Chương 106: That's Not a Good Sign

"As long as you rest properly when you start to feel dizzy or lightheaded, and do not continue to push yourself to such a limit in a short period of time, crystal fatigue has no negative long-term effects. However, if it becomes a habit, then your ability to ground will become affected. Mostly, it starts to weaken."

"What about crystal shock?" Tori had asked Master Ramos the day after she managed to use aquamarine properly. Crystal shock was a boogieman of a term the way Instructor Ignatius used it.

"The temporary consequences go beyond dizziness and fatigue, and will last three times longer or more. Don't ever push yourself to that point." Tori had squinted and leaned forward." But... what if it happens?" Master Ramos had given her a stern, disapproving look.

"If it happens often or is simply serious enough, your physical health will deteriorate, and you could lose your ability to ground completely." That should've been enough to scare a student into knowing and abiding by their limits, but most students did not drain their energy consecutively trying to find and then save people. Yet, all her reasoning to validate her decision to push herself beyond her limits would not stop the onset of crystal shock.

Tears were in her eyes as she tried to move her legs only to find that they laid there, unable to move on command. Tori couldn't even feel them when she pressed down on her legs. Dizziness she could accept. Fatigue and sleeping for three days, not a problem. With how busy she was, a legitimate reason to sleep was welcomed. But loss of her mobility? Master Ramos didn't tell her she could lose her ability to use her legs.

"It's crystal shock." Piers knelt beside her and placed his borrowed sword on the floor next to him. He prepared to move aside the crystals and charms around her, but she held out her arm.

"Don't! The air crystal is triggered to continue filtering the air," she said. It was a tiny crystal, but it was better than nothing.

"The quartz is funneling energy stored from the sacred geometry I drew to power it."

"Can you move?" Piers said. His arms hovered above her, as if wanting to help her sit, but unsure how to touch her.

"I can from the hips up... I can feel my butt a bit, but after that...." She stared at her pale, unmoving legs. She'd pulled up the skirt of her dress to her knees and willed her legs to move. Nothing. Tori shook her head and her eyes watered. This helplessness was legitimately terrifying, and she couldn't contain her shaking voice.

"I can't move them.... Piers, I can't walk!"

"Crystal shock is temporary," he said, his voice soft and placating.

"And this is your first time reaching this point. It's more severe, but similar to crystal fatigue in that it forces your body to stop from grounding." Tori lowered her eyes and knit her brows together. She focused and couldn't feel any sort of energy collecting. She wanted to slap the floor in frustration.

"I can understand not grounding, but why can't I move my legs?!"

"I don't know," Piers said.

"I only know that some cases of crystal shock cause users to be bedridden and unable to move parts of their body. Sometimes, they can't move at all and can barely do basic functions. You can still talk and move your arms." Tori wanted to glare at him, but she didn't have the strength. She took a deep breath and tugged down her mask.

"Then how long does it last?" Piers shook his head, reluctantly.

"I don't know." She drew her lips inward and bit them.

"So, I'm just going to lay here like this? What if someone attacks?"

"They're all dead." Tori snapped her head towards him.

"What?"

"There were ten people who came out from the surrounding forest and two more who fled, and I chased." His eyes narrowed.

"They cannot attack us any longer." For a moment, Tori tried to connect the Piers who fed her cake and was too embarrassed to sleep on the same bed with the implication that he killed twelve people in a matter of minutes. When the action happened far from her, it didn't hit as hard as when it happened ten paces outside the door. The result was a possibility from the beginning, but it was a bit difficult for her to see Piers killing someone.

Seeing bodies around him while he was amid a fight, was one thing, but the actual act of doing so seemed out of place. Tori shook her head. If he didn't do so, then they'd all be slaughtered when they were vulnerable. She lowered her eyes and stared at the floor.

"Are you sure that was all of them?" Twelve people dead should be enough to scare others away, right? It would certainly make her turn around.

"If there are more, then I will stop them," Piers said. He remained kneeling beside her.

"Are you tired?" Now that he said it, she could feel the familiar weight against her body and the heaviness in her eyes. She closed them and swallowed hard. She couldn't fight the drowsiness of crystal shock.

"I'm going to sleep... but what if something else happens?" Her sleep this time was bound to be longer than her first one. A day and half? She'd be lucky if she woke up in a week. Piers adjusted his position so he was seated beside her and had the sword on his other side. He reached forward and grasped her arms, gently sliding her towards him.

