Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale ` 73 Summary
In Chapter 73 of “Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows,” the tension escalates as Joshua, feeling the weight of a growing headache, is urged by Raul to find Margaery, who has gone missing. Raul’s frustration is palpable as he worries about the implications of Margaery’s absence, especially with the King potentially learning of it. He fears that if Margaery is harmed, it could lead to chaos in the court, jeopardizing not just their safety but the entire kingdom’s stability.
Dominic tries to calm Raul, reminding him that Margaery is still engaged to him and that she likely wouldn’t seek out Prince Dashnell. However, the stakes are high as Simon from the Hall of Divinity has informed them that Margaery’s safety is crucial for the kingdom. Raul’s dread deepens as he realizes that if the King learns of Margaery’s situation, it could lead to serious repercussions for them all. The urgency to find her intensifies as they debate the best course of action, with Clyde being pressured to take the blame for the incident that led to Margaery’s harm.
Clyde’s internal struggle becomes evident as he grapples with the unfairness of being made the scapegoat. His fear of the family punishment, known for its brutality, drives him to reluctantly agree to apologize to Margaery. The dynamics within the group shift as Raul emphasizes the importance of ensuring Margaery marries into the Hadley family, fearing that if she does not, she could end up with Dashnell, complicating matters further. Clyde’s confusion over the situation showcases his immaturity and the pressure he feels from his father.
As the chapter unfolds, Dominic reflects on Margaery’s transformation from a dismissed figure to someone formidable and respected. The characters’ perceptions of her have shifted, revealing their own flaws and insecurities. Dominic’s internal conflict highlights the complexity of their relationships, as he grapples with the reality that Margaery no longer needs their approval. The chapter concludes with Dominic deciding to take matters into his own hands, vowing to find Margaery and bring her back, all while fearing the consequences of her potential fate.
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**TITLE: Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**
**Chapter 73: Curry Favor With Her**
Joshua pressed his palms against his temples, feeling the relentless throb of a headache building within. “Dominic mentioned she went out,” he murmured, his voice strained.
Raul’s voice boomed in response, filled with urgency and frustration. “Then go find her! What are we waiting for?” His anger was palpable, a storm brewing just beneath the surface. “Are we really going to sit here and let her waltz off to Dashnell, stirring up trouble at the palace? If the King gets wind of this, how on earth am I supposed to explain it?”
“Fine! I’ll go look for her right away,” Joshua replied, his heart racing as cold sweat broke out on his brow. A rush of anxiety washed over him. He had already dispatched eyes to watch over Prince Dashnell’s estate. If Margaery had indeed made her way there, they would have heard something by now. The silence was a small comfort, hinting that perhaps she hadn’t sought out the prince just yet. “Hurry up and go find her!” Raul waved him off, his impatience evident, practically shooing him away.
Dominic, observing the escalating tension, interjected, “Raul, remember, Margaery is still engaged to me. She wouldn’t just head straight to Prince Dashnell. And I doubt he would involve himself in matters concerning the Chancellor’s estate at this moment, would he?”
“This isn’t merely about Prince Dashnell anymore,” Raul replied, sinking into a chair and rubbing his temples in a futile attempt to ease the mounting pressure. “Simon from the Hall of Divinity has already informed the King that Margaery is the Star of Fortune. Today, he told me that as long as Margaery is safe, he is safe, and so is the entire kingdom.”
Raul’s voice dropped to a near whisper, laced with dread. “Now that Margaery has been harmed, if this news reaches the King, whispers will begin to circulate. People will start to question whether we care for him or the fate of the kingdom at all.”
He leaned forward, his voice growing more intense. “If that happens, the entire court will be in an uproar—who could withstand such an impeachment? My headache is only getting worse. We cannot talk our way out of this.”
Dominic’s gaze turned sharp as he shot a glare at Clyde, who had been silent until now. “At this point, our only option is to have Clyde take the blame and offer a sincere apology. It’s the only way to demonstrate that we never intended to harm Margaery. This was just Clyde acting recklessly on his own.”
“I’m not going!” Clyde retorted defiantly, a hint of panic creeping into his voice. He shrank back into the corner, internally grappling with the unfairness of it all. ‘Why should I be the one to take the fall?’
