Chapter 89:
The Final Announcement
"Well, come out and let me see." Malcolm called out from outside the simple carriage as he stood tall, his arms crossed. A smile rested on his lips, and the gold light in his eyes was full of amusement.
"Why do you need to?" Silas snapped back from within the rocking carriage. Malcolm could hardly contain his snickers as he heard a thud and cursing from within the carriage.
"Do you need a hand?" Malcolm called out again, squeezing his eyes shut and covering his mouth with his hand as he tried not to laugh, barely able to contain himself.
"No!" Silas shouted back sharply. More rustling and swearing came from within the small carriage before the narrow door was forcefully swung open and a flustered young maid stepped out, clutching the front apron of her dress with an angry expression.
As she stumbled down the carriage stairs, Malcolm bit his lip, trying with great strain not to laugh. This caused the young maid's face to redden as she yelled,
"If you have time to laugh, why don't you help me?!" She stopped, hoisting up her thick skirt and heavy petticoat layers as she tried to see where to place her feet, donning a pair of simple leather boots. Her feet were long but narrow, almost petite looking in the pointed shoes, but the maid found the shoes troublesome as she stepped down onto the ground, sighing before she slowly lowered her other foot onto the ground with some trouble, appearing like a newborn foal.
"You're right. I apologize." Malcolm said with a snicker, reaching out his hand to the young woman. "A hand, my dear servant?"
Silas snorted and ignored the duke's outstretched hand as he adjusted his boots, walking with some semblance of normality as he continued forward, adjusting his heavy gait with small, light footsteps, having remembered what Meredith had taught him while in the Khymal Empire.
"I knew it, you are a natural in women's clothes." Malcolm said with an approving nod as Silas quickly gained his footing, his steps growing in confidence as his body grew accustomed to the heavy weight and the wide girth of the skirts.
Silas continued walking, but took a moment to scowl at the smiling duke, "Please keep your opinions to yourself."
Malcolm shrugged, leaning against the carriage as he watched Silas walk in the new clothing. He turned his head, listening to what he thought was rustling in the woods, "When you're ready, my dear, we should quickly get you back into the carriage." Malcolm pushed off the carriage, quickly approaching the struggling Silas, who shot the duke a look as he suddenly changed his tone, "I don't want my favorite maid to catch a cold."
"What-?!" Silas could not finish his sentence as Malcolm placed his hand behind Silas's knees, lifting him up with a small grunt.
"Goodness, you're heavier than you look." Malcolm whispered as he readjusted his hands. Silas gripped Malcolm's shirt tightly, giving him a look of death.
"What do you think you're doing?" Silas heatedly whispered, causing Malcolm to grin again as he turned around and headed back towards the carriage with a light smile.
"It seems we have company in the woods. And we can't have anyone catching onto our plans when we're this close to the palace, can we?" Malcolm responded simply, his face relaxed as he placed Silas in front of the carriage step, urging him forward with a smile, "Now, it's about time we left, isn't it?"
While they had just arrived at the small clearing to stretch their legs before reaching Durbrame, it seemed there was no chance of doing so. Malcolm waited until Silas was completely inside the carriage before he summoned his guards, who were standing around a wide perimeter, with a snap of his fingers. He then gestured towards the wood with a nod of his head. The guards were alert, sternly nodding as some slipped away into the woods while others waited for the duke to enter the carriage. As a strange silence took over the woods, the coachman snapped the reins to lead the horses. The two horses, having only rested for a short moment, let out neighs of protest before they continued again.
Silas leaned over, trying to move the curtain to peek out the window, when Malcolm grabbed his hand. Malcolm immediately let his hand go, but his smile was stern.
"I wouldn't do that. We don't know who's out in the woods at the moment."
"All the more reason to look then." Silas said coldly, slightly pushing the curtain aside for a moment as he glanced out. As the carriage rocked, Silas's eyes scanned the landscape. Familiar trees stood tall in front of Silas, trees that used to grow around his home. His heart clenched painfully as he dropped his hand.
"Nothing?"
"No." Silas said coldly, turning forward.
Malcolm shrugged, "I didn't think there would be. Whoever is following us has been smart enough to hide their tracks this long. I wonder what made them slip now?"
"Maybe they are becoming desperate, because we're right outside the capital?" Silas speculated, annoyance dripping with every word.
"That definitely seems to be the case." Malcolm leaned back, placing his hands on his face as he dragged them down to his throat, "Why must I be so popular?"
Silas scoffed, slightly shaking his head, "Is that why you left the capital for so many years?"
Malcolm stared at Silas, his gold eyes staring down at him as a smile grew on his lips, "I wonder how much Eva told you about me?"
"It's pretty common knowledge that the crown prince's cousin, third in line for the throne, ran from the kingdom so as not to get his drink accidentally poisoned or to trip into the river in a drunken stupor."
"That was part of it," Malcolm said as he lowered his hands to his sides, "Have you ever been in love, Silas?"
Silas felt uncomfortable with Malcolm's sudden change of tone, especially with Silas being in costume.
