The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 12

“Shailoh.” A warm hand settled over Shailoh’s as she doubled over, gasping for breath. Caleb wrapped his fingers around hers and spoke gently. “If you want, you can stay here.”

 

The offer caught her off guard. Shailoh stared at him, blinking at his unexpected generosity. “I can stay?”

 

“Yes. As long as you need.”

 

Caleb’s smile was soft as he brushed custard cream from the corner of her mouth with his fingertip. Even that fleeting touch sent fire racing across her skin. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she looked away.

 

“You’re very kind, but I can’t impose any longer. The duke’s family must be searching for me because I witnessed a murder. I should go to the authorities myself and report the merchant guild leader’s death.”

 

“That’s reasonable thinking, but dangerous.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“This place is bordered by the jagged Kestria mountain range to the east, surrounded by sea on three sides. Three ducal families hold power here.” Caleb held up three fingers, his voice taking on the measured tone of a teacher. “First, the Duke Yesiol family. They claimed the barren northern desert and made their home on the Sigurd Plateau.”

 

The story of the ‘The Oath of Three Dukes’ was something even children learning their letters knew by heart. When the first king founded the nation, he granted lands to the vassals who had served him well, and they swore an oath to protect the land. Shailoh listened intently.

 

“They turned the harsh landscape to their advantage, training knights and mercenaries to build their military might. They keep to themselves, never attending the central council, so they wield no real influence in the capital.”

 

“I’ve heard the Yesiol family is merciless and cruel. People say they’re born without compassion or feeling.” Shailoh wondered if the rumors held truth.

 

Despite being only a four-day journey from Baroness Kildare’s territory, she had never even seen a single strand of hair from someone from the Sigurd Plateau. That’s how closed off and exclusive the region was.

 

Caleb nodded slightly and continued. “Next comes Duke Perus in the south. They’ve built their power along the Kestria mountain border, controlling all maritime trade.” Caleb moved briskly to his point, skipping embellishment. “Finally, Duke Diponz family. They built their fortune on western mines and still hold considerable sway in the central region.”

 

Though Shailoh knew this history well, Caleb surely had his reasons for explaining each detail. She waited for his next words, and he posed a gentle question.

 

“But lately, the Diponz family’s wealth has been declining. Why do you think that is?”

 

“Declining? The duke’s mansion seems more lavish than ever. I’ve seen porcelain and paintings that weren’t there a year ago. They’ve hired more maids and servants.”

 

“Fruit smells sweetest just before it rots. Mines don’t last forever. Three generations back, they carefully managed how much ore they extracted. But the last generation grew careless. The current one has continued that pattern, and now they’re in real trouble.”

 

Shailoh’s eyes widened at this revelation. Caleb had anticipated her surprise and continued his explanation, piece by piece.

 

“The crisis hit a year ago when Duke Perus in the south secured iron ore trade deals with foreign nations. With Claire Diponz’s extravagance and Evan Diponz’s gambling debts, their downfall was inevitable.”

 

Shailoh, who had been ready to argue with Caleb’s assessment, fell silent. Her face grew pale as the implications sank in. “So that’s why they allied with commoners they despised so much. Since the Grid merchant guild leader paid a generous bride price.”

 

She didn’t know the exact sum, but it was enough to keep the duke’s residence running and mask their decay with luxury goods—enough to host elaborate banquets that no one could criticize.

 

Caleb smiled faintly at Shailoh’s sharp grasp of the situation. He laced his fingers together and rested them on the table. “It must have been mutually beneficial. The guild leader needed a noble wife and a son to carry on his bloodline. The duke needed money.”

 

“But it all fell apart. They tried to salvage things by using Claire as bait, and eventually killed him.”

 

As expected, the chain of events had complex roots. Shailoh lowered her head, her expression darkening, and Caleb drove his point home with quiet firmness.

 

“No matter how much their fortunes declined, a ducal family is still a ducal family. They’ve likely already destroyed every scrap of evidence.”

 

Shailoh buried her face in her hands, the weight of hopelessness crushing down on her. “But still…”

 

“…”

 

“But still, you never know.”

 

“If you want, I’ll accompany you to the constabulary.” Caleb reached out and gently pulled her trembling hands away from her face. Looking into her tear-filled eyes, he offered with quiet kindness. “But you’ll need to conceal your identity. We don’t know what dangers await.”

 

“I must write… to Baroness Kildare.”

 

Rather than respond with words, Caleb simply nodded. His eyes held the same patient understanding she’d seen by the lakeside at dawn—eyes she couldn’t help but trust, couldn’t help but lean on.

 

* * *

The town remained unchanged. Shailoh pulled her cloak tight as she stepped down from the carriage beside Caleb. Relief flooded through them both at the sight of the constabulary building, but the chatter of street vendors and their customers cut through the air like knives.

 

“Did you hear what happened at the Diponz mansion last night?”

 

“Two people vanished, didn’t they? The Grid merchant guild leader and someone else…”

 

“I heard it was some orphan the Diponz family took in and raised.”

 

Shailoh froze, realizing they spoke of her. Instead of urging her forward, Caleb stepped into the conversation.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Oh, sir, you must not be local. It’s caused quite the stir—everyone’s talking about it.”

 

“I only returned from abroad last night.”

 

The merchant nodded with understanding sympathy. “Last night was Lady Claire’s twentieth birthday celebration at the Diponz mansion. They’re the power in the west, so the party was grand, even we common folk caught some of the spillover.”

 

“I see. I’d heard about it. But something went wrong that day?”

 

“Well, you see—”

 

The man who’d been deep in conversation with the merchant suddenly cut in.

 

“I heard there was a marriage arrangement between the orphan and the Grid merchant guild leader, but the ungrateful wretch ran off. Then she came back, murdered the guild leader, and fled again, leaving the duke’s family to shoulder the blame.”

 

The merchant’s face went pale with alarm. “Watch your tongue! You could be arrested for spreading such talk without proof!” His eyes darted to a constabulary officer emerging for patrol.

 

Sensing the tension, the officer approached them. Shailoh stood frozen, her heart hammering as she tugged at Caleb’s sleeve. The footsteps stopped before them.

 

“Excuse me, sir. Is the lady well?”

 

Caleb glanced at Shailoh’s ashen face. She looked ready to collapse.

 

“She’s fine. My sister has always been delicate.” With practiced ease, Caleb wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the carriage.

 

Though she felt his warmth, Shailoh drifted like a hollow shell, a buoy lost at sea, following wherever his touch led. She couldn’t recall how they made it back to the estate.

 

Caleb’s property sat on the city’s outskirts, hidden behind thick foliage—a perfect sanctuary from prying eyes. After dismissing the servants, he led her to the bedroom. The moment he closed the door, Shailoh sank onto the bed, staring at her shaking hands.

 

“I expected them to hunt me after I witnessed the murder, but I never imagined they’d go this far.”

 

The betrayal she thought herself numb to crashed over her like a tide. A violent storm had torn through her very soul. Standing on a cliff’s edge wouldn’t feel as desperately isolating as this. She balanced on a tightrope now, with nothing but a dizzying void yawning beneath her.

 

“I couldn’t even send a word to Baroness Kildare. She’s the only one who could truly help me.”

 

“Shailoh.” The mattress dipped gently as Caleb settled beside her, tilting his head to catch her gaze. “I didn’t mention it earlier because I didn’t want to upset you, but there’s likely the duke’s man hiding in the Barony Kildare. They probably reached out to them first.”

 

“Could they be framing the baroness as an accomplice?” The horrifying possibility struck Shailoh like a physical blow, and her eyes widened in shock.