"I am here," he told her in a calm voice.

"Rest." He patted his legs with one hand and helped her roll on to her back so that her head could rest on his lap.

"I will keep you safe." Tori's blue eyes were wide and staring up at him. For a moment, the sleepiness subsided. Her arms were limp at her sides and if her legs could move, they would be stiff. Piers as a lap pillow was an unexpected turn.

"This is weird." He raised a brow.

"Are my legs uncomfortable?"

"This entire situation is uncomfortable." Piers seemed to think for a moment before lifting his hand. She saw him move it towards her head and she took in a sharp breath.

"Do not touch me if you have blood on your hands, Piers. If you want to comfort me, you wash your hands first." He paused over her head and looked at his hand. She couldn't tell if it was wet or not.

"It's clean. My cuts were neat."

"Swear it."

"I swear." Tori narrowed her eyes at him.

"If I wake up with blood in my hair...."

"No blood," Piers held out his hand in front of her. She squinted and couldn't see any dark or glistening liquid.

"See?" Her demanding look bore into his face above hers.

"Better not be any blood...." She shifted her shoulders to try to get into a better position and closed her eyes. She felt a large, warm hand move aside some hair from her face and before she could grumble about it, she fell asleep. Sleep was a fleeting moment. She didn't know how long it lasted this time. When she woke up, it was daylight. Tori was back in the master suite, and not only did she still feel tired, but she was hungry. She wasn't this hungry the last time she woke up from crystal fatigue.

She moved beneath the sheet and felt her heart sink as she realized she still couldn't move her legs. She took in a sharp breath as her trembling hand touched the side of her leg.

"Master Cervantes says that it will likely be two weeks until you start to feel them and another few weeks to regain enough control to use them properly," a familiar man's voice spoke gently to her right, and she turned her head. On the chair where Piers was seated when she woke up last, was a middle-aged man with short, curly dark hair and blue eyes. A wave of relief swept through her seeing the familiar face and a pressure at the bridge of her nose collected.

"Papa...." Her throat was dry and her voice hoarse. The man's eyes reddened, and he leaned forward and pulled her against him.

"Gods have blessed me to keep you safe," he said in a breathy voice. She could feel her father's strong arms tremble a bit as he held her.

"My daughter is so strong. She saved so many lives. I am proud of you. You did very well, Tori." Tori found herself nodding her head as she shut her eyes tight and grabbed onto her father's shirt so she could silently cry against his shoulder. Seeing her father, she felt safer and more reassured than she had in days. She released the stress, frustration, and exhaustion of the last week.

She remained coddled for a few more moments before her father eased her back onto the bed and reached for a glass so she could drink.

"Honey water," he said, sounding encouraging.

"Drink it slowly." He held the cup against her, and Tori opened her mouth to drink the sweetened warm water. It coursed down her throat, and it felt much better at once. She paused every few gulps to take a breath, but finished the cup. Marquis Guevera placed the cup back on the table and lifted his hand to stroke back her hair. Tori looked back at him, tired.

"How long was I asleep?" She lifted her hand to rub her throat.

"Almost five days," her father said, still stroking her hair back in reassurance. Tori rubbed her stomach. No wonder she was hungry.

"I arrived four days ago. You were downstairs on the floor and His Highness was guarding you." A wry smile tugged at Tori's lips.

"The first prince guarded me... I am a failure of a march." Her father shook his head and gave her a pained look.

"It is good that he guarded you," he said.

"He remained by the door to protect everyone." Tori frowned.

"Were there more people to attack us?"

"No, our knights did a sweep of the area when we arrived," her father said.

"We found twelve bodies and some horses nearby. They were part of the poaching ring. We doubt that this is all of them and have alerted Siobhan. We suspect this was a deep, far-reaching network." That was not comforting in the least.

"How is everyone?" Tori asked. That should've been the first thing she asked but she always preferred to figure out her situation first. Then she could act. Her father took a deep breath.

"Your brother told us that he needed more heliotropes for his injury, and I was worried about you being here with your incompetent brother bedridden."

"Papa, he was almost mauled by a tiger. It's a large cat-""I know what a tiger is, Tori. Papa isn't stupid," he told her knowingly.

