Chapter 5 From one disaster to another
Days passed. When I finally opened my eyes slowly, everything around me looked unfamiliar.
The room was dark and quiet. Heavy curtains covered most of the sunlight. Portraits stood around the room.
Most of them showed a young man around my age. Maybe slightly older. He had sharp features and cold eyes. But my head hurt too much to think properly.
That's when I noticed, an old woman walked into the room like she owned the place.
Without warning, she pulled the curtains open.
Bright sunlight flooded the room instantly.
I groaned painfully and covered my eyes.
"I am sorry. Thank God you're awake," she apologized quickly.
I looked around in confusion. Where was I?
My mind felt blurry. Fear slowly gripped my chest because deep down… I already knew something terrible had happened.
But part of me was scared to remember.
Then suddenly everything returned at once.
The fortress, my parents, Goshen. Everything came back.
"My father… mother…" I screamed weakly as I tried getting out of bed.
Pain shot violently through my stomach the moment my feet touched the floor.
"You still need to rest. The wounds take time to heal," the woman said quickly. "You've been asleep for a week."
A week?
I looked down slowly and noticed heavy bandages wrapped around my stomach. Then I remembered the hot iron. I remembered Baron Chen. I remembered my father dying.
And worst of all, Zack's betrayal. Tears slid silently down my face. The woman watched me quietly before speaking again.
"I don't know what you have been through in the past, but right now you are about to go through worse," she warned. "Baroness Kome will stop at nothing to get what she wants. And now that she has you and calls you her personal guest, I feel there is more to it. Do not cross her path and do as she says." The woman said then she turned to leave.
"Where am I?" I asked weakly.
"The Canyon Barony," she replied before walking away.
My chest tightened. Another Barony.
Father always warned me about the other Baronies. He said Goshen was the safest.
I slowly got out of bed despite the pain and walked carefully toward the door. That was when I heard voices outside. I froze and listened quietly.
A man and a woman.
"Why are you hiding him from me?" a woman asked sharply.
"I am not hiding him. He's recovering and you're in your mourning phase," the old man replied.
"Ella told me he looks like Sluther," the woman whispered.
I frowned in confusion. Who was Sluther?
"I know you're mourning, but not every kid around Sluther's age is Sluther. Kome, please leave this boy alone," the old man pleaded.
"I want to see him," she said firmly.
"No, you can't."
"You know how dangerous it is if the council finds out about my dead son. They'll come for the Barony. A woman without an heir can never lead," she said coldly.
"So?"
"Ella said he is the same age as Sluther and I will do anything to protect this Barony. Let him act as Sluther. Since Sluther was exiled from birth and nobody knew him or his identity… he could be him."
My eyes widened instantly. What?
"How dare you say such a thing? A replacement for your son? You're mourning and all you think about is power," the old man snapped angrily.
"I will never give up what my husband built or watch the Barony fall into someone else's hands," she replied firmly.
"The boy doesn't seem ordinary. Judging by his outfit, he is the Baron's son of the Cotton Field," the old man said.
"You mean the Cotton Field, Baron Chen destroyed?" she asked.
"That makes it better. He already knows the rules. I won't have to train him much."
Fear slowly crept through me. What exactly was happening? Who was Sluther?
And why did they want me to become him?
Suddenly, footsteps approached the door.
I quickly rushed back to the bed and pretended to be asleep.
The sound of heels clicking against the marble floor entered the room.
A tall woman stepped inside wearing a long black dress that flowed behind her. Her sharp blue eyes studied the room coldly while expensive jewels rested around her neck.
Despite her beauty, there was something terrifying about her calm expression.
"Is this him?" the woman asked softly.
"Yes."
"He looks so much like Sluther. Same face. Same body. Skin tone… everything."
I felt her hand touch my face gently.
"Baron Chen may be looking for him. I only planned to save his life and let him go," the old man said.
"Baron Chen is a nobody. He wouldn't dare cross my path," she replied coldly.
"Brother, you have to trust me. I can't give up everything. This boy may be the only one who can save both me and this Barony."
I listened quietly, completely confused.
Was I not jumping from one disaster into another?
I escaped death only to enter another dangerous game.
Before I could think further, exhaustion pulled me back into darkness again.
Days later, I finally woke up properly.
This time, sunlight poured through the large windows while cold wind moved the curtains gently.
I stood quietly beside the window staring outside when Ella suddenly walked in.The maid who attended to me when I woke up the first time.
The moment she saw me standing, her eyes widened.
"You're awake!" she screamed excitedly before running out.
I frowned immediately. Was she mad?
Why was everyone acting so strange. Moments later, loud footsteps filled the hallway. Then suddenly, the doors burst open.
Several people entered the room together.
Among them was the Baroness. The moment she saw me, tears filled her eyes instantly.
"My son!" she cried before rushing toward me and hugging me tightly.
I froze completely in confusion. What the hell was wrong with these people? More strange faces filled the room. They looked like council men, servants and regents.
A man stood quietly at the corner with a cold dead stare.
"I am so happy you are alive, my wonderful son," the Baroness cried emotionally.
Excuse me? Who the hell is your son?
Get your filthy hands off me. Those were the exact words inside my head.
Then suddenly she pulled my cheeks affectionately. Pain shot through my face immediately. I groaned softly. She quickly stopped.
"I am sorry, son. I didn't mean to."
Finally, I spoke weakly.
"I am not your son."
The entire room fell silent. Everyone gasped.
