My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 311: Palace Secrets

Chapter 311: Palace Secrets

There was a solution to everything.

While Stephano wasn’t going to entertain the thought of allowing his newly pregnant friend to put herself in harm’s way, there were other options that wouldn’t put her in the fire line of a dragon. He would never forgive himself if something happened to her. He was certain Desmond wouldn’t either.

Before she could run out of the door to their safe room, he grabbed her by the arm.

"There’s another solution to this, Leonor," he spoke softly, trying to keep a bit of privacy despite how small their space was. "One that won’t put you where a dragon could certainly harm you. Were you aware that dragons are attracted to mana? You’ll be running with a target on your back if you go out there."

Leonor’s lips were pressed into a thin line as she physically disagreed with her friend, but she knew she was right so she couldn’t utter a word. She needed to think more rationally but it was hard when she knew that there were so many student mages out there unprotected as well. Considering the beast would be attracted to their mana it made her urgency to get to them even more fierce.

"Then what is the plan, Your Majesty?" she asked, unwilling to drop his title the way he always dropped hers, especially considering the listening ears around.

"Let me go with you and then I will show you," he responded. "Only members of the Royal Family and their guards are allowed to go this way, after all."

She wanted to sigh at the stiffness of the rules even during an emergency. The guards had already forbidden Stephano from leaving the tunnels so he must have found a way around that.

When Leonor didn’t respond for a moment, Stephano continued.

"We’ll request clothing easier to move around in then I will show you the way," the King said. "Please be patient at least just for a moment."

It was a steep ask for her at that moment, but she relented. There was a guard constantly guarding the opening to their safe room in the tunnel and they requested he bring riding clothing. She also requested the guard let all the helpers in the Queen’s Palace know it was time to get to safety no matter their duties. She wouldn’t be happy if she found any of them were hurt during their emergency situation. She already felt like a failure of a leader for hiding away and didn’t want it to get worse.

Stephano assured her there were places to get out of harm’s way underneath the Queen’s Palace. All that was left to do was wait for clothing to arrive so they could set out.

As Leonor waited, she turned to present company.

"I may not be setting the best example, but I want all of you to remain here and stay safe," she requested. "Then I will have a bit less to worry about."

She offered a small smile and had to fold her hands together so any impatient mannerisms would be taken away.

Rather than allowing her to lock in her feelings as she was clearly trained to do, Braulio walked forward and grabbed his daughter’s hand.

"You’re just like your mother," he managed to say. "She didn’t mind throwing herself into danger as long as everyone else was safe. I know this might make you uncomfortable because you’re resistant to overstepping the boundary you’ve drawn..."

Leonor didn’t know what he was going to do until the count took two steps forward and gave her a hug that she hesitated to return but eventually did. Her eyebrows lowered and she found herself getting emotional over something she wasn’t entirely sure of.

She was resistant to the boundary created and that was only because she was terrified of finding Count Braulio de Marro able to treat her the way Count Mikael von Burien was able to. The cruelness she had experienced by who she thought was her father’s hand had permanently scarred her for life. It was keeping her from getting to know her true father the way she wanted to and she knew it well. She wanted to grow past it. The count’s patience was making it so much easier.

The man pulled away and was kind enough not to address Leonor brushing away a tear.

"I will be careful," she assured him. "After all, we have a lot of lost time to make up for while I’m still in the capital."

Shortly after, guards returned with the items requested by the King and for the duchess.

Stephano generally wore clothes that were easy enough to move around in so it was up to Leonor to go into one of the spare rooms and change into riding clothing and a dark cloak that would hopefully hide her and protect her from the cold outside.

Before she could slip it over her shoulders, Stephano enchanted it with fire resistance and placed a tiny mana stone on the clasp. It would ease his mind if she had that. Even though Desmond wasn’t there, someone needed to take care of the headstrong woman because she certainly didn’t like to listen to people.

When Desmond expressed that Leonor wasn’t something he could control, Stephano was finding out firsthand just what the duke meant.

Before the woman could leave, Beth came up to her and clasped her hand.

"Please be careful, my lady," she said, sending her a significant look and not holding back her worry.

"I have one of the best mages following me," Leonor assured her. "I will be just fine."

As they stepped into the hallway with a few guards trailing them, Stephano turned to his friend.

"One of the best mages?" he asked. "Who else is there?"

"Me," Leonor joked. "And Quinn."

"Sometimes I wonder why I picked him over you," Stephano admitted. "Perhaps your life would be much different."

"I think he would prefer you choose him over me," Leonor admitted subtly, though there was a glint in her eye as if she knew something more.

She knows. The thought possessed Stephano for a moment and he couldn’t help the incredulous expression. Luckily, Leonor was already looking forward as they walked.

Did she know about him and Quinn? How could she possibly?

There wasn’t much time to think—the passages underneath the palace deep in the bedrock made for quick travel.

There was an exit they found but one of the guards stepped in front of the pair.

"Your Majesty, you mustn’t expose yourself to the danger outside. It is my duty to—"

"You wouldn’t dare lay a hand on me," Stephano taunted.

The guard gave him a look of shock. At that point, all he could do was chase after as the King and duchess swiftly exited the hidden door covered in vines and weeds because of lack of use.

They were close to the Mage’s Quarter and rushed forward quickly, hoping to find cover in the half-destroyed building.

The guards had swords drawn while the King and duchess had magical shields ready in case they were needed.

Of course, their mana didn’t go unnoticed.

They heard the deafening shout from a dragon as it lifted to the sky overhead.

However, it came crashing to the ground.