"He told us that you were unconscious because of crystal fatigue. Your Mama was frantic and was ready to come, but I stopped her. I came with our men on horseback as soon as we could."

"Papa moved fast," Tori said with a weak, but warm smile.

"Well, Papa's little girl was injured," he said, his voice shaking a bit as he said it.

"I'm glad we got here as soon as we did. I brought two crystal masters from Presidio for assistance. Benedict can only do so much without straining his own body. It was a good decision to bring them. They began to work on the unconscious knights and others quickly." Tori frowned.

"Were they still asleep when you arrived?" He gave her a disappointed nod.

"They are awake now, but the poison has worn away at their lungs. They can only stay in bed to recover with heliotrope, aurora, and air crystals." Her shoulders shrank.

"Will they have permanent damage? I don't know how long the poison was in the air."

"From what the crystal masters estimated, an hour. We... do not yet know if they will have permanent health issues as a result, but if we are basing it on what happened when you were an infant, they should be fine. Especially those who were behind closed doors. Tori chewed on her lower lip. Fucking Alessa, Dimitri, and Montan lucked out.

"How are Sebby, Idunn, and Instructor Ignatius?"

"Benedict is resting. Don't worry, he has a silence ring around him." Her father motioned to the sofa across the room.

"He has worked hard for your brother; he should rest. Sebastian and Idunn are also resting in their room downstairs. Idunn had gone to try to find the smell, but inhaled too much and passed out before she could find it." He cocked his head and looked at his daughter carefully.

"How did you find the source?"

"I copied one of the charms in Kasey's old notebook and modified it to detect the source by how strong it was," Tori said.

"Piers and I covered our noses and mouths with my scarves, and I put air crystals inside to filter the air." Her father's brows rose, and he nodded, impressed with her answer.

"It was good you woke up on time." She turned her head to the other side and saw the wall of pillows and cushions still in place.

"Is he there?" She almost didn't catch the corner of her father's eye twitch.

"He said that is his side of the bed." Tori shrank back into her pillow as her father let out a disapproving sigh.

"Tori. I know you and the Prince are good friends-""Papa, he stayed awake guarding me when I passed out from crystal shock. How could I make him sleep on Instructor's sofa?" Tori said, as innocently as she could.

"Besides, this bed is huge. He's on the other side of this pillow wall, and I bet he's wearing his eye mask." Her father squinted and craned his neck to glance over. She was right.

"I will allow it this time due to the desperate situation, but you will not share a bed like this again. You are fifteen years old." Marquis Guevera looked vastly uncomfortable and disapproving of the situation. She bit her tongue to stop herself from reminding him that her birthday was in a few weeks, and she'd be sixteen. Not that it made the situation any better.

"I won't," Tori said. She tried not to shift her eyes away.

"When can we leave?" She decided to change the subject. Her father's lips pulled into a line.

"Your brother asked the same thing. I told him you haven't woken up yet and we will consider it when you wake."

"Everyone who was affected by the poison: can they move?" Her father nodded.

"I've arranged for additional carriages as it would be more comfortable and allow them to rest. We will take you part way and imperial knights will meet us. We'll take our own back to Presidio, and you and your brother will return to Horizon. Ewan must be done with his exams now and I'm certain he's passed." Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Tori nodded.

"If Sebby can, he should go first to be there for the interview. I can wait a little longer." Her father's brows knit together.

"I requested several female imperial knights to assist you. Your legs... will make it difficult for you to go about your daily... routine. Sir Iturralde and Sir Aguilar are recovering and cannot aid you at this time." He frowned, appearing regretful.

"I didn't think to bring two more female knights when we left."

"It's fine," Tori said.

"I will manage. I can still use my arms and upper body."

"You will go to the imperial palace first. The Empress has prepared a wheelchair for you," her father told her.

"Along with knights, she will have some maids to assist you when you go to the delta... at least until you recover." Tori nodded.

"I will thank her properly." Her father stared at her a bit longer.

"I am glad you are safe, Tori," he said with unconcealed relief in his voice.

"When your brother told us you were unconscious... even knowing it's crystal fatigue...." He ran a hand down his face and Tori noticed just how tired he looked.

"And then your brother... what was he thinking? Fighting a tiger?"

"I know," Tori said with a nod.

"It's just one tiger! He can't even kill one?" Tori pursed her lips. This conversation did not go as she thought.

