Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale ` 61 Summary
In Chapter 61 of “Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows,” Joshua confronts his sister Margaery about their father’s wishes for her to move into his courtyard before her wedding. Despite his steady tone, he is filled with anxiety as he delivers the news, recalling their father’s remorse over the past year. Margaery’s indifferent response surprises him; she dismisses the move as a hassle, indicating a significant change in her demeanor. Joshua is heartbroken to see his sister, once full of life and longing for their father’s approval, now detached and seemingly unconcerned.
As their conversation unfolds, Margaery’s casual mention of hitting Tessa shocks Joshua, revealing a troubling transformation in her character. He struggles to reconcile this new version of his sister with the one he cherished, feeling a deep sense of loss. Her flippant attitude towards violence and her dismissal of their father’s affection further deepen his concern. Despite his attempts to connect and understand her feelings, Margaery remains inscrutable, leaving Joshua with a heavy heart as he leaves Gracewind Garden.
Joshua’s worries escalate as he overhears gossip among the maids about Margaery’s actions and the shifting dynamics of their relationships. The maids express disbelief at Margaery’s sudden aggression and speculate about Joshua’s strange defense of Tessa. This conversation reveals the underlying tensions and the fickle nature of loyalty among those in their social circle. Joshua realizes that he has perpetuated a cycle of blame against Margaery, leading to her current state, and he feels paralyzed by the consequences of his past actions.
Meanwhile, Tessa grapples with her own feelings of betrayal and anger. She is frustrated by Joshua’s shift in allegiance and the fact that Margaery has struck her without hesitation. Tessa’s desire to dominate Margaery and secure her position of power has backfired, leaving her feeling vulnerable. As she commands the maids to cease gossiping, she plots her next move, determined to regain control of the situation.
Back at Gracewind Garden, Margaery and her maid Amber discuss the implications of the family’s plans, including a questionable medical treatment for Tessa. Margaery remains calm and strategic, contemplating how to use the chaos to her advantage. She resolves to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the Chancellor’s estate, igniting a flicker of determination within her. The chapter ends with a sense of impending conflict, as the characters navigate their tangled relationships and the consequences of their actions.
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**TITLE: Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**
**Chapter 61: Everything’s Wrong**
As Joshua stepped into the dimly lit room, he felt a mix of determination and anxiety swirling within him. “Margaery,” he began, his voice steady yet tinged with urgency, “Dad wants you to move into his courtyard. When the time comes, you’ll be married from there, so there’s really no point in staying at Gracewind Garden any longer.”
He hesitated for a moment before adding, “He also mentioned feeling quite remorseful for not having taken better care of you this past year.” His heart ached at the thought of their father, a man torn by his own demons, trying to mend the rift that had grown between them.
Margaery looked up at him, her expression a mixture of irritation and indifference. “Isn’t that just a hassle? There are only a few days left before the wedding. Does it truly matter where I get married from? I have so much to handle right now; I don’t have the time or energy to move. Let’s just forget about it.”
Joshua felt a lump form in his throat as he recalled the times she had cried and thrown tantrums over such matters. His eyes began to sting with unshed tears. “Margaery, you used to plead to live in Dad’s courtyard… What’s caused this sudden shift in your feelings?” He searched her gaze for the sister he once knew, the one who had longed for their father’s approval.
“It’s just too much trouble, that’s all,” she replied dismissively, her tone light yet detached.
A smile danced on her lips, but it felt hollow to him. “I was just being childish before, throwing tantrums like a little girl. Now that I’ve grown up a bit, I realize that many things just don’t hold the significance I once thought they did. You should go check on Tessa; I just slapped her a few times.”
The way she spoke of hitting Tessa was startlingly casual, her smile surprisingly soft, as if she were discussing something trivial rather than an act of aggression.
In that moment, Joshua felt a pang of sorrow. The Margaery he had cherished was fading away, replaced by someone he hardly recognized.
“Well, make sure you get some rest. The wedding day can be exhausting, so it’s wise to prepare yourself ahead of time…” Joshua offered, his words laced with a hint of concern, though he was more focused on gauging her feelings about the marriage. He worried that Tessa’s earlier outburst might stir up more trouble than they could handle.
Margaery caught his drift and responded, “Okay.”
“I need to head to the palace today, so I’ll be off now.” Joshua cast one last glance at her, hoping to catch a glimpse of her true emotions, but she remained inscrutable.
“Okay,” Margaery replied, her voice flat, devoid of any warmth.
That single word hung in the air, echoing the distance that had grown between them.
As Joshua exited Gracewind Garden, a heavy cloud of worry settled over him. Despite his reservations, he found himself heading toward Sunbeam Court, compelled by an unseen force.
Inside Sunbeam Court, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Two maids were pressing eggs against Tessa’s face, their whispers barely concealing their astonishment. “Why did Lady Margaery hit her so hard? She’s never acted like this before. It’s as if she’s transformed into someone entirely different—slapping her without a second thought. Did you see those marks on her face?” one maid murmured, her voice a mix of concern and disbelief.
“Honestly, I think Lord Joshua’s reaction is pretty strange too,” the other maid replied, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“Before, when Lady Margaery hadn’t even touched Lady Tessa, he was always defending her, scolding Lady Margaery for being inconsiderate and urging her to be nicer to her sister! But now that Lady Margaery has actually struck her, he’s suddenly blaming Lady Tessa instead?”
Their voices grew louder, the gossip swirling around like a storm, and Joshua’s footsteps went unnoticed amid the cacophony.
“Forget about Lord Joshua; even Lord Russell hasn’t visited Lady Tessa in days. Is he still angry with her? Didn’t he used to support her and Lord Dominic’s relationship?” one maid speculated, her tone dripping with intrigue.
“Honestly, the strangest one is still Mr. Wallen,” another chimed in, her curiosity piqued.
“Why did Mr. Wallen suddenly stop believing Lady Tessa? Did Lady Margaery cast some sort of spell on him?”
“What kind of spell could it be? It’s just that Lady Margaery finally has some real support, so now Mr. Wallen and the young masters are treating her better. Before, Lady Tessa’s words were law—everyone just obeyed her,” one maid scoffed, her disdain palpable.
“Right? Back then, if Lady Tessa even hinted that Lady Margaery bullied her, Mr. Wallen and the others would rush to her defense. But this time, they actually allowed Lady Margaery to slap her!”
Joshua stood outside the window, a chill creeping into his bones as he absorbed their words.
It dawned on him that the servants had never truly despised Margaery, nor had she genuinely bullied Tessa. They were merely sycophants, always aligning themselves with whoever held the upper hand. The blame for this twisted dynamic lay squarely on his shoulders, along with those of his brothers and their father.
They had always taken Tessa’s side without question, perpetually wronging Margaery. No wonder the servants had never regarded Margaery as their true mistress; they were too busy currying favor with everyone else.
‘So Margaery really never hurt Tessa at all!’ Joshua thought, the realization crashing over him like a wave.
He reflected, ‘It was all Tessa’s doing. She orchestrated everything herself!
‘Wrong! I was completely wrong!
‘Everything—every single action was a mistake!
‘But now, what’s done is done. There’s no way to turn back the clock… What am I supposed to do now?’
Joshua felt paralyzed, unable to confront the real Tessa or the consequences of his past actions. He turned and descended the stairs like a soul adrift, memories of his relationship with Margaery flooding his mind.
Margaery had always been the cherished one, spoiled within the walls of the Chancellor’s estate.
Sure, when their father was inebriated, he would call her a jinx, blaming her for their mother’s death. Yet, in his sober moments, he adored her, showering her with the affection reserved for his only daughter.
Back in those days, Margaery had been a delightful presence, innocent and full of life.
She would chase after her father and brothers, her laughter ringing through the halls of their home like a sweet melody.
But ever since Tessa had arrived, the estate had been filled with nothing but the sound of weeping.
Tessa’s heart-wrenching sobs mingled with Margaery’s desperate cries of innocence.
It was only recently that Margaery had ceased her tears altogether.
And with that, the true nature of the situation began to unravel…
He thought, ‘But how am I supposed to confront any of this now?’
Joshua felt utterly lost. In the end, he could only wait for the results of the blood test, and only then would he decide on his next course of action.
Unbeknownst to him, Tessa was completely unaware of his presence.
Normally, she would never allow the servants to gossip so freely, but this time, she was simmering with rage. Margaery had actually struck her, and there was no hesitation in that blow.
What truly stung was that Joshua had suddenly stopped siding with her.
Tessa could discern the reason behind his shift; it was because Margaery still held some value to the Wallen family. But that was precisely what she had wanted. She didn’t want to be the one on top; she wanted to trample Margaery beneath her heel, snatching away all the love and attention from the Wallens, leaving Margaery in tears.
Everything had gone her way until now.
Just when she thought victory was within her grasp, everything had unraveled.
