"Have they been bullying you again?" James extends a hand to help Gene up but her body still feels numb. Tears of relief start flowing down her cheeks. "Oh my goodness, are you alright?" The old janitor leans in to pull her up. "Can you stand?"
"I think so." Gene answers after a moment. James helps her out of the closet she was locked in.
"You might want to open your eyes." James' words make Gene look at him in a peculiar way.
"But my eyes are open."
"Are they?" The man asks. "Lady Siv."
Siv's eyes fly open and are met with the darkness of the cell she is still in. Nobody came to save her, it was just an old memory from the past.
'I haven't had that damn dream in years.'
Siv tries to stand, she has to get over her fears if she wants to survive this. She has no idea whether Gunvor is trying to kill her or whether she just wanted to take some kind of revenge, but she is not going to wait to find out. She staggers to the door and starts banging on it.
"Help!" She screams.
'There has to be someone out there who will hear me, right?'
***
"I really think we should tell brother, or at least Lord Benson." Brjate whispers.
"I have a plan to get information from her faster, then we can tell Brandt." Bodil tells him eyeing the pale girl sitting on the sofa. She had managed to accompany the girl to her room thinking that she might feel more comfortable here and tells her everything.
Bjarte sighs.
"You can go now, I will take care of this and tell brother after."
"If we get in trouble, you're taking the blame."
"Fine." Bodil is starting to get impatient with her brother's cautiousness.
After he leaves the room, Bodil walks to Gunvor and sits next to her. Her eyes are wide open, her breaths are short, and her right leg is bouncing uncontrollably.
"I asked for some tea to calm you down." Bodil starts.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Please, call me Bodil. We are family after all." Gunvor is taken by surprise for a moment, but then she gives her a big smile. Her shoulders relax a bit and her anxiety sees to be tamed.
"You are right, we are family."
"That is why I want to help you Gunvor." Bodil takes the young girl's hand in hers. "I heard your conversation with your maid. Are you in trouble?" Lady Vagle hesitates, so Bodil squeezes her hand and nods at her in understanding.
"I might have made a mistake."
"What happened?"
"Do you promise to help me Bodil?" Tears form in the edges of Gunvor's eyes. "I do not want to be disqualified, please. I really love Prince Brandt."
Bodil feels the urge to squeeze Gunvor's hand until it breaks, but she refrains herself. At least for now.
"To be honest, I do feel that you are the best match for my brother."
"Really?" The girl squeals.
'I thought she was just dumb, but she is also naive. Perfect.'
"Why of course. You are the only Rouva related to my mother, the queen" Bodil pats her hand. "That alone gives you an advantage."
"So, does that mean I won't be disqualified even if I made a big mistake?"
"Of course not." Bodil is starting to get annoyed with the girl, but her kind expression does not falter. "Now tell me what happened."
The young girl confesses her actions and where she had locked Siv. It takes a lot of control from Bodil to stay calm. Her mind keeps drifting to how it would feel to beat up the girl or what kind of punishment would be satisfying to watch her go through.
"Alright, I will take care of this." Bodil reassures Gunvor. "You don't have to worry, just go to sleep for now."
"Could you… Could you please stay with me until I fall asleep?"
'You must be joking.'
"I am too scared at the moment. Please, Bodil."
"Of course."
Lady Vagle's maid helps her change quickly and she is in bed in no time. Bodil sits on an armchair by the girl's bed and tries to be patient. The girl will get what she deserves.
'Just a few minutes.'
Bodil opens her eyes to the sunlight hitting her face. She blinks a few times and groans when she feels the pain in her neck. Her eyes fall on the sleeping Rouva and then it hits her.
"Bullocks." She stands from the chair ignoring her aching body. "How could I fall asleep?" She runs out of the room in the direction of her brother's room. But she finds it empty.
'Of course he is not here, he was probably awake all night looking for Siv, unlike me.'
"Ugh."
Bodil rushes to the only other place where her brother spends most of his time, his study. Her heart is pounding so hard. How could she just fall asleep knowing that Siv is spending the night in a cold and dark cell in the dungeon. She decides to apologize to her friend when she sees her and treat her to whatever she desires.
'I just hope she is alright.'
Bodil does not stop when she reaches Brandt's study, she pushes the door open and enters.
"Brother I…" Her words die in her throat at the scene.
The Dowager Duchess of Roros is sitting on the desk wrapped in Brandt's arms. He has his tongue down her throat and her fingers are entangled with his hair. Bodil can't blink her widened eyes.
'How could my brother do such a thing at a time like this? I must be dreaming. Maybe I am still in Gunvor's room.'
"Bodil." Brandt's voice brings her back from her thoughts.
Bodil has always respected and admired her older brother. He had to go through so much since he is crown prince and will be king one day, so she sympathized with him and encouraged him all the time. The image of that brother was shattered in one moment. She has never felt disappointed in him until now.
"It is not what you think." Brandt takes a few steps toward her.
"Don't you dare lie to me, brother. I am not a stupid little girl you can deceive with your pathetic excuses." Brandt freezes at her words. She has never spoken to him in such a manner.
"Right, you're not."
"I will be taking my leave now, Your Highness." Bodil walks out of the study and Brandt is left with a heavy heart and an overwhelming feeling of guilt.