"Why are you asking?" Silas asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because I think you could understand why I left the kingdom for as long as I did."
Silas thought for a moment before he slowly said, "It was for someone?"
"Yes. It was for the only person I truly love that I left my homeland for so many years." Silas was shocked by Malcolm's sudden intensity, "I left because I wasn't strong enough to protect them. I knew that, if I stayed, their association to me would only hurt them. That's why I promised myself I would only return to my home when I was strong enough to protect them."
"I loved my wife." Silas said quietly, his hands clenching at his sides as the words left his mouth without consent from his mind, "But because I wasn't strong enough, she died."
"I'm sorry." Malcolm whispered, his expression genuinely pained, "It's a shame that you and I are alike in that way. Though my most precious person is still alive, I haven't spoken to or seen them in years. I was too terrified any connection to me would put their fragile position in court in jeopardy. It's," Malcolm paused, "difficult, explaining to people this horrible ache that grows in your heart when you are parted with someone you love."
Silas sat quietly, unsure of what to say. He had said too much, but he could not help himself when Malcolm had bared his heart to him like he did. Silas was unsure why Malcolm had been so open with him, but he could only assume it was because in Malcolm's eyes, the two of them were in some ways similar.
"We'll be entering the capital soon. Are you ready?" Malcolm asked, breaking the silence. Silas nodded, his expression hardening again, "Don't forget to stay by my side. And if you need a rest from your disguise, you must let me know right away."
"You still haven't told me what I'm supposed to do once we're in the capital." Silas said. The carriage rocked again, hitting a rough patch of road that shook the two of them.
"For now, you just have to stay by my side while we are inside the capital. This is enemy territory for both of us, so it's best that we stick together. Once we are in the palace, I will make arrangements for you to meet your family. They'll be extracted not long after."
"So you won't tell me what you plan for me to do?"
Malcolm sighed, "I would, but what I need you to do depends on many variables. Once I know what is happening within the capital, I will tell you exactly what I want you to do."
"Do you want me to kill someone?"
"Maybe," Malcolm smiled, "As I said, it depends on what happens once we are inside the capital. I won't ask you to do anything I do not think you won't be able to."
So he is refusing to give me a straight answer. Silas bit down the anger that was rising within him, Fine. If it means I can save my family, I'll play your little game. But if you don't save them, Malcolm, I will kill you.
There was only one day left until the ball, just one day left until that long awaited moment. Silas would enter the palace, the den of his mortal enemies, to save his family. But it had been ten years. Silas worried if Cirdan and Aurelia would recognize him, and if his mother would be angry at him, having disappeared for so long. Would she even recognize him? He's changed so much.
The war was unpredictable, as was his family's reactions to their future reunion, but Silas could only hold the hope in his heart that they would miss him just as dearly as he did them.
…
The carriage ride had been smooth, though the long ride had made Cordelia feel more anxious than relieved. Victoria attempted to keep her company by telling her stories, even discussing what they would do once they returned home to the Vartien Kingdom, however, there was a sickening feeling hanging in the air, and Cordelia could not allow herself to stay still for too long. The short breaks they had taken to rest for the night made her far more anxious. With their safety in mind, and not trusting the hawk-like eyes of the carriage coach, Victoria made Cordelia rest as she stood watch, protecting her like an older sister.
Day was turning to night, meaning a day was quickly passing, leaving only one day before the Yursinean ball, where Clarence would announce his final selection for his future wife. Cordelia already knew who would be chosen. She was not a fool, and it was easy to see who had been manipulating those around her the most since their arrival at the palace. While many of the girls had been trained for this opportunity since birth, some of them were unprepared for the violence and aggression they would face, knowing that their futures would be decided upon based on a single decision.
Cordelia was afraid to return home. When she did, disgraced by the false accusations, she would no doubt be forced into a political marriage with another high-standing Vartien noble, most likely a man many years older than her selected by her father. As the only child to the Bernard duchy, whoever would marry her would gain the right to inherit her family's wealth.
She knew her father would be furious with her, ruining their family's reputation as she had. And she had not managed to capture the prince's heart at all. She had been imprisoned like a common criminal, and Clarence did not even wish her goodbye before she was forced out of the kingdom. Cordelia knew she was lucky to leave the kingdom with her head intact, but her anger at being betrayed by everyone around her, especially Sir Willis, who was supposed to be a fellow countryman, burned intensely within her.
Once her father's anger was soothed, she would demand vengeance.
"My lady, would you like a pastry?" The trip would be long, and it was difficult to prepare any freshly baked pastries in advance, but all of the snacks Victoria made were carefully prepared and saved, tasting just as fresh as they were made.
The windows had been darkened by the dimming daylight, marking the near end of the day, but Cordelia felt alert, very much awake for her lack of sleep. Victoria urged the small plate of cookies towards Cordelia, but with a wave of her hand, she rejected, sitting up in her seat. "No thank you. I've lost my appetite." Anxiety filled her stomach, feeding into her flesh like a swarm of famished flies. It kept building and building, as if something were going to happen soon, but Cordelia could only wonder what exactly.
