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A Hand Reaching Out to Save a Loved One 2
With a loud bang, the carriage carrying Reynaldo fell off.
Although the trees cushioned him and he did not hit the ground directly, tree branches hit him all over his body and he almost lost consciousness from the impact of his body hitting the ground so hard when he fell.
The coachman and guards who had fallen with him let out faint groans. The fact that they were all alive was something to be grateful for.
Reynaldo gritted his teeth against the pain and managed to move his body to assess the situation.
Most of the group had veered off the path and fallen. The guards who fell first are unconscious. They were spared only because it was not that high and there were trees growing below the cliff.
However, there was no time to waste. He slapped the faces of those who had fainted to wake them up.
“Are you up? Hurry up and leave this place.”
“Lord… Reynaldo….”
“Listen up. Don’t go back to the Rose territory. There might be an ambush waiting for us.”
The fallen are somehow brought back to their feet. No one is seriously injured, but no one is unharmed either.
Reynaldo checked the presence of his sister’s coffin, which had fallen with him. The lid of the casket, secured with nails, remained intact despite the fall, but it was now impossible to carry it away.
Frustration welled up, causing him to clench his fists tightly.
“Is it the bandits?”
One of the guards asks while helping the wounded, but Reynaldo shakes his head.
“The arrowheads had distinct marks. They were probably from a small tribe in the north.”
Reynaldo remembers the arrowhead he saw when he pulled the arrow out of his shoulder.
It belongs to those whom Reynaldo once deceived and subdued.
They have every reason to retaliate against Reynaldo, but why now? And how did they learn about Reynaldo’s travel plans?
“We don’t have much time. Those who can move, take the injured and hide. If anyone can ride a horse, try to reach either the capital or the McClain’s territory.”
“What about you, Lord Reynaldo?”
“I’ll confirm the situation first before making my escape.”
“That’s dangerous! Please send someone to escort you.”
“They’ll be a liability now. It’s easier to act alone.”
The guards lower their heads. None of them were lightly wounded enough to protect Reynaldo effectively right now.
Reynaldo himself can’t move his dominant arm. The spot where the arrow had struck throbbed with pain. He told them that he would rather hide than move around as this would give him the best chance of survival.
Even if he were to escape by horseback, Reynaldo couldn’t leave this place.
Perhaps the attackers knew that he couldn’t leave his sister’s coffin behind.
Reynaldo couldn’t bring himself to leave his sister’s side and run away, even if she was already dead.
“The pursuers will be here soon. Hurry and hide. If you can run, ask for help. If it’s the McClain territory, the new lord should be there. If it’s the royal capital, report to King Risel.”
The guards nodded and left the place, carrying their wounded and unconscious companions.
One of them rode off down the road, using one of the unharmed horses. They were well aware of the high possibility of being targeted, but it was better than dying in vain right here and now.
Reynaldo, who was left alone, put his hand on his sister’s coffin.
“I’m sorry…. Sister.”
Even now, he cursed his inability to protect her. He couldn’t carry the heavy coffin and escape. He needed to regroup and return to this place after preparing himself once more.
“I will definitely come to get you. Please wait for me until then.”
Suppressing his reluctant feelings, Reynaldo moved away from the spot to conceal himself.
The main culprit will definitely visit this place. Anticipating that the area would be searched, he looked for a place to hide, covering his own tracks.
Finally, he found a large tree hollow that could fit only one person and hid himself inside. Pressing his hand against the wound on his shoulder, he endured the pain.
Sweat drips from his forehead. Somehow, he manages to stifle his breath and waits for his pursuers to arrive.
In the distance, the sound of horses’ neighs reached his ears, and he could hear the rhythmic clatter of hooves and the footsteps of people walking on fallen leaves.
“There it is.”
The voice in the distance was that of a man with a strong accent. Amidst the clamor of several voices, he strained to pick up the details.
Along with the voice instructing them to look around, he could also hear the sound of horses running around.
Among them, a distinct female voice could be heard.
A familiar, unpleasant voice giggles.
“Thank you. It was a pleasant walk.”
Reynaldo felt his blood boiling intensely within him.
Has he ever felt anger to this extent before?
The sound of Tia’s voice, something he could never forget, reached Reynald’s ears, threatening to drive him into a fit of rage.
With an elegance that seemed out of place in this setting, the woman gracefully got off her horse and stood in front of Rosemary’s coffin lying on the ground.
She offered a smile, albeit with a twisted expression on her face.
“It’s been a long time. Lady Rosemary.”
She exchanged greetings just like they used to when they were young girls.
“I never thought that even after you were gone, you would still be of use. As expected of Lady Rosemary.”
Tia approached Rosemary’s casket and exchanged words with her. She spoke to Rosemary pleasantly as if Rosemary was still present at that very moment.
Reynaldo would have leaped forward to personally sever Tia’s head himself if it were possible. However, with his arm not moving as he wished, he was powerless. His body begins to tremble in frustration.
Has he ever had an enemy he loathed this much?
Reynaldo, who had thought he had achieved revenge, felt his entire body screaming at him to kill the enemy.
‘I want to kill her.’
‘I want to tear apart the woman who continues to make my sister suffer.’
But this is not the time to act on his emotions.
Think about why Tia could have gone so far in her actions. And think about how she knew that Rosemary’s coffin would be moved. What is her motive? What is her relationship with the minor tribe?
Having formed several hypotheses, what became clear is that this danger might not only affect himself but also someone else.
And that possibility led to the realization that Marie might also be in jeopardy.
‘Please…. Alberto….!’
He prays that someone will protect her on behalf of his unworthy and inadequate self.
If Reynaldo’s hypothesis is correct, Marie might get involved.
That must not happen.
Reynaldo can only pray desperately for Marie and Alberto, who are probably in the capital right now.
He can only curse himself for causing such a foolish situation to unfold.
Reynaldo continued to pray.