Chương 285: Chapter 281 - Taking off again

"—those of my agents who are available have been diligently investigating Duchess Swail's activities in Silverborough, following the leads you provided. However, given our current priorities, it may take some time to yield concrete results." Beldon's voice echoed from the intricately carved bluebird figurine on Scarlett's desk. The base of the carving pulsed with a soft blue light in time with his speech, casting flickering shadows across the polished wood.

"The situation with Count Hayden proved far more straightforward. In his haste to cover his tracks, he's left behind a veritable trail of evidence related to some particularly underhanded tactics he employed against competitors and in manipulating various salt merchants. While the crown is unlikely to act during the current crisis, I suspect he'll face considerable hardships once things calm down and his misdeeds 'mysteriously' come to light, courtesy of a certain baroness' righteous spirit."

Scarlett's lips rose in a sardonic smile.

"And I suppose your organisation will merely happen to reap the benefits of his downfall?"

"Why, naturally," Beldon replied, his tone dripping with feigned innocence.

"Mirage would never dream of purposefully undermining one of the empire's noble pillars, but I won't claim that we're not…opportunists."

"Opportunists who have no qualms about facilitating for others to do their dirty work."

"I'm afraid I can't comment on that, my friend." Scarlett scoffed quietly, her fingers drumming a steady rhythm against her desk. She was borrowing Mirage's power to retaliate against some of the nobles who had annoyed her, but unlike Count Soames—whose dabbling with demonic cults in Ambercrest had made him an outright enemy of the empire—others like Count Hayden would require her personal involvement to make some of the more serious accusations stick. But she was ready to deal with that.

"I have already entrusted these matters to you, Beldon," she said.

"The approach you choose is at your discretion, so long as our agreement is honoured and you refrain from any ill-advised attempts at deception." A low chuckle left the figurine, the sound seeming to reverberate through the quiet room.

"I assure you, Baroness, I'm not so foolish as to bite the proverbial hand that feeds me. I value our current partnership far too much to jeopardise it."

"Good. Now, is there anything else you wished to discuss before we conclude our talks?"

"Nothing from my end." Scarlett's brow furrowed slightly.

"There is still no news on the Countess' whereabouts after her sighting in Farmire?"

"Regrettably not, but I've assigned one of my best operatives to the task. If there's a trail to be found, I'm confident they'll uncover it."

"Very well," Scarlett said, her hand hovering over the bluebird's base.

"Then we will end here. As mentioned, I will be unavailable for some time, but you know what to do in my absence. Farewell, Beldon."

"Until next time, Baroness," came the reply before the figurine's glow faded. Scarlett carefully placed it into her [Pouch of Holding]. For a moment, she leaned back in her chair, eyes drifting to the ceiling. The day's rapid-fire decisions and arrangements—including her conversation with Beldon just now—had left her feeling drained. There had been much for her to do after the news she received earlier at noon. Glancing at the ornate clock on her desk, she sighed.

Rest would be welcome now that the final preparations were complete, but there wasn't much time for that. Her eyes swept across the meticulously organised office. She had only just returned from the capital, and now she was leaving again. It was frustrating, in a way, but she reminded herself that this turn of events could work in her favour. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that there were too many balls in the air with the mess here in the empire — too many issues that might call for her personal attention.

But in the end, she had to prioritise. After allowing herself a few more minutes of calm and contemplation, Scarlett rose from her seat and left the office, making her way through the mansion's hallways. Passing through the east wing, she glanced out the windows overlooking the courtyard. Servants scurried about, carrying trunks and parcels to a carriage waiting just beyond the recently renovated court. The unexpected missive from the Rising Isle that they'd received had been a surprise in more ways than one.

Not only had it been a request for her immediate presence, but it had come from the Isle Council itself. Something serious must have happened to rally enough of its members to agree that her help was necessary, but she couldn't think of what that might be. At the very least, it appeared as if the Council had gone to extraordinary lengths to convince her to come, somehow even managing to persuade the Imperial Chancellery to advocate on their behalf.

She could only imagine the concessions offered to secure that favor. In addition, they'd tried dangling several other incentives before Scarlett herself, on top of the debt they already owed her. She had been planning to return to the Rising Isle for Arlene's questline, so it was technically a good arrangement for her. It was just the suddenness that left her feeling unsettled.

No matter how much she racked her brain, trying to recall any event from the game that might explain the Council's actions, she came up blank. It would have been helpful if they had provided more details in their initial message, but she supposed they were reluctant to divulge sensitive information without confirmation of her cooperation. She knew from personal experience how stingy they could be.

Her hasty departure would put the barony in a bit of a tight spot, what with the ongoing monster incursions, Empyreal Barrier preparations, relief initiatives, and other pressing matters. But she'd made her decision. She had already postponed Arlene's quest longer than she wanted or intended, and with Raimond and others potentially closing in on Beld Thylelion's location, it was time to tie up loose ends before that situation came to a head.

