Capítulo 5 CHAPTER 5

The days following Marcus Kane's unsettling proposition brought a wave of unease over the D'Armont estate. Elaine had tightened her operations, called upon trusted allies, and doubled the security on her trade routes, yet the shadows of treachery seemed to grow thicker with every passing moment. Her mind oscillated between strategy and suspicion, knowing her enemies lay both outside her gates and within them.

Elaine stood at the central balcony of her estate, gazing out at the sprawling lands under the D'Armont name. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting the skies in hues of amber and crimson, as if warning of battles yet to come. For the first time in days, her thoughts drifted to her past life, to the moment when everything was wrenched away. That haunting betrayal, the dagger's kiss, and the icy grip of death that followed-they were carved into her memory as vividly as the blood that had soaked her gown that fateful day. She had vowed that no such end would meet her again. Not this time.

That evening, Elaine called for a private meeting with Gérard Lefevre in her study. The room was lit by a solitary chandelier, its soft glow casting long shadows across the mahogany furniture. Gérard entered promptly, carrying a small bundle of documents tucked under his arm.

"You summoned me, my lady?" he asked, bowing slightly.

Elaine gestured to the chair across from her desk. "Sit, Gérard. We have much to discuss."

He obeyed, placing the documents on the table before him. His sharp eyes met hers, a silent exchange of trust and urgency passing between them.

"The investigation into the southern routes?" she prompted.

Gérard opened the bundle and pulled out a detailed map marked with red ink. "As suspected, my lady, the attacks are far too coordinated to be mere banditry. These are targeted strikes against your trade caravans. We've identified three main points of ambush."

Elaine leaned over the map, her eyes scanning the locations. "And the culprits?"

Gérard hesitated before responding. "My sources indicate that a faction within the neighboring Veridian Guild may be involved. They've recently allied with Edmond... unofficially, of course."

Elaine's hand curled into a fist on the table. Edmond's name resurfaced yet again. It wasn't enough for him to betray her in their previous life; he sought to undermine her even now, in this second chance. But he would learn that this version of Elaine was not so easily subdued.

"Prepare a decoy caravan," she said, her voice as cold as steel. "Staff it with my most trusted guards. If these attackers strike again, I want them captured. Alive."

Gérard nodded. "It will be done. And what of Marcus Kane? He's been seen conversing with some of the newer guards."

Elaine's expression darkened. "Keep an eye on him. Marcus is a man who thrives in chaos, but chaos can also be his undoing."

Later that night, Elaine decided to pay a surprise visit to the estate's outer barracks. It was here that the new guards, recently recruited to bolster her security forces, were housed. Dressed in a simple cloak to conceal her identity, she strode through the dimly lit corridors, her boots echoing softly against the stone floor. The smell of steel and sweat filled the air, a stark reminder of the estate's militarization.

As she turned a corner, she heard voices coming from one of the chambers. Pausing just outside the door, she listened intently.

"The Lady D'Armont may pay well," a gruff voice said, "but Marcus Kane's offer is far more... lucrative."

Elaine's blood ran cold. Pressing herself against the wall, she strained to hear more.

"He's promised us a share of the spoils once the southern caravans fall," another voice replied. "Says he has a way to ensure the blame falls on the Veridian Guild entirely."

Elaine's mind raced. Marcus was playing both sides, orchestrating her downfall while pretending to be a loyal ally. It was a dangerous game, and one she would ensure he lost.

Carefully, she stepped away from the door, her heart pounding. She needed to act swiftly, but also strategically. Confronting Marcus now would tip her hand, and she couldn't afford to show weakness. Instead, she would use this information to lay a trap of her own.

The following day, Elaine summoned Lúcia to the gardens under the pretense of enjoying tea together. The two women sat beneath a grand oak tree, the estate's lush greenery providing an illusion of serenity. A delicate porcelain tea set lay between them, but Elaine had little interest in the tea itself.

"You've been quiet lately, Lúcia," Elaine said, her tone light yet probing. "I hope you're not keeping secrets from me."

Lúcia's laughter rang out, melodic and practiced. "Secrets, my dear Elaine? Whatever would make you think that?"

Elaine took a sip of her tea, her gaze fixed on Lúcia over the rim of her cup. "Oh, just a feeling. After all, you've always been so... resourceful."

