Page 102 of Destiny Redeemed
Anderic shifted slightly, moving to flank Darian. “Keep talking, Chancellor. You’re only digging your grave deeper.”
Darian seemed beyond caring, his ego demanding an audience for his brilliance. “I had Gareth convince your father to hire the Red Cross. Your father merely wanted to discredit Magnus with a few gold bars. I arranged for a fortune to be discovered.”
In my past life, my father was executed for this scheme while the true architect walked free, I thought bitterly.
“Lord D’Arcane is an idiot,” Darian scoffed. “So blinded by affection for his precious daughter that he couldn’t see he was being used.”
While Darian was distracted by his gloating, the King suddenly drove his elbow hard into the Chancellor’s ribs. The knife slipped, cutting a shallow line across the King’s collarbone, but the distraction was enough. I lunged forward, knocking the dagger from Darian’s hand with a swift kick.
Anderic moved like lightning, tackling Darian to the ground. The Chancellor struggled, but Anderic flipped him onto his stomach, wrenching his arms behind his back.
“Chancellor Darian Thornwood,” Anderic said coldly, “you are under arrest for high treason against the Crown.”
Lennox quickly bound Darian’s hands while I helped the King to a chair.
“Are you alright, Your Majesty?” I asked, examining his wound.
“It’s nothing,” King Arnald said gruffly, his gaze fixed on the captured Chancellor. “Though I’m very interested in what our friend has revealed about Earl Bellrose and Marquess D’Arcane.”
“As am I,” I said, relief washing over me. This was the proof I needed—proof that while my father wasn’t innocent, he’d been manipulated and used.
Darian glared at me from where he knelt, restrained by Lennox and Anderic. “You think this changes anything?”
“It changes everything,” Anderic replied. “For you, especially.”
“Take him to the dungeons,” the King ordered. “I want guards on him at all times.”
As Lennox dragged Darian away, the Chancellor locked eyes with me. “This isn’t over, Lady D’Arcane.”
Later, as the sun set over a battered but unbowed Eldoria, I stood on the palace balcony watching the cleanup begin. The city had survived. We had survived. And now I had hope that my father might be spared the fate he met in my previous life.
Anderic joined me, freshly bathed and dressed in clean clothes, though exhaustion still lined his face. “Quite a day, Lady D’Arcane.”
“Indeed, Your Highness. Not quite how I imagined spending it when we set out from the northern border.”
“No regrets, I hope?” He leaned against the balustrade, his shoulder brushing mine.
I thought of Sebastian, alive and reunited with his friends. Of Noah and Rosalind tentatively finding their way back to each other. Of a city saved from destruction. Of my father, who might now have a chance.
“Not a single one,” I replied honestly.
His hand found mine, warm and solid. “Good. Because I have a feeling our adventures are just beginning.”
Epilogue
Two weeks after the battle for Eldoria, the grand court chamber buzzed with whispers as Father stood in the center, back straight and eyes forward. The ornate walls that once intimidated me now felt like old friends, having witnessed both my disgrace and redemption.
Anderic stood beside his father’s throne, his golden curls catching the light streaming through the stained glass windows. Our eyes met briefly, and he gave me a subtle nod. The royal family had kept their promise—Father would be treated fairly.
Marquess Vincent Hargreave cleared his throat. “Marquess Elyas D’Arcane, the crown has reviewed the evidence of your involvement in the attempt to discredit Earl Magnus Bellrose.” His voice echoed throughout the chamber. “While your actions constituted a violation of trust, new evidence suggests you were manipulated by Chancellor Thornwood, who used your scheme as cover for his own extensive corruption.”
Mother squeezed my hand, her fingers trembling slightly.
“Furthermore,” Vincent continued, “the very man you sought to discredit was, in fact, guilty of far graver crimes against thecrown—taking bribes, falsifying records, and conspiring with Thornwood to embezzle royal funds.”
Sebastian exhaled beside me. “Thank God.”
“Therefore, His Majesty has determined that your punishment shall be a fine of ten thousand gold coins, after which you may return to your duties.”
