Chapter 17: Conroy

                                                                          𝕮𝖔𝖓𝖗𝖔𝖞

The fire that built up by the wall crackled through the silence as The Duke, Conroy Maddox, watched it with loud still eyes. He felt his foot shake underneath his woolen robe and immediately stopped to move his hands away from his face and look over at Lord Lancher who sat on the other side of the room. He didn't seem to mind that his feet bounced with the flames. "I have always hated our visits."

The man smiled and threw his head back to continue spinning his quill between his fingers. "Why does everyone say that?"

"Because when you appear that usually means bad news." Conroy watched him closely as his wife's hands rested on his shoulders softly. He knew with the arrival of someone like the spymaster his wife shouldn't be in the room but with such a delicate matter hanging in the balance he needed her to be there even if it was just silently.

"It is not terrible news but I suppose that depends on who you talk to."

"I am talking to you Lord Lancher so what does the news mean to you?"

The man looked over and smiled with his yellow teeth, they were overly crooked and menacing enough to make Conroy squint his eyes. "I think the news is rather exciting." Putting the tip of his quill onto his tongue he looked between the Duke and Dutchess. "Prince Nikolai is dead."

The couple snapped their heads to each other confused before Conroy rubbed his face and tried to comprehend what he had said. "What does that mean for the handmaiden?"

"You mean your daughter?" He made sure to let that word drag out before twirling his greasy black hair between his fingers. "I think she will be alright."

"Will they send her back to us?" Caroline interrupted standing up. Her fingers picked at her nails as the guilt underneath her chest built up like the flame in the corner did. "We can reward her greatly for what she did for our family."

"Not quite." Lord Lancher swung his legs off the chair's arm and stood up, his tight leather clothing squeaking as he stretched and went to the fire to warm himself. "Your daughter has taken very good care of herself."

Conroy began to get impatient as he stood up to make himself bigger, which he was with no question. His belly stuck out and his tall figure looked down at the skinny man who only wiped his runny nose with his sleeve and looked up at him with no intimidation. "Spit it out then Lancher."

"She is marrying the Queen." He laughed seeing the Duke turn towards his wife with another shocked face. They couldn't comprehend what he had said as Caroline stepped up to be in front of her husband, her delicate frame small enough for Lancher to look down at her and smile.

"Have they announced it?"

"The Queen is not one to announce..." He took a deep breath in and let his finger run over the dusty fireplace that left the tip of his finger black. "The Council gave the Queen a list of suitors a few nights ago, but it seems every man on that list was found with their heads on stakes. All lined up like a feast for the birds. I assume an announcement for approval is the least of her concerns."

"What an evil woman!" Caroline put her hands over her mouth and shook her head. "Why would she do such things?"

"Because she wanted Antonella." He bit his bottom lip and walked towards the woman who stepped back cautiously. "She has eliminated every person in her way to get to the dear girl and with no other person for her to marry she will take her hand. I tell you this so you don't become another obstacle, dear Duke."

"Even though that is not our real daughter we can not let the people believe we support such an arrangement!" Caroline looked between the men hoping they thought the same but neither one made a move.

Conroy stayed silent as he sat back down in his chair, his eyes went back to the flames as he took a deep breath. Never before had he imagined such a situation to plague his family. He knew it a possibility for his daughters to be called but he never believed they would be called for her. He had come up with plans to make sure they could survive in the lion's den but he never came up with a plan to save them from being in the lion's bed. "Antonella is safe, that girl in her place will be taken care of."

Caroline tilted her head almost appalled at his words. "If she is killed by the hands of the people we sent her with that will be blood on our hands, Conroy. I will not have such a thing!"

"Then what do you plan on doing?" His voice raised as his eyes looked at his wife's, they stared at each other for a minute before he continued. "Will you tell this dictator no? Will you admit to her we lied about who she is? That mad woman will have us all killed."

"Even worse start a war," Lancher whispered crossing his arms. "She killed five important men from families around the realm, who do you think she blamed it on?"

Conroy closed his eyes. "The witches."

Lancher nodded. "Your daughter may have started the next blood war."

"She is not my daughter!" He stood again, his chest rising from the temper swelling up inside of him. "She will marry the Queen and we will be there on the day of her wedding to support the Queen and we will support Stonevale to avoid any conflict between the forest and us."

"Have you gone mad as mad as the Queen?" Caroline tried to grab his arm but he took it away.

"This is the only way woman. My family comes first and that means keeping peace. My word is final." Leaving the two who stared at him he stomped down the halls of his castle, the darkness from the cold getting out of his way as he went through the corridors of his daughter's wings. He peeked into their rooms as carefully as he could to make sure they were well and asleep in the beds as they should be, a habit he picked up after he sent the handmaiden in place of Antonella.

The thought of his daughters being ripped away from him gave him so much fear that he ate up most of his time by just confirming their safety and keeping a watchful eye on them. Before, they would have had a chance to travel and see the realm but now they were told to stay and be unseen. Especially Antonella, she struggled with people speaking of her like she was the person in Wellbourne but she knew the consequences if someone found out it wasn't her. She had to stay hidden.

"What a good father you are Conroy Maddox."

Jumping the man held his heart as he saw a smirk come from Onoris. "You are going to bloody kill me you witch."

She didn't seem offended as she started walking down the hall with him, her cloak blocking any ability for him to see anything other than her glowing eyes. "Why do you seem so wary in your plan?"

"I don't know what that girl will-"

"That girl has done more than you, Conroy." The witch interrupted. "She has been pleasing to them but they are not as pleased with you." She turned towards him making his beard move with a harsh gulp. "Tell me why the man who is in debt to the underworld has become a problem while the rat you used to take away your problems thrives?"

He never liked being talked down to but with her magic spinning around him like a rope that squeezed any sense of dignity away he shook his head like a commoner on trial. "I am doing no such thing!"

"No?"

"I believe in them to do what they promised and come to me when they are ready to be paid," Conroy said. The magic around him loosened up giving him room to walk forward more. "Shouldn't the underworld be more afraid the Queen blamed her kills on your people?"

"The Queen believes herself untouchable, but even those who claim to be from the God's bleed." The witch's green eyes seemed to go blank as she stared down the dark hall. "People with so much to lose seem to bleed more than those who have nothing."'

Conroy didn't say anything as he looked around hoping his guards were near but he was disappointed as the woman's cloak spun to bring her in front of him. "Do not let your wariness foil the plan they have created or your debt will only grow."

He nodded as she disappeared leaving himself alone in the darkness of of his own home, something he never liked. Soon he would have candles lined up down every hall so he would never have to walk in darkness again. But until then he decided to go back down to his girl's room and check once more that they were asleep and well. Maybe stand outside of their rooms in the hope it stays that way for as long as he lives.

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