'Here she is, all mine, trying her best to give me all she can. How could I ever hurt her? But I didn’t understand then. That I could hurt somebody so badly she would never recover. That a person can, just by living, damage another human being beyond repair.'

-Haruki Murakami, South of the Border, West of the Sun

~~~

Seaborne Estate;

“Have you ever wielded one?”

Richard gazed fondly at the boy as he turned his large, innocent eyes to him, shaking his head.

It had been easy to decipher the look of wonder in his eyes as he watched him train with his sword every morning.

He beckoned Will to come closer to him, wiping the sweat off his brows.
He was getting old for this.

Will neared him with eager steps. He had lost much of his hesitation and fear around him and Richard took deep pleasure in knowing that he was able to warm him up to his company so fast.

Minerva had cautioned him about his shyness around strange men. They had been apprehensive about his reaction to their decision; but things had turned out really well.

“Would you like to learn how to use a sword? I can get you one of your own.”
Of course, Richard planned to get him a wooden one first, but Will’s wide smile told him that he would be contended with just that.

“Yes, please…My Lord.”

The boy’s tentative tone sent a surge of possessiveness to Richard’s heart. There was nothing he wanted more than to hear the word ‘father’ from his mouth. But he knew that was too soon to expect from him.
He had just become accustomed to the fact the this was his home now.

Richard could still remember the utter confusion on his face when he witnessed their wedding ceremony in the chapel last month. It was a short and private affair, with only a few of his staff in attendance.
He had sensed Minerva’s anxiety as she stood facing him. Though, he could hardly blame her for that. This was by no means a conventional marriage.

However, when he had said his vows, as short as permissible, he found himself oddly comforted. It had taken him little time to get enamoured to the idea of having his own family, when he had long resigned himself to the life of an eternal bachelor.

And now he was proposing to teach him the fine art of swordsmanship- a skill he himself could not boast to have mastered.
But that did not matter; not when he was getting the chance of spending more time bonding with him.
Was this not what all the fathers did?
Teach their sons the necessary fighting skills…

Son.
He really was a father now. The documents lay carefully in the drawers of his study. And he meant to be the best father for this boy.

“Can you teach me right now?”
Will’s gaze was trained on the sword, mesmerised by the glint of the blade.

Richard let out a loud laugh. He had found the way to his son’s heart.

“If you wish, son.”
__________________________________

Hayworth Estate;

“No!”

Brandon’s voice boomed in the quiet of the hall as everyone on the table sat still with shock at his outburst.

“What do you mean by that?
You know it is time, Brandon. You are of age. It would be better to have you readied for the future. You are my heir, after all.”

Zachary’s tone was restrained but the tension radiated from his stance.

“I have no intention of being your heir. I am not going to handle anything for you, Lord Hayworth. This is your Estate. I have already decided to be a Knight and nothing is going to change my decision.”

Lady Margaret clutched her tumbler tighter as she heard the anger in her grandson’s voice. She knew this conversation was not going to end well.

“You are my first-born, Brandon. This is your destiny.
Lord Cavendish’s proposal is a favourable one. His eldest daughter would be a good fit for the family. Moreover, Lord Cavendish bears a lot of influence in the court. This is the best match.”

Zachary’s voice was steadily losing its composure.
He had anticipated his son’s protests, but that was no match for the anger and indignation on Brandon’s face at the moment.
How was he going to make him understand this?
Things did not happen in the manner we desired. Sacrifices were expected on everyone’s part.

“I am hardly your first-born…in case you have forgotten the fact.”

Brandon’s gibe was spoken in a seething whisper, the contempt of which was felt across the entire table.

Averey clenched his jaw in guilt and helplessness. He knew his brother did not mean him ill but the words went straight through his heart.

“Averey is no more than a few months younger to me. He is just as suited for the Lordship.
I am not going to marry anyone for your interest. I thought you had learned your lesson once, but evidently your sense of honour and justice prevails only for your own self, and not for anybody else.”

Zachary stilled as he detected the unbridled defiance in his son’s words. As much as he wanted to defend himself in this, he knew he couldn’t.
He knew it was hard to accept something you were against. He had been on the receiving end of such decisions more than once. Giving Brandon time to contemplate on this seemed to be the only solution now.
He would surely come to understand his reasoning in time.

“Brandon, please-"

“No, grandmother. Please do not try to sway me on this.”

Brandon did not stop to listen to another word as he stormed out of the hall, leaving his food untouched.
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The Palace;

Maya combed her fingers through her long tresses as she sat in front of the ornate mirror. Having asked the maids to leave, she was alone in the royal chambers with her husband, who had not removed his gaze from her for even a single second in the last few minutes.

“What are you looking at, Your Highness?”
Maya’s tone was filled with mirth as she held his eyes in the reflection of the mirror.

The chamber was flooded in the golden glow of the fire burning in the hearth and she had already changed into her shift.

The extravagant gowns that she had to wear during the days had been the hardest part of being the Princess Consort.
She could easily handle the other affairs though, much to the pleasure of the Queen Mother.

