Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 406: The Man He Is ()

"I know you must be really angry and disappointed." Lady Kaliana began a moment after Menarx stepped out.

"No, I don’t think you know." Neveah replied blankly.

"I owe you an explanation and an apology for why it was kept from you, but first, I want you to know that it was never His Grace’s idea, it was my request." Lady Kaliana explained honestly.

Neveah frowned slightly at that but she said nothing, letting Kaliana say all she needed to first.

"Keila came to me with the molt scales, a short time after the birth. By the time she did, the molt scales were already ruined."

"She told me she had done it, she was the one who had taken them and asked for punishment for endangering me and the child... I could not believe it but her confession had no flaws." Lady Kaliana continued.

"It would be treason if a rider plotted to harm another of higher rank, Keila would receive the highest punishment and though I knew the moment she came to me that there was only one person she would risk her ownself to cover up for, I could see her desperation to protect her sister."

"I didn’t want to make an issue out of it at the risk of hurting Keila and Lodenworth, the situation had finally calmed and it would just stir trouble if Lodenworth and Imagor heard, and so I never told anyone about it." Lady Kaliana admitted.

"But His Grace would not let go of the issue long after it quieted down, he is not one to let anything go unnoticed within his Keep. He traced the molt scales down to Keila and confronted Lodenworth about it, it was only then I told Imagor of it."

"His Grace was going to force Keila into pointing out the true culprit or face the council herself, we all already knew who she was protecting but neither she nor Lodenworth would reveal Adrienne’s name even at the cost of their lives...it was either punish the innocent or let it go." Lady Kaliana sighed heavily.

"I asked it of His Grace, I asked him to let it go. I also asked him not to let you know about it... "

"I know this may not help with anything, but I need you to know that it was never his idea to withhold justice from you, King Jian is fair and just...you must know this by now." Lady Kaliana said.

It was a fact Neveah could not argue with, the dragon king was many things but he was not a partial king, Neveah had come to understand that much.

"I cannot decide if it would be of any use to know why." Neveah murmured.

"It was never about Adrienne or you, it was Keila whom I could not hurt. I have known Keila since her early days in the Keep, Neveah. She has risked her own life to save mine on the battlefield more times than I can count, she is a dear friend... " Lady Kaliana trailed off realizing her words were not exactly helping the situation.

"I did not mean it like that..." Lady Kaliana began to explain but Neveah shook her head slightly.

"No, you’re right. Keila has been a friend and comrade to you decades longer than you have even known me, it is a difference I am fully aware of, that is all that needs to be said." Neveah said, nodding in understanding.

Lady Kaliana had protected who she valued more and most people would have done the same, it was the natural instinct of all men, Neveah was neither surprised nor hurt by it, it was just what it was.

"I won’t ask you to forgive me, I will only say that it was wrong of me to overlook the fact that you would be the one bearing the crime if the true culprit was never found."

"And for putting you through all that you endured, I am truly sorry. You are the reason I and my child are still living, you did not deserve any of that." Lady Kaliana apologized.

"I do not dare hope we can share anything close to the bond our dragons have, but I would like to be friends... I do not know about anything else, but it would be my honor to have you as a friend and as a comrade."

"Whatever you decide, I will respect it." Lady Kaliana finished and turned to take her leave but stopped. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"You know, the molt scales could not have saved me at all, it would only have delayed the inevitable. The circumstances under which we met were unfair to you and I am deeply indebted, but though it is selfish of me, I am glad you were there... and not the molt scales." Lady Kaliana admitted,

"At least that makes one of us." Neveah murmured.

Lady Kaliana headed to the door but stopped again, this time she turned around.

"Neveah, though those herbs would have preserved my life, they had a more important purpose."

"His Grace battles with insomnia, the severe kind where he just cannot find sleep for days on end."

"The tonic Everon brewed from the molt scales were the only thing that helped him sleep and these molt scales only grow once in decades, yet he gave them up for me... that is just the kind of man he is."

"I’m not asking you to understand him, I am only saying other than his brothers, His Grace has never been one to be considerate to others, a King must know to stay detached... his worries can only be that of the stronghold alone."

"On the day I requested him to keep it silent, it was the first time I saw him visibly concerned and reluctant about anything. It was hard for him...to be unfair to you." Lady Kaliana said quietly.

"About His Grace’s ailment, other than Everon and Rodrick, only the king’s guard know of it... I felt it right you know, your place on the king’s guard will forever be yours alone, whether you want it or not."

With that said, Lady Kaliana took her leave, leaving Neveah to mull over her words in silence.