Having trained under Sullivan, Clyde had always held himself in high regard, and the man’s reputation alone set him apart from many of the other young nobles. He thought bitterly, ‘If I go and accept the blame, how could I ever show my face in public again?’
His mind raced with thoughts of Avery, who had taken refuge at Lakeburgh, hiding away from the world. ‘Is that my fate? To become a recluse, never to emerge?’
“If you don’t go, I swear I’ll kill you myself,” Raul barked, losing his last shred of patience. His eyes were wild with rage as he turned to Clyde. “Clyde, if you go, there might still be a way out for you. But if you refuse, you won’t even know what hit you—and no one will dare to come to your aid,” he threatened.
Clyde protested, “Dad, this is ridiculous! She just bled a little. She’s not going to die from it. No one is going to end my life over that.”
Raul’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Clyde for a long, tense moment. Finally, he rasped, “Bring out the family punishment.”
“No, no, no! I’ll go!” Clyde exclaimed, panic flooding his features. “I’ll go apologize to her.” His heart raced as he thought, ‘Anything is better than facing the family punishment.’
The family punishment was notorious for its brutality—not everyone survived a beating from that iron whip. Just one lash could leave skin shredded and flesh exposed. The alternative of confessing his mistake and sincerely apologizing seemed far more palatable.
Raul’s gaze was icy as he fixed his stare on Clyde. “If you mess this up, I’ll personally hand you over to the King. You’ll be charged with defying the late King, and then let the Clan Court deal with you.”
Clyde’s complexion drained of color at the thought.
It was hard for him to comprehend how, in just six short months away at Lakeburgh, Margaery had transformed into someone so formidable, so untouchable.
Clyde thought to himself, ‘Now I can’t even mess with her?’
Yet he was acutely aware that ending up in the Inquisition Court or the Clan Court’s private cells was not an option he could entertain, especially with a charge as serious as defying the late King. He would surely be beaten to death.
Now that his own future was at stake, Clyde sobered up quickly.
Raul, sensing the shift in Clyde’s demeanor, warned him, “When you see her, just do whatever she asks. Our goal is to ensure she marries into the Hadley family, no matter what it takes. Do you understand?”
Clyde frowned, genuinely confused. “I really don’t get it.”
He was baffled by the entire situation. “Isn’t this just a marriage alliance? Why does it have to be her? I think Tessa would be just fine!”
Raul pressed a hand to his forehead, wishing he could somehow open up Clyde’s skull and pour in some common sense. “If she doesn’t marry Dominic, she’ll likely end up with Dashnell. Do you want her to become Dashnell’s consort and boss you around every single day?”
But Clyde still felt that his father was overreacting. “But she’s already engaged to the Hadley family. If Dominic doesn’t marry her, she’ll be seen as someone discarded by the Hadley family, someone even they didn’t want. Why would Prince Dashnell ever choose a cast-off as his consort? Dad, I really think you’re making this way too…”
“Shut up.” Raul’s patience had completely evaporated. “You don’t need to understand any of this. Just do as I say!”
As he thought about how this fool had studied under Sullivan, Raul couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. ‘Sullivan, my foot. He’s just an overrated windbag! And look at what kind of useless idiot they managed to turn out?’
But regardless of his disdain, the most pressing matter remained: finding Margaery.
With determination, he stood up. “I’m going to check in with Craig. If Margaery really left, she likely headed for the outskirts. She has nowhere else to go. Dominic, keep a close watch on things here, and send someone to have a few doctors on standby, just in case.”
With that, Raul shot Clyde a hard glare.
“Are you out of your mind? You return, and the first thing you do is pull a sword on your own sister?”
As he reached the door, he turned back, unwilling to let it go, and cursed Clyde once more.
Clyde wanted to retort, but in the end, fear held him back.
He was too terrified of facing the family punishment.
Once Raul was gone, Clyde turned to Dominic, seeking understanding. “Is it really that big of a deal? I just couldn’t stand her always picking on Avery and Tessa, so I thought I’d put her in her place for once. Didn’t you all used to dislike her too? Wasn’t Tessa always your favorite?”
