Chapter 55:
Trials and Tribulations
"Any news?" Captain Beau Laurent asked as he turned his body backwards towards the footsteps he heard running up behind him. With his hand tightly clutching his sword in his hilt, a lower-ranked knight hurried up to Beau's side as Beau stopped his short journey down the long, bright hallway in the castle. The knight decided to join him in his brisk walk, their faces grim as their capes fluttered behind them.
"No, sir. Since you left, they haven't said a word." His comrade said, shaking his head lightly.
"That's to be expected. There's not much more they could say." Beau said grimly, his lips down turned and his eyebrows furrowed.
"I have the documentation you asked for, Captain Laurent." The knight said, pulling his cape aside and grabbing a rolled up parchment out of the breast pocket of his uniform. He passed it to Beau, who took it with a nod of thanks, "The details of the attack have been outlined by the investigation squad. I also added what you asked me too."
"Perfect." Beau said, shooting the relieved knight a smile. As they continued forward, Beau opened the parchment and read it over quickly. Beau nodded repeatedly, happy with the results. He then rolled the document back up and stopped walking, which caused the knight next to him to stop too, "Excellent job. I will be sure to let your superior know of your diligent work."
"Thank you, Captain Laurent!" The knight said, bowing his head at Beau.
"That is all I need. Be on your way." Beau said, the parchment tight in his grip.
"Yes, sir!" The knight barked back, saluting before hurrying away. Beau watched him hurry away for a moment, making sure the knight turned the corner, before he continued on his way to Prince Clarence's room. This information had to arrive to the crown prince as quickly as possible. Since the queen was busy addressing the candidates at the moment, and with the king's poor health keeping him in his bed, it would be Prince Clarence who would ultimately decide the fate of the poisoning culprits.
Walking down the emptied hallway, Beau approached the prince's sitting room before he turned to the knight guarding the door and said, "Go assist the other knights while I speak to the prince." Everyone was familiar with Clarence's recent unpleasant temperament. Ever since Clarence had emerged from quarantining himself in his room for weeks from an contagious, unknown illness, scaring everyone away, he had seemed like a whole new person. The sweet, shy prince the servants once knew was gone, now replaced with someone with cold, mean eyes and a very sharp tongue. It had become the new gossip running rampant in the castle, and everyone was worried with Clarence's inauguration coming up quickly. The knight could only feel anxious walking to the prince's room in such poor circumstances, but being sent away by the captain was like a godsend. Hearing those words, the knight saluted Captain Laurent and then hurried down the hall, not waiting another moment before he turned the corner and disappeared out of view.
Standing with his fist raised to the door, Captain Laurent's eyebrows furrowed in irritation, but he calmed his expression as he knocked on the door of the room, announcing his presence. In only a moment, another knight opened the door and allowed Captain Laurent inside. The other knights saluted as Captain Laurent walked past them and entered the prince's bedroom, where Clarence had been resting in his bed. Alywin sat at a chair to the side of the bed, his face was flat, annoyance creeping into the fine features of his face as the Captain bowed his head at the foot of Clarence's bed.
"Your Majesty." Beau began, nodding his head politely, "Marquis Cyneric."
Clarence nodded his head, as did Alywin, and then he turned to the knights standing in the sitting room, standing guard. "I would like to speak to the captain alone. You will be called back when we are done speaking."
With a deep bow to the prince, who looked dignified and refined even with his pale and weak complexion, they hurried out of the room. Clarence watched them leave with a pointed eye, then turned to Beau with a heavy stare.
"So, you have news, I assume." Clarence said, his thin hands resting at his sides, on top of his dark purple duvet.
"I do." Beau said with a nod, loosening the grip on the parchment and respectfully handing it to Alywin, who held his hand out. As Alywin quickly read it over, Clarence turned his eyes back to Beau.
"So, did you think about what I said?" Clarence asked nonchalantly, his cold, blue eyes staring at Beau as if they saw right through him. For one of the few times in his life, Beau felt a shiver of fear run down his back.
"My answer has not changed, Your Majesty." Beau said coolly, squashing the fear he felt with a grim expression, "I will support you as the captain of the second division of the royal Moon Squad. I will do no more, nor no less." Beau put his hands behind his back, his stern voice ending that topic, "Now, if I may discuss what we found?"