"He was trying to protect the missing girl." At the reminder, her father's face darkened once more. He opened his mouth to speak out about it when a knock came from the door.

"My lord, the Prime Minister seeks an audience with you," a knight said from the other side. Marquis Guevera's jaw clenched.

"As I told him before, I will not see him! Send him away!" Her father was angry, and Tori reached for his hand to try to calm him.

"Papa, why will you not see them? When did they arrive?"

"The day after we arrived," her father said in a low, bitter voice.

"Because of his negligence and the negligence of Baron Hart, their children ran off and you were pulled in to find them! If they had better control of their children, this wouldn't have happened!" Tori nodded. She agreed to an extent.

"I did agree to use the resources at my hands to try to find those three." Her father looked pained.

"Tori, I know they are your schoolmates... but you needn't have pushed yourself so far for them." He gritted his teeth.

"Especially that Hart girl and the Prime Minister's little bas-""I didn't get involved to save them," Tori cut him off and her father tilted his head, giving her a quizzical look.

"What?"

"I never said I wanted to save them. I said I wanted to find them, but it wasn't because I like them," Tori said, her voice somewhat sharp. Her father knit his brows.

"Then... why did you get involved if you don't like them?" Tori took a deep breath. She looked away and stared up at the bed's canopy. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Their mothers called me for help. They didn't know where their children went. They were scared and desperate. You and Mama must've been like that when I was taken," she said softly. She glanced at her father and saw the acknowledgement in his eyes.

"I don't like them Papa. I regret that I got involved and caused Sebby to be wounded and... and with the poison gas I regret it even more. I don't even want to see them right now, and thinking about them...." She trailed off as her hands clenched at her sides.

"I didn't get involved because I wanted to save them or because I like them. I got involved because I couldn't bring myself to ignore Madam Voss and Madam Guthry, terrified and crying like Mama must've been when I was kidnapped." She didn't want to admit it, but she was bored out of her mind when she couldn't work with crystals. While part of her was tempted to try to ground, a glance at her legs stopped that temptation at once.

Tori was limited to working on her project and party planning, but as she didn't think she'd be away for this long, she was unprepared to work remotely. At best, she'd made some calls and checked on how things were progressing in the delta. Even doing that could only take up so much time. Her father would not allow her to leave the room and insisted she remain in bed, recovering. She couldn't even visit her brother; instead, calling him and being told to 'stay in bed.'

The first day, she was obedient and sat in bed, making calls and questioning her life choices. The second day, she could no longer sit still. She was used to being busy and prolonged breaks made her restless. She couldn't help but feel as if she were missing something or had something to do. Tori asked to be carried down to visit her brother, but was rejected. All her pleas with the knights stationed outside her door were ignored. Her father ordered them to ignore her requests to be carried out.

Tori ground her teeth together and clawed at the sheets on either side of her. If she could, she'd crawl out of bed, but she doubted she'd get far dragging herself. She'd be picked up and brought back to the room at once.

"My lungs are fine. I wasn't wounded and I'm not tired. I just lost feeling in my legs," Tori said aloud as she remained seated on her side of the bed, glaring at the closed doors.

"I don't see why I can't be moved!" Piers shifted awkwardly from the desk. He had work of his own to do and would leave the room to make calls to the imperial palace from time to time, but for the most part, he stayed with her to keep her company and fetch things around the room.

"Do you really want to go outside?" Piers asked, as he turned on his chair to look at her.

"Yes!" Tori looked at him beseechingly.

"Aside from being unable to use my legs, I'm fine. I don't need to lay in bed. Can't you order them to carry me? At least to see my brother." Piers lowered his head. He seemed to think for a moment before standing up. Tori's eyes widened and she felt her stomach jump. Maybe he was going to tell Sir Ibarra outside to carry her downstairs. Instead, Piers passed the doors and her stomach fell. He stood beside her bed side and looked over her with a hesitant expression.

"I can carry you." It took a moment for his words to register, but when they did, Tori slowly narrowed her eyes as her face filled with doubt.

"You can barely hug me for three counts. How are you going to carry me?" A slight flush colored his pale neck, and he clenched his hands.

"I can carry you. You need me," he said, sounding almost determined.

"I can do it." Tori didn't reply and remained looking at him with doubtful eyes. She watched the worry cross his face.

"You don't trust me."

"I trust you. I just don't think you're capable of carrying me downstairs."

