The Swordswoman's Revenge Story after Rebirth

Chapter 23 Did You Do It?

Finished

Isolde slowly lifted her head, fixing him with an icy stare. “You don’t know? That’s unfortunate. I had thought… if you gave me Helena’s brother, I might spare your life. But it seems this deal is no longer on the table.”

She rose s

gracefully, advancing toward him. The butler stumbled back in terror, his feet fumbling clumsily.

With deliberate ease, Isolde plucked the dagger embedded by the bed. The cold steel caught the dim light, flashing menacingly as she twirled it before him. Her smile sharpened. “I’ll give you one more chance- where is Helena’s brother?”

The butler swallowed hard. Mary’s grisly end replaying in his mind. His heart pounded, but pride gave him a shred of defiance.

“Lady Marilda.” he rasped, struggling to sound bold, I’m no bonded servant of the Duke’s house, nor was I ever sold to it. If you kill me, you’ll answer for it–you can’t escape the noose.

Isolde chuckled, soft and low. “A life for a life? Perhaps But.. Her gaze turned sharper, predatory. “Who’s to say I killed you?”

The dagger’s blade pressed against his cheek, the chill biting deep. The butler froze, petrified, afraid to move a muscle.

“You… you’ll regret this,” he stammered, his voice trembling despite himself. The Marshal and the Duke won’t let you go unpunished!”

The words had barely left his lips when Isolde’s hand moved. The blade swept in a clean line, slicing from the corner of his mouth to his ear. Blood streamed down his face as he screamed–a sound swallowed instantly by the rolling thunder outside.

Somewhere, Lady Cantrell fled, her skirts flapping as she disappeared into the storm. She had no mind to intervene, leaving the butler to his fate.

The wind howled, the rain drummed ceaselessly, and no soul in the house dared come near.

At last, the butler’s spirit cracked. Sobbing through his pain, he croaked, “The woodshed… in my family’s woodshed…”

Isolde’s lips curved into a cruel smile. She yanked him to his feet, her voice soft and mocking, “Lead the way, then.”

butler was dragged out. The pouring rain poured on

jagged bolt of lightning split the heavens, briefly lighting the inside.

fleeting light, Isolde saw the scars etched across

The botler howled, and two ragged pieces of his ears dropped to the

the time his wife arrived with the maids, Isolde was long

Mar

23 Did You Do

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Duke’s estate!”

heavens and tearing through the earth. It wasn’t until dawn that the rain

a

to find Geoffrey striding in, followed by his butler with ears bandaged

seeds earlier, and Isolde intended to scatter them–simple labor for

across her lips as her gaze met the Duke’s. “Well Your Grace, what an unexpected honor. To what do I owe this

visit.”

with anger and disappointment. “You’re incorrigible. Sneaking out last night to seek revenge–what madness is this? If you’ve a scope to settle,

you wish

My Lady, all I’ve done has been under His Grace’s and Madam’s orders. If I’ve offended you. punish me! Kill me, if you

harmed? Well, perhaps you’ve made one too many enemies,

angry. “Isolde, the builer is no common servant–you’ve no right to treat him so? If

let him go,” Isolde said coolly. “But if you wish to

butler’s wives saw you They’ll testify against

there, I’ll inquire about how Constable Harmon dragged me off in the dead of night on a trumped–up murder charge. drugged

paled. “What nonsense is this?”

asked Helena, you questioned the guards, you listened to Lady Blackwell and the butler. You believe you’ve uncovered the truth But tell me, Your

evidence is clear. How can you deny it? Even if I asked you outright, would you admit