Mistgarden's Unshakeable Queen

Chapter Three

The heavy carriage pulled into a small, bleak-looking mansion.

​The driver hopped down, opened the door for Diora, and bowed low. "We have reached the Linksmith Estate, my lady."

​As Diora took her first steps down out of the carriage, her entire body shook with a wave of intense nostalgia. In her previous life in that alternate, war-stricken world, she had lost her parents early to brutal conflict. She had been forced to become an orphan in a burning landscape, learning to fight, bleed, and fend for herself.

​Through the memories of her present host, she also saw the tragic fate that lay ahead if she failed to act. In the original timeline, after Julian married her, he had used the marriage as an opportunity to quietly wipe out the entire Linksmith family. He had slaughtered her parents and stolen their ancestral lands—lands her family had guarded for generations, completely unaware that the soil held ancient, untold treasures.

​Not this time, Diora swore silently, her black silk gown sweeping against the gravel path. I will not allow them to touch a single hair on your heads.

​The heavy wooden doors of the estate swung open, and she took her first steps inside. Her eyes swept across the familiar foyer, recognizing every archway and oil painting just as her host's memories recalled them.

​"Grandie dear? Is that you?" a small, trembling voice called out.

​Diora turned toward the sound. There stood her mother—a woman whose gentle eyes mirrored both the mother she had lost in the wars and the loving mother of this world. In every life, her parents had been the only people who loved her unconditionally.

​Seeing her mother’s concerned face, tears gathered in Diora's eyes and spilled down her cheeks without warning. Abandoning her usual stoic military composure, she launched herself directly into her mother’s arms.

​"Oh, dear! Grandie, are you okay? Has Julian hurt you?" her mother asked frantically, wrapping her arms tightly around her daughter.

​Her father came running out of his study at the commotion. Upon seeing his only daughter weeping in the foyer, his face crumpled with worry. Diora reached out her right hand toward him, and he immediately stepped forward, pulling both women into a fierce, protective embrace.

​"My sweet pea, what happened?" her father whispered, kissing her hair. "Has Julian hurt you? Tell me, and I swear I will avenge you! I will teach that arrogant Duke a lesson he will never forget!"

​Diora buried her face in his shoulder, shaking her head. "No, Dad. No, Mom. I'm not hurt. I just missed you... I missed you so much, that's all."

​She wept quietly for a few moments, letting months of lingering grief and battle-hardened exhaustion wash away in their warmth.

​By noon, the sun was high over the estate. Diora sat in her childhood bedroom, resting on the soft duvet, looking around at the pastel curtains and wooden toys to familiarize herself with her past.

​A gentle knock sounded, and the door clicked open. Her mother walked in, trailing a small maid who carried a silver tray. Her mother took a cold porcelain cup from the tray, dismissed the maid with a soft wave, and walked over to the bed.

​"My dear, I brought the fresh fruit yogurt that you like so much," her mother said gently.

​Diora leaned closer, taking the chilled cup from her mother's hands. She took a long, delicious sip, tasting the sweet cream and cool berries. "It's wonderful, Mother. Thank you."

​Her mother sat down beside her on the edge of the mattress, searching her face with deep worry. "Grandie dear, you scared us this morning. Are you truly sure everything is all right at the Duke's manor?"

​Diora set the cup down and took her mother's hands. "Yes, Mother. I feel fine now. I truly just missed home."

​Her mother sighed softly, stroking Diora's cheek. "My dear, you have been so deeply in love with Julian for years. Your wedding is only a few weeks away. Your father and I thought it would be fitting for you to spend these final weeks before the ceremony living in his estate—to get to know your new home, to get to know your new family. But forgive me... I fear we neglected your feelings by leaving you there."

​Diora shook her head firmly. "No, Mother. It’s all right. You didn't do anything wrong." She paused, her teal eyes growing sharp and serious. "Mother... I need to have a small, serious discussion with you and Father. Is he in his office?"

​Her mother’s brow furrowed in confusion. "A discussion? Is everything truly all right, dear?"

​"Yes, Mother. Everything is fine, but it is very important," Diora assured her, standing up.

​"Very well," her mother said, rising as well. "We can go together to your father's study. He is waiting for us."