Lúcia's smile faltered for the briefest of moments, but she quickly recovered. "Resourceful, yes. But my loyalty has always been to you."

"Has it?" Elaine asked, her voice soft yet cutting. "Because I can't help but wonder why Edmond has taken such an interest in you as of late."

Lúcia's eyes widened slightly, and she set her cup down with a faint clink. "Edmond and I share a mutual understanding. But surely you don't think..."

"I think," Elaine interrupted, leaning forward, "that you're far too intelligent to act without purpose. And I think that purpose may not align with mine."

For a moment, the two women locked eyes, the tension between them palpable. Then, Lúcia smiled once more, a hint of defiance in her expression. "You always were perceptive, Elaine. Perhaps that's why you've managed to stay ahead of your enemies."

Elaine's lips curved into a smile of her own, though it lacked warmth. "And perhaps that's why I'm still alive."

That evening, Elaine reviewed the reports from Gérard and the intelligence gathered from her spies. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, revealing a web of deceit that stretched farther than she had anticipated. Edmond's involvement with the Veridian Guild, Lúcia's ambiguous loyalties, and Marcus Kane's machinations all pointed to a coordinated effort to dismantle her empire.

But Elaine had one advantage her enemies didn't: the knowledge of their betrayal before it could come to fruition.

She drafted a series of letters, each one tailored to a specific ally she trusted implicitly. These letters contained coded instructions to prepare for a counterstrike against her enemies. She couldn't afford to wait for them to make the first move; she needed to strike decisively and without mercy.

As she sealed the final letter with the D'Armont crest, a knock at the door drew her attention. "Enter," she called, setting the letter aside.

Marcus Kane stepped into the room, his presence commanding as always. He carried a folded piece of parchment, which he handed to her with a slight bow.

"A message for you, my lady," he said. "It arrived just moments ago."

Elaine unfolded the parchment, her eyes scanning the words. Her heart sank as she read the contents. It was a warning from one of her spies, detailing an imminent attack on one of her southern outposts. The attack was scheduled for the following night.

She looked up at Marcus, her expression unreadable. "Thank you, Captain. You may leave."

He inclined his head and exited the room, leaving Elaine alone with her thoughts. The timing of the message was suspicious, as was Marcus' involvement in delivering it. Yet she couldn't afford to ignore the warning.

Elaine rose from her chair, her resolve hardening. If her enemies thought they could outmaneuver her, they were gravely mistaken. She would meet their attack head-on, and she would ensure that the D'Armont name remained unshaken.

The game was accelerating, and Elaine was ready to make her next move.

The following night, Elaine stood atop the southern outpost's watchtower, her cloak billowing in the cool night breeze. The outpost was heavily fortified, with guards stationed at every corner. She had personally overseen the preparations, ensuring that her forces were ready for anything.

As the moon climbed higher into the sky, a distant sound reached her ears-the rumble of hooves and the clatter of weapons. Her enemies had arrived.

Elaine signaled to her men, and they sprang into action. The gates were secured, archers took their positions, and the soldiers prepared for battle. Elaine herself descended from the watchtower, her presence a steadying force among her troops.

The attackers emerged from the darkness, their faces obscured by masks. They moved with precision, their formation indicating professional training. But Elaine's forces were ready. The clash of steel echoed through the night as the two sides collided.

Elaine fought alongside her men, her blade cutting through the chaos with deadly precision. She had trained relentlessly since her rebirth, determined never to be caught off guard again. Her movements were swift and calculated, a dance of death that left her enemies reeling.

By the time the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, the attackers had been repelled. Several had been captured, as per Elaine's orders. She stood amidst the aftermath, her sword stained with blood but her resolve unshaken.

One of the captured attackers was brought before her, his hands bound and his mask removed. To her surprise, he was not a Veridian Guild member but one of her own guards.

Elaine's eyes narrowed. "Who sent you?" she demanded, her voice cold.

The man remained silent, his defiance evident. But Elaine would get her answers. She always did.

The battle was over, but the war was far from won. Elaine knew that her enemies would stop at nothing to see her fall. But she was prepared to fight, to scheme, and to outwit them at every turn.

This was her second chance, and she would not squander it.