"I am the only one who will carry you."

"I believe you. But can you is the question." Piers nodded. Before she could voice her concerns further, he bent down and quickly slid one arm beneath her knees and the other around her shoulder. He lifted her off the bed like a hero saving a princess. A hero who seemed to have lost color in his face.

"I can carry you," he repeated in a firm voice as he turned around. Is he shaking? That's not a good sign. Tori pursed her lips and couldn't help but hold on to his shoulders in case he really did drop her. He carried her to the door and faced the problem of the closed door.

"Hold on. I can open it." She kept one hand on his shoulder and leaned forward for the door handle. Piers leaned forward to try to get her closer to the door. Before she realized it, she had slipped through his arms and a loud thud came from the floor as her legs slammed on the ground. She didn't feel any pain on her legs, but her butt did hit the floor and she let out a growl as she suppressed her scream.

"Tori!" Piers grabbed on to her arms to try to stop her, only to end with her upper body dangling. Tori ground her teeth together and looked up in anger.

"You can carry me, huh?" she hissed behind gritted teeth. Panic filled his face and he bent to pick her up. Tori was shaking, trying to keep herself from yelling at him after being unceremoniously dropped. She knew he'd drop her. She knew it! Suddenly, she was heaved over his shoulder and Tori found herself staring at his back as his arm went around her waist and held her in place.

"I'm sorry! I'll take you downstairs properly." He opened the door and stepped out. Tori's voice rose with each word.

"Properly? You think this is proper!?"

"Your Highness?" Sir Ibarra almost jumped back when Piers stepped out of the room with Tori over his left shoulder.

"My lady!"

"Piers! What are you doing? Your shoulder is digging into my stomach! I'm not a sack of grain!" Her voice filled the hall, but Piers, still shaking beneath her, continued to carry her downstairs. As they reached the stairs, Tori felt her stomach drop. Her entire body froze as she stared at the wooden steps, afraid that any unnecessary movements would cause him to drop her. She could already see herself tumbling down the stairs and cracking her head open.

"I don't want to die in such a ridiculous way."

"You won't. I'll hold on to you well," Piers said, as if desperately trying to reassure her. She was not reassured. Somehow, they made it to the lower floor and Piers carried her to Sebastian's room under the uncomfortable gazes of the knights on guard. Piers opened Sebastian's door. Tori couldn't see her brother or whoever else was in the room, but she heard them.

"Tori!?"

"What are you doing! Let her go!"

"Piers, what are you doing to Tori?" She was finally lifted from her uncomfortable position and was carried in her father's arms to the edge of Sebastian's bed. Part of her wanted to complain and tell them that Piers dropped her, but any hint at an injury would send her back to bed. As Sebastian was yelling at Piers, Tori grabbed her father's arm. She looked up at the Marquis with cold determination.

"Papa, if you don't let a knight carry me, then Piers will do it!" That was the last time Piers carried her. From then on, a knight would bring her wherever she requested. She didn't go far; downstairs to see her brother and sometimes outside for fresh air. Just enough for a change of scenery. Surprisingly, she hadn't seen Alessa, Dimitri, Montan, or their parents. Part of her wanted to ask, but as it seemed her father wanted to keep them away from her, she didn't give it any attention.

She was told they would leave in two days, so Tori began to pack her things. The carriages to carry the recovering knights had arrived. Tori sat on a chair by the desk, putting away her things into her bags and crystal carrying case. She separated her broken fluorite and the air crystal that had shattered after being left for far too long on the sacred geometry she had drawn. Tori whimpered at the waste. She'd have to replace them. She lifted her hand and brought the lid down, closing the metal clasps.

With this, she was ready to leave. All she had out was a spare dress to wear the next day.

"Are you done?" Piers asked behind her. She nodded. She'd gotten plenty of rest and eaten full meals and pastries. Everything considered, she was in a good mood. She couldn't wait to get back to the delta. She wasn't sure if it would work, but she was hoping that being on an energy vein would quicken her recovery.

"Everything is packed. This big bag can be brought downstairs, but I'll carry out my crystal carrying case in the morning," Tori said. She twisted her body to look at him.

"I want to go out." Piers nodded and rose from the plush seat where he had been waiting for her. Tori did her best to push the chair back, to give her ample space. Piers went to open the door and called in the knight on duty.