Cordelia turned around in her seat to face the small window behind her that faced the coach driver. She pulled the purple, velvet curtain over to glance at the back of the driver, then dropped the curtain, turning back to face Victoria, who tilted her head in confusion as she smiled.
"It's nothing." Cordelia mumbled, looking down at her cheap cloak. She pulled at a stray thread that hung loose on her cape, twisting her finger as she wrapped the growing thread around her finger.
As Victoria began to pack away the pastries, the carriage suddenly began to slow down before it came to a full stop, causing Victoria and Cordelia to lurch forward, dropping the bundle of pastries to the ground of the carriage with a thud. The girls quickly sat up, and Cordelia pushed aside the curtain to the door of the carriage, watching as the driver approached the door.
"There's a problem with the carriage." The driver began, opening the door to the carriage with little care, rudely turning his back to the two women. "It might take me some time to figure out what. You're going to have to rest here for a moment."
Victoria's brows were furrowed as she picked up the small pastries scattered across the floor, kneeling uncomfortably in the narrow area. Cordelia looked over her shoulder at Victoria, then back at the coach, who had already walked back to the front of the carriage and had begun to rummage through his satchel, looking carefully for something inside.
Where are we? Cordelia wondered, feeling lost in the disorder. The area they were in was dark, covered by the high, heavily covered trees on a narrow forest trail. The stones in the path were small, but sharp, and Cordelia felt them under her feet at each step as she stepped outside of the carriage and glanced at their surroundings, her mind uneasy. Victoria noticed Cordelia's poor expression and she quickly exited the carriage, placing the basket of pastries back on the seat to dispose of later.
As Cordelia stared at the carriage, the coach spoke."Just like I thought. It's the wheel." The coach motioned for the two with a wave of his arm, looking tired as he said in a gruff tone. "There's a river over there in the woods. Go fill up your canteens while I fix this." There was a hint of irritation in the man's voice, as if he were angry that they had stopped so suddenly.
The anger in the man's voice felt awkward, and it made Cordelia feel uneasy, but Victoria was quick to take hold of the crook of Cordelia's arm and lead her away from the carriage in the direction of the river the coach had mentioned. If they listened closely, they could hear the sound of water flowing. Following that sound, it took only a short moment to approach the river bank.
"Let me fill your bottle." Victoria began, preparing to grab the canteen in Cordelia's hands, but Cordelia quickly shook her head, keeping her hold on her canteen as she said.
"No, it's fine. I'll fill it myself." Her words were short, almost brash. There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice that made Victoria feel just as anxious.
"Of course, my lady." Victoria said apologetically, which caused Cordelia to feel guilty, pushing her hair behind her ear as she sighed in frustration. Cordelia had not meant to snap at Victoria the way she had, but the anxious, murky feeling that made her body tingle with adrenaline was giving her a short temper.
It was as if they were just waiting defenseless as something horrible was lingering close in the foliage.
Cordelia shook her head, trying to dismiss the horrible, clawing feeling as she kneeled at the edge of the river, her hair tucked behind her ears as she filled the bottle with the fresh river water. Victoria stood to the side, facing the river with a small frown. The only sound that greeted the two was the sound of the water flowing, bringing a strange sense of calm across the two women.
"There should only be a short distance left before we reach the border." Victoria said, "I will ask the coach how far it is when we return to the carriage."
The canteen was already full, but Cordelia kept the bottle in the water, as if she were trying to wash out the inside. Her eyes were fixed on the leather-sewn item, as if something else were hidden inside. However, there was nothing, only spring water, that cooled her hands, making them turn pale and numb. "Thank you, Victoria." Cordelia said, lifting her hands out of the water, shaking the water droplets off. "Can you help me up, please?"
Carefully, Victoria bent her knees, reaching out her hand to help Cordelia, who was still facing the river, to stand on her feet. The two were distracted by each other, unaware of the soundless figure that had snuck up behind them, standing over their kneeling figures with a dark, murderous aura.
There was the sound of leaves rustling, and Victoria turned her head, noticing the shadow of a tall man overtaking their figures. Once she saw the item in the man's hand, she could not help but scream aloud.
"My lady!" Victoria screamed, causing Cordelia to slowly turn, her eyes widening as she glanced at the long, sharp knife held in the coach's hand. The man's grip was tight and nimble, demonstrating some skill with the weapon as he swung towards Cordelia.
The canteen dropped from her hands, hitting the ground as the knife was pressed to Cordelia's neck, reflected perfectly in her wide pupils.
…
We're back! Thank you all for your patience ♥ It was nice to take some time off of work and watch the cherry blossoms :D It was beautiful and peaceful, and we really enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy this chapter too!
I've been working on a game translation from Japanese to English for a friend, and there hasn't been a translation posted yet, so once I finish it I'll share it for you all. No spoilers there, but it looks fun! I'm translating all documents in the game as well as item interactions, so it will all be translated.
See you all next week! Hopefully I can power through my translation within the next week or so :D