"Proceed." Clarence said with a flippant flick of his wrist. He then took the opened parchment that was offered by Alywin, who had finished looking it over. As Clarence began to read it, Beau began reciting what the parchment said,
"The culprits were a servant in the kitchen and her lover, one of the newly hired butlers. They both separately said they were given a large amount of money by a disguised person to put crimson nightroot in Prince Clarence's food. The butler was then tasked with distracting the royal physician, and taking him far enough away that he would not make it back in time to save Your Majesty." Beau sighed lightly and continued, "Neither of them have any idea about the appearance or identity of the disguised figure. The servant said she was recruited at night during her walk home after work, and her lover was added to their plans shortly after. Anytime either of them spoke to the person who recruited them, they stayed in the shadows and only mumbled. She did say that the accent seemed Bethellian, but even now she is not sure."
"So the question now is what to do with them." Clarence mumbled, dropping the parchment on his lap and rubbing a hand over his eyes.
"That is correct, Your Majesty." Beau said coolly, "I will recite this information to both His Majesty, the king, and Her Majesty, the queen, but I felt it was only right to speak to you first. It is up to you what their punishment will be, though I recommend waiting and speaking to your father, the king, for advice on how to proceed-."
"No need." Clarence said shortly, getting looks of surprise from both Alywin and Beau, "Did you get all the information out of them you could?"
"Clarence, I think you should think this through-" Alywin began, but Clarence held up his hand to silence Alywin, to Alywin's great annoyance.
"Yes, Your Majesty. They were both questioned thoroughly. It is my opinion that they have nothing more to add to their confessions."
"Then kill them." Clarence said shortly, pushing the parchment away from him. Alywin gasped in surprise as Beau shut his eyes and nodded grimly.
"Clarence, you can't be serious." Alywin said, incredulous, "They may have committed a crime, but you can't just kill them! Besides, what if they remember something later?!"
"They did not just commit a crime, they attempted to murder the future king of the Yursear Kingdom. That is treason, Alywin, and they will be punished as such. I think I made myself clear, Captain Laurent?" Beau nodded and saluted Clarence before he turned and exited the room briskly. When the two were finally alone, Alywin picked up the parchment resting on the floor and shook his head,
"Clarence, this type of behavior will cause animosity in the kingdom. No one will know what they did, so have them exiled instead." Alywin said sternly.
"No, Alywin." Clarence snapped, his brows furrowed and his lips turned into a scowl, "My father was right, a stern hand is the only way to run a kingdom. If those assassins are let off so easily, others will think they can try to kill me as well. No, this is the only way." Clarence pulled the blankets off himself slowly and sat on the side of the bed. With a push, Clarence stood up shakily.
"What are you doing? The doctor said you needed to rest!" Alywin said, standing over Clarence, his hands out in case Clarence fell. Clarence grabbed Alywin's arms with a smile, which immediately softened Alywin's frustrated, frowning face. Clarence then leaned heavily into Alywin's arms, causing Alywin to sigh and wrap his arms around Clarence, to give him support.
"Will you help me over to the window? I want to look outside." Clarence said with his familiar, warm smile. After he looked over Clarence, Alywin begrudgingly nodded.
"The doctor better not see this." Alywin warned, supporting Clarence as he leaned against Alywin, "Or he will yell at me for letting you out of your bed."
"Don't worry, he won't." Clarence said with a knowing smile, which Alywin raised his eyebrow at.
"What did you do?" Alywin asked slowly, eyeing Clarence closely.
"Nothing." Clarence said, using a sing-songy voice, as Alywin helped Clarence make the short distance over to the window. Clarence put out his hand as they neared it, and then he leaned his body against the window. Alywin shot Clarence a look, but Clarence smirked and looked outside the window, refusing to answer. Alywin sighed again, something he found himself doing quite frequently lately, and joined Clarence in looking out the window. They both looked out, taking in the views of the large, immaculate palace grounds, and the city beyond. Servants ran all around in the palace grounds, carrying different cleaning supplies and bundles of cloth.
As Clarence watched them, he pressed his fingers against the window sill, momentarily covering them with his fingers as the small figures continued to move around the grounds, "Don't they look like insects from here?"
