Edward was looking at me like I'd just stolen his entire inheritance or something.
I mean—chill, dude.
"Isla, what are you even thinking!?" he burst out, clearly exasperated. "You're planning to chase some random hint just because it claims to lead you to your mother? What if it's wrong? What if you end up walking straight into danger?"
I crossed my arms and looked at him, willing him to understand. "Edward, please try to see this from my side. Finding out what happened to my mother—whether she's alive, dead, or trapped somewhere—that matters more to me than anything right now. And if you help me just this once, I'll give you a really valuable hint. Something I know you'll appreciate."
I waited, hopeful, but he didn't budge. Seriously? What is with that stone-face? He looked like someone had just told him his horse was adopted.
"Isla," he said flatly, "you think I'm going to help you just because you teased me with some stupid clue? I don't want hints. I want you to be safe. And this thing you're trying to do—it's dangerous. I can't support you in this." He turned and started to walk away.
Oh no you don't.
"Edward!" I snapped, loud enough to make him freeze mid-step.
"You know me. You know I'm going to do this no matter what. With or without you. But if you help me, at least I'll get out of this mansion without shattering my spine while climbing the big-ass—uhh—the very tall wall this place has!" I said, correcting myself just in time.
I saw something flicker in his eyes. Gotcha.
"Edward… you don't know what it's like," I continued, my voice softer now. "To miss someone so deeply it becomes a constant ache. To wonder every single day what happened to her. If she's alive. If she's suffering. If she still remembers me. I just want to know the truth. That's all I'm asking for."
He looked at me then—really looked at me—and I could see it. The conflict, the concern, the way his jaw tightened even as his expression softened.
"I understand your desperation, Isla," he said at last, his voice much quieter, "but following an anonymous lead? What if something happens to you?"
Aww. He's actually really sweet. I wish he were my real brother.
"Edward, trust me. This isn't some vague rumor I overheard in a marketplace. I know this lead is real. I feel it. And I can take care of myself—you've seen what I can do. I'm not asking you to fight dragons for me, I just need help getting out safely."
There was a long silence. Then—finally—he sighed and nodded, albeit reluctantly.
"Ahh! Thank you, Edward! You're truly a hero," I said, grinning. "A grumpy, overly responsible, annoying hero—but a hero nonetheless."
He rolled his eyes and turned to leave.
"Oh, and Edward," I called after him, "about that hint I promised?"
He paused but didn't look back.
"If I were you… I'd start looking into the truth about your father. And maybe—just maybe—I wouldn't take Amelia's word at face value."
Still, he didn't turn around or say anything. He just walked away, a little stiffer than before.
______________________________
I had asked Edward for help and he decided to escape the mansion under the cover of night.
Now, I was pacing quietly in my room, waiting for him to show up. Where is he? Did he bail on me? Just as panic started to creep in, I heard the soft rustle of bushes outside my window.
I rushed over and opened it carefully. There he was—Edward, crouched low, scanning the area like a character out of a spy novel.
"Hey! What took you so long?" I whispered harshly once I climbed out to join him. Honestly, he looked like a paranoid squirrel.
"I was making sure our path is clear," he whispered back, clearly unamused by my lack of urgency. "Listen, the path from your room to the outer perimeter is long. There are guards posted at nearly every turn. You need to stay right behind me—don't make a sound. Got it?"
I nodded seriously. "Got it. I'll channel my inner James Bond."
He blinked at me, confused.
"Never mind. Just lead the way, Commander Edward. Operation Escape is a go."
He once again shook his head but didn't say anything.
We began moving through the mansion's dimly lit hallways like shadows. Our steps were slow and calculated, avoiding the creaky spots on the wooden floor that we both knew too well. At one point, we heard the shuffle of boots and quickly ducked into a narrow alcove, hearts pounding. The guard passed by, humming a lullaby to himself. I almost laughed.
Once we slipped out into the night air, the real challenge began.
The courtyard stretched out before us like a battlefield. A wide stone path ran down the center, flanked by neatly trimmed hedges and bursts of white lilies glowing under the moonlight. Beyond that lay the garden—sprawling and open, like a football field—and at the very edge stood the towering outer wall. Our final destination.
We sprinted across the first stretch of path and dropped down behind a row of thick hedge trees. My breath came in quick puffs, but I kept it quiet. Edward peeked out.
"We'll have to crawl to that bench," he whispered, pointing toward a stone seat nestled near the garden's center. "Those two guards near the fountain—see them? They're rotating their patrol every three minutes. If we walk, we're toast."
"Got it, Commander," I whispered, and we began crawling through the damp grass like professional fugitives.
My knees were soaked within seconds, and every leaf seemed to crackle louder than it should. We moved inch by painstaking inch. A fire lamp flickered nearby, casting golden patches over the ground, but luckily the thick bushes and low angle kept us hidden. I silently thanked the universe for the lack of electricity in this world—those oil lamps were helpful and aesthetic, but nowhere near as effective as a modern floodlight.
