Reborn To Change My Fate-Chapter 103 - Hundred And Three

The carriage wheels rumbled rhythmically over the cobblestone streets of the capital, a steady, comforting sound after the chaotic noise of the Golden Swan. The heavy velvet curtains swayed with the motion, shutting out the prying eyes of the city, creating a small, private world for the two people inside.

Inside that small world, a sound echoed that had rarely been heard between them before.

Laughter.

It wasn’t the polite, social laughter of a tea party. It wasn’t the cold, mocking laughter of a political victory. It was the genuine, breathless laughter of two accomplices who had just pulled off a magnificent heist right under the nose of the King’s guard.

Derek leaned back against the plush seat, his head thrown back, his shoulders shaking. The tension of the raid, the fear of discovery, the pain in his arm—it all seemed to dissolve in the absurdity of the moment.

" The Grand Duchess’s harsh reputation will spread throughout the kingdom tomorrow by sunrise," Derek spoke, wiping a tear of mirth from the corner of his eye. He looked at her, shaking his head in disbelief. "A jealous shrew who storms into a dance establishment, screams at the Royal Guard, and accuses dancers of stealing her husband. They will write plays about you, Marissa."

Marissa sat opposite him. She snapped her black lacquer fan open with a sharp flick, the mother-of-pearl peony glinting in the dim light. She began to flutter it rapidly near her face, cooling herself from the lingering heat of the crowded hall and the adrenaline of her performance.

"I don’t really care," she said, though a small, satisfied smile played on her lips. "Let them talk. A reputation for being a jealous, unreasonable woman is a very powerful shield. People tend to avoid crazy women. It gives me space to work." She shrugged elegantly. "Besides, it is not the first time I have had a scandal involving me. I survived a lot of things. I can survive a few whispers."

Derek’s laughter faded into a warm, admiring smile. He watched her fan herself, the movement rhythmic and hypnotic. His expression grew curious.

"But tell me," he asked, leaning forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees. "Why did you come to the Golden Swan in the first place? You didn’t know I was in trouble. You didn’t know about the raid. What brought the Grand Duchess to this environment alone?"

Marissa lowered the fan just an inch, looking at him over the rim. Her eyes were sharp, intelligent, and strictly business.

"Money," she stated simply.

"Money?"

"I have taken over the household accounts, remember?" she said. "I was auditing the ledgers. I found a massive, unexplained outflow of silver. You withdrew significant funds for the dance hall renovations and ’maintenance’."

She raised an eyebrow. "I thought my brother-in-law, Carlos, was the only one wasting the family fortune. I came to see if the Grand Duke was also throwing gold into a pit."

Derek winced slightly. "Ah. The renovations." The money was actually to pay for information.

"Yes," Marissa continued. "I came to audit the investment. instead, I walked into a siege."

She snapped the fan shut and tapped it lightly against her chin. "I saw the guards. I saw the panic. And then I looked up and saw you on the balcony."

She leaned forward, mirroring his posture, her voice dropping to a lower, more conspiratorial tone. "You were shouting. You were stumbling. You were spilling wine all over yourself."

Derek smiled, a hint of his earlier ’skiver’ mask returning. "I thought it was a very convincing performance."

"It was terrible," Marissa said bluntly, though her eyes were dancing with amusement. "But it was loud. And then I saw Ian."

"Ian?"

"He was dressed in a kitchen servant’s tunic," Marissa explained, ticking the points off on her fingers. "He was carrying a bag like it was full of gold, trying to sneak out the side door while everyone was looking at you. It was obvious."

She lowered her fan completely, resting it in her lap. "You were the distraction. He was the objective. I realized that if the guards caught him, whatever was in that bag would ruin us all. So..." she shrugged again, "I decided to make a bigger scene than you."

Derek looked at her in absolute awe.

He had spent his life surrounded by soldiers, spies, and the royal court. He was used to explaining his plans, to giving orders, to dragging people along with him. He had never met anyone who could walk into a chaotic, dangerous situation, assess the board in seconds, understand the strategy without a word being spoken, and then execute a perfect counter-move.

"How clever of you," he breathed, his voice low and full of genuine respect. "You saw through it immediately. You saw Ian, you saw my act, and you secretly helped me without hesitation."

He sat up straight and, with a solemnity that surprised her, he bowed his head to her. It was not a mockery. It was a bow of deep gratitude from a commander to his most valuable strategist.

"Such quick wit is admirable, Marissa. Truly."

Marissa felt a sudden, strange warmth bloom in her chest at his praise. She looked away, focusing on the pattern of the rug on the carriage floor. "I just did what was necessary," she murmured. "Don’t make a fuss." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Derek sat back, his expression becoming serious. The laughter was gone now, replaced by the weight of the secrets he carried. He looked at his bandaged hand, then at her.

"About the funds," he began, his voice quiet. "And about what happened this afternoon. About why the Royal Guard is hunting me, and why Ian had to run."

He took a breath, deciding to trust her. She had earned it. "When the time comes, Marissa, I will explain everything to you. The truth about everything."

Marissa stopped fanning herself. The rhythmic swish-swish sound ceased, leaving a sudden silence in the carriage.

She looked at him, her face devoid of its earlier amusement. "No need," she said.

Derek blinked. "What?"