Vain - Chapter 74 Ruthless Plans

There was something that Aileene would never be able to understand, it was a concept different from the many other views that she doesn’t completely understand. Whether she wanted to comprehend it or not. It was something that baffles her, there were many things she didn’t lack. But she wasn’t a flawless person, there were no demerits for her to admit that. She knew her faults and she knew what she could and could not do. She was someone that cared deeply for the people that surrounds her and she was someone that couldn’t stand the void of loneliness that encompass her every action, but she was hopeless to change anything. She was someone that learned to value the emotions that she was finally able to have.

But for people to have been so used to their place in life, maybe it was different. They did not know the things they did not know, and there was nothing to remind them to be grateful. So they demand more and more without an ounce of reprieve.

Aileene sighed, as she read through another letter she received from her network. It wasn’t from the Marquis this time, but it was from one of her trusted aid. The investigation into the death of Dmitri and the attempted assassination of Ruby was her priority at this moment. So she was the first to receive news of the two’s connection. It wasn’t entirely surprising to her, she had expected it to be so. As the investigation into Dmitri’s death had continued for a few weeks already, she was able to discover the clear connection it had with the Austrion royal family. They had suspected her treason and the warning was said simply through Dmitri’s death. She had underestimated their control over the kingdom and her people’s own loyalty, and in the end, Dmitri had to pay for it.

There was a spy in her ranks, she wasn’t sure who it was. But every action she had done after Dmitri’s death had been quiet and it made little waves, to make sure that no more information would be a leak. There was a reason she would recall all her forces, she needed to find the spy that had escaped through her defenses. But before she was even able to continue with her plans to was hit with more devastating news.

It was just unreasonable for her to know that her enemies were even more ruthless then she thought they were, Ruby was injured by her own parents. It was a fake assassination spun by the royal family so that war could be declared with Kinlar. There had been no justifiable reason before for Austrion and Kinlar to be in any sort of conflict. But wouldn’t that all change once the life of the princess that lay in the palm of the royal family become threatened. The sensible decision of the royal family would be to cut off any friendly ties with Kinlar, they would have the support of the people and take off their mask of diplomacy. It was a simple and effective plan, but someone had to be the sacrifice. That, someone, was Ruby.

Aileene couldn’t understand their ruthless thinking, she couldn’t understand it and she didn’t want to. She was just worried for her friend, she knew who Ruby was. She had been pampered all her life, it wouldn’t be a good experience for her to suffer so much. She had been lied to and now her condition could become unstable. There was nothing Aileene could do now, but she was frock with worry. She couldn’t even visit her dear friend despite being in the capital. There was no way that she would be allowed into the royal castle or the estate that Ruby was staying at. She could sense the distrust that the crown had with her, they would soon find a way to dispose of her dukedom and she couldn’t let it happen.

Her brows were furrowed and Aileene wasn’t sure for how long she had been awake after the many sleepless nights that had plagued her. The week had come to an end, but her worries didn’t dwindle. A few days had passed since Dmitri’s funeral and she had been restless with work. She knew what she had to do and she did it efficiently, but there would always be problems biting at her. She wanted to curse out at the spy, the crown and all those had harmed the people around her. But cursing them would do her no good, she had to continue fighting. She couldn’t be distracted by grief, she couldn’t be distracted with worries.

She was alone, she must fight on alone if she has to—

A sudden knock snapped Aileene out of her thoughts, she was surprised and quickly turned towards her window, where the sound was coming from. Her eyes were focused on the curtain that covered the full length window in her room, it led out onto a balcony which overlooks the garden. She had never gotten much use out of the balcony so the door was normally locked. When she had stopped all her movements and attentively watched the curtains for any more sounds, she almost suspected that the knock was from her own imagination, maybe all the stress had finally gone to her head. Even so, she was still suspicious, if there really was a person outside her room. She couldn’t alert them to her presence, she quickly put out the candles by her desk and the room was soon plunged into darkness.

There were still some spots of moonlight that shone into her room, which provided her with much needed light. She pulled a signal which would alert her household to her circumstance. Her knights would arrive at her room soon to capture whoever it was if it really was a person. She could never be too cautious. Aileene tried to stand and back away from her window so that she would have access to her door if something were to happen.

Another knock sounded, it was coming from the spot where the door to the balcony would be. She finally confirmed that it was a person on her balcony. They must’ve somehow infiltrated her manor and climbed onto her balcony, their target was her. In the end, her mind wasn’t simply making up sounds, which was of some relief. She was still sane, but now she has to deal with some sort of assassin. Had the crown finally decided to get rid of her with no precaution?

How heartless.

“Aileene.” That distinct and gentle voice that she had heard time and time again. It was Lucian, he was calling her name. She knew his voice so clearly, she had always been able to easily recognize his voice, no matter where they were. And she was sure, he was here now, he was just outside her door, his voice came from outside her door. Was he the intruder? Aileene couldn’t believe it, she wanted to think that she had made some sort of mistake. There would be no reason for Lucian to be here, why would he sneak in to see her? But—

“Aileene, open the door.”