Chapter 328 - 326: Night Talk

Chapter 328: Chapter 326: Night Talk

To Duane, the Guards watching over Selena’s courtyard posed no threat whatsoever.

However, he had not yet formulated a concrete plan of action, so he chose not to deal with the Guards directly, lest he alert his target.

He remained in Stealth, tossing a pebble into the distance. A crisp sound rang out as it landed.

"Who’s there?"

The Guards grew vigilant, tightening their grips on their weapons as they moved toward the sound.

Duane seized the opportunity to slip into the courtyard, enter the ground floor, and ascend the stairs, soon arriving at the door to Selena’s bedroom.

To prevent any mishaps, he first cast a Shadow Barrier to envelop the room, ensuring no sound could escape.

"Who is it?"

A very wary voice immediately came from inside the room.

Duane was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected her to be so perceptive, able to sense such a faint fluctuation of Magic.

"It’s me. Don’t be alarmed."

Duane pushed open the door and walked in.

Beneath the hazy moonlight, Selena stood by the window, her plain white nightgown tinged silver-gray by a few stray moonbeams.

She had a good figure. Even having just given birth, not only were there no signs of her having gained weight, but she had maintained her graceful curves.

Her long hair, however, hung loose and unkempt, and she looked somewhat exhausted.

At that moment, Selena was clutching a dagger, her face wary as she stared at the door that had been pushed open.

The voice seemed familiar; after all, she and Duane had spoken a few times.

But she wasn’t entirely sure, as it had been some time.

"Your senses are very sharp."

Duane offered a word of praise, then contracted the Shadow Barrier’s range to encompass only the area the two of them occupied.

"But why would a Mage facing danger hold a dagger instead of using Magic?"

Selena finally confirmed the visitor’s identity. She quickly put away the dagger and knelt on one knee. "My Lord, Selena offers you her loyal greetings!"

Her voice trembled with unconcealed surprise. "I never thought you would come in person!"

Duane stepped forward and helped her up, only then noticing how much thinner she had become. She felt weightless.

He glanced at the baby, who had been lulled to sleep. "He’s adorable."

A faint smile touched Selena’s lips, and a gentle light filled her eyes. "Yes. I never imagined I would one day become a mother and have such a lovely child."

She paused slightly before adding in a low voice, "My Lord, this is Brison’s child and mine."

Duane withdrew his gaze, nodded, and walked over to a nearby sofa to sit down.

"It seems your situation isn’t very good, is it?"

With a worried expression, Selena slowly sat down and said, "Lately, that man’s suspicions about me have become more and more obvious."

"Before, because I’d given birth, he would visit many times a day and even curbed his own behavior. But for the last five or six days, not only has he rarely come by, he’s even taken a maid to his bed."

She looked at Duane with the desperation of someone clutching their last hope. "My Lord, I suspect he’s testing his ability to father a child with the maid."

"If Phoebe ultimately fails to get pregnant, he will definitely figure out that the so-called Magic Potion I gave him has no effect."

"My Lord, I need your help!" she said urgently.

Duane gestured for her not to panic. "I value you both highly, which is why I’ve come personally to resolve your troubles."

His tone shifted as he voiced his concern. "However, I want to know—without Baron Torre, can the two of you control the entire Sharp Stone Territory?"

Selena froze, hesitating.

To be honest, her recent thoughts had only been about how to keep her family of three alive; she hadn’t considered how to take control of the Territory.

But Duane had a point. After Torre’s death, Willard would be the sole heir. Even though he was still in his swaddling clothes, this Territory would belong to him.

As Willard’s mother, Selena would have the right to govern in his stead until he came of age.

"I... I have no experience managing a Territory."

She spoke the truth, but then summoned her courage and said, "But I can guarantee that I will do my absolute best!"

Duane nodded. "I never doubt a mother’s resolve to clear any obstacle for her son! Tell me, after Willard inherits the title, who will be difficult for you and Brison to deal with?"