​They walked down the carpeted hallway and stopped before the sturdy oak door of the Lord's study. Her mother knocked lightly.

​"Yes? Come in!" her father's voice called out from inside.

​Her mother pushed the door open, and they both stepped into the sunlight-drenched room. Her father looked up from a stack of estate ledgers, his eyes widening in surprise.

​"Grandie dear! My goodness, I would have come up to see you instead of making you walk down," he said, pushing his chair back.

​"It's all right, Father," Diora said softly. "I requested this meeting. I need to speak with both you and Mother, if that's all right."

​He looked at his wife, then back at Diora, his expression shifting to one of quiet concern. "Is everything all right, Grandie dear? Did something happen at Julian's estate?"

​"Yes, Father, everything is fine," Diora replied smoothly. "Please, sit with me."

​Diora walked over to the plush velvet sofa in the center of the office. Her parents immediately joined her, sitting on either side of her and holding her hands.

​Diora took a deep breath, looking between the two people who meant everything to her.

​"Mother, Father... I have something very important to say," Diora began, her voice steady and unyielding. "I would like to break off my betrothal with Duke Julian."

​Silence descended upon the study like a heavy curtain.

​Her parents' faces froze in absolute shock. Her father blinked once, twice, then abruptly stood up. He began pacing back and forth across the hardwood floor, his hands clasped behind his back, before stopping to stare at his daughter in utter disbelief.

​"Gracious, child!" her father exclaimed, throwing his hands up. "You have been hopelessly in love with Julian since you were a little girl! You practically begged us for an engagement with him! We went to extraordinary lengths, leveraging what little influence our minor house had, just to secure his agreement! And now... now you want to break off your engagement with a Duke?"

​He walked back over, kneeling before her. "Could you please let your father know what brought this on?"

​Her mother clutched Diora's hands tightly, her eyes wide with fear. "My dear, I don't understand! I thought you said nothing was wrong at the manor!"

​Diora looked her mother dead in the eye, her expression serene and unbothered. "Mother, nothing is wrong with me. I simply want to break off my engagement with Julian."

​"But why, Grandie?" her mother pressed, her voice trembling. "A betrothal to a Duke elevates our entire family! What changed?"

​"I do not love him anymore," Diora stated plainly.

Her father stood up again, his eyes narrowing as a dark suspicion crossed his mind. "Is it because of that girl? Is it because Lady Sansha is living in his estate? Has Julian and his family been treating you poorly because of her?"

​"No, Father, that is not the sole reason," Diora lied smoothly, keeping her vengeful motives hidden to protect them from worry. "I have simply grown apart from Lord Julian. I do not feel the same way I did when I was younger. Perhaps it was merely the silly emotions of a young girl that influenced my past decisions. I have come to realize that what I felt for him isn't strong enough to sustain a marriage, let alone a lifetime."

​Her father bowed his head in silence, leaning against his mahogany desk. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, letting out a heavy, weary sigh.

​"My dear... it is not that simple," her father said softly, looking up at her with pained eyes. "One does not simply break off an engagement with a Duke of the realm. Your wedding is scheduled in a few weeks! Invitations have been sent. Breaking it off now is almost downright impossible without destroying our family's reputation permanently."

​He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "Furthermore, rumors from the court suggest that High King Kaelen himself favors Duke Julian’s efforts in hosting Lady Sansha. The King respects her alleged bloodline. Unless an order to dissolve this union comes directly from the High King himself, Julian will never allow you to walk away and humiliate him. It is impossible, Grandi."

​Diora listened quietly to her father's warning. A slow, breathtaking smile spread across her face—a smile filled with the razor-sharp confidence of a master strategist who was already three steps ahead on the board.

​She looked at her mother, then at her father, her deep teal eyes gleaming with undeniable power.

​"Father... Mother..." Diora murmured softly. "What if I have a way to break off the engagement, destroy Julian's standing, and marry someone far higher than a Duke? Would you support me then?"

​Her parents gasped, exchanging a look of absolute, paralyzed astonishment.

​"Marry... someone else?" her mother whispered, her jaw dropping. "Grandie dear, who on earth could you possibly be talking about?"