"Do you need assistance, my lady?"

"Yes, please! I want to go downstairs," Tori said. She waited until the knight entered and raised her arms towards him. He bent down and carefully put one arm on her back and the other beneath her knees and then lifted her off the chair. As the knight carried her downstairs to the second floor, she heard someone's loud, angry voice speaking from the ground floor.

"Stop for a moment," Tori said as she unhooked one of her arms and craned her neck. She furrowed her brows and pointed downstairs. The angry, admonishing voice was her father's.

"Take me there." The knight did as he was told. Piers followed behind them and as they reached the ground floor, Tori saw her father standing in front of the hearth, chiding three adults seated on the sofas across from him. It was the first time Tori saw the Guthrys and Baron Hart since they arrived.

"My lord, I understand that you are upset. We are, as well. And you are right to be," Prime Minister Guthry said as he sat up right and tried to be reasonable.

"It is indeed our fault for allowing our children to run wild. They will be punished." Marquis Guevera sneered.

"Tell me how they will be punished."

"We will not allow Dimitri to leave the manor for the rest of the summer and he will not be allowed access to his finances or receive his allowance until he returns to Lycée," the Prime Minister told him.

"I will do the same with my daughter, my lord, and will personally escort her back to Lycée when the time comes," Baron Hart said, shakily. He seemed to cower under her father's sharp gaze.

"House arrest and no allowance." Marquis Guevera was not satisfied.

"Do you think that will make up for my son's injury? Or what my daughter went through to find your ill-mannered, pathetically disciplined children!" He pointed at the door.

"Do you know who those people were who sent poison gas into the cabin and attacked the first prince? They were part of the same poaching camp that captured your children! They came here for revenge!" Her father's voice echoed through the room, but none of the knights on guard seemed to flinch. The three other parents, however, kept their heads down. The Prime Minister took a deep breath. Because of his position, he dared to speak up again.

"My lord, we deeply apologize-""My son was nearly mauled, and my daughter can't walk!"

"Papa," a voice said behind Tori. She leaned back to look towards the stairs and saw her brother standing at the bottom step.

"That's enough. We cannot control how they punish their children."

"Sebby!" Tori reached out to him, and he walked forward to squeeze her hand and gently stroke her hair back.

"How is your stomach?"

"All healed. Lungs are almost healed, too," he said, giving her a soft smile.

"Don't worry. It'll take more than a tiger to stop your big brother." Tori nodded, relieved. A stunned voice came from the sofa.

"Lady Tori-""Madam Guthry, you are not in a position to speak to my sister right now." Sebastian cut her off heartlessly. His voice was low, and a cold look replaced the warmth on his face. Tori could see that the ordeal had taken its toll on Madam Guthry. Her cheeks were sunken in and her eyes had bags beneath them. She seemed to have aged another five years in the few days that passed. Her eyes lowered shamefully.

"Sebby, it's fine," Tori said in a steady voice.

"Madam Guthry, my mobility is a temporary problem. Crystal shock." They seemed to already know, as none of them seemed surprised. The defeated look on Madam Guthry's face had traces of guilt.

"I'm sorry, Lady Tori."

"I found your son. We saved his life. Twice," Tori said, flippant.

"Why are you sorry?"

"Lady Guevera, if there is anything we can do to compensate you, you must let us know," the Prime Minister said as he rose to his feet.

"You saved our children."

"Yes, my lady. We can't thank you enough!" Baron Hart said as he stood up. Tori was quiet for a moment.

"I have no malice against you," she said.

"This isn't entirely your fault; you were only doing your best as parents. I can't blame you for that." She looked at the Guthry couple with some pity. They really did try their best to raise their son. A shame he was a lying, stubborn love interest.

"In a way, as your son lied to you, you are also victims of this."

"My lady, we are sorry," the Prime Minister looked sincerely apologetic, especially as a pained look crossed his eyes as they settled on her unmoving legs.

"You have done so much to help us, and you suffer."

"Prime Minister and Madam Guthry, you both have been very kind to me since we met at your new year's party my first year of Lycée. You have been supportive of my endeavors, of my Lycée project. I know I am much younger, but I do value our relationship. However, your son is one of the most arrogant and stubborn, not to mention delusional, young men I have ever had the displeasure of meeting, and if I had the power to, I would ban him from the delta." Tori said sharply. She watched the surprise on their faces.

