CHAPTER 466: CH 466: HARD TURTH - PART 5

The atmosphere in Lady Rose’s manor was heavy—like the air before a storm.

After her confrontation with the butler, Lady Rose had not been the same. Her sharp wit and quick tongue, once infamous among the nobility, now lay dormant.

She sat in her chair for hours, staring at nothing, her eyes dulled.

Decisions piled up on her desk unanswered, petitions from the common folk went ignored, and complaints from the nobles increased by the day.

Even her staff moved with hesitance, unsure if approaching her would bring anything but silence.

Kyle noticed it immediately. He had seen people lose their will before—knights who survived great battles only to break under the quiet weight of failure.

Rose wasn’t shattered in body, but the betrayal had left a crack in her core, and the guilt had widened it.

Amana, standing beside Kyle in the council room, sighed deeply.

"At this rate, the entire region will collapse. She cannot rule like this. Someone needs to take over until stability returns."

Her eyes settled on him.

"Kyle, let me take her place here. You should move on without me and continue your journey. We have deadlines to meet, and your estate needs you. If you stay, we’ll lose too much time."

Kyle considered her words. She wasn’t wrong.

This region’s affairs could drag on for weeks, even months, if they waited for Lady Rose to recover. He gave a small nod.

"Very well. I’ll leave tomorrow."

But fate had other plans.

Before the day ended, the sound of galloping hooves and a flurry of shouts announced the return of Lord Adam, Rose’s father.

The stern, battle-worn man strode into the manor with the air of one accustomed to command.

His armor bore the dust of a long ride, and his voice was sharp as he demanded an immediate briefing.

It took less than an hour for him to learn of the food hoarding, the butler’s betrayal, and his daughter’s collapse. His expression grew darker with every word.

Without hesitation, he ordered his men to restore order—supplies were to be distributed fairly, guilty parties punished, and all local leaders to report directly to him.

When the crisis meeting concluded, he turned to Kyle. There was a pause—one loaded with old tension.

"You’ve... helped more than I can say. I know we have... history. You stole my soldiers once, and I’ve not forgotten it."

Lord Adam admitted, his voice grudging but sincere.

Kyle said nothing, simply meeting his gaze with calm patience.

"But...I’d be a fool not to acknowledge what you’ve done here. Without you, I’d have returned to a far worse mess. You’ve spared my people a great deal of suffering."

Lord Adam continued, straightening.

And then, to everyone’s quiet astonishment, Lord Adam inclined his head in respect.

"For that, I thank you."

It wasn’t a deep bow—his pride wouldn’t allow it—but it was enough to show sincerity.

Kyle accepted it with a polite nod, his tone even.

"I only did what needed to be done."

But in that brief moment, the long-standing chill between them thawed, if only slightly.

______

The morning sun broke gently over the horizon, casting a soft golden hue over the courtyard.

Kyle had spent the past day observing, waiting for any further signs of unrest or betrayal, but the silence had been telling—too telling.

Nothing moved, no one acted, and the tense stillness in the air hinted that whatever was going to happen had already passed them by.

By early morning, Kyle gathered his group—Amana, Melissa, and Silvy—and decided it was time to depart.

Their mission here was complete, at least for now, and lingering would only waste precious time.

The estate was quiet as they made their way to the front gates, their horses already prepared.

Just before they could mount up, footsteps echoed across the cobblestone.

Lady Rose appeared from the archway, dressed in a deep maroon gown, her hair tied neatly behind her head.

She walked with a steadiness that masked the storm of emotions she had been weathering in the past days.

"You’re leaving."

She said, her voice even but faintly strained.

Kyle nodded.

"We’ve done what we can here. The rest... is up to you."

She stepped closer, her eyes searching his face as if trying to understand something beyond the words.

"I wanted to thank you—properly. I know I’ve been... difficult to deal with. I’m aware of my flaws, even if I’ve refused to admit them before."

Kyle studied her for a moment, then said quietly.

"Curb your jealousy, Rose. And your fierceness—save it for when it’s truly needed. If you only ever fight for your pride, you’ll miss the things happening right in front of you. Look at your surroundings, at the people who stand with you, and you’ll see far more than you realize."

Lady Rose’s brow furrowed slightly, as if the words didn’t fully settle in her mind.

"You speak as though I’ve been blind all my life."

"Maybe not blind, but selective about what you choose to see. That will always cost you more than you think."

Kyle replied.

She stood in silence for a moment, her lips pressing together.

"I... I don’t fully understand, but I will try. I promise, I will do my best to become someone worthy of my name as a noble."

Then, without warning, she stepped forward, her gloved hand brushing against his shoulder before she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against his head. It was not romantic—more a gesture of farewell and respect—but it was enough to draw immediate reactions from the others.

Amana’s eyes narrowed dangerously, her gaze sharp and unblinking.

Melissa’s expression tightened, her arms folding across her chest, while Silvy’s cheeks puffed in quiet annoyance as she glanced away with an indignant huff.

Lady Rose ignored them all, keeping her attention solely on Kyle.

"Take care, Kyle Armstrong. I will... try to be better. When next we meet, I want you to see a Lady Rose who has grown past her flaws."

Kyle gave a small nod.

"I’ll hold you to that."

With that, he mounted his horse.

The others followed, their glances still lingering on Lady Rose with varying degrees of disapproval.

She simply stepped back, her hands clasped in front of her, watching as the group rode out through the gates.

Her lips curved faintly—not quite a smile, but a quiet determination settling in her chest.

And from the road, Kyle didn’t look back, but his words from earlier still hung in the air between them like a quiet challenge.

Kyle met her gaze for a brief moment before turning away, mounting his horse without another word.

His expression was calm, unreadable, but the weight of his parting advice lingered between them like an unspoken challenge.

Lady Rose remained rooted in place, watching him, the wind tugging at her hair and gown.

Amana, Melissa, and Silvy exchanged silent, sharp looks, their displeasure evident, yet none of them interrupted.

The convoy began to move, hooves crunching over gravel, banners swaying lightly in the breeze.

As the distance widened, Lady Rose’s proud shoulders slumped ever so slightly. She clasped her hands together, murmuring under her breath.

"I’ll prove it... even if it takes my whole life."

From his position at the front, Kyle did not turn back, but his ears caught her vow. A faint, almost imperceptible curve touched his lips before he focused on the road ahead.