'Worthless.'
'Idiot.'
'Fool.'
'How could such a incompetent girl be our vessel.'
'Turn back.'
'Blood traitor.'
With each step her gods cursed her more.
She willed them to be quiet when she gripped the door handle. She begged them for once to let her make her own decision.
It was a thrill she had not experienced in a long time.
Seeing Beatrice's hesitation, Gi threw the door open. It was a room that Beatrice had never been in before. It looked like an average sitting room, but there was something about the atmosphere that unsettled her.
Two men sat in the room, their heads bent together, whispering about some secret thing. Beatrice instantly disliked one of them. He was tall and slender, the way noblemen were. He looked as if he had never even lifted a heavy item in his life. He had a charismatic smile that he tried to blind Beatrice with, but all it did was remind her of Karin's grin.
She could immediately tell he was a politician.
The man who sat beside him didn't even look at her. And yet, she didn't get the same skin crawling feeling from him.
"I'm Roman," the first man stretched out his hand, which Beatrice tentatively took. He pressed a light kiss to the back of it and she pulled it back as quickly as she possibly could, trying to look like it didn't affect her.
There was a long stretch of silence. Roman watched her with a smug grin. Beatrice shot Gi a look crying for help, but she was busy studying a map.
Beatrice cleared her throat. "Why am I here?"
"I was hoping we could help each other."
Beatrice narrowed her eyes. She really didn't like the way Roman spoke. Like he was already trying to play games with her. Her eyes flicked to the other man, who remained silent, practically blending in with the walls. "Who's he?"
Roman smiled, but it became a degree colder. "Ulrich, but don't worry too much about him."
Ulrich turned the corner of his lips up awkwardly and Beatrice realized too late that he was trying to smile.
She sighed, easing into a chair. She knew better than to come meet the person Gi was so eager about, especially after she spent so long studying reports. She was tired of thinking. All she wanted to do was turn off her brain, not try to skirt around whatever Roman really wanted to talk about.
It was stuffy underneath her veil. She wanted to take it off, but she trusted Roman about as far as she could throw him.
"My lord," Beatrice didn't even try to hide the exhaustion in her voice. "Please just be blunt."
The smile fell from Roman's face, but his eyes brightened. "I like you. May I call you Beatrice?"
"I'd prefer it if you didn't."
"Then what shall I call you?"
Beatrice gave him a cold look. "Don't call me."
"I think you'll like what I have to say."
"Then say it."
The smile returned to his face, but it didn't have the same falseness as before. "What if I said I could create a new world."
Beatrice leaned forward, putting her elbows on her knees. "What do you mean a new world?"
"A world where people had control over their lives. Do you think Karin is fit to lead?"
Beatrice smirked. Anyone that knew her knew she didn't like the way Karin ran their country. But what Roman was talking about was treason. She realized why he had been so vague when approaching the subject.
He made a risky move. Gi knew that Beatrice was not particularly fond of the archbishop, but the oracle was meant to be loyal to the church and it's leader. She could have Roman killed for making treasonous statements. The oracle could enact any punishment as long as it was for the sake of the gods.
But she liked his courage. And she liked his ideas even more.
"Karin is a leader chosen by the gods. Who do you suggest to lead?" Beatrice said carefully. She kept her cards close to her chest, avoiding agreeing with Roman just in case it was a trick.
But a trick like that would be a double edged sword.
Roman studied her carefully. Even Ulrich had finally turned his attention to her.
"The gods no longer walk among us. It should be the people who chose their leader."
Beatrice raised her eyebrows.
Roman continued, "Instead of having one ruling family that leads for generations, shouldn't the people be able to pick their leaders? If the rulers are decided by birth, there's no telling who will be cruel and who will be benevolent. We should have the right to control the power. Not just the nobles, not just the kings. We should give the voice back to the people. Make sure they never have to live under the rule of a tyrant again."
Beatrice grinned. She liked the idea of the people having power. No longer having to bow to anyone, it was something she had dreamed of since she was young. But it was not an easy dream.
"How would you do it?"
Roman frowned. "War is inevitable."
Beatrice scoffed.
"But first we need to garner the support of the people," Gi interjected.
"And what exactly would I be able to do for you?" Beatrice laced her fingers underneath her chin. "I have no power."
"But you could," Ulrich, ever silent, finally spoke. "You just need to reach out and take it."
"I am not a politician," she said carefully.
"No, but you could be. You could be a damn good one." Roman grasped her hand.
Beatrice pressed a hand to her forehead. He was causing her gods to scream, resulting in a migraine.
Her? A politician? The thought was utterly foolish. She could hardly keep track of the conversation with the man in front of her. She wouldn't be able to survive in a world made entirely of people like him.
She gave a desperate look to Gi.
"Beatrice," Gi spoke firmly. "Your life is already full of politics. Why not embrace it?"
Beatrice chewed on her lip. "I am ignorant to the way of politics."
Roman smirked. "I'll teach you."
"What kind of influence do I even have? I've barely spoken to anyone from outside these walls."
She felt an overwhelming guilt. Roman had such high expectations of her. She hated to know the disappointment he would ultimately feel when he realized she was useless.
She had always been useless. There was a reason Karin didn't involve her in his own politics.
She was better off as some pretty little toy. Something he brought out, just to brag that he had one, but never used.
But Roman looked at her differently. Through his eyes, she saw a use.
"The archbishop represents power." Roman reached up, running the fabric of her veil between his fingers. "But you, you represent virtue. And that is more powerful in people's hearts."
Beatrice thought back to a chess board in Karin's room. It was ornate, extravagant, but had never once been used. But what if she were to move a piece. Just a single one, just ever so slightly. The pieces would have a use then.
A game would begin.
Beatrice sighed, finally relenting. She walked to the desk at the edge of the room, retrieving a quill and paper.
"Commoners are important, but if it's war you're planning on, you'll need some support from nobles." She quickly scribbled down a few names. People that she knew from her spies that sympathized with the commoners and even some who didn't, but despised Karin. "Be careful with the way you approach it." She circled a few names. "Duke Messenger and Marquis Croiz are rich and hate Karin, but they won't support the idea of giving power to the commoners. They will want to take power for themselves. Let them think what they like and we'll deal with it when the time comes."
"So you'll help us?" Gi asked quietly.
Beatrice shrugged. "I've already committed treason. If I go down, might as well go down fighting."