Alywin laughed sharply, "Those are people, Clarence, not insects." Alywin leaned his body against the sill, looking over his shoulder at the chaos on the grounds.
"Yes, but don't they kind of remind you of insects? They look so easy to just crush under my fingers." Clarence said, his eyes closely watching the small figures before he dramatically pressed his finger against the window, as if he was trying to kill a fly that landed in front of him.
Alywin stood up from the sill and turned towards Clarence, reaching out and grabbing his hand, which pulled it away from the window. Alywin held Clarence's thin hand tightly, staring at Clarence's face, whose face quickly turned bored and disinterested.
"Don't say that, Clarence." Alywin whispered, still holding Clarence's hand tightly, "Please. It makes me nervous when you say things like that." Clarence sighed and rolled his eyes, then squeezed Alywin's hand, as if Alywin's plea pulled him out of his dark thoughts.
"You're right. I'm sorry." Clarence said, his lips turned upward into a smile, but his eyes flat. With an annoyed huff, Alywin dropped Clarence's hand and looked away.
"I forgot, there's something I need to do." Alywin said, keeping his eyes averted as he stepped away from Clarence.
"What is it?" Clarence asked, slowly rising from the window sill.
"Nothing. I'll be back later." Alywin said with a weak smile as he began walking towards the door, "The guards will be back soon anyway." Alywin shot Clarence a weak nod before he slipped out, closing the door quietly behind him. As the uncomfortable silence began to fill the room, Clarence turned back to the window.
"You can come out now." Clarence said, his eyes never moving from the window, even when he heard movement from behind him.
"How long did you know I was there?" The figure said, stepping out from the ceiling down to the ground, thumping quietly onto the intricate rug.
Finally, Clarence turned back to the covered figure with a smile, "It was just a guess."
…
"Good morning, ladies." The queen pronounced as the doors to the room opened, revealing the queen's rigid, regal appearance in person, "I do apologize for this morning. I'm sure that scared you all, but please let me explain what happened, and you will see it was simply an accident." Queen Racliffe smiled at the group with a heavy air of oppression, making it impossible for any of the other nobles to get in a word before she stood with her hands in her lap, her train still held by a group of attentive servants. The chill in the air hung around them, and the group of candidates stood with bated breath, waiting for her next words.
Smiling, the queen addressed the group in a clear, pronounced tone. "During our meal this morning, the prince had eaten his food too quickly, which caused him to choke." The queen's words were simple, but there was an air of rehearsal to them that made them ring together oddly. No one was willing to address this though as the queen continued, "After seeing the royal physician, he has been deemed healthy and is currently resting. Do not worry, as he is currently in excellent health."
Many of the women thought to themselves, In excellent health? Then why didn't he come here himself? While other, more suspicious candidates wondered, Did Prince Clarence really only choke? Though some of the more naive candidates were willing to believe the queen's words at face value. Some, however, became more and more pale at the thought of an assassination attempt happening under their noses, and the thought of their own lives being at risk. Under the daylight, they looked far paler under their light makeup. Many of the women began fanning themselves as they listened.
"Now that today's events have been addressed, I am open to answer any questions you may have." The queen's expression was warm, as was the tone of her words, but even Charlotte found herself unable to ask the queen for any more information directly. The queen's eyes were narrow, piercing as she scanned the gathered group of women. After a moment of distinct silence, Queen Racliffe's expression relaxed and she clapped her hands together lightly.
"Wonderful. The rest of today's events have been canceled, as to let Clarence recover mentally in peace, so please rest and relax. Activities will resume tomorrow. Until then." The queen smiled once more as the young women curtseyed towards the queen, thanking her. With that, the queen turned on her heel and left the candidates in the hall. Her heels eerily clicked down the silent hall, slowly becoming quieter and quieter, until they could not be heard at all. It was not until then that the candidates resumed their gossip, some looking far more unsettled than others.
"Choking? Oh, please. Prince Clarence obviously has been poisoned, but they won't tell us that." Duchess Cordelia from the Vartien Kingdom began, waving her fan at her face lightly as she spoke, her tone blasé as she rolled her eyes, "If the assassin thinks that will scare me off, he's wrong. It just shows how important Prince Clarence's role is, that's all."