She never spoke so ill of Dimitri to them until now.

"My brother could've died. Our knights could've died. We all could've died. Mr. Guthry is your son and I know you will always support him, but please understand that I am not so forgiving." Madam Guthry looked as if she were about to cry.

"I understand, my lady." Her eyes went to Alessa's father, and they were cold.

"Baron Hart, Madam Voss is a good woman. Few women in her position would reach out for assistance and send her own sons out as she did to help find your impulsive daughter. Few women would stand such vitriol spoken of her by that said daughter, either. Madam Voss is a very good woman, Baron Hart. I do not think you or your daughter deserve her." He looked away, but Tori could see the anguish on his face. It was clear that he knew that as well.

"I am aware of how my daughter has hurt Angela. When I return, I will discuss dissolving the engagement." Tori smirked.

"Why?" Baron Hart's head snapped up. His eyes were wide and looking at her with confusion. He wasn't the only one.

"I said you don't deserve her. I didn't say to dissolve the engagement. If Madam Voss put up with your daughter's hatefulness and calls me crying every day, asking if we have news, then it's clear she wants to marry you. So marry her and make her happy."

"No! He can't!" A voice screamed behind her and as everyone looked towards the stairs, the knight stepped to the side so Tori could see. Alessa was pale and trembling, held up on either side by Dimitri and Montan, who were paler than normal and looked tired, but otherwise seemed fine. Tori rolled her eyes.

"What is wrong with you? Your father found someone he loves and makes him happy. Should you not support that?"

"She doesn't love him!" Alessa insisted as she stepped forward. She wasn't looking at Tori, but instead staring at her father.

"She's only using him for his title and money."

"His title?" Tori raised a brow.

"Are you afraid of her being a baroness? Is it inheritance rights? Her sons won't be able to inherit anything without express permission and if a prenuptial agreement is prepared before the wedding, they're even less likely to get an inheritance, let alone, the title. You're his only child from his first wife; you're entitled to everything." Alessa shot her an incredulous look.

"I don't want my father to be used!"

"What makes you think he's being used?"

"Why else would a pauper widow try to climb a nobleman?"

"Alessa!" Baron Hart's face was red, and he looked at his daughter with disbelief.

"That is enough! I told you multiple times that I was the one who approached her, and she rejected me! I am courting her!" Alessa clearly didn't believe her father.

"That's what she wants you to think." Everyone stared at her and Tori almost couldn't believe her.

"Baron Hart," Piers spoke up suddenly and Tori looked up at him, who was standing beside her.

"If your daughter is very concerned about the title of baroness being passed on to Madam Voss after marriage, there is another option." Baron Hart drew his head back and looked reluctant, then determined.

"She is deserving of the title." Tori's brows rose, surprised. Okay, I can respect that. Not bad, Baron Hart.

"But your daughter will never believe that Madam Voss is marrying you for honorable reasons," Piers said.

"If the concern about the difference in social standing is what is bothering Lady Hart, perhaps you should simply get rid of it." Tori's mouth made a little 'o' shape. She looked back at the Baron to see his reaction. Baron Hart furrowed his brows.

"You mean relinquishing my title?" Alessa paled more so and whipped her head back towards her father.

"Daddy, no!" Piers' calm expression never changed.

"Do you believe Madam Voss will marry you without a title?"

"Yes." Baron Hart answered without hesitation.

"I am willing to relinquish my title to marry Angela."

"Then if she agrees, relinquish your title," Piers told him.

"Marry as commoners. You will be allowed to keep whatever property remains, but you will no longer have direct rights in the chamber and your domain will be absorbed by the next neighboring noble to govern as the Anlar March sees fit."

"Daddy, what are you doing?" Alessa choked on her own words.

"Don't give up the barony!"

"Lady Hart," Tori said.

"Doesn't this solve your problem? If Madam Voss is still willing to marry your father without a title, as a commoner with debts that still need to be settled, it means that she genuinely loves your father. If Madam Voss refuses, then it is proof that her intentions were impure, and in that case, why would Baron Hart marry? In one situation, you are reassured that she loves your father. In the other, you will be rid of her."

"But... but then, Alessa would lose her noble status," Montan said, frowning. Tori raised a brow. She looked at Alessa with an expectant expression.

"Then, we should ask Lady Hart what is more important? Her father or her status?"