The Debt Of Fate-Chapter 253: Relationship

Ernest also came out of the meeting hiding a secret message he had received from a servant just as he came out. Hearing that it was from the spy he had sent to Dorothy’s courtyard, he was anxious to see the content. He had a feeling that this might be related to Anastasia and Dorothy been sent out of the palace.

Just as he got ready to climb his horse a hand stopped him.

’’General Ernest, you promised to visit my home today," Lord Thorne who has been looking for him reminded him.

"Did I?" Ernest looked confused. He clearly remembers telling him that he could not have anything to do with his daughter. Just as he was about to deny, he remember that he had sighted his spy wanting to talk to him, so in haste he had agreed to what Lord Thorne was saying.

"Lord Thorne, I have an emergency now, how about I visit later in the day evening," Ernest said. He had left the house early in the morning. Apart from seeing the message, he wanted to get back and see if Anastasia was still home. He would take the opportunity to send her back.

Lord Thorne was not pleased that Ernest was refusing him again but thinking about the fact that Ernest had rejected other lords and he was the first one Ernest promised to visit he let it go.

"Alright, then I will be expecting you," Lord Thorne said and left. Ernest immediately throw this at the back of his mind and climbed the horse riding away quickly.

He did not want to be in their noble circle, especially when many were only thinking of benefits.

"Is lady Anastasia’ still here?" The first question Ernest asked when he got home.

"No, her maids arrived just after you left and she went with them," the Steward answered.

Ernest nodded his head. This residence has been giving to him by the king. There were also a few servants sent by the king. But this Steward was an old comrade with Ernest. He had gotten injured in battle and couldn’t find continue fighting. All this years, Ernest had him do other things for him. So Ernest trusted him very much.

Hearing that Anastasia was gone, Edward was a bit disappointed but he did not say anything. Getting into the study he opened the message from the spy

It was written in code so that only a few people could understand it.

Ernest balled his hand into a fist when he read the message inside. He had placed a spy in Dorothy’s courtyard after he heard that she had once tried to poison Anastasia. After Anastasia left the palace he was yet to call the spy back he did not expect to gain some insight.

Ernest immediately burn the message took his coat and left the study. He wanted to inform Anastasia of this outcome.

Although, he could help her deal with Dorothy and Elizabeth, he really hopes she could see how evil the king is and stopped pouring her heart to him.

He took his horse and rode straight to Anastasia"s courtyard. Worried that the king might have people paying attention to the house, she used the walls instead of the gate.

When he entered the person he meet was Rosa.

"General Ernest," Rosa was shocked to see the general entered their house with the wall but since he helped to save Anastasia’ from the palace she had a good impression of him.

"Where is your lady, I have something important to discuss with her.

Rosa was confused for a bit, as she was not sure if she should directly take him to see Anastasia’ who was in the garden or ask him to wait by the wall.

"Come with me," Rosa eventually decided to bring him closer to the garden then ask him to wait while she goes to inform Anastasia.

"I still have to thank general Ernest for helping my lady yesterday," Rosa said as they walked.

"You do not have to thank me, lady Anastasia’ took care of me once when was injured. This is what I should do," Ernest said. He wanted to get close to the people around Anastasia.

"Still, I have to thank you after all you got injured back then protecting my lady," Rosa said. She felt it was unfortunate that her lady had married a man like the king who did not care about her safety.

The two did not say anything until they got close to the garden.

"General Ernest, please wait here while I inform my lady," Rosa said.

Ernest nodded and stood still, while Rosa continue to walk forward.

"what did you say?" Ernest heard Anastasia’s voice from the garden. Normally since he was that distance away he should not hear the conversation.But he has trained his ears to hear from a distance.

"My lady, I got news from the palace that the king did sent away Dorothy, but not just this, he intends to take in Elizabeth as his mistress because of the scandal of yesterday," Miss Magdalene said. Although she had left the palace with Anastasia she still had connection to get information from the palace.

Anastasia’s heart missed a bit. She really did not expect things to turn out this way. Why would she share a husband with Elizabeth. She did not believe anything good would come out of it.

"My lady, you can not return to the palace, your step sister is more vicious than Dorothy," Grater said when she heard this news.

"But my lady, the news is everywhere... Do you also want to run to the monastery?" Miss Magdalene was worried by the situation.

"This... Lady Rosalind already run to the monastery. His majesty would definitely make it impossible for me," Anastasia’ said she understood the king’s desperation.

"Then do you want to deny this rumor?" Grater asked.

"I have no evidence to refuse it?" Anastasia frown.

"My lady," in that moment Rosa walked over. "General Ernest came, he said he has something important to discuss with you," Rosa announced.

Anastasia was surprised to hear this. "Who did you say is here?" Grater and Miss Magdalene asked finding it hard to believe.

"General Ernest," Rosa answered.

"Why would he come here?" Grater wonder.

Miss Magdalene felt it was strange. After all, there was really no much relationship between Anastasia and Ernest.

..

The quiet of the monastery garden was broken by the rustle of silk and impatient footsteps. Beatrice and Bridget, dressed in their finest cloaks and adorned in jewels that clashed with the simplicity of their surroundings, marched confidently into the small courtyard. A few nuns glanced up from their chores but said nothing.

They spotted Rosalind seated quietly under an olive tree, reading a prayer book. She did not rise at their approach.

"Well, look at you," Beatrice said, a mocking edge to her tone. "Living like a saint now, are we?"

Rosalind calmly turned a page. "You came all this way to confirm that?"

Bridget scoffed. "We came to congratulate you. Didn’t you hear? Your dear friend Anastasia has returned to the palace. The king sent his mistress away for her. How touching."

Beatrice added with a smirk, "It seems you walked away just in time to hand her the crown back."

Rosalind shut her book, slowly rising. "Is that what you think this is about?"

"It’s not what we think," Bridget said with exaggerated sweetness. "It’s what the whole city is saying. That you were so easily swayed by Anastasia’s sob story you gave up a crown. And now look—she’s back where she belongs, and you’re here in a robe like a penitent ghost."

"I’m exactly where I belong," Rosalind said calmly.

Beatrice rolled her eyes. "You were supposed to be queen. And now you’re... what, a nun? You didn’t even try to compete. At least we would’ve fought for it."

"I didn’t want to fight a woman who never wanted to win," Rosalind replied, her voice even. "And I’d rather be here than part of that circus at court. You think she’s safe now? That she’s happy?"

Bridget stepped forward. "She played you. She made you feel sorry for her, and the moment you walked away, she took everything you abandoned."

Rosalind looked them both in the eye. "If she returned, it wasn’t for power. It was to survive. And unlike either of you, she’s earned her place."

Beatrice’s smile faded. "You say that like you’re proud to be left behind."

"I’m proud that I chose peace. That I walked away from a place that devours women to feed a man’s ego."

Bridget scowled. "You’ll regret it when you see her wearing the crown."

Rosalind’s eyes narrowed slightly. "And you’ll regret never learning the difference between envy and ambition."

The silence that followed was thick.

With stiff postures and forced smiles, the sisters turned to leave, their heels clicking angrily against the stone.

Rosalind sat back down, opened her book, and didn’t look back.