Scarlett had done her best to ensure that the barony and all her other affairs would run smoothly in her absence. Lady Withersworth's assistance would be invaluable for handling local matters and the relief efforts, while Beldon would oversee many of Scarlett's planned maneuvers against rival nobles. She'd also reached out to her other allies, like Adalicia Mendenhall at Elystead Tower and Raimond, to arrange additional contingencies.

Also, while Evelyne was still recuperating, she might be well enough to manage some tasks from her sickbed. Scarlett would prefer to keep her resting longer, but she might need the woman to assume some of her responsibilities sooner than hoped, anyway. Scarlett paused as she reached her destination, standing outside the door to Evelyne's room. Before deciding anything, though, she needed to properly assess Evelyne's condition.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside, pleasantly surprised to find the room less gloomy than during her last visit. The blinds were drawn back, allowing the soft golden light of the setting sun to fill the room, casting long shadows across the floor and illuminating the snow-dusted trees outside. Evelyne was awake, sitting with a thin book on her lap. She looked up at Scarlett in surprise, her eyes widening slightly.

Though much of her face and shoulder were still covered in bandages, she wasn't quite as pale as before. Her auburn hair had grown to reach past her shoulders, partially obscuring her right eye.

"Scarlett?" The woman's voice held more energy in it as well.

"What are you doing here?" She set the book aside with her good hand, focusing on Scarlett. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"I came to check on your condition and inform you of my impending departure," Scarlett replied, remaining by the entrance as she studied Evelyne carefully. To her surprise, Evelyne sounded neither angry nor bitter, despite their last encounter. The woman blinked a few times, as if processing the news.

"You're leaving again? Where?"

"The Rising Isle. Their council has requested my immediate presence, and I have unfinished business there." Scarlett paused, considering her next words while watching Evelyne. Eventually, she continued in a more detached tone.

"In my absence, you may resume handling some of the barony's affairs, provided you feel capable. However, I have instructed both Garside and Seneschal Kinsley to ensure you do not overexert yourself." Evelyne seemed healthy enough for that, at least, and Scarlett trusted Garside to ensure the woman didn't accidentally work herself to death.

"Oh. I see…" Evelyne murmured, her gaze lingering on Scarlett. Then, with a hint of hesitation, she asked, "Is there any chance you'll tell me what this unfinished business on the Isle is about?"

"There would be little point," Scarlett replied.

"It is unrelated to matters you are familiar with."

"So it's not about the Hartford family residing there?" Scarlett shook her head.

"It is not." Technically, to complete Arlene's quest, she would need to interact with Grand Wizard Gaspar Hartford, as he was in charge of investigating the matters involving the woman's brother. But that was all. Evelyne studied her for a moment longer, resignation creeping into her expression.

"Alright, if you say so. Was that all you came here for?"

"Yes," Scarlett said, turning to leave. She'd confirmed Evelyne's health for now. Just as she reached the door, Evelyne called after her.

"Scarlett." Scarlett paused, turning back.

"What is it?" Evelyne hesitated, her injured arm moving slightly under the covers.

"I just wanted to say… I've been thinking about what you said before. About me not… understanding you." Scarlett regarded her carefully.

"Is that so?" Though she did believe those words were true, they hadn't been meant as any real form of reproach. If anything, it was more of a declaration for herself and the person she currently was.

"You might be right," Evelyne admitted.

"Maybe I don't know you as well as I thought. I disagree that I wouldn't understand you at all, but there might be aspects that I've always…overlooked. Both with this current 'you', and who you were before. I used to see you as a simple villain. Then, gradually, I thought you'd changed. But I realise now that I never truly understood what had changed. I just thought you'd grown…better, for lack of a word." Evelyne's gaze dropped to her lap, then met Scarlett's again.

"But that goes both ways, doesn't it? How well do you know me? Do we even know each other that well?" She paused, her fingers plucking at the edge of her blanket.

"Even so, we're still sisters, aren't we? I understand this might not mean the same thing to you as it does to me, but I've given it a lot of thought now, and I don't think that matters. With how you were before… I don't think I would have gone this far, but with you as you are now, I can't accept things staying as they are." Scarlett listened silently, her expression unreadable.

"That's why I've been trying to improve things," Evelyne went on.

"Why I thought things were getting better, even if it wasn't perfect. And that wasn't just in my head, was it? It really seemed like our relationship could improve, even if you could still be difficult at times, and I was misunderstanding things or being naive." Scarlett watched her for several seconds before responding.

"…It appears you have reached some interesting self-realisations," she finally said, keeping her voice level.

"I do not know if you expect me to be grateful that you judge my current self 'worthy' versus the old one, but I suppose it does not matter. I will not hold you accountable for seeing me as I was because I am well aware of who I used to be. And yes, things between us were improving. However, as I said before, I have no intention of altering the current state of our relationship beyond this point. It simply is no longer a priority."