Edward sighed softly, not bothering to hide the adoration in his eyes as he straightened from his position on the foot of their bed, and advanced towards her with a lazy gait.

It was only after he stood directly behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, that he spoke,
“You are beautiful, my love.”

Maya chuckled as she shook her head slowly.
“Are you never going to stop saying that?”

“Why should I? You are my bride. And you are beautiful.
A man should not hesitate to speak the truth.”

Edward’s brows furrowed as he bent to place a soft kiss on the bare skin of her shoulder.

Maya leaned in to his touch as she closed her eyes.

“I am hardly your bride now.
We have been married for months.”

Edward smirked against her flesh as he noticed the slight quivering of her voice.

“Is it so? Well, as far as I am concerned, you would be my bride till the day we are both old and shrivelled up.”

Maya’s eyes connected to his again, a soft smile playing on her lips. But her eyes shone with a fierce love.

“Is it so?”

“Yes, and I would not hesitate to prove that to you, my dear bride.”

Maya was too distracted to notice the hands that snaked around her.
She squealed as Edward started carrying her towards the bed, his arms snug around her back and beneath her knees.

“I am really glad that you decided to send your attendants out. I doubt I would have been able to compose myself in front of them when you sat in this wicked shift, running your hands through these enticing locks of yours.”

Maya shivered with anticipation as he laid her down on the bed and buried his face in the hollow of her neck.
His voice was muffled as he spoke,
“I am so fortunate to have you, Maya. The people love you; the ministers respect you. My mother and father adore you. How do you do it?”

Maya’s voice was distracted as she replied,
“Do what?”

Edward raised his head to place his lips against hers.
He did not bother to speak again, devoting his full attention to the woman in his arms.
Suffice to say, Maya was just as unwilling to have a conversation at that moment.
__________________________________

Hayworth Estate;

Brandon sighed deeply as he made his way into the manor.
A long ride was just what he had needed after that wretched conversation.

The chilled wind had done him good.
It had also made him realise the implications of the words he had spouted in anger.

In his need to defy his father, he had spoken hurtful words about his own brother.

The first thing he had to do now, was to apologize to him. He was already aware of the guilt that Averey carried in his heart. What he had said, must have elevated that guilt.

Brandon was just making his way towards his brother’s chambers when he was stopped in the way by Lady Hayworth.

Scarlet saw the chance to talk to Brandon the moment she saw him entering the manor.
She had been worried about him ever since he had left the manor in a state of rage that morning.

“Brandon! Where were you? It has been hours.”

Brandon’s face was impassive as he stared at her.
“That is not something you should concern yourself with.”

Scarlet kept her disappointment at bay as she spoke in a persuasive tone,

“Brandon, I know you must be angry, but please try to think about what your father had said with a calm mind.
You are his first-born son. Whether you like it or not, you have some responsibilities. We all have to fulfil our responsibilities, even if that leads to us abandoning our desires.”

Brandon scoffed as he looked at her with disdain.

“Like you fulfilled the responsibility of being my mother’s friend and gave up upon your desires? Please speak only if you are ready to face the truth.”

Scarlet felt her face flush with part guilt and part frustration. She was finding herself unable to hold onto the patience any longer.
She was tired.

“Brandon-"

Scarlet ground her teeth as she saw Lady Margaret approaching them.
She was the last person she wanted to face right now. But it looked like she had no choice in the matter anymore.

“What is wrong, my dear? Are you alright?”
Lady Margaret sent a reproving glace at Scarlet before she shifted her attention to Brandon.

She knew the moment she saw her grandson standing with her, that she needed to intervene soon.

“I am alright, grandma. Lady Hayworth here, was bestowing upon me the jewels of her wisdom.”
Brandon’s gaze was fixated on Scarlet as he spoke in a clipped tone.

Scarlet frowned as she looked at the challenge in his eyes.
She knew he was mocking her and the thought was enough to shred the last bit of sanity that she held onto.

“You can blame me as much as you want, Brandon. You all do. But know that you would gain nothing from it. The past has already been written. I cannot change it. If I could, I would already have done it.
All I can do is apologize to you for the part that I played in your misery.
And I have done that a thousand times!
What else do you want me to do?”

Scarlet’s words were frenzied as she looked at them with a desperate expression.

“I do not want anything from you. I just need for you to stop pretending to care about me and my sister. That is all I ask.”

Brandon spoke in the same impassive tone as before, her words having little effect on him.

“Enough, Scarlet. He is tired. We do not need to have another argument. Come, son. Let me get something for you to eat.”

Lady Margaret held onto his elbow, sending a disapproving glance at Scarlet.

They had just turned when Scarlet’s words stopped her in her tracks.

“Why are you all so cruel with me? Why only me?
Zachary is just as responsible for this, but I do not see any of you treating him the way you treat me…I know why.
It is because neither of you have the courage to face him.
He is the Lord of this Estate; the man of this family. I am the easy target. You all come to me and say all these hurtful words to my face.
You cannot speak even a fraction of this in front of him, even though you know that he was more at fault.