A nervous-looking noblewoman from the Bethillian Kingdom spoke next, "So he was poisoned? Do you think that the assassin will target us next?" The young woman's short silver hair moved slightly as she lightly tugged at the tip of her hair. Some of the other girls gasped at the thought, while the others shook their heads, feeling such an event would be highly unlikely.
"If a simple poisoning is scaring you this much, then maybe you should leave now." Cordelia replied, continuing to fan herself. The young noblewoman's face immediately reddened, but before she could reply, Cordelia continued, "Assassination attempts are an everyday part of royals' lives. If you are afraid after something small like this, then you are not fit to be a candidate to become queen."
Duchess Ophira Carrillo, a tall, light-blue haired candidate, brushed her hair away from her face as she spoke up in a soft voice. "It's only natural to be scared, Duchess Cordelia." Ophira rested her slim, pale hand on her cheek, her expression heated as she said, "The Yursear Kingdom is facing a difficult war with those evil, sneaky elves. They are constantly vying to overthrow the throne from their disgusting little hideaways. Thank goodness that the Yursinean royal family is used to such petty attacks."
Hearing Ophira's words, Philomena smiled and said, "As duchess of the Eastern Plain District, you of course would be familiar with the political climate of the kingdom, Ophira." She then turned her head slightly to the side as she continued, "Though some of the candidates here are unfamiliar with the political affairs outside of the confines of their kingdoms."
"Oh, really?" Ophira immediately replied, smiling coolly, "I just assumed other countries were as thorough in their education as the Yursear kingdom is. I apologize for my ignorance."
Countess Annmaria from the Vartien kingdom, who had stood by and remained quiet during this entire exchange, finally opened her mouth as she smiled, turning to Ophira, "Please don't apologize for your ignorance, Duchess Ophira. Many of the women here have travelled extensively, so they are more familiar with other countries' customs and education." Annmaria smiled sweetly, her rouged lips turned in a way that seemed mischievous, "Though I may not be as educated as you, I would be glad to share some of my travelling experiences, if that would help you."
"What a kind offer." Ophira said with a bitter smile as some of the other women tried to hide their snickers, "But I have traveled extensively, thank you."
As the sharp conversation began to lull, the women turned their discussion to the current political climate of the kingdom. Charlotte, who had stood off to the side and watched the encounter between the group, shot a look over her shoulder at her knight, who stood straight behind her. His eyes focused on a departing figure, a long dress train in the crook of their right arm as they hurried away from the group and down the hall. Charlotte and her knight took special interest in the fact that the woman, who was obviously a marriage candidate by her expensive dress, was without an entourage of servants, as was customary, no matter where they went. Watching the familiar figure disappear, Charlotte asked her knight in a quiet voice, inaudible to the women only a short distance away from her. "Who was that?" Her voice was cold.
The knight bowed his head lightly as he responded in a low, quiet voice, "I believe it was Marchioness Olicia Hallan of the Faelfier Kingdom." His eyes darkened as the suspicious figure left the queen's palace, traveling to what could only be the main palace.
Charlotte walked towards the front door to the large room, where the figure had disappeared. She looked towards the left, where the figure had fled, then turned her head towards the right, "Follow her." Charlotte whispered as her and her entourage began walking to the right. Her knight bowed shortly, then slipped off into the darkness to the left.
…
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Early update for me, as I'll be working a 13 hour shift tomorrow (ah, I can already feel the fatigue...). As for the characters in this chapter, check out the novel page and see the character information page! I have all their names, titles, and essentially who they are. I have a note of my own for just that stuff to keep track ;D If you have any questions, shoot us a comment/ message and Hunny or I will get to it when we can!
And I did that fancy job interview today! I was interviewed by a panel of 5, which was intimidating but it wasn't my first panel interview so it was good on that point! They sounded enthusiastic, so fingers are crossed! Hardest part was remembering what I put on my resume (haha)
Thanks so much for reading. And huge thanks to Hunny for working ahead on this chapter. All editing by me will be done later ♥ See you all next Wednesday! I also drew some art non-related to YMtK, which you can see on my insta or twitter so if you're in an artsy mood, go ahead and see that :D