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.”

pouring rain poured on his wound,

split the heavens, briefly lighting the inside. There, huddled beside the firewood, was a small, trembling

fleeting light, Isolde saw the scars etched across the

howled, and two

arrived with

Fri, Mar 7

Did You Do It?

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Finished

Duke’s estate!”

on, fierce as the end of days, shaking the heavens and tearing

gates shuddered under a barrage of furious

by his butler with ears

them–simple labor for a life of self–reliance. She was a

played across her lips as

visit.”

incorrigible. Sneaking out last night to seek revenge–what madness is this? If you’ve a scope to settle, then

you wish me to raise my

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

harmed? Well, perhaps you’ve made one too many enemies, and someone came knocking. Why lay that burden

“Isolde, the builer is no common servant–you’ve no right to treat him so? If he brings this to the magistrate, you’ll not escape.

“But if you wish to accuse me,

wives saw you They’ll testify against you.”

me off in the dead of night on a trumped–up murder charge. drugged me, and

face paled. “What nonsense

already judged me, haven’t you? You 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 Grace–did you ever ask

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