We reached the bench and crouched behind it. My heart thundered in my ears. From here, I could see our next checkpoint—a tall tree with a broken stone planter next to it, not far from the edge of the property.
"How are we gonna go forward now?" I asked, whispering urgently.
Edward narrowed his eyes, watching the guards closely. "We wait. They'll pass this section in about thirty seconds. Once they turn around, we move fast and low to the tree. After that, we climb the tree and jump down behind the wall."
"Climb the tree?" I asked, already picturing myself falling headfirst into a bush.
"Don't worry, I'll catch you if you fall," he muttered.
"Gee, thanks. That's reassuring," I whispered, but secretly, I was grateful he was here. For all his worrying and glaring, Edward was the only person who could pull this off with me.
We went silent again as the guards approached.
Their boots crunched against gravel. One of them yawned loudly. The other stopped to complain about missing out on stew. When they finally moved out of range, Edward made a sharp hand gesture.
Go time.
According to what Edward told me earlier, the spot we'd chosen for our escape was usually unguarded after midnight. There was a massive tree near the inner wall, tall enough for us to climb and jump onto the top.
How we were going to defend ourselves on the other side? That was a problem for later-Me. Right now, we had to get out.
We crouched in silence, hidden beneath the bench and brush. The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and trimmed hedges. I could hear the distant ticking of an old clock tower and the soft murmur of two guards chatting—then fading.
Exactly as Edward said, at midnight sharp, the guards turned and began their usual round away from this section of the wall.
"Let's go," he whispered.
"Ai ai, Commander," I muttered, saluting with mock seriousness before we broke into a final sprint.
We dashed across the remaining stretch of the garden like two kids sneaking out to avoid bedtime. Reaching the base of the enormous tree, I looked up.
"Ready?" Edward asked, already grabbing a low branch.
I nodded and began to climb. The bark was rough, but I managed to haul myself up branch by branch, trying not to think about bugs or breaking my neck. Edward followed right behind me, far more graceful than I expected a worrywart like him to be.
We finally reached a thick, sturdy branch that stretched over the wall. I pulled myself up and crawled along it like a squirrel with shaky nerves. When I reached the top of the wall, I looked down.
Oh. My. GOD.
"This is so high!" I whispered, flattening myself against the cold stone. "What were they trying to keep out? Dragons?!"
Edward joined me and carefully sat beside me. "The walls were built high for protection. You know, back in the war days—"
"Great history lesson, Professor, but can we talk about how we get down?"
He pointed just ahead, past the corner of the wall.
I followed his finger and there it was—a tall, sturdy ladder leaning quietly against the outer side of the wall like it had been waiting just for us.
"You actually set up a ladder?" I asked, blinking in disbelief.
He smirked. "You're not the only one who can plan."
"Okay, Commander Edward, I take it back—you do have cool points now."
"When you reach the ground, you'll find my secret guard waiting," Edward said, his tone low but steady. "He's assigned to escort you safely to your destination. Once you arrive, he'll return. Until then, I'll handle things here and make sure the situation is stabilized."
I looked at him—truly looked—and felt a flicker of gratitude tighten in my chest. "Thank you, Edward. Your help really means a lot to me."
He gave a faint smile. "It's okay. Now go—before someone sees you."
I nodded, then carefully climbed over the edge of the wall, my hands gripping the ladder tightly. One step after another, I descended into the unknown. When my boots hit the ground, I looked up—Edward was gone.
For a second, I just stood there, letting the silence settle. Then a voice spoke beside me.
"This way, my lady."
I turned and saw a tall man dressed in plain dark clothing, his posture rigid, eyes scanning the shadows. Edward's secret guard.
He led me to a covered carriage tucked between the trees. With one last glance at the towering walls behind me, I climbed inside, my heart pounding with a mix of dread and determination.
______________________________
"We have reached, my lady," the guard announced hours later as the carriage rolled to a gentle stop.
I stepped down, blinking against the soft morning light. The sun was beginning to rise, casting warm streaks of gold through the thinning mist. We had reached,Thornvale.
The air here was different—cooler, richer. Dew clung to every leaf, and the forest floor shimmered faintly as the light hit the wet grass. The scent of herbs, damp bark, and fresh earth filled the air.
I turned toward the guard. "Thank you for your assistance, gentleman. You may leave now."
He gave a respectful nod and vanished back into the trees, leaving me alone.
I took a few steps forward, the crunch of twigs under my boots breaking the early stillness.
Then that voice echoed from the trees—sharp, smug, and laced with insufferable attitude.
"Glad you're here. Finally."
I rolled my eyes so hard I thought I might see my brain. "What do you mean finally? I'm literally hours early!"
Silence. Figures. Rude and dramatic.
Then the voice returned, cool and unbothered. "Moving on. Let's begin your journey."
I huffed, muttering under my breath, "Yeah, let's just ignore the part where I'm practically a punctual hero."
And just like that, I stepped deeper into the woods, not knowing who—or what—exactly was waiting for me ahead.