The Mised an eyebrow. “You’re right, It’s worth a fly but if you want to stay, you can use your old identity vorrit need, a new WITH
Then added, “Last night, Lord Mowbay must have seen you carrying Adeline’s body into Mount Westin, He knows you’ll seek rahigo with ing, so hochi nahi demnand you be named over or by to frame me. Which do you think is more likely!”
Date knew Gabriel well enough to easily predict his next move. “First negotiation, then coercion. With the Emperor and the Prince Regent present, he wouldn’t dare coërce Your Highness directly.
“He’ll begin by negotiating, but knowing both their temperaments, I doubt those talks will succeed”
Date said. “So ultimately, it’ll come down to a confrontation, coercion, threats… it’s just a matter of who gains the upper hand.”
Eliza’s lips curved into a faint smile upon hearing Dale’s words. “Sir Nevill, after you’ve laid your wife to rest, change your clothes and come down the mountain. Someone will be waiting to escort you to the Padilla residence and brief you on what to do next.”
Dale couldn’t stay on Mount Westin for long.
So, after figuring out how things would play out, Eliza had made all the necessary arrangements first thing in the morning.
She had only been waiting to test Dale and gauge his stance. Now that the outcome was clear and Eliza was satisfied, she made her own position known.
The address “Sir Nevill” made Dale’s expression shift subtly. His heart swelled with both joy and deeper guilt.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Dale said, his voice tinged with both gratitude and guilt
“No thanks necessary. This humble nun will soon hold a prayer ceremony at the temple for your wife and child. As for you, Sir Nevill, patience is essential in seeking justice, endure for now. The right moment will come soon enough,” she replied.
With that, Eliza gave a slight nod before rising gracefully and leaving the thatched cottage.
“Renee, thank you for your hard work.” Stepping out, Eliza quickly turned her gaze to Renee.
It was obvious Eliza meant for Renee to handle this, so Renee nodded. “Your Grace, rest assured. I’ll get him to safety-‘
“Let me handle this.” Before Renee could finish her sentence, Rafe, still trailing behind Eliza, suddenly cut in.
Renee immediately shot him a glare.
11
But Rafe only grinned. “Sure, a night’s passed, but Lord Mowbay and the Stonors‘ assassins are definitely still out there, probably lying in wait. Your little maid Renee might be skilled, but slipping away with someone else, especially someone badly wounded, right under the noses of those killers? That’s not
easy.”
Renee snapped, “What? You-”
She gritted her teeth in fury, about to snap back when that infuriating man cut her off again. “Come on, don’t deny it. This isn’t a walk in the park. If you slip up, you might die, and worse, ruin the plan.”
At those last words, Renee pressed her lips together. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right.
After a moment’s hesitation, Renee finally handed the task over to Rafe.
As dusk fell and Dale had completed his necessary arrangements, Rafe stealthily escorted him down the opposite side of Mount Westin.
Eliza remained awake throughout the night.
It wasn’t that she was worried about Dale’s situation.
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Chapter 713
Having mineabed Ratas abinian eure wat es dain he could not dare to the Luiza family safe and com
At that moment, she was simply waiting for this one she knew would anne Tonight.
Just as expected, Tina emerged hom the shadows, murmured a few words, and disappeared like she was never there,
Are she was gone, Fifa, who had been copying the “Book of Earth and Ash” soon finished her last stroke and sat down her brush, maing gracelidly straightened her flowing robe, then turned and made her way outside.
Beneath the moonlight, a solitary figure stood in her courtyard, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze lowered as he regarded the medicinal herb growing in her garden with a cool, detached expression.
It was Gabriel.
Eliza showed no surprise; after all, Gabriel was the one she had been waiting for from the very beginning.
“Who would have thought you’d come to this after leaving the Duke’s estate,” he sneered.
“There’s much you never expected,” Eliza replied calmly.
She walked to the stone table and sat down, picking up the jug to pour herself a drink–only for herself.
Her blatantly unwelcoming gesture struck Gabriel as childish.
Just as I thought,‘ Gabriel mused. ‘Still too young, too green. Nowhere near who I used to be. What’s there to fear in a kid who can’t even keep up the act?‘
Gabriel abandoned all pretense and cut straight to the chase. “You know why I’m here. What will it take for you to surrender him?”
Eliza put on an innocent face. “Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean, Lord Mowbay. Who exactly am I supposed to hand over? I really don’t get what you’re saying.”
‘What a pathetic act, Gabriel thought with disdain.
His face darkened. He said coldly, “You think hiding Dale in Saint Grace Nunnery means I can’t touch you?”
Eliza held her glass, pointedly ignoring his words.
Gabriel’s expression soured, clearly irritated by her attitude. “What exactly did Dale promise you?” he asked. “You’re siding with him against me? His family publicly broke off your engagement. And now that you’re the Holy Lady, you’re just going to turn the other cheek and let it all slide?”
“Call it anything you want, but do I really need a reason to go against the Duke’s estate?” Eliza looked up at him, her pale face illuminated by the moonlight, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
Her smile deepened with sarcasm. “After all this time, I thought you would have understood, Lord Mowbay, your misfortune has always been my greatest joy.”
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