The Hidden Truth

Chapter 3

The forest stretched endlessly, dense and suffocating, its towering trees blotting out most of the sunlight. What little light remained filtered weakly through the thick canopy, casting uneven shadows across the damp earth. The air was heavy with the scent of moss and decay, and the silence that lingered between the trees felt unnatural, as though the forest itself was holding its breath.

Two knights moved carefully through the undergrowth, their armor faintly clinking with each step. The polished steel of their breastplates bore the crest of the Weldon family, partially dulled by dirt and travel, while dark blue cloaks hung from their shoulders, brushing lightly against the forest floor. Their hands rested near the hilts of their swords, their movements cautious, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.

“Are you sure she’s somewhere around here?” one of them asked in a low voice, his gaze sweeping across the trees.

“That’s not confirmed,” the other replied, his tone steady but alert. “But we were instructed to look for a woman wearing a maid’s robe, with a deep gash across her back.”

They pressed forward in silence, their steps growing slower as the forest seemed to close in around them.

Then, without warning, both of them stopped.

Their attention dropped to the ground.

A dark stain marked the soil.

“…Do you see this?” the first knight whispered.

The other crouched slightly, examining it. “Blood,” he said quietly.

A brief pause followed.

“Should we follow it?”

The first knight nodded.

They moved again, more carefully now, following the faint trail of blood that led deeper into the forest. Each step felt heavier than the last, the silence pressing against their senses. The trail was uneven, scattered in drops and smears, but it was enough.

Until it suddenly ended.

“The trail stops here,” one of them muttered, frowning as he looked down.

The other placed a hand on his shoulder and pointed ahead.

Slowly, the knight lifted his gaze.

There, beneath the twisted roots of an old tree, lay a figure.

A woman.

Her maid’s uniform was stained and torn, her body unmoving except for the faint rise and fall of her chest. A dark patch of dried blood spread across her back, marking the wound they had been searching for.

“…It’s her,” the knight said under his breath.

By the time the news reached the Weldon estate, the sun had already begun to set.

Leo sat upright in his bed, a bowl of soup in his hand, his expression calm as he listened. “I see… so they’re on their way now?” he asked.

Ralph sat nearby, his posture straight, though his expression carried a subtle tension. “Yes, young master,” he replied. “However, the situation is not so simple.”

Leo paused, lowering the spoon slightly. “And why is that?”

Ralph hesitated for a moment before speaking. “The location where she was found does not fall under your authority. That land belongs to your brother—Luke Weldon, the second son of the household.”

Leo’s gaze sharpened slightly, though his expression remained composed.

“I see.”

“Lord Luke is not one to tolerate interference,” Ralph continued. “If we attempt to take her by force, it could lead to conflict within the family. Even if we explain her involvement, his side will likely insist on executing her immediately.”

Leo set the bowl aside, his mind already moving ahead.

“So we’re in a bind,” he said quietly.

Ralph nodded.

A brief silence followed before he spoke again. “If I may ask, young master… why do you wish to keep her alive?”

Leo leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing.

“When the poison took effect,” he said slowly, “I had twelve seconds left to live.”

Ralph’s body stiffened.

“And yet,” Leo continued, his voice lowering, “you said you found me still breathing.”

His gaze locked onto Ralph’s.

“Tell me… who interfered with my death?”

Ralph froze, unable to respond.

Leo exhaled quietly, looking away.

“She completed her mission,” he murmured. “So why… did she save me afterward?”

Ralph lowered his head briefly before straightening again. “Then, my lord, I will assist you in uncovering the truth. There is an old estate within that forest. We secured her there temporarily. While we may not be able to bring her here… we can go to her.”

Leo nodded once.

“Good.”

He paused before asking, “When will my parents return?”

“They are expected to arrive at midnight,” Ralph replied.

Leo’s gaze drifted toward the window.

April second… two weeks since they left, he thought. So today is the day they return. If I'm correct they will take longer than that. He thought 

Without hesitation, he pushed himself up from the bed.

“We’re going now.”

Ralph stepped forward instinctively. “Young master, your condition—”

“I’ll manage,” Leo interrupted, raising a hand to stop him.

Seeing the resolve in his eyes, Ralph said nothing more.

Hours later, their carriage came to a halt deep within the forest.

Leo stepped out slowly, his body still recovering but his expression firm. “Is this the place?” he asked.

“Yes, my lord,” Ralph replied.

Before them stood an old mansion.

Time had not been kind to it. Cracks ran along its stone walls, vines crawling over its surface as if reclaiming it for the forest. The once-grand windows were either shattered or clouded with dirt, and the large wooden doors hung unevenly on their hinges. The entire structure felt abandoned, forgotten.

“From here, we proceed on foot,” Ralph said.

Leo nodded, and the two made their way through the rusted iron gate, its loud creak echoing into the silence.

Inside, the air changed instantly.

Dust coated every surface, disturbed only by their footsteps. Torn curtains hung loosely from broken rods, and cobwebs stretched across corners like delicate webs. The wooden floor groaned beneath them as they walked, each step echoing faintly through the empty halls.

“How long has this place been abandoned?” Leo asked quietly.

“For years,” Ralph replied. “Since the Weldon family expanded, estates like this were left unused.”

They moved deeper inside, descending into a lower chamber hidden beneath the mansion. The air grew colder, heavier, and the light dimmed until only a single flickering lantern illuminated the space.

At the center of the room sat a chair.

And bound to it was Isabella.

Her head hung low, strands of hair falling across her face. Her maid’s uniform was stained with dried blood, and the wound on her back had only been roughly treated. Despite her condition, her breathing remained steady.

Leo stepped forward, stopping just in front of her.

A faint smirk formed on his lips.

“Well then,” he said quietly, his voice echoing softly in the chamber.

“Let’s see what secrets you’re hiding.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***