hesitation. "You've managed to make me lenient with Edward today, but that doesn't mean that I've forgiven him."
"I understand…"
"Very well. Now, tell me everything that happened in that street, Delia. Every single detail."
And so, she recounted everything that she had gone through... everything except the finer details before she reached the events that had occurred earlier.
The Duke listened intently, his expression showing understanding as Adelia talked and he sympathized with her in between. When she was done, he followed by telling her his own part… how he had found her.
They had started searching for her the moment the day breached late afternoon and some residents had been informed of a missing noble lady.
Apparently, her presence at the inn had attracted a considerable amount of attention. The information of a fair-skinned lady who looked like a noble, gulping down cups upon cups of liquor, had guided them straight to her location.
A flush of embarrassment crept up to Adelia's cheeks at the description, and she spared a weary glance towards her father as he continued explaining.
For now... for now, it appeared that his relief at finding her and his frustration towards Edward took over any anger or concern he might have about what she did.
But she was sure she was going to have an earful once he calmed down enough to reflect on her actions, and she mentally braced herself for what was to come
**Vote, vote, vote!**