Edmund still remembered the contents of the letter that had arrived at Olvera Manor during his first year as a royal guard. The main butler of the house had delivered the envelope to the Marquis, who with a reddened face was frantically beating his desk without stopping.
The letter contained a royal decree that was impossible to deliver; Thanks to the machinations of Count Solera, the Olvera house was framed under the charge of fraud against the crown.
Two days after the letter arrived, the kingdom officials entered the mansion grounds to place the marquess and his wife under arrest. Due to his position as a member of the royal guard, Edmundo received a different treatment from his family, receiving the condemning looks of the Marquise, who had always seen him as a bastard who usurped the place of his firstborn son.
At the end of the trial, the marquess and his wife were demoted to commoners and all their properties were seized by resolution of parliament. As a token of gratitude for the favor rendered, Duke Valera interceded for both Edmundo and Virginia to free the mark of slavery.
The young Virginia, still a minor, was taken into the custody of some direct relatives of the Marchioness. Being taken to the territory of Baron Eliseo, whose lands were adjacent to the eastern border to the kingdom of Tigris.
But in Edmund's case, things seemed to be going as if he was struggling to swim against the current.
"Having been found guilty of conspiracy to commit the crime of fraud against the crown, Sir Edmund Olvera is dishonorably discharged from the corps of knights in the service of his majesty King Edward II" – The army marshal who presided over the trial martial hit the table blunt to dictate that verdict.
The members of the jury made up of gentlemen of noble descent looked with contempt at Edmund, who was chained to a scaffold standing up while the arguments against him were presented.
Those looks full of repudiation did not cause a dent in the heart of Edmundo, who from an early age experienced the rejection of the people in the mansion, being a son born out of wedlock.
Nothing had changed for him, just ceasing to be a noble took a great weight off his shoulders by spending all those years away from his mother. Free from what he considered a golden cage, Edmundo took the liquidation that the army gave him and with a bag on his shoulder full of his belongings, he decided to start his trip back to the town where his mother was.
The only thing he could regret from the bottom of his heart, is that he would no longer be able to exchange correspondence with the dear friend from his days at the academy. Within a society with a marked separation of classes, the fact that a commoner contacted a nobleman by letters was considered an insult.
Although perhaps for Julia the remarks of the nobles within social circles could be insignificant, for Edmundo it was a great burden that he did not want to put on the shoulders of that woman who struggled day by day in that world as fragile as glass.
Before leaving the capital, the disgraced young gentleman guided his steps one last time to the sidewalk in front of the Valera mansion. Hiding his face with a hood and standing behind the trunk of an oak tree, Edmund watched Julia dressed in her majestic blue uniform leap into the stirrup of her horse, slapping the reins to start her gallop, letting her cloak billow in the wind.
That delicate face and her green eyes shining with the sun, made Edmundo's heart beat faster, making him put his hand to his chest with a sensation of surprise. What for some time he mistook for admiration, misfortune made him see that it was love.
A love that at the time he thought would never be reciprocated by the immense abyss that now divided them.
"Stop daydreaming. Now you are a commoner and she is a noble, they will never allow us to be together in this life." – Taking the fringe of his hood to hide his eyes, Edmundo walked down the street until he was lost in the horizon.
Using some coins from his severance pay, Edmundo took a few wagon trips to where the rural area began. Walking for days under the scorching sun and the inclement cold of the night on the plain, only stopping to buy something to eat and seek refuge in some sheds where he lay accompanied by cows or pigs.
By the time he arrived in his hometown, at least thirty days of arduous travel had passed, which was reflected in the wear on the soles of his boots and the dirt that impregnated the fabric of his clothes.
The townspeople barely saw him, thinking he was some wandering mercenary because of the sword that hung on his back and the bushy beard that hadn't been shaved for several days.
The looks of the people were somewhat irrelevant to the young knight, who could barely drag his feet a little due to the accumulated fatigue that took its toll on his body. The mere hope of getting home and opening the door to meet his mother was more than enough to make him forget that heavy sorrow.
Being only a few meters from the old house, the overgrown weeds in the meadow and the neglected appearance of the facade caused a fear to grow inside him, which became more acute as he took each step that brought him closer to his old home.
"Mother! Mother open me! It's me, Edmund. I'm back mother" – Knocking hard on the wooden door without hearing a response inside the house, Edmundo got desperate to the point that he tried to knock it down with a kick.
"There is no one in that house! It has been uninhabited for at least a year" – The voice of an old man who was pulling a cart with a pair of mules was heard in the distance from the path where the day laborers were walking.