Dominic was momentarily struck speechless.
‘Fawning over her? What kind of nonsense is that?’ he grumbled inwardly.
He wanted to snap back, but honestly, he felt a twinge of bitterness. “There are some things you just don’t understand.”
In the past, everyone had looked down on Margaery, dismissing her as the biggest loser in the entire Chancellor’s estate.
But lately, the tides had shifted.
It was as if everyone else was beginning to reveal their own flaws.
Raul was no longer as steady and reliable as he once was; Joshua had lost his former authority and fairness; Avery was not as impressive as he had seemed; Russell was just spouting nonsense; and Clyde himself was nothing short of clueless.
Tessa had taken up Margaery’s old habit of whining and making a scene, and Dominic no longer felt like the one who had cast Margaery aside. She wasn’t some cast-off nobody wanted anymore.
At some point, Margaery had secured herself real backing, a title, and genuine skills. Now she had people looking out for her, caring for her, and she didn’t need their approval any longer. In fact, she barely even acknowledged them anymore.
Dominic couldn’t help but feel a whirlwind of emotions as he reflected on everything.
Clyde huffed, “I really don’t get it. If I’d known things would be like this, I wouldn’t have bothered coming back.”
Dominic thought to himself, ‘Honestly, it would’ve been better if you hadn’t returned at all. All you ever do is mess things up.’
Not wanting to waste another breath on him, Dominic declared, “Just stay put and don’t go anywhere. I’ll go find her and bring her back.”
‘She’s been missing for far too long. Let’s just hope she hasn’t met a tragic end out there,’ Dominic worried silently.
He thought, ‘If something truly happened to her, there’s no way the Chancellor’s estate or the Hadley family could simply wash their hands of it.
After all, not everyone can shoulder the burden that comes with being the Star of Fortune…’
Conclusion
In the wake of the chaos surrounding Margaery’s disappearance, the emotional landscape of the Chancellor’s estate has irrevocably shifted. The once-dismissed figure of Margaery now looms large in the minds of those who underestimated her, highlighting the fragility of their alliances and the weight of their responsibilities. As Raul’s panic echoes through the halls, it becomes evident that the stakes have never been higher; Margaery is not merely a pawn in their games but a pivotal force whose safety holds the kingdom’s fate in balance. The urgency of the situation strips away pretense, revealing the raw vulnerability of each character as they grapple with their fears and failures. The realization that Margaery has evolved into a figure of strength and significance forces them to confront their own shortcomings, igniting a reckoning that transcends mere familial ties.
As Dominic sets out to find Margaery, a sense of urgency intertwines with a newfound respect for her resilience. The shifting dynamics within the group serve as a poignant reminder that the past cannot be rewritten, but the future remains unwritten, shaped by the choices they make in this critical moment. The whispers of doubt that once surrounded Margaery now transform into a chorus of hope, as the characters begin to understand that their fates are intertwined. In this crucible of conflict and revelation, they stand on the precipice of change, where the bonds of loyalty and love will be tested, and the true nature of their relationships will emerge. The journey ahead will demand courage, humility, and a willingness to embrace the unknown, as they collectively strive to protect not just a person, but the very essence of their kingdom’s future.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
As the tension mounts within the Chancellor’s estate, the stakes have never been higher. In the next chapter, we can expect a frantic race against time as Dominic takes on the responsibility of finding Margaery. With the threat of political upheaval looming, the urgency of his mission will push him to confront unexpected obstacles and perhaps even challenge his own beliefs about loyalty and love. Will he uncover the truth behind Margaery’s disappearance, or will he stumble into a web of deceit that could jeopardize not only their futures but the fate of the kingdom itself?
Meanwhile, Clyde’s reluctant journey to apologize will reveal layers of his character that have remained hidden until now. As he grapples with the implications of his actions, readers can anticipate a deeper exploration of familial bonds and the weight of expectations. Will he rise to the occasion and prove himself, or will fear and doubt consume him? The dynamics between the characters will shift as alliances are tested, and secrets come to light, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eager to see how the delicate balance of power will unfold in this gripping tale of ambition and redemption.
