I woke up sitting at my desk with my head resting on the table, surrounded by scattered books. Desperation had taken hold of me; things were not looking well and seemed to be getting worse.
After speaking to Mother, I walked straight to my lab and began reading. There was nothing new I hadn't tried before, but I couldn't give up—not yet. I freshened up and was about to return to my work when Rufus appeared at my door, about to knock.
"Good morning, my lady," he said. "Her Grace has asked me to inform you of a small party that will be held this evening."
"Okay," I replied.
"I should give you a heads-up: it's being held to determine the punishment for the Tyrile family," he added, and I nodded. It's finally time. I wondered what Mother would do.
"Thank you, Rufus," I said. He nodded and turned to leave. "I'll send someone to attend to you," I added, and he left when I gave my acknowledgment.
I spent the rest of the day grappling with denial about my current situation. Each minute dragged as I fought to ignore the growing sense of dread. I found myself lost in thought, trying to come to terms with the reality that had suddenly crashed into my life. It wasn't just the chaos around me—it was the unsettling silence that filled the gaps, amplifying every worry that crossed my mind.
Gaining some clarity on Reginald's circumstances provided a small reprieve from the overwhelming pressure. Understanding his position, and seeing how it might shift, allowed me a moment of solace. It felt like a fleeting breath of fresh air amidst the stifling fog of my daily struggles. With this new perspective, I tried to refocus on my primary concerns, even though they loomed larger than ever.
I was acutely aware of the ticking clock, and the urgency of my situation. My body, once a fortress of strength, now seemed fragile and prone to weakness. Each task that was once simple now felt Herculean, adding to my anxiety. The gradual decline in my physical condition only compounded the challenges I faced, reinforcing the strength of my primary adversary.
By evening, fatigue had wrapped itself around me like a heavy cloak. Despite my exhaustion, there was no luxury of rest. I knew that even if Mother hadn't summoned me, I would have been occupied with something, anything, to keep the creeping fear at bay. Rest was a luxury I couldn't afford, not with so much at stake.
Determined to meet the evening's demands with composure, I walked to the main building. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and concerns, but I forced myself to focus on the task at hand. Before heading to the annex where the event was being held, I stopped in my room to change into something presentable. The process of selecting my attire felt like a ritual of preparation, a small but necessary step to project the poise I desperately needed to maintain.
Once I was dressed, I took a deep breath and braced myself for the evening ahead. The annex was already bustling with activity, and I knew that once I stepped through those doors, there would be no turning back.
"Good evening, Mother," I greeted her as soon as I arrived.
"Livi, come and sit next to me," she said. I nodded and took my seat beside her. As always, Mother's other children scowled at me, but unlike other days, I didn't care. My mind was focused on something far more important.
"Your Grace, if I may speak, I believe we should handle this matter ourselves," a man stepped forward.
"Are you saying Her Grace's counsel is wrong?" another person interrupted.
"Tyrile should not have a say here, after betraying those they claimed to be loyal to," someone else added.
"What do you expect? They should have been left to rot a long time ago." The arguments continued.
"Bring them in," Mother instructed a knight standing nearby. He left and returned with the people who had been arrested during the last 'party.'
I scanned the hall but couldn't find Elise anywhere. She must still be struggling to accept the situation.
"All members of House Tyrile, please step forward," Dustin said authoritatively.
"And who are you to order us around?" the man from earlier demanded. I assumed he was the head of Tyrile.
"You are not in a position to resist, Lord Tyrile," Dustin replied. The man frowned and stepped forward, followed by a few others from the crowd.
"You have pleaded repeatedly for the sake of your family members, and I've listened," Mother began. "I won't punish the entire family for the mistakes of these few, but I won't let them go unpunished either. Over the past few days, they've revealed their accomplices, and I intend to punish every single person," she declared, making the old man clench his fists.
"You have two options," she continued after a pause. "You can either leave Alden with your family members, including the captured, or sign this," she said, gesturing to Dustin, who produced a document. He handed it over to the old man and stepped back.
"Your Grace, I can't sign this," he said, staring at the paper.
"Your family will swear absolute loyalty to Alden. If anyone is caught doing anything that goes against Alden's laws or affects the family in any way, the entire family will be reprimanded. You will lose everything granted to you; your estates and businesses will be taken away, and you'd be barred from any Alden-controlled territory," she explained.
Even if they decided to leave the family now, the outcome would be the same. That's a strategic punishment. They don't have much of a choice.
"Or you can leave with your family and whatever is in your name," she added. There's nothing in their name. They'd be leaving with nothing either way.
"Your Grace, you can't possibly…"
"Does Tyrile intend to betray Alden in the future?" someone asked, and the old man closed his mouth.
"It's not a hard decision unless you harbor ill intentions," another person said.
"Lord Tyrile, we don't have all day. Most of these people will be returning to their various homes first thing in the morning. Please decide quickly," Mother said. He gulped, looked at the paper, then at Mother.
"I'll… I'll sign it," he said in resignation. "But, Your Grace, can you please let us deal with them?" he requested.
"No," she replied.
"Can I have a pen?" he asked Dustin with a sneer.
"You can sign it over there," Dustin gestured to a table by the corner.
"As for everyone involved, once I have every other person, your punishment will be executed," Mother said, standing up. "Dustin, wrap this up quickly. Livi, let's go," she said, and I nodded, standing up.
"Your Grace, please be merciful and forgive them," a lady said, kneeling in front of Mother.
"Stand up," Mother said, helping her up. "The choice is for everyone. You can go with your family and the people who were imprisoned," Mother said, and the lady gulped, stepping back.
"Your Grace, I…"
"Thought so. Don't get in my way if you aren't leaving," she said, and walked away with me trailing behind her. "How is everything going? You spent a long time locked inside your lab."
"It's fine," I lied easily.
"I know this is sudden and will affect your work, but I'm sending you to the North," she said. I stopped walking for a moment.
The North?