Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale ` 83 Summary
In Chapter 83 of “Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows,” titled “Aggrieved,” Margaery finds herself in a state of confusion and irony after enduring a day of kneeling at the Chancellor’s estate, only to realize that no one cared about her suffering. The focus shifts to Raul, her father, whose predicament suddenly draws everyone’s concern for illness, revealing the hypocrisy of their priorities. Joshua, desperate to sway Dashnell, tries to manipulate Margaery, but Dashnell’s cold command silences her, asserting his authority and relishing in Raul’s suffering, which leaves Joshua shocked and hurriedly exiting the scene.
Raul reflects on his rise to power, recalling his humble beginnings as a fifth-rank official in Sinderin City. His fortunes changed when Margaery’s actions led to the capture of rebels, earning him a promotion to Chancellor. However, he grapples with the painful realization that his ascent was not due to his own merit but rather the influence of his daughter. This revelation fills him with despair, causing him to feel humiliated and dependent on Margaery’s reputation to maintain his status.
Meanwhile, Tessa experiences physical discomfort and emotional turmoil as she grapples with her feelings toward Dominic, who seems to have abandoned her. As she and her maid Sophie discuss Clyde’s injuries and the cruelty behind them, Tessa’s jealousy and frustration surface, especially as she feels neglected by those she has sacrificed for. The chapter captures her growing anxiety about Dominic’s whereabouts, reflecting her deep emotional investment in their relationship and the pain of feeling overlooked.
The narrative intertwines the struggles of several characters, highlighting themes of power, betrayal, and emotional distress. As Tessa tries to rationalize her situation, she recognizes a pattern of neglect from the Wallen family, paralleling her own experiences with Margaery. The chapter concludes with Joshua’s urgent arrival, hinting at impending developments and the interconnected fates of the characters, leaving readers anxious about what lies ahead.
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**TITLE: Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**
**Chapter 83: Aggrieved**
Margaery, still groggy and disoriented, felt an absurd urge to laugh as the words echoed in her ears. The irony was almost comical.
She had spent an entire day and night kneeling in the Chancellor’s estate, and yet, not a single soul seemed concerned that she might suffer from a lifetime of rheumatism.
But now, with Raul’s situation at the forefront, suddenly everyone was worried about illness.
Joshua, unable to sway Dashnell’s resolve, pivoted and attempted to manipulate Margaery with guilt. The whole scene felt utterly ridiculous.
Just as Margaery opened her mouth to respond, Dashnell’s hand pressed firmly against hers, silencing her.
Caught off guard, she watched as Dashnell turned his icy gaze toward Joshua, his eyes as unyielding as the depths of a frozen lake. “First and foremost, it was I who commanded your father to kneel outside the gates. Margaery cannot intercede for him.”
“Secondly,” he continued, his voice dripping with disdain, “his suffering is of my making, and I take great satisfaction in it.”
Joshua’s face reflected shock, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Dashnell’s stare bore into him, frigid and unrelenting. “Leave. Now.”
A chill crept up from the ground, wrapping around Joshua’s feet and sending shivers through his spine.
He stumbled to his feet, urgency propelling him out of the room.
Never had he imagined that this seemingly idle prince, lounging within the confines of the residence, could exude such a terrifying presence—one that eclipsed even the King’s authority.
Outside, the wind howled like a beast, slicing through the air and striking his face with the sharpness of daggers. Yet, the true chill that gripped him came not from the elements but from the lingering weight of Dashnell’s gaze.
‘How has it come to this?’
But there was nothing he could do now. All he could manage was to step outside, his heart heavy as he turned to see his father, kneeling on the ground, tears of anguish streaming down his face. “Father, I pleaded with him, but Prince Dashnell refuses to grant you mercy…”
His voice faltered, thick with emotion.
“Return.”
Raul inhaled deeply, steadying himself. “Someone must oversee the residence. His third son is unreliable. You need to go back and manage the affairs at Sunbeam Court first. And send someone to keep an eye on Clyde’s side. We cannot afford any more incidents.”
