His Duchess is a Ghost (Novel) - Chapter 29 (Patreon)

For what felt like a long period of time, the duke and prince Arion’s gazes continued locking in a silent battle of wills. Each man stood his ground with a quiet intensity that spoke louder than words.

This silent standoff, seemingly stretching for an eternity, held Alena in its grasp. She watched anxiously, worried that the situation might escalate disastrously at any moment.

Desperate to intervene, Alena attempted to communicate with her brother. "Brother, please back off for now," she implored. But her efforts were in vain. The prince showed no sign of hearing her. It was as though he could not even seem to feel her presence at all.

So without a choice, Alena pestered the duke, telling him not to dare harm her brother. She still believed that the duke could feel her presence or even hear her. But no matter what she spouted, the duke’s face remained blank, as if he couldn’t hear a single word she was saying.

Just when the tension seemed unbearable, it was Prince Arion who yielded. The subtle shift in his posture signaled a retreat, a decision to deescalate the situation, causing Alena's shoulders to sag in relief.

“I admire your treatment of my sister, Duke Donovian.” Arion smiled politely. His charming aura returned in blink of an eye. “Then, I guess… I’ll come back another time.”

And so, just like that, the prince departed the hall.

Alena rushed after him, still trying to talk to him. But no matter what she did, her effort to get his attention, to at least make him feel her presence, was just… futile.

The generals who were in charge of escorting Prince Arion met him as he approached the gates. Arion greeted them with a warm, congenial smile, which they reciprocated with respectful bows.

However, as soon as Arion turned away from the generals, his expression transformed. His smile dissolved into nothingness. The warmth in his eyes was replaced by a chilling coldness, his gaze becoming inscrutable and enigmatic. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a side of Arion that was unknown or hidden to everyone, even to those closest to him.

The female attendant, riding alongside Prince Arion, broke the silence with a question, "Are we heading straight to the palace, Your Highness?"

Arion's response was a simple "Yes." With that, he spurred his horse into a quicker pace, the sound of hooves echoing on the path.

Determined to follow her brother, Alena moved swiftly in pursuit. But she was halted abruptly as she encountered the invisible barrier that bound her to the estate.

With her gaze fixed on the rapidly disappearing figures of Arion and his attendant, Alena’s hands clenched into fists against the barrier.

For another stretch of time, she remained motionless, unable to take her eyes off the path long after her brother's shadow had vanished from sight.

The rage in her chest was starting to blaze again. She could feel it rising and rising within her, like a sprout growing so fast. Unstoppable.

In that moment, she didn’t know why she suddenly wondered what would happen if this rage consumed her whole being.

Shaking her head to clear her mind, Alena turned around and immediately headed back to the castle.

She went straight to the duke’s dressing chamber. And to her surprise, the dagger was still right there where he placed it earlier. She had initially thought that he’d hidden it already!

Relief washed over her as she grabbed the weapon. As soon as it was in her hand, it also turned translucent.

Gripping it tight, Alena headed out to find the duke.

But the man was nowhere to be found again.

She searched every room, searched the entire castle upside down. Still, she couldn’t find him. His shadow, Zilal, was also nowhere to be seen.

Time passed, and Alena ended up hovering over the castle. Her gaze sweeping over the expanse of the sprawling estate.

Her mind worked in tandem with her eyes, sifting through possibilities and scenarios as she considered areas she might have overlooked.

___

CHAPTER 30>>