Chapter 241: Taking Back the Wedding Dress
Ashley explained, “His wealth is astonishing. Counting everything here alone would take days. Besides this place, he has another location just for storing gold bricks. He’s been saving all this gold to fund his rebellion.”
Kolton glanced at her calmly. “You even know this much. It seems he truly trusts you.”
Ashley replied firmly, “No matter how much he trusts me, he is still a traitor. I will give my life to stop anyone who dares to threaten the empire.”
Kolton said nothing. He simply ordered his men to enter, categorize, and mark everything. Once the household was dealt with tomorrow, they would return for a full inventory. Just sorting and marking everything was already a massive undertaking. Ashley slowly stepped back, not interfering as Kolton and his men busied themselves.
Her gaze landed on a smear of red on a cabinet. She walked over slowly, reaching out to touch the finely embroidered wedding dress. She knew where it came from. She recalled the man riding in on horseback, swiftly changing the course of the battle.
She had known about Oliver for a long time, but like everyone else, she believed he owed his position as Great Marshal to his family’s influence and the Marquis of Eldermere’s support. When Oliver arrived in Zloimond on a covert investigation, she hadn’t taken him seriously. Someone so seemingly useless could never uncover the location of the weapons cache.
Still, to be cautious, she arranged a meeting with one of his attendants and bribed him to report Oliver’s movements. It was a good thing she did. When he finally found the weapons cache, she was able to prepare. But before she could relocate it, Oliver took drastic action, choosing to perish alongside the cache in a fiery explosion.
At that moment, she realized he was not the man the rumors described. She found herself admiring him. It was a pity he had been sent by the Queen Dowager.
The wedding dress was crafted by a renowned embroiderer from Zloimond, a master of her art, known for her unmatched skill. She never accepted commissions from just anyone. Such intricate embroidery would take most artisans three months or more, yet this woman could complete it in just over ten days—flawless, unparalleled in craftsmanship. He must have paid a great price for it.
Is it for Isolde? Is it worth it? She let out a mocking smile. A hero should never be entangled in matters of the heart.
She picked up the wedding dress, her fingers tracing the intricate embroidery. A thought slipped into her mind—this dress looked stunning on her, especially if the one standing beside her was him.
Suddenly, her hands were empty. The dress slipped from her fingertips, snatched away by someone else. She lifted her head and saw Isolde standing beside her, the wedding dress now in her hands. Her body was wrapped in layers of bandages, with two already stained red; her wounds had reopened from the strain of movement. Yet she stood tall, her posture unlike that of most women—back straight, shoulders level, chin lifted. It gave the illusion that she was not a delicate lady but a disciplined soldier.
Ashley smiled faintly. “Is this wedding dress yours?”
“You already knew,” Isolde said, her gaze devoid of warmth.
Ashley nodded. “Then take it. Anything belonging to a traitor will be confiscated by the Royal Court, so you should take what’s yours before that happens.”
Isolde let out a faint smile upon hearing Kamari called a traitor. “Ms. Charlie, you certainly made a wise choice.”
Ashley’s expression remained firm. “A wise bird chooses the right tree. From the start, I never intended to truly aid a traitor. I was following my grandfather’s orders to stay by his side, gather intelligence, and assist the Royal Court at the critical moment.”
Isolde smiled again, her gaze sharp and perceptive. “For a woman to have such clarity and loyalty, you’re truly admirable.”
Ashley replied coolly, “I don’t understand loyalty or righteousness. I simply follow my grandfather’s instructions.”
She didn’t like the way Isolde looked at her. It was as if Isolde could see right through her. Her eyes drifted back to the wedding dress in Isolde’s hands. The red was so striking that it stirred a faint irritation and restlessness in her heart.
Oliver followed Isolde’s trail to the storeroom. Seeing her standing with Ashley, he instinctively pulled Isolde to his side. “Your injuries are serious. You shouldn’t be walking. Come back with me.”
Isolde nodded obediently. “Alright.”
Ashley bowed. “Great Marshal.”
Oliver looked at her indifferently and did not even respond. He held Isolde’s hand and left.
Once they stepped out of Summit Pavilion, Oliver said, “From now on, don’t concern yourself with Ashley.”
“Alright,” Isolde replied, knowing that Oliver had seen through Ashley’s true nature.
Back in their room, Isolde attempted to fold the wedding dress, but Oliver gently pressed her down onto the bed, covering her with a blanket. Then, he carefully folded it himself.
Peeking out from under the covers, Isolde watched him in silence. Even though she had long known he was alive, the uncertainty of never seeing him in person had tormented her.
Now, seeing him right before her—his face, his eyes, the way he moved—it still felt unreal, like a dream. His iron hand looked remarkably agile. As he folded the dress, she noticed how his fingers moved, as if they were truly part of him. It was almost magical.
Suddenly, she reached out and grasped his iron hand. Tears welled up and fell, spilling over before she could stop them.
Oliver gazed at her with a warm smile. “It’s alright.”
“What happened?” Isolde asked hoarsely, her nose clogged from holding back tears.
Oliver spoke softly. “The armory was deep inside a mountain cave. It was vast and heavily stocked. It wasn’t just gunpowder; there were also finely crafted weapons and war chariots. If Kamari had truly rebelled, even if he couldn’t take Argentum immediately, time would have been on his side. He had wealth, supplies, and superior weaponry. He was a serious threat. My original task was only to gather intelligence. But when the information was leaked, Kamari deployed his soldiers to trap me. My men and I fought our way out and rushed up the mountain. I ignited the gunpowder, fully prepared to die in that moment…”
He looked at Isolde, his eyes filled with quiet regret. “When I set off the explosion, I ran, but the blast was immense. The shockwaves echoed through the cave, one explosion after another. Even though I had already reached the entrance, I was still thrown by the force of it. A hunter found me, but my injuries were severe. I drifted in and out of consciousness for a long time. He gathered herbs for me, but he couldn’t treat my severed arm. The wound festered, rotting, and reeking. Then, the Grand King Emeritus found me.”
When he spoke, his expression turned dazed. As he looked at her, pain flickered in his eyes—deep and soul-piercing. He said it casually, but Isolde knew that he had been on the verge of death several times. If the Grand King Emeritus hadn’t found him, he would be dead for sure.
“I came to Zloimond,” Isolde said, her voice soft yet steady. “I searched only in the mountains, never considering that you might have been rescued. That’s why I never looked beyond.”
Oliver gazed at her intently. “You came looking for me?”
She nodded. “Mm.”
He grasped her hand, unable to speak, his throat tightening with emotion. No one had expected him to survive. The explosion had been too massive, and it was an all-consuming inferno that should have left no survivors. No one had believed that anyone could make it out of that cave alive, especially since his sword had been buried beneath the rubble. After all, a warrior never parted from his blade. Even Kamari and Ashley had never considered the possibility that he might have escaped. It was only when they failed to recover his body that they finally sent people to search the surrounding areas. But by then, it was too late. The Grand King Emeritus had already taken him away.