Abiona looked back and forth to check whether anyone was listening to the conversation. Saying his name out loud was like attracting attention. Most people who lived in the lower parts were not aware of Lord Dominick's existence as their life went by only surviving the cruelty of the world.
"Prudence, this land we live in was once a kingdom," Abiona said, keeping her voice low. People knew history, but information always gets twisted as it goes from one ear to the other. "Not just Dewrest, but the entire country of Adglar was a monarchy. It was only a few years back, the government took over and Adglar became a Democratic-Republican nation. We were babies when this happened"
Prudence listened intently. She knew the government was struggling with the management of its established rule and only recently had they elected and assigned governors to different states.
Abiona continued, "When the nation of Adglar was a kingdom, Dewrest was its capital, it being the largest province and now the largest state. If the crown had not ceased its rule, then the Dominick's would still be in power and His Grace would have been the crown prince. Maybe even the ruler of Adglar. But he no longer has that power, even though he is still respected as the last royal blood of our kingdom"
"He must have some power," Prudence creased her eyebrows as she asked, "Doesn't the royal blood still get a say in the official matters?"
Abiona nodded, "yes they do. In fact, since this is a new government, His Grace's opinion is considered absolute and is usually asked after discussions on matters are completed. So in a way, he still has rule over Adglar, but only the most important affairs of the nation go through him, so that the new government does not cause an unnecessary mishap and especially not get on His Grace's wrong side."
Prudence did not understand what bad would happen if the government got on this man's wrong side. His days of rule had never come as from what Abiona said. He would have been the king if the power had continued, but it did not and that man doesn't actually have any hands-on experience of running a kingdom.
Both the girls were walking as they spoke. Prudence was inside the fence, holding Daisy, and Abiona walked outside. Coming to the end of the fence, both of them took a turn to go deeper inside the horse farm where the stable was located.
Prudence looked at the sky as a bird flew by. The sky was less cloudy, but it looked different to her today.
Till yesterday she shared this blue blanket only with humans. But with the co-existence of the night creatures revealed, she had become more aware and her eyes now searched for not just red eyes amid the crowd but also faces that worked for the underworld. Possibly men sent by Don Sam Murray.
"What is his full name?" Prudence asked, bringing her gaze back to Abiona. There was no one around them and evening was approaching, it was time to close the horse fam. Abiona's hazel eyes quickly swept around the surroundings.
She leaned towards Prudence and whispered, "Vincent Dominick, never say it out loud. He has ears everywhere."
Prudence remembered how the man she had danced with had mentioned the fate of people who referred to him by his name. However, the two girls were alone now, so it wouldn't be an issue. "This Vincent Dominick must have pretty long ears if they reach till here," Abiona giggled at Prudence's remark. "But Abi, why does he not like his name called out by people? It is not like he is the king now"
Abiona raised her eyebrows, "Because he is the King in shadows. He is no longer the king in bright daylight, but the darkness is from where he rules. Putting it more precisely, he controls over eighty percent of the Mafia and you know the underworld now runs everything from the background"
"So you mean he is the Mafia King and also holds the power of decision in government?" Prudence asked, confused. "That is like saying criminals govern our land"
Abiona chuckled at her friend's innocence. "Prudence, during the rise of the mafia, the officials and governments hunted the gangs like dogs, but it doesn't take a long time for darkness to shadow the light. The organised crimes rose uncontrollably, so much that the gangs now have their own set of judges and politicians in their pockets, and His Grace has all the gangs dancing over his fingers. So Vincent Dominick runs everything from the shadows with just one snap of his fingers, this apart from the powers he also holds as the last royal in the official government"
Prudence felt sweat form on her back. She was trying to tell herself Lord Dominick was not that big of a man, but in the light and even in the shadows, he ruled with a heavier crown now than what he might have had if he would have been the king of Adglar when monarchy existed.
Her mother had assured her that Abiona's father would handle everything, but now the anxiety doubled knowing about the powers Vincent held.
Abiona noticed the changed expressions on Prudence's face. She had seen Prudence after offending someone, and this amount of fear was the first time seen on Prudence's face. "Everything alright?" Abiona asked, placing her hand on her friend's shoulder. They had been friends since a very young age and Abiona knew how Prudence relaxed after knowing her father would sort things out. But it won't be wrong to be this scared if you had offended the death itself.