I knew Saya for only a year. A year! He was her husband! Is this my punishment for being a woman?”

Lady Margaret squeezed Brandon’s elbow in assurance as she faced the woman in front of her.
She did not wait to see her grandson’s response as she began to speak in a fuming voice, not caring to compose herself-

“Yes, Scarlet! You are right.
You are more responsible because you are a woman.
A woman who is supposed to understand more than any man, the pain of another woman- a woman you even claimed to be friends with!
She confided in you. Being her friend, you must have known how much she cared for her husband. She showed you compassion and trusted in you. And you betrayed her trust.
I blame you because you should have known how much your actions would hurt Saya. Zachary was her husband, yes; and I will never forgive him for what he did. But I know he cannot understand the pain he had caused her. Not in its entirety. But you, being a woman, should have known.
So, yes. I blame you. And I will continue to do so for as long as I shall live.”

Lady Margaret’s eyes were red and moist with angry tears by the time she stopped.
Her breath was coming out in short gasps and Brandon held worriedly onto her hand.

“Grandmother!”

“I am fine, my dear.”
Her words were laboured as she patted Brandon’s hand.

Scarlet could hardly understand anything above the thrashing in her ears.
Lady Margaret’s words had torn open the only barrier she had placed to prevent the guilt from eating her up.
She tried to clutch on the last straw of self-preservation.
Her words were out of her mouth before she even had a chance to contemplate their consequence-

“That is where you are wrong. Zachary did understand the pain he caused her.
The pain that he caused her is much more excruciating than what I caused her.
If not for your son, she would still be alive! He deserves your hatred more than me- not because he hurt her, but because he killed her!”

Lady Margaret’s face paled as she heard her words.

“What are you trying to say?”

Brandon held his grandmother tightly in his arms as he found himself being overridden by fear and foreboding.
The last thing he needed was another reason to hate his father anymore than he already did.

Scarlet’s eyes shone with a berserk lucidity as she continued in an almost vindictive tone-

“Why would Zachary talk to you about giving Saya an annulment, only to abandon the idea and start a family with her?”

Lady Margaret would not have been able to reply to her even if she wanted to.
That was the question that had plagued her for months, but the news of her grandchild had her so giddy with merriment that she hardly gave it another thought after that.

“He did not tell you, of course. He told no one; except for me. And neither did poor Saya.
How could she?
She must have seen the happiness on your face and decided to suffer alone.
You are just as responsible for her fate, Lady Margaret!
You put your happiness above hers. You should have let Zachary annul the marriage. Then he would not have done what he did…But you were so selfish in your own happiness that you never gave another thought to the woman you claimed to love as your own daughter.
If you had just been more observant towards her emotions, you would have asked her what was wrong; and she would have told you that the grandchild that you were so impatient to welcome in this world, was not a result of her improving relations with her husband; but rather the result of a night of shame and humiliation that she had to face at his hands- hands that were driven to it by your arrogance and selfishness!”

Lady Margaret’s face lost its pallor as she swayed on her feet. Brandon was quick to hold her straight, though his senses were hardly under control.

“No…”

Lady Margaret’s broken whisper was accompanied by a string of disbelieving tears.

Scarlet felt a strange sense of euphoria engulfing her.

She was basking in the knowledge of being able to cause them some pain for a change. She continued in a maniacal tone,

“Refuse all you want. You may ask your son. He should tell you the truth, if he is able to gather the courage to be truthful for once. If I may be truthful, I think I was being charitable towards Saya by giving her a chance to escape the clutches of her miserable marriage.
Do you know what I felt when he came to me the next day and confessed to it? I was disgusted.
I felt pity for Saya…for being tied to a family like yours. They hadn’t even consummated their marriage! And your words lead him to violate her!”

“Stop!”

Brandon’s voice bellowed and forced her to a stop, bringing her down from her exhilaration.

Scarlet frowned as she saw the figure of Lady Margaret, looking bent and broken as tears streamed down her grief-stricken face.

She saw the fury simmering in Brandon’s eyes, his face twisted in an expression of unparalleled vehemence.

Through the corner of her eyes, she caught a glimpse of Averey staring aghast at her.

Her mind registered the words she had spoken and she gave a horrified gasp.

What had she done?

__________________________________

Author's Note-

Well, the moment of the great revelation is here.

I had thought of  endless scenarios for this particular truth to come to light.
At one point, I was even a little conflicted about whether I should be doing this or not...But then I realised that there would be no real closure for any of the characters until and unless they face this.

There could be no redemption without a trial. 🤷

As for Scarlet, this is her rock-bottom. She sort of lost it right there. The frustration and anger has piled up over the years, leading to this outburst.
Things would obviously get to my after this.

The drama would continue in the next chapter.
The story has now progressed into darker territories.😈

Are you excited for the ultimate face-off between Zachary and Bran?

How do you think he is going to react once he knows that Scarlet spilled the beans?

The next chapter would hopefully be out soon.

Stay safe!
Eat safe😜

Till the next time 👋