Ever since Evelyne almost died, Scarlett's emotions towards the younger woman had become so chaotically tangled that it was difficult to make sense of them most of the time. And it was clear that wasn't going to change as they were now. Frankly, she didn't understand why Evelyne herself seemed so fixated on mending things when the woman was bearing the brunt of the consequences.

"And I get that's how you are," Evelyne said, meeting Scarlett's eyes directly.

"I'm not going to try to ask for you to explain the logic behind it anymore, since that's the decision you've made, right?" Her brow furrowed slightly.

"But I'm still willing to try to improve things, even if you aren't. That's what I've decided being sisters means to me now." A faint wince crossed Evelyne's face as she shrugged.

"I know it doesn't mean the same to you, but…" Her voice lowered, a hint of self-deprecation creeping in.

"Honestly, I feel like an idiot saying all this. You're such an asshole, Scarlett. You know that, right? Probably not the best time to bring it up, but I don't care. If you can be offensively blunt all the time, then so can I, at least sometimes." Scarlett scowled, but she bit back her sharp retort.

"Despite that," Evelyne continued, shaking her head, "you've got me wanting to apologise, to make amends for all kinds of things outside my control. I can barely understand it myself." She gave a bitter chuckle.

"Whatever faults you think I have, you're definitely worse. But I've realised something..." Her tone softened again, seeming uncertain about what she was about to say next.

"…I care more about your approval and acceptance than I ever thought I did. And I'm scared of what Father would have thought if he saw things the way they are now. I've also realised I'm more selfish than I believed." Scarlett remained quiet, suppressing the veritable mountain of responses she wanted to give.

"In these last months, especially these last few days, I think I've realised a lot of things," Evelyne said.

"But the biggest one is that if you don't think our relationship can ever get better, there's nothing I can do about that. Like most things nowadays, it's up to you to change it — if you ever will." Her lips curved into a somber smile.

"But until then, at least… I'll wait. That's what I can do, and it's what you want as well, isn't it?" Scarlett observed her for a long moment, her mouth drawn into a thin line.

"... That determination, at the very least, is something I can appreciate, even if I am not inclined to discuss this further at the moment." She lowered her head slightly.

"You are also right in that I do not know you nearly as well as I had believed. I had anticipated a much more negative response after our last meeting. I am…relieved that does not appear to be the case." With that, she turned towards the door.

"Ensure you do not worsen your condition in my absence. Farewell." Without waiting for a reply, Scarlett left the room, walking briskly through the hallway in the direction of her own quarters. Inside, a strange tumult of emotions churned within her — both a suppressed anger at Evelyne's brazen challenge and words, tempered by a begrudging respect for the woman's unexpected resilience. Where did this confidence come from, she wondered? Evelyne had always been confident in some ways, but meek in others.

Or at least that was how Scarlett had perceived her. Now, the woman had seemingly accepted the limits of their relationship and set reasonable—or perhaps unrealistic—expectations based on that, rather than clinging to futile hopes. It demonstrated a certain nihilistic pragmatism that Scarlett herself often identified with. Still, she wasn't sure what Evelyne truly expected to gain from this exchange.

Scarlett's inherent dislike for her existence hadn't magically vanished, and though she could try to acclimate herself to and tolerate Evelyne's presence better, as she had before, it remained an added burden in her life. She'd simply had enough of it. At this point, Scarlett was fairly convinced the situation would likely never be fully resolved without confronting the original's past — one that had largely been lost with her arrival in this world.

And if there was one thing her interactions with Evelyne had made clear, it was that the younger Hartford sister lacked much of the context related to that past as well. Or at least a version of it that Scarlett would be able to accept. But what did it matter in the end? She honestly thought she and Evelyne could continue in their uneasy coexistence, especially if each accepted the limitations of their bond. After all, she had never sought to establish a real sisterly connection with the woman in the first place.

Reaching her thoughts, Scarlett shook off these thoughts and turned her focus to the last of her preparations for the Rising Isle. Once finished, she moved to the foyer, where the others were already waiting for her. Together, they left the mansion behind. Kat, unfortunately, had to leave earlier in the afternoon for some Guild business, but they'd all had the chance to say their goodbyes beforehand.

Since it seemed the Shielder would be staying in Freybrook for a while this time, Scarlett had made a mental note to make use of her services when the time was right. Now, as the carriage rumbled away from the estate, Scarlett sat in silence, her gaze fixed on the rapidly darkening horizon. The rest of the group chatted casually, but she didn't pay attention to their words.

There was still a lingering sense of disappointment about the many unfinished matters here in the empire, and the fact that she hadn't had the time to visit Freymeadow after returning from Elystead. But she reassured herself that the Rising Isle's significance outweighed everything else. The purpose of this trip eclipsed her other concerns.

When she returned to Freymeadow next, she would be able to present Arlene with the item she had promised, and finally bring that chapter to a close — just as she had originally set out to do. That meant a whole slew of things would change when she accomplished what she needed on the Isle, and she wouldn't leave until then.