DAYMARA:
Lord Dumont was said to want to celebrate a great feast, filled with circus, dance, and music performers. The reason for the celebration? None. The Duke only wanted to celebrate because he felt like it. No special reason. Which was common among the nobles of Alba Terra. Most used to be capricious, impulsive, indulged in pleasures without any remorse.
After Urma's "unfortunate" death, I strove to become Queen Antonete's new favorite. I quickly gained her trust and respect, and by the time Lord Dumont sent the feast invitation to the Queen, she asked me to accompany her.
"It will be quite a busy weekend," Her Majesty said. "And I need my trustworthy people."
The celebration would take place in a country house in West Granada, the region of Duke Dumont, near the border with the Duchy of the Mountains.
"You must be attentive to what happens there," The Vulture told me.
If the Queen went to the Dumont country house, I would surely be able to find some clue about the investigation into the death of Queen Catherine.
Eyes wide open.
I had never been outside the Crown Region, so I did not know beyond the temperate plains that surrounded the capital. That was my opportunity to discover other landscapes and cultures of Alba Terra.
We left on the fifth day afternoon. We only traveled three maidens, half a dozen royal lairs, including Sir Raymi, and of course, Queen Antonete.
The King did not accompany us, he was ill, as was normal for him. In fact, until that moment I realized that I had seen the King very few times. I felt him as a distant figure, even from his own wife, his Queen.
…
It was a week's journey through the royal road. When we arrived at the country house in the afternoon, we were greeted with kindness, lots of food, and lots of wine.
The house was huge, surrounded by a beautiful garden of roses and green trees. At the back, a huge lake with crystal clear waters stretched out, and next to it stood horse stables.
Inside, the house was filled with imposing paintings of former members of the Dumont house, as well as armors, antique vases, ornate gilt chairs and tables, and a bright, clean, polished marble floor.
Such a country house would have nothing to envy the palace of the most powerful dukes in the kingdom.
It was a show of power and wealth.
After resting and helping the Queen clean and dress, the nightly feast began.
Duke Dumont was a middle-aged man, quite handsome. With long black hair. Gallant, firm bearing, refined and cultured.
I thought I wish Sir Raymi was this handsome when he was older. Surely he would be.
The queen danced tirelessly with various members of the nobility from the western Granada, from the Mountains, and from the north of the Green Wall.
Her Majesty Antonete was a smiling, charming woman who bewitched men with her charisma. It was hard not to be captivated by her. And for some reason, the common people didn't love her as much as they loved the late Queen Catherine.
As I watched her dance, I wondered if Queen Antonete would be capable of something as terrible as murdering another woman, just to keep the Crown.
My head was bombarded by the memories of my hands-on Urma's neck… and how the light slowly faded in her eyes.
I tried to drive away such thoughts.
...
Jealousy can be a destructive force to fear ...
Surely the Queen would be capable of murder. I was able as well, just in my case, nothing was at stake like Alba Terra's crown.
I gulped and winced. If the Ashaasins were right, I might find out that Queen Catherine was indeed murdered.
That's why I was there, I had to be attentive. Any comment, any conversation, anything could be a clue for the Ashaasins.
"Maiden Daymara," a sweet voice snapped me out of my trance as I watched the Queen dance.
It was Sir Raymi. My heart jumped.
"Sir… Sir Raymi…," I said lowering my head.
I hadn't been able to see him in the eye since we left the capital. Every time he tried to do so, I saw the light in Urma's gaze, fading.
"Would you like to go for a walk with me?" He asked me.
I watched the Queen dance. I didn't know what to reply. My mission was not to take my eyes off her.
Eyes wide open.
"Unless you are busy," Sir Raymi said, some disappointment in his voice.
What to do?
Abandon my spy mission or accept the invitation of the love of my life?
Urma was gone, so… why was he inviting me? I had always dreamed of such an invitation. And it was finally happening ...
My mission or Sir Raymi?
"Um… yes, I'd love to go for a walk, Sir Raymi," I finally replied.
We went out to the beautiful gardens of the country house and reached the shore of the lake, which waters were touched by the incipient moonlight.
Sir Raymi looked me in the eye and I was not able to hold his gaze.
"I am sorry I have offended you in some way, Maiden Daymara."
"Offended?"
"Yes. I feel like you avoid me when I'm around. You don't look me in the eye and… it's like you don't want to be near me. I don't know what I did, but I'm very sorry. "
"No, no, no, please, Sir Raymi, don't apologize. You have done nothing wrong. It's just… Urma's sudden death has affected me greatly," I lied.
Sir Raymi nodded sadly.
"It has affected us all."
"She was a great friend of mine ...," I lied again.
"I believe that Urma's friends should be more united than ever. I think that's what she would have wanted, don't you think? "
"Yes, yes. I think so," I have never lied so much in my life. What had she turned me into?
"I wish we could spend more time together, Maiden Daymara," he confessed to me.
"You do?" My heart was beating so fast that I thought it was going to explode.
"Yes. I need to find a way to overcome this great pain that Urma's death has left me… and I believe that you and I can support each other. "
Why? Why was he still clinging to a dead woman? Why? Why? Why? Didn't he realize that I was alive? I was willing to give my all for him, but he was still fixated on that harpy Urma!
"You know, Sir Raymi," I said. "I think Urma would love for you to move on."
"Move on?"
"Yes. She would not have wanted you to be plunged into the abyss of pain, but to seek to give your heart to someone else. Someone who deserves it. A dignified, pure woman, who knows how wonderful you are. "
Sir Raymi looked out at the moonlit lake. His gaze turned cold and serious. He remained like that, silent. Then, he looked me in the eye, gulped, and said:
"I believe the maiden Urma was killed."
I almost fell backward.
"W-what?"
"Maiden Daymara, heard me, I think Urma was poisoned."
I felt the air was leaving me.
I diverted every ounce of force in my being to try to reassure myself.
"Why-why do you say that?" I asked stammeringly.
"Maiden Urma's bottle of wine was open, and two glasses were thrown on the floor. That means someone poisoned her. "
"That ... means nothing, Sir Raymi."
"Maiden Daymara," Sir Raymi gripped my shoulders tightly. "I swear I will find the killer, but I need your help."
"My help?"
"Yes. I need you to tell me everything you know, if Urma had enemies, or if she told you about some problem, some discussion, something that makes you think that she might be in danger. "
Why Sir Raymi? Why are you trying so hard to hold on to it? Why don't you let her go? Why can't you see me?
"No, my lord," I lied. "I have nothing that can help you."
Sir Raymi nodded in disappointment and released my shoulders.
"I see ... I'll have to go on alone," he said, staring back at the lake.
"You alone?"
"Yes. I have sent the bottle of wine to be studied by a poison expert. Soon I will have a lead on Urma's killer. "
For the Saints ...