"Sean Collins!"

Selena said it with almost no hesitation.

"Besides Brison, Torre has two other Honorary Knights under his command: one is Sean Collins, and the other is Monto Pick. Both of them are Earth Tier Warriors."

"However, Sean is the strongest and has followed Torre the longest, earning his deep trust. Because of this, he is very hostile toward Monto and Brison, who earned their titles as Knights later, and he targets them at every turn."

Duane nodded in understanding.

He wouldn’t mind clearing away this obstacle for Selena. He could even kill that Knight named Monto if necessary.

But he couldn’t do that.

Killing just one of the three Knights could be explained away, but killing two and leaving only Brison would arouse suspicion.

He pondered for a moment, then his brow furrowed, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

"I need an opportunity to gather Torre, Sean, and Monto all in one place."

He looked at Selena and asked, "Can you make that happen?"

Selena’s heart pounded in her chest. She already understood what Duane was planning to do.

If it were anyone else, she would definitely think the risk was immense.

But before her stood a powerful Silver Moon Warrior. Across the entire Sharp Stone Territory, no one was his match.

Selena fell into thought. Soon, she had an idea.

"In two days, it will be Willard’s first birthday. I can use this as an opportunity to have Torre hold a celebratory banquet and invite Sean, Monto, and the others to attend."

In this world, the child mortality rate was relatively high. Even common families would celebrate a child’s first birthday, and the Nobility even more so.

The reason Selena found was excellent. Baron Torre would likely agree to hold the banquet, at least until he had proof that Willard was not his son.

"It would be best to summon Brison as well."

Duane reminded her, "If he’s the only one of the three Knights who isn’t present, it might arouse suspicion."

"The Baron has already sent Brison to the South on a mission to exterminate bandits."

Selena shook her head with a wry smile. "I haven’t heard any news from him in over ten days."

It seemed Baron Torre had deliberately sent Brison away.

Duane asked, puzzled, "Then what about the Guards outside?"

Although he didn’t finish the question, Selena knew what Duane meant.

"They are here to protect me, but also to watch me."

She said helplessly, "Now, unless I stay in this courtyard, I’m followed everywhere I go."

Her situation had truly reached a precarious point.

"I understand."

Duane stood up. "Then go with your idea. Use this as a pretext to have Baron Torre hold a banquet."

"Alright!"

Selena clenched her fists secretly. She had already resolved to follow Duane and take this gamble; she had no other choice.

"My Lord, is there any help I can provide?"

"No. It’s best you act as if you never saw me, as if I was never here."

Duane cast a Stealth Spell and his form vanished again, but his voice lingered:

"You should understand better than I do how secret this matter must be. If it gets out, it won’t affect me much, but you, Willard, and Brison will all die."

Selena once again knelt on one knee. "Rest assured, My Lord. I know the consequences. And please, believe in my and Brison’s loyalty to you!"

She added bitterly, "Killing him... was never my wish."

But there was no reply in the room.

As the Shadow Barrier dissipated, Selena knew Duane had already left.

Selena gasped for breath, slumping weakly to the floor.

She was once a naive young woman, full of hope to spend the rest of her life with Brison, but fate had played a cruel trick on her.

She had been forcibly taken, treated brutally, and had her chastity stolen, reduced to a mere tool for Torre Courtney’s desire for a child.

Unfortunately, Torre was completely infertile.

Yet he had placed the blame for his inability to conceive on her, and if she couldn’t get pregnant, only a dead end awaited her and her family.

In the end, she had no choice but to be with Brison, trying to get by with such a deception...

On the bed, Willard turned over in his sleep, drawing Selena’s gaze.

If Duane hadn’t intervened, she, Brison, and Willard would have likely all met a grim end. But now, there was a turning point.

Duane was her hope!

Selena got up and sat on the edge of the bed, the confusion and anxiety in her eyes replaced by resolve.

"Don’t worry, my child. We’re going to be okay!"