Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 138: Ulterior Motives ()

"Do not get involved...do not get involved...it is so easy for everyone to say. I also wish I can turn a blind eye..."

"I know I should but what can I do when I am unable to?" Menarx thought to himself as he came to a stop and glanced up.

Lost in his thoughts, he had not noticed where he was headed, it was only now that he stood outside the door to Neveah’s room that realization dawned.

How he had gotten into the ascending room and come all the way down to the fourth level was a mystery to Menarx and the dragon shifter could only heave a sigh.

"I must be losing my mind." Menarx murmured to himself as he stretched a hand to the door and pushed it open, stepping inside.

Menarx glanced around, the quarters assigned to Neveah was exactly as it had been when it was assigned, completely bare and lacking any decoration of any sort.

If Menarx did not already know where his own quarters were, he would mistake it for his.

"It should be a crime for a woman to be so..." Menarx trailed off, uncertain of the word to use.

He was not sure how he expected to find Neveah’s quarters, but he would have thought by now, a princess would alter such a plain room to suit her more luxurious preferences.

There were so many things Menarx realized were just his own assumptions, in actuality, he did not know much of Neveah’s personality.

"Between being brought here and serving as Xenon’s attendant, where could she have the time to bother with appearances?" Menarx murmured with a sigh as he closed the door.

Menarx could not tell why his feet led him here, since he could not bring himself to approach Neveah out in the courtyard, perhaps he had come seeking a moment of clarity.

Meanwhile out on the other side of Neveah’s door, Lady Adrienne had also just arrived, missing Menarx’s entrance by only a short moment.

"A council of riders will be called and it is unlikely the attendant’s room has not already been searched..."

Adrienne’s hand froze up as it lifted up to settle on the door knob, her mind reconsidering the step she was about to take.

The dragons were extremely thorough in their dealings and Adrienne had been away for an entire day, she was certain a search had already been conducted.

Adrienne gritted her teeth in annoyance as she realized she had miscalculated.

"I should have left it right from the start." Adrienne thought to herself.

It seemed her efforts to steal away the molt scales from Lord Everon would all go to waste.

But either ways, Adrienne needed to get the herb off her hands and the most secure place it could be hidden was the one place that had already been thoroughly searched.

"I will leave it here for now and then find a chance to make use of it." Adrienne thought to herself.

With that in mind, she twisted the door knob and pushed open the door.

The moment the door was opened, Adrienne froze up in shock to find someone was already within.

Menarx glanced over his shoulder, a single brow curling up at the new presence.

"L...lord Menarx..." Adrienne stuttered out, her eyes widening.

Of all people, she could never have expected to find Lord Menarx of ruby scales in here.

"Lady Adrienne." Menarx acknowledged, though his eyes narrowed suspiciously at Adrienne’s reaction.

Adrienne realized she had lost composure and quickly adjusted her expression.

"Forgive my intrusion, My Lord." Adrienne said in a low tone, lowering her head to a bow.

Adrienne’s actions were perfectly cultured, and portrayed deep respect and reverence.

"What brings you here?" Menarx asked, dismissing Adrienne’s formality.

"I..." Adrienne trailed off, the wheels turning in her head as she tried to come up with a justifiable explanation.

"I came in search of you, My Lord." Adrienne quickly said.

"In search of me?... Here?" Menarx asked uncertainly, glancing around their surrounding pointedly.

This was not a place anyone would expect to find a Lord Dragon of the King’s guard, even Menarx himself knew he had no business being here.

So why would anyone seek him out on the fourth level, in a room belonging to someone else?

Knowing Menarx did not buy her words, Adrienne quickly changed her explanation.

"I... I saw someone going in and I found it suspicious so I came to take a look. I did not realize it was you, Lord Menarx." Adrienne said apologetically.

"Oh? And you needed to begin with a lie?" Menarx asked pointedly.

Adrienne winced slightly, deeply regretting her decision to come here at all.

She always maintained a dignified and respectable image before the Lord Dragons, she had worked so hard to gain that image.

"I was caught off guard by your presence here, My Lord. I would never have thought you were the one I saw heading in."

"With everything going on, the rest of us have to be really careful of who cones and goes here." Adrienne explained.

"Everything happening? What kind of things?" Menarx asked.

"I mean, with Lord Xenon’s attendant under suspicion, I fear someone might come in here with ulterior motives." Adrienne replied in a forced calm tone.

"Ulterior motives? Hmm, I did not realize you would be so concerned for Neveah. You both must get along quite well." Menarx stated blankly.

Menarx did not relate himself with the residents of the keep, other than King Jian, the King’s guard, Lord Everon and his fellow dragon lords, Menarx did not interact with others.

However he was not ignorant of the happenings in the dragon keep and so Menarx knew well enough that Neveah had been the object of scorn since her arrival, particularly from the noble ladies.

"We have not had many chances to be acquainted." Adrienne replied with a quiet sigh for good measure.

Menarx pursed his lips slightly, he knew lady Adrienne was a well respected noble lady and she also was known for her kind nature and comely temperament.

But at this moment, Menarx could not help feeling something was off, as someone who had interrogated thousands of people in his lifetime,

Menarx could pick up the scent of nervousness anywhere and at this moment, it was all over Lady Adrienne.

Before Menarx could say anything else, a third presence stepped into the room.

She was a beautiful young woman that bore a striking resemblance to Adrienne and was dressed in a dark green riding dress.

"Sister?" Lady Keila called out, glancing between Adrienne and Menarx.

"Lord Menarx." Keila greeted with a small bow.

"Ah...Keila, you have been summoned to the council?" Menarx asked as he recalled the riders council.

"Indeed, My Lord. I have just arrived with Lodenworth. I came in search of Adrienne." Keila replied with a small smile.

Menarx hummed in response as he nodded his permission and the two fairies took their leave.

Menarx only lingered for a moment longer before he shook his head and headed out, the rider council would begin soon and his presence was required.

_________________

"What were you thinking, Addie?!" Lady Keila hissed furiously as she slammed the door to Adrienne’s room closed the moment they were within before she turned, fixing Adrienne with a fierce glare.

"If I had not come at that moment, do you realize Lord Menarx would be unto you? Do you know who he is?! Nothing escapes his notice!" Keila lectured.

"But sister..." Adrienne protested.

"When you told me of your dissatisfaction with the attendant, what did I say then?!" Keila demanded.

"You said to let go of it and not stir up trouble." Adrienne murmured in a low tone.

Adrienne’s lips trembled to be faced with her sister’s wrath but she held her ground.

"She is just some attendant, sister. Do you also have to be concerned with how I handle it?" Adrienne asked in a shaky tone.

"Addie! Lady Kaliana is dying! Do you understand?! The only rider on the King’s guard is dying!" Keila hissed, running a hand through her hair in frustration.

"His Eminence will save her, I am certain of it..." Adrienne defended.

"And what if he fails?! What then?!" Keila hissed.

Adrienne did not respond, she had no response to give so instead she lowered her head and kept silent.

If there was one thing Adrienne was certain of, it was the fact that her sister Keila could never bear to see her sad or down casted.

"Addie, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled." Keila said with a sigh as she walked over to Adrienne and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Just... I will take care of it. The herb and everything else, I will take care of it. You just forget any of this ever happened." Keila assured.

"As for the attendant, I think you should let her be Adrienne. A few altercations is not enough reason to endanger her life." Keila advised.

Adrienne nodded reluctantly but there was a dark look in her eyes.