His thoughts drifted back to when he first arrived in Sinderin City over a decade ago.
At that time, he had been a mere fifth-rank official, a newcomer navigating the unfamiliar landscape of the city. He had dared to dream that if he could reach the third rank in his lifetime, he would bring honor to his ancestors in the afterlife.
For years, however, his career had stagnated, showing no signs of progress.
That was until Margaery turned seven.
Through her, Simon had unexpectedly revealed the location of the former rebels hidden within Sinderin City.
In a single night, he had purged the rebels, capturing all one hundred and eighty of them in a decisive blow, alleviating the King’s most pressing concern. The King, overjoyed, had rewarded him with a promotion of two ranks.
That pivotal moment had solidified the King’s favor, allowing Raul to ascend to the esteemed position of Chancellor.
Initially, he felt a sense of gratitude toward Simon.
He believed that Simon viewed him as an ally, which gave him a sense of security in his role within the court.
After all, with both the Hall of Divinity and the Chancellor’s estate as his backing, he thought he was untouchable.
Yet now, he found himself grappling with a harsh realization: Simon had never cared for him, but rather for Margaery.
His elevation to Chancellor had not stemmed from his own merit or capability, but rather from the influence of his daughter’s reputation. He could voice no complaints, no grievances.
A wave of despair washed over him, leaving him feeling utterly defeated.
Raul hunched his shoulders, trembling under the weight of his own humiliation.
At this moment, the esteemed Chancellor found himself clinging desperately to his daughter’s influence, just to maintain a semblance of security.
The bitterness of defeat gnawed at him like a relentless tide.
‘It’s all Tessa’s doing!’
Raul’s thoughts turned to the source of his frustration, fists clenched in anger.
If it weren’t for Tessa, he thought, things would never have spiraled so far out of control!
Meanwhile, within Sunbeam Court, the lights flickered, casting shadows that danced across the walls.
“How is Clyde faring?”
Tessa, cradling a warming bottle against her stomach, felt a wave of nausea wash over her, prompting her to pop a dried plum into her mouth.
Her stomach had been rebelling against her for days, discomfort escalating from mere pain to a constant churn of nausea, leaving her dry heaving multiple times a day. It was an unsettling predicament.
Sophie, seated on the floor and tending to the fire, replied, “Seamus brought Doctor Nolan with him, and he dressed Clyde’s wounds.”
“But Nolan mentioned that his injury had been intentionally worsened, and it will take a considerable time for the bleeding to cease completely. He’ll need to remain in bed for two to three months; otherwise, if an infection sets in, the aftermath could be catastrophic.”
Sighing heavily, she added, “No one seems to know who did this, but their cruelty is undeniable.”
Tessa couldn’t help but scoff inwardly.
Given Clyde’s notorious temper, it was only a matter of time before he faced repercussions for his actions.
What troubled her most was the realization that Clyde’s current state was a direct result of his mistreatment of Margaery, and he was now paying the price for it.
This only served to highlight how deeply someone cared for Margaery.
A sharp pang of jealousy surged within her, bitter and piercing.
Tessa tossed the dried plums aside, her appetite vanishing. “And what about Dominic? Where has he disappeared to? I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him all day!”
Earlier that morning, a fleeting sense of relief had washed over her.
She and Sophie had cleverly exchanged identities to venture out in search of a midwife, hoping to remain undetected. By chance, Clyde’s attack on Margaery had thrown everything into disarray, providing her with the perfect distraction.
But as the hours dragged on into the afternoon without a single visitor, unease began to creep in.
Especially now, with the night deepening and still no sign of anyone.
‘It’s one thing for others to neglect me, but what about Dominic?’
‘Where could he possibly be?’
A knot of anxiety tightened in her chest. Tessa felt her drowsiness evaporate, replaced by a growing sense of dread.
Sophie, recalling the rumors she had heard, felt indignant on Tessa’s behalf. “Where else could he be? When Lady Margaery was desperately searching for him, crying out for him, he found her a nuisance. Now that she’s turned her back on him, he probably wishes he could spend every hour of the day chasing after her.”
