Chapter 85
The remote villa perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Adriatic Sea was a stark contrast to the chaos of the past few days. It was surrounded by dense forests and steep, rocky terrain that made it nearly impossible to access without a guide. The isolation should have been comforting, but Celestina’s nerves remained on edge as the small boat docked at a hidden cove.
An older man stood at the edge of the dock, his weathered face stern but kind. He wore a simple coat, his silver hair ruffled by the breeze.
“Viktor,” Dimitri said as he stepped out of the boat, helping Celestina onto the dock.
“Dimitri,” Viktor replied, his deep voice steady. He glanced at Celestina, his sharp eyes softening slightly. “This must be Celestina. You’re safe here. Come, let’s get you inside.”
Celestina hesitated for a moment, studying Viktor’s lined face. There was something about him—an air of authority and wisdom—that made her feel a small flicker of reassurance.
“Thank you for helping us,” she said quietly.
Viktor nodded. “You’ll have time to thank me once you’re truly safe.”
The villa was modest but well-maintained, with thick stone walls and heavy wooden beams that spoke of its age. The air inside smelled faintly of cedar and sea salt, a mix that Celestina found oddly comforting.
Viktor led them into a cozy sitting room with a roaring fire. He motioned for them to sit as he poured tea into plain ceramic mugs.
“I’ve been expecting this for some time,” Viktor began, handing them their drinks.
“You’ve been expecting Kael’s betrayal?” Dimitri asked, leaning forward in his seat.
Viktor nodded. “Kael was ambitious even as a young man. I knew it would lead him down a dangerous path. But I never thought he’d go this far.”
Celestina’s hands trembled slightly as she held her mug. “You knew Kael?”
“I was his mentor,” Viktor said simply.
Her eyes widened. “You taught him?”
“I did,” Viktor admitted, his voice heavy with regret. “Kael was brilliant—quick-witted, strategic. But he was also manipulative. He craved power above all else, even back then.”
Celestina looked down at her mug, her stomach churning. “He fooled me. I thought he loved me.”
“Kael doesn’t understand love,” Viktor said softly. “He sees people as tools, pieces on a chessboard. You were never just a wife to him, Celestina. You were a means to an end.”
“What end?” Celestina asked, her voice trembling.
“Control,” Viktor replied. “Kael doesn’t just want power over Alvada. He wants to dominate its political dynasty. And through you, he believed he could do just that.”
Later that evening, Dimitri and Viktor led Celestina to a hidden room in the basement of the villa. Viktor pressed a sequence of tiles on the wall, and a concealed door slid open with a faint hiss.
Inside was a cache of weapons, maps, and stacks of documents. The sight left Celestina breathless.
“You’ve been preparing for this?” Dimitri asked, picking up a rifle and inspecting it.
“For years,” Viktor said grimly. “Kael was always dangerous. I knew the day would come when someone had to stop him.”
Celestina’s gaze fell on a stack of documents marked with Kael’s name. She picked up the top sheet, her hands shaking as she read. It detailed bribes, blackmail, and covert operations Kael had orchestrated.
“He’s been planning this for so long,” she whispered.
Dimitri placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll stop him, Celestina. We have the tools we need now.”
But Celestina wasn’t comforted. She felt the weight of every decision she had made pressing down on her, suffocating her. “All of this… it’s happening because of me,” she said, her voice breaking.
Dimitri turned her to face him, his expression fierce. “No, Celestina. This is not your fault. Kael’s actions are his own. You trusted him because you wanted to believe in love and partnership. That’s not a weakness—that’s human.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she shook her head. “But I let him into my life. Into my father’s life. I didn’t see who he really was.”
Dimitri’s grip on her shoulders tightened. “You saw the truth when it mattered. And you’re fighting back now. That’s what’s important.”
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the tension between them shifted into something softer, something unspoken. But Celestina pulled back, unwilling to trust even her own emotions.
That night, as they sat around the fire, Viktor broke the heavy silence.
“You need to understand something,” he said, his voice low and deliberate.
Celestina looked up at him, her heart sinking at the seriousness in his tone. “What is it?”
“Kael isn’t just after power,” Viktor said, his eyes locking onto hers. “He wants you, Celestina. That’s what he’s always wanted.”
The room seemed to freeze, the air growing impossibly thick.
Celestina’s voice was barely above a whisper. “What do you mean?”
Viktor leaned forward, his expression grave. “Kael isn’t trying to destroy you—he’s trying to own you. Every move he’s made has been about gaining control over you, your family, your legacy. To him, you’re not just a pawn. You’re the queen.”
Yes, you’re absolutely correct—Lord Hestrel is supposed to be in prison based on earlier events. Let me revise the outline for this chapter to align with the established narrative. Thank you for pointing that out! Here’s an updated take on Chapter 86, considering Lord Hestrel’s imprisonment:
