The Lady Nun Vows Revenge by Caroline Rowland

The Silent 230

Chapter 230

"This is impossible." Gabriel said, his expression shifting between disbelief and suspicion. "Eliza and Nolan-how would they

He turned to Adeline and snapped, "Are you certain you saw it with your own eyes?"

Adeline sobbing uncontrollably inside the carriage, didn't dare admit she'd run off the moment she got scared and hadn't actually confirmed a thing. She stammered, clearly guilty, "O-of course I saw it. It's just... there was so much blood. I didn't dare go closer, so I can't say for sure if... if she's really dear.

Gabriel's face darkened with fury as he pointed at her. "That was your niece! And you just left her there and ran?!"

"Well excuse me for not wanting to get killed too" Adeline shot back defensively, though her tone was anything but confident. "What if the Prince Regent turned on me next? I barely escaped with my life! If I hadn't run, you'd be short one little sister by now!"

"Kill you?" Gabriel growled. “Nolan wouldn't dare. You're Dale's wife, my sister- unless you committed treason, he wouldn't lay a hand on you no matter how mad he is."

His voice rose as he jabbed an accusing finger in her direction

But Adeline wouldn't back down. "Easy for you to say. You weren't there! The way that man looked at me-it was like I was already dead. I swear, if I hadn't turned and run, he'd have cut me down right then and there. And don't forget, he did kill Sophie in the Empress Dowager's own palace. You think someone that crazy can be reasoned with? He's completely unhinged!"

She took a shaky breath. "If he really wanted to cover it up, do you think I'd still be sitting here, talking to you!"

Gabriel clenched his fists. He couldn't argue with that-not entirely. Still, he wasn't about to let her weasel out of it so easily.

"You're going back." he snapped. "Tell the Empress Dowager what happened. Sophie ning palace etiquette under her care. If son ing happened to her, then the Empress Dowager can't wash her hands of it"

Adeline's eyes went wide. "What?! No! I'm not going back! What if I run into the Prince Regent again?! I barely escaped once -what if I don't get lucky a second time?"

I'd send you if

crying, wailing, and throwing a tantrum Gabriel finally

to enter the palace alone and seek audience with the King-but just as he was about to set off, a carriage passed his own, heading

a glimpse of a familiar figure. It

eyes narrowed. "Follow that

quieter street, where the carriage pulled up outside a modest apothecary, Gabriel watched as Eliza stepped out, arms filled with parcels, and entered the

finish her errand and then intercepted her somewhere private. But today, his patience wore thin. Sophie's fate remained unknown, and even though he'd confidently claimed earlier that Nolan wouldn't dare harm her in the Empress

knew about

the court were well aware: the Prince Regent suffered from episodes

19 Apr

Chapter 230

affliction, said the imperial physicians. During his episodes, he became dangerously

an edict forbidding anyone from speaking of it. Anyone

world had no idea that

if-Gabriel wondered-what if Nolan had

if it wasn't madness at all? What if he and Eliza had plotted

thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He knew Eliza hated Sophie. After all, when Sophie desecrated Caroline's remains, that was the moment their relationship became one of mutual

as he stared at the

door and stormed toward

but it

a little detour- but she quickly found herself intrigued by the rare herbs lining the shelves. Some weren't even

the selection," she remarked to the shopkeeper. "Is

was a drought in Plutonville that delayed us-couldn't move the

Eliza raised