-"Do you know where the woman and the old woman who lived in that house are?" – Agitated from running to catch up with the day laborer, Edmundo rested on his knees panting as he felt that each arch trying to draw in air was like needles stabbing into his lungs.
-"Your search is in vain, a year ago an epidemic hit these areas and claimed the lives of many people. The first to die were the old woman and her daughter who lived in that house" – Collapsing completely upon hearing those dire news, Edmund let his body succumb to fatigue and lost consciousness, refusing to accept reality.
The day laborer, seeing him down, tried to make him react but all his efforts were useless, leaving that stranger to his fate, who was left lying on the side of the road until nightfall. The wind blowing from the north brought with it storm clouds that gradually covered the night sky to make way for precipitation.
With the first drops of rain falling on his face, Edmundo opened his eyes feeling his head heavy as if he had a hangover. Trying to get up several times, falling over and over again until his legs responded.
His lips were so parched and his throat burned as if he had swallowed a brand from the fire. Forcing him to raise his face trying to drink from the rainwater that fell torrentially on the meadow.
Moving instinctively like an animal, Edmundo continued his pilgrimage aimlessly walking the path for hours until his legs couldn't stand it anymore. Convinced that fate had mocked him, the young man cried bitterly in the rain lying on the ground.
A short distance away, moving stealthily hiding the sound of his footsteps with the rain, a hungry wolf saw in Edmund an easy prey to devour to feed his young. Throwing his body against the young man, the wolf lashed out with his jaws searching for the warrior's throat.
By mere reflex, the knight moved his right arm to block the wolf's violent bite, feeling how the fangs pierced the leather of his forearm protector as it thrashed furiously trying to destroy the bone.
Sensing that he was about to languish, Edmund accepted his fate as the wolf's claws tore through the skin of his face, leaving a throbbing wound that ran through much of the flesh.
It was then that the sound of a rifle shot into the air reached the ears of the beast, alerting him to the presence of a poacher, forcing him to free Edmundo in order to preserve his life.
"There is no home to return to, there is no one waiting for my return. I'm just an outcast that even death refuses to take to the afterlife" – Dropping his arms to the ground, the young man felt how the blood that mixed with the rainwater ran over every inch of his skin.
"If you are so convinced of your words, then why don't you come with me?" – With his vision clouded by fatigue and blood loss, Edmundo saw a corpulent figure that extended his hand to him, remaining unconscious once again.
The person who had saved him at that time was a woman in her mid-thirties with a vigorous body that was more like a man's.
Carlota was a fighter who belonged to a corps of mercenaries called the silver fangs. Being in the service of a nobleman from Begonia, Carlota and her team were passing through that town escorting a caravan with merchandise from Antioca.
Feeling curious about Edmund, the young woman nursed his wounds for a week as the monsoon passed and she was unable to move due to the rising river. After hearing the story from the young man's lips, Carlota offered him to join the mercenary corps under her command.
Those days while Edmundo made his way facing outlaws protecting the caravans with his companions, the knight was recovering his desire to live for the simple fact of carrying the hope of meeting Julia again. Earning the admiration of his comrades-in-arms and somehow, drawing the attention of the nobleman he served.
As an ironic twist of fate, while Edmund was adopted as heir by that nobleman already close to the gates of death, the fall from grace suffered by Julia reached the ears of the knight.
Who looked for the slightest opportunity to free the woman who had won his heart in his youth, moving his influences and contacts to use the corruption that prevailed in the kingdom of Antioca in his favor.
"As I have told you so far, that is what has happened to me in all this time that we have stayed away" - Holding Julia's hands sitting opposite each other, warmed by the fire in the fireplace, Edmundo said those words with a feeling of regret in his heart.
– "What are you going to do with me? You have bought me at auction for a lot of money, I am your possession"
-"Am I that kind of man in your eyes, Julia!" – When Edmundo raised his voice exalted, Julia felt fear for a moment remembering Rafael's character.
Seeing the woman's reaction in front of him, Edmundo apologized to her and calmly explained what was about to happen. According to Begonia's slave laws, slaves acquired outside the territory of the principality acquired the status of citizens as soon as they entered the border.
Therefore, if they requested it from their buyer, they could acquire their freedom at the time they wished. Except for cases where slavery had been imposed for a punishable cause derived from a court ruling.
-"But I have been condemned by parliament for fraud against the crown. Begonia's law will not recognize my desire for freedom."