“All day long, since he went out to seek Lady Margaery, he hasn’t returned. Not even a glimpse of him has appeared.”
As she spoke, she turned to Tessa, her eyes filled with sympathy. “It’s truly unfair to you, Lady Tessa. How could he treat you this way? You’ve given everything to him; your reputation is in tatters, yet he fails to uphold his promises.”
Hearing this, Sarah added her lament. “I feel the same way. Sunbeam Court has been eerily quiet lately. Why is it that after the recognition party, both Lord Chancellor and your brothers seem to have forgotten about you, Lady Tessa?”
“Exactly! Before the recognition, they were so focused on Sunbeam Court. Now that it’s over, they seem indifferent. How could they act like this?” Sophie’s voice was thick with frustration.
Tessa clenched her fists, anger simmering beneath the surface.
Isn’t this precisely how the Wallen family operates?
Once they possess something, they lose interest, yet they’re stirred by what remains out of reach.
They had treated Margaery with such disdain before, and now they were doing the same to her. In her mind, the Wallen family deserved nothing less than condemnation for their actions.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed outside the door, quick and urgent, as if someone were racing against time.
Tessa snapped back to reality, interrupting the maids. “Enough with the gossip. With my sister and Clyde both gravely injured, it’s only natural that Dominic and Joshua are preoccupied with their concerns.”
“Besides, my stomach issues are nothing new. Back in the village, during the hardest times, I survived by gnawing on tree bark. To have endured those trials and to be reunited with my family today, I am already immensely grateful.”
Just then, Joshua paused at the doorway, his expression a mixture of urgency and concern.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of the turmoil that unfolded, Margaery’s heart ached with a bittersweet mixture of relief and sorrow. The confrontation between Dashnell and Joshua revealed not only the depths of power dynamics within the court but also the fragility of familial bonds. Margaery, once a mere pawn in the grand game of politics, now stood at the precipice of understanding her own worth and the sacrifices made for her. The weight of her father’s suffering weighed heavily on her conscience, yet she could not ignore the clarity that came from witnessing the lengths to which Dashnell would go to protect her. In that moment, she grasped the duality of love and pain, and how they intertwined to shape the paths of those she held dear.
Meanwhile, Tessa’s struggle to find her place amidst the chaos of Sunbeam Court mirrored Margaery’s own journey. As she grappled with feelings of abandonment and jealousy, Tessa began to recognize that her worth was not solely defined by her relationships with others, but by her resilience in the face of adversity. The whispers of doubt that had plagued her transformed into a quiet resolve. With each passing moment, she understood that the bonds she sought to strengthen were built on mutual respect and shared trials. The chapter closed with a sense of impending change, as both sisters stood on the brink of transformation, ready to reclaim their narratives in a world that had long sought to dictate their fates.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the upcoming chapter, readers can expect the tension to escalate as the consequences of Dashnell’s chilling command ripple through the court. With Joshua’s humiliation fresh in his mind and Raul’s authority hanging by a thread, the stakes are higher than ever. Margaery, still grappling with her own disorientation, will find herself at the center of a brewing storm, forced to navigate the treacherous waters of court politics and familial loyalty. Will she rise to the challenge, or will the weight of her father’s past decisions drag her down into despair?
Meanwhile, Tessa’s growing anxiety over Dominic’s disappearance will take center stage, intertwining with the fates of Margaery and Clyde. As secrets unravel and alliances shift, the pressure will mount, revealing the lengths to which characters will go to protect their own. With the threat of betrayal lurking in every shadow and the specter of past grievances haunting the halls of Sunbeam Court, the narrative promises to delve deeper into the emotional turmoil of its characters. Expect unexpected alliances, fierce confrontations, and perhaps a revelation that could change everything for Margaery and Tessa alike. The whispers of the past are shaping distant tomorrows, and readers will be left on the edge of their seats, eager to see what unfolds next.