Prudence pulled up a smile that barely reached her eyes and nodded at Abiona. She walked ahead, "I will place Daisy in her stall and be back."
"Let me walk with you there," Abiona offered. Prudence did not respond with any words, just a nod. Her worry was increasing as time went by. Even if she did not have any nightmares yesterday, her thoughts right now were nothing less than one.
Prudence placed Daisy in her stall and removed the saddle that rested on the mare's back. She checked for any injuries and luckily there were none.
Her hand had gone red when the leather strap of the bridle was stopped by her palm, but the colour had receded now and she was glad it won't form any welts on her. Her mother would have been concerned to see those injuries, and she did not want to worry her more than what she already had.
Abiona looked around and there were only the two of them here, with almost all the horses back in their stall. She did not have to care about her dress today, as she had worn something comfortable that did not kiss the ground behind her.
"Prudence," she called, and Prudence hummed while continuing to groom Daisy. "Did something happen yesterday? I mean something to upset His Grace?"
Prudence's body stiffened at the question. Abiona had strictly mentioned to stay away from any red eyes in sight, but it was in front of everyone that the Mafia King had asked her for a dance. Prudence did not turn around as answered, "I think so"
Abiona's brows crinkled. She stepped closer to the stall, resting her hand over the lower wooden door that was closed, "Prudence, my father has already gone to solve the matter. He said it wasn't that big." Abiona waited for her friend to say something, but Prudence was avoiding her by continuing to groom Daisy. She diverted the topic, "You know, not many people recognise His Grace by his face. He rarely goes to social gatherings unless they are arranged by someone of high standing"
"Oh," Prudence replied, with just one word. Under different circumstances, her inner curious cat would have jumped into asking more and more questions about Vincent, but not today.
Abiona sighed, "come on Prudence, will you not tell your childhood friend what happened?"
The words had Prudence bit into her lower lip. She would share everything with Abiona. Her mouth was rather quiet today, Prudence herself didn't want to go through the events that occurred yesterday. "He invited me for a dance," said Prudence, "I was just a little bold during our conversation"
Abiona had her eyebrows raised in shock. "He himself invited you for a dance, and you shared the floor with His Grace?"
"Ya," Prudence kept her answers short. Although that was not the big thing she had done yesterday, but what had happened with the glass of wine and Don Sam Murray.
"Prudence," Abiona had a high voice as she exclaimed, and this had Prudence snap her head immediately towards her friend. "As much as I know, His Grace has never shared the dance floor with anyone. He usually meets and greets people who are important to him and leaves."
"Was it bad that I agreed to a dance with him?" Prudence was concerned enough, and this sounded something more troublesome.
Abiona shook her head, "No, but in so many parties and soirees I had attended, you would be the first to have shared the floor with him." Abiona wanted to continue and say she hoped that did not attract the jealous eyes at Prudence, but there was already enough worry on her friend's face that she decided to not say it. "You should maybe go with your mother someplace to travel away from here. Maybe Aunt Elizabeth's hometown. It would take you away from the worries here"
There were other meanings behind Abiona's words, but she chose to not say them. Even if Vincent Dominick was the Mafia King, there were girls from higher standing waiting to be his bride and receive the title of Her Grace.
"Maybe," Prudence said in a thoughtful tone. "I will ask my mother when I go home today. You should come by for a cup of tea"
Abiona smiled, "of course I will. Maybe I can convince my parents and accompany you on your holiday to Aunt Elizabeth's hometown." This brought a pleasant smile to Prudence's face.
"If you want, you can wait outside." Prudence offered, "It will take me some time here, to give food and change the waters for the horses in the stable"
"Okay, I will wait near the deck of Mr Carswell's house," Abiona smiled. As she turned around and her face was not visible to Prudence anymore, the worry lines appeared on Abiona's forehead. She knew Prudence was a daring girl, but also underneath that shell, she had a kind heart that was easy to be threatened using her loved ones. The reasons and strength for her fighting spirit came from persons she wanted to protect.
But the life of people belonging to the higher class was filled with filthy politics, and Abiona did not want Prudence to be exposed to that side of this world. Prudence knew how to fight for her people, but she was a kind person who would never like that environment where blood turned against blood.