Her eyes went wide when he extended his hand out to her. The brunette did not hesitate to take it.
After this dance, she won't regret anything when everything ends.
Pupillam closed the distance between them; this action surprised her. But she bravely did so, Pupillam felt his arms wrapped around her waist. The contact felt strange and yet familiar, back when he taught her the art of the blade. They often had to get close with each other like this.
He wrapped his arms tighter around her waist and Andrew smiled warmly at her.
That moment broke when she felt her feet hit something, "Stupid you stepped on my foot again."
There she goes again, getting lost in her own thoughts and not focused on dancing.
"I'm sorry--!"
Allen deeply sighed and yet tightened his hold on her hands, ah this hand it's different from the one from her dream. But she had also felt this one a long time ago. Back then however it was different; the circumstances were different. The only thing that remained unchanged is their status. Even now her status and his are too far from each other.
Once the music stopped, Pupillam automatically let go of his hands and turned away, " Thank you, your majesty."
....
The Following Morning - Amethyst Palace-
Pupillam stretched her arms as she made her way down to breakfast. It's the day after the party, and the tense atmosphere that had occupied the castle up until now had disappeared. Instead, Pupillam felt refreshed. That dance yesterday must have cleared up her remaining doubts. Like this, things shall return to normal. Pupillam opened the door to the breakfast hall, only to halt.
She thought she woke up early and expected him of all people to still be fast asleep. When they returned in the carriage last night, he appeared tired. But instead of sleeping in, here he is at 5:00 am in the morning, drinking his coffee elegantly. Occasions like this, Pupillam can't help but get lost in thought. To think the person, she got to know back then is an elite. Although Pupillam noticed that Andrew had an aura around him that was unlike other people.
Pupillam silently observed him for a long time before; a voice called out, "Why are you still standing there? Come over here."
"Y-yes," Pupillam said startled.
Since he saw her Pupillam had no choice but to enter the room. Though she wanted to sit at the very end, all the food was at the top and though it reached the middle of the table. Pupillam knew it would look rude if she were to sit away from the host. After much internal debate, Pupillam strode across the room and took a seat beside him on the left.
"Yesterday, during the ball," Andrew immediately started a conversation.
Pupillam mentally facepalmed, even if she felt calm about what happened. It did not mean he felt the same way. She most likely troubled him with how casually she asked him to dance.
"Yesterday you danced very bad."
A dark aura appeared around her then; he said that so bluntly! "Huh…I'm sorry."
"But, I found it quite entertaining."
She glared at him then, entertaining? "Well then, I'm glad you're entertained," Pupillam reached out for the bread and angrily took a bite out of it. What's with that arrogant smile of his? It frustrated her.
....
In the room, Lady Gabrielle stayed in during her pregnancy. There was the foul smell of medication; regular medication did not smell this bad. So Pupillam knew the doctors resorted to desperate measures.
"Gabrielle, what's wrong?"
"Honey," the woman's voice called out, "I don't think I will make it...Please the child, at least save the child."
Pupillam's eyes widened when she realized what was going on. She turned to the doctors, who ran around in circles. Anyhow who saw this scene would see a group of doctors trying their best. But Pupillam noticed the look in their expressions; they looked defeated. These people have already given up hope.
Andrew's expression darkened as he turned to the others, "What are you doing? Do something about this."
"Prince, we will try, but the lady's health has grown increasingly weak since she came here to the Amethyst palace."
That's too much of a coincidence, Pupillam knew the First Prince thought the same thing. The man quickly turned to search for the attendant that generally accompanied the Lady. However, there were no traces of her.
"Where is that woman?"
"Prince, the other day she resigned..."
Andrew slammed his fist against the wall, due to the strong force of his hands a small crack formed on the wall. Lady Gabrielle extended her weak hands out, "Andrew."
"How many more hours?"
"Tomorrow morning, if nobody finds the antidote."
It relieved her that they figured it out so quickly. Dying from childbirth is normal. However, the rate the Ladies condition declined was too suspicious. Somebody who usually is so healthy. Pupillam put the pieces together; her attendant put poison in her food every day. A slow acting poison that slowly causes the body to degrade.
A poison that degrades — Pupillam's eyes widened realizing, and she immediately turned to the door. However, Andrew's voice called out to her, "You shall not leave."
"But this is---"
It's clearly Somina's work.
That's right; there's one person. One other person who knew about her and Prince Andrew. It was a mistake on her part. During that incidence, she accidentally blurted it out. She wanted somebody to take her last words to the Prince, just in case she didn't survive. How careless of her.
Andrew shook his head.
"You mustn't."
The one who said those words, however, weren't the Prince. But the weak person on the bed. Lady Gabrielle attempted to sit up.
"Gabrielle lay back down."
"My chest, the chest I keep in my room. Bring it here," the woman's words were weak. But Andrew sent somebody to fetch it. Moments later somebody returned with the box in their hands.
Gabrielle reached out and opened it, from where she stood Pupillam could make out several documents.
The woman extended her hand out and passed it to her, "Queen, give this to the Queen."
"This...?" Pupillam said.
"I looked into the situation from three years ago for her. What happened during that battle, I think it would come in handy. Alongside the reason behind Queen Orthez death."
The reason? But didn't they find it already? Or is there more to the situation than meets the eye? Or rather, this situation made her dizzy. Somina, why? Why would she do this? Is the grudge from before that deep? Why even affect somebody completely unrelated. Prince Andrew aside, she shared no connection with Lady Gabrielle. Doing this is awful.
"Even if I die Andrew, this isn't the end. Things are just starting. That's why I prepared for this situation," Gabrielle spoke.