Tessa couldn’t quite understand it, but she needed to release her frustration. She allowed the maids to gossip until noon before finally commanding them to cease. “That’s enough. Go keep an eye on things outside. If you hear anything, let me know immediately.”
“I’m going to get some rest,” Tessa declared, her voice cold and calculated.
With the situation having escalated to this point, she knew she had to tread carefully.
Meanwhile, back at Gracewind Garden, Amber had just returned from purchasing a steaming basket of bread.
She entered with the warm aroma wafting around her and called out to Margaery, her words slightly muffled by the steam, “Lady Margaery, are you hungry? I bought your favorite buns for you. Come try them.”
As she placed the buns down, she continued, “I just ran into Joshua on my way back. He looked completely lost, as if his spirit had vacated his body. I overheard him speaking with Halle. They’re planning to bring in an imperial physician to treat Tessa’s stomach issues. He even mentioned using a relative’s blood as a medicinal primer, claiming it might help.”
“Isn’t that absurd?” Amber scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief.
She crouched by the brazier, rubbing her hands together to warm them.
‘Absurd, yet perhaps not entirely, Margaery mused as she sat down and handed her some bread.
‘Let’s just wait and see. The whole Paige situation is bound to stir up trouble. Anyone with a modicum of sense knows stomach ailments have nothing to do with blood, but if they’re insisting on this, they must have some ulterior motive.
“That’s so complicated,” Amber muttered, taking a bite of the bread.
“But as long as they don’t interfere with us, they can do as they please. ‘Maybe we won’t be so fortunate this time either,” she added, her voice laced with concern.
“Since Halle went to Joshua, whatever Dad and Joshua are scheming is probably destined to fail, and I’ll likely get caught in the crossfire as well,” Margaery said, her expression unreadable.
“What?” Amber exclaimed, taken aback.
Amber stared at her, the bread in her hand suddenly tasting bland and unappetizing.
Margaery maintained her calm demeanor. “But how could Tessa possibly know? I’m actually counting on her to stir things up right now.”
‘Just as well—I’ll use this to give myself a little push and finally escape the Chancellor’s estate!’ she thought, determination igniting within her.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of their strained conversation, the emotional distance between Joshua and Margaery loomed larger than the walls of Gracewind Garden. Joshua’s heart ached as he realized that the sister he once cherished was slipping away, consumed by a bitterness that transformed her into a stranger. The weight of his own misguided loyalty to Tessa bore down on him, leaving him paralyzed by regret. He had always defended Tessa, blind to the truth that lay beneath the surface, and now he found himself grappling with the consequences of his actions. The realization that he had unknowingly contributed to Margaery’s pain left him feeling hollow, as if the very foundation of their familial bond had crumbled beneath him.
Meanwhile, Margaery, cloaked in her own resolve, began to plot her escape from the confines of the Chancellor’s estate, her determination ignited by the chaos that surrounded her. The subtle shift in her demeanor hinted at a burgeoning strength, a desire to reclaim her place in a world that had long overlooked her. As she contemplated the brewing storm, she recognized that the whispers of those around her were not merely idle gossip; they were the harbingers of change. With each passing moment, she grew more aware of the power dynamics at play, and instead of succumbing to despair, she chose to harness the turmoil to forge her own path. In this delicate balance of vulnerability and strength, Margaery began to understand that, while the past could not be undone, the future remained hers to shape.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the next chapter of “Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows,” readers can expect the tension to escalate as Joshua grapples with the revelation of Margaery’s true feelings and Tessa’s manipulative nature. The air is thick with unspoken emotions, and the stakes are higher than ever. As Joshua navigates the fallout from his misguided loyalties, he will be forced to confront the consequences of his actions and the impact they have had on both Margaery and Tessa. Will he find the courage to stand up for his sister, or will he remain paralyzed by doubt and guilt?
Meanwhile, Margaery’s cunning plan begins to take shape, revealing her newfound resolve to reclaim her place in the family dynamics. With the impending wedding looming, her ambition intertwines with desperation, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown. As alliances shift and secrets unravel, the delicate balance of power within the Chancellor’s estate teeters on the brink of chaos. What lengths will Margaery go to in order to secure her future, and how will Tessa respond to the mounting pressure?
As the chapter unfolds, expect unexpected twists and confrontations that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. The intertwining fates of these three characters will reveal the intricate web of loyalty and betrayal that binds them, and as the truth comes to light, the consequences of their choices will echo through the corridors of their lives. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions as the whispers of the past shape the distant tomorrows of Joshua, Margaery, and Tessa.
