The aftermath of the attack left the Delacroix estate buzzing with tension. Guards patrolled the hallways, eyes scanning for any signs of trouble. Natalia felt a strange thrill coursing through her veins. This is what I wanted, she thought. To be part of something bigger than myself.
The following morning, she found herself in the dining hall, the atmosphere thick with unspoken words. Her brothers were unusually quiet, casting glances at her as if trying to assess her newfound boldness. Magnus, however, was all business as usual, his expression unreadable.
"Good work last night," he said, breaking the silence. "But don’t think for a moment that you’ve proven yourself. One victory does not define your worth."
Natalia met his gaze, unflinching. "I’m just getting started."
Magnus narrowed his eyes, and the air crackled with tension. Alaric cleared his throat, drawing their father’s attention. “We should consider strengthening our defenses. Ang mga kaaway natin ay tila sumusubok na tayong maubos.”
“Agreed,” Lucian added, leaning back in his chair. “But we must find out who sent those men first.”
Natalia’s heart raced. She had been wondering the same thing. “I can help with that,” she interjected.
Magnus raised an eyebrow, skepticism written all over his face. “You think you’re capable of uncovering such information?”
“Give me a chance. I’m not as weak as you think,” she said defiantly.
Damon smirked, clearly enjoying her challenge to their father. “Let her try, Father. Baka may potential siya na hindi natin alam.”
Magnus sighed, his gaze shifting between them. “Very well. But you will work with Alaric. He will supervise you.”
---
Alaric’s expression darkened at the thought of babysitting his younger sister. “Why can’t you let me handle this on my own?”
“Because,” Magnus replied sharply, “you need to learn the importance of teamwork. Plus, it will keep her safe.”
Natalia’s stomach twisted at the idea of being babysat, but she forced herself to nod. “Fine. Let’s get started.”
As they left the dining hall, Natalia turned to Alaric, who walked a few steps ahead, arms crossed over his chest. “So, where do we begin?”
“We’ll start by questioning the guards who captured the intruders,” he replied curtly.
“Great. I want to know why they were here.”
“Don’t get too excited. You’re still learning,” he warned, a hint of annoyance creeping into his tone.
“Just because I don’t have magic doesn’t mean I’m useless,” she shot back, irritation bubbling under her skin.
“Keep your voice down,” he snapped. “You don’t want to draw attention.”
---
The two of them made their way to the courtyard, where the guards were assembled, recounting the events of the previous night. Natalia watched as Alaric addressed the men, his tone authoritative.
“Tell us what you saw,” he commanded.
One of the guards stepped forward, a rugged man with a scar running down his cheek. “Sir, we were alerted by a noise. When we arrived, we saw the girl fighting off the intruders.”
“Did you recognize them?” Natalia asked, stepping forward.
The guard shook his head. “No, but their clothing suggests they were hired mercenaries. We found no insignia.”
Natalia frowned. No insignia? “Were they acting alone? Or do you think they’re part of a bigger plot?”
“Impossible to say, m’lady,” the guard replied, looking uneasy under Alaric’s piercing gaze.
Alaric sighed, rubbing his temples. “We need more information. Focus on uncovering their origins. We need to know who sent them.”
---
After dismissing the guards, Natalia turned to Alaric, frustration bubbling inside her. “We need to dig deeper, Alaric. They’re not just random mercenaries. Someone wants us gone.”
“I’m aware of that, but we can’t act recklessly,” he replied, irritation creeping into his voice. “This isn’t a game, Natalia.”
“Then we need to be proactive!” she argued. “We can’t wait for them to strike again.”
“Proactive or reckless?” he shot back, eyes narrowing.
“I’m willing to take risks,” she insisted, “especially if it means protecting our family.”
Alaric paused, studying her. “Fine. But if we’re going to investigate further, I’ll need to trust you.”
“Trust me?” Natalia raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Just do what I say,” he replied, turning on his heel.
---
That evening, Natalia found herself in the library again, pouring over books about the history of the Aurelysian Empire. She wanted to understand the political landscape, the rivalries that existed between the dukedoms, and who could possibly want the Delacroix family out of the picture.
Hours passed as she read through stories of betrayals, alliances, and revenge. The Delacroix name had its share of enemies, but the idea that someone was bold enough to attack them directly was alarming.
“Paano kung may nagbabalak na iba?” she muttered to herself.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Damon stepped inside, his expression mischievous. “Hard at work again, sister?”
Natalia rolled her eyes. “What do you want, Damon?”
He approached, leaning against the table. “Just checking on you. You’ve been holed up in here all day.”
“I’m trying to gather information,” she replied, determined.
“Want to hear a theory?” Damon asked, his tone lightening.
“Sure, let’s hear it.”
“I think it’s Cassandra.”
Natalia frowned. “Cassandra Windmere? She’s obsessed with Maximilian Montague, not us.”
“Exactly. If she can’t have him, maybe she wants to get rid of the competition. Who else could it be?”
Natalia considered this for a moment. Cassandra’s jealousy could drive her to drastic measures. “But how would she know about the attack? It feels too... coordinated.”
“Maybe she’s working with someone,” Damon suggested, his green eyes glinting. “It’s possible she could have hired those mercenaries.”
---
As they spoke, the door swung open again, and Maximilian Montague entered the library, his presence commanding. Natalia’s heart raced at the sight of him. He was tall and imposing, with dark hair that fell over his red eyes.
“What are you two doing here?” he asked, his tone low and skeptical.
“Just discussing family matters,” Natalia replied, trying to sound casual.
Damon nudged her, clearly amused by her effort to remain composed. “We were just theorizing about who might want to harm the Delacroix family.”
Maximilian’s expression darkened. “And what did you conclude?”
“Cassandra Windmere,” Natalia answered boldly.
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “You think she would go that far?”
“It’s not just her,” Damon interjected. “There could be others involved.”
Maximilian leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “I’ll look into it. I’ll have my people gather more information.”
“Why do you care?” Natalia asked, crossing her arms defiantly.
He turned to her, a faint smile teasing his lips. “Because I enjoy chaos, and if someone is causing it in your household, it concerns me.”
---
As he left the library, Natalia felt a strange flutter in her chest. Why does he have such an effect on me?
“Why do you look so dazed?” Damon teased.
“Shut up,” Natalia muttered, turning back to the books, though her thoughts kept drifting back to Maximilian.
The night passed slowly as Natalia continued to read, her mind racing with possibilities. If Cassandra was involved, it would only complicate matters. She needed to be ready for anything.
With determination burning in her chest, she vowed to uncover the truth and strengthen her family—no matter what it took.