-"It will. Because you will not enter the principality as a simple slave, but as my fiancée" – Surprised by Edmundo's proposal, the young woman rejected it almost immediately after hearing it. For her the idea of marriage had never crossed her mind and less for ulterior motives such as getting rid of slavery.
-"Edmundo, what you are proposing to me is something that…!"
-"Julia I haven't finished talking! Just wait…" – Holding the girl by the hand, Edmundo tried to calm her down for a few minutes to continue explaining his plan.
Certainly Edmund was in love with her, but he was also aware that taking her as his wife in such a way would reduce her to a simple object. To him, Julia was a woman whose courage was unimaginable, someone who had earned his admiration for her tenacity and strength.
"Our marriage will be a contract marriage. We will be married for a period of one year as established by Begonia law to be recognized as valid and at the end of that time, I will give you a divorce if you wish. I will not touch you in private to respect your wishes, but in public we must pretend to be a very united couple" – The seriousness in the tone of Edmundo's words reassured Julia, who, remembering the time they lived as students, was aware that he noble knight never took advantage of the lady's secret.
- "Only for a year?"
-"Just as you heard"
Agreeing to that plan, Edmund extended his right hand to seal the deal with a handshake. Getting ready to rest that night before leaving in his carriage the next morning.
Three days after the royal banquet was over, the atmosphere in the Antioca palace was still as hectic as in the days prior to its celebration. The maids of the palace diligently prepared the princess's luggage, as well as the presents to be given as a dowry in marriage for the royal family of Tigris.
Walking through the palace gardens, Elena was thoughtful in the company of her maid Eunice, who like her mistress was confused in her thoughts as the date of departure approached.
"Sister-in-law, it's rare to see you outside your room. Do you feel better?" – Accompanied by a eunuch escort, Princess Sofia met Elena by chance while taking her walk through the castle gardens. Unable to feel comfortable with the presence of Eleazar's sister, she tried to be diplomatic by giving a brief greeting before hurrying away. Being held by the wrist by Sofia, seeing those honey-colored eyes stand out from the purple veil like two amber jewels.
– "The palace of Tigris is like a den of hungry lions. You must watch your back at all times and trust no one at all."
-"Are you threatening me?"
-"Take it as you like. But I recommend having someone strong by your side if you want to keep that beautiful and thin neck in one piece" – Finishing saying that warning, Sofia gave the order to the eunuch to continue on their way until they entered the palace.
Feeling her heart almost stop at the sight of that cold gaze on Princess Sofia, Elena felt the urge to head straight for the throne room.
-"Announce my arrival to the king" - Ordering the guard at the door to make way for her, Elena walked down the corridor that led to the throne where Rafael was sitting. Bending his knee and bowing his face reverently.
On one side of the king, seated at the right hand of the most powerful man in the kingdom, Miss Solera looked at Elena with expectation for what she was about to say.
"My brother, if I have found grace in your eyes, allow me to request a favor as a personal wedding gift" – Within the custom marked for royal political marriages, the law stated that the princess could request anything from the king as a dowry own before the nuptial commitment.
-"What is it about?" - With a monotonous voice as if he were being sharp, Rafael directed his empty gaze towards Elena, who was terrified to see those eyes that collided with the memory of what he had in mind about his brother.
"I want Sir Alfonso to accompany me as a personal escort to the kingdom of Tigris" - The silence that preceded that request made Elena feel fear for her brother's response, who remained unperturbed on the throne as if he were waiting for something.
"It will be done as you say princess Elena. Sir Alfonso will be released from his cell and will be placed under your command as you have requested." - Responding instead of Rafael, Berenice extended her hand in Elena's direction as a sign of approval.
The fact that her brother did not question or attack Berenice for speaking in his place, made manifest the doubts that the princess had since the day of the banquet. Somehow his brother was being controlled by Miss Solera, but there was no conclusive evidence that could help him unmask her.
Taking Berenice's position to her advantage, Elena accepted those words and withdrew from the throne room to go to the west tower.
Sitting as if time had stopped, Sir Alfonso gazed at the bars of his cell waiting for the day the verdict of the military council would be delivered. Holding her precious locket as she prayed for her mistress's well-being.
"Sir Alfonso, react" - His mistress's voice made him react, stopping suddenly to approach the cell door. The gloomy expression on Elena's face caused a hint of fear in the knight's mind, who, moved by duty, asked his mistress if something had happened to her.
-"In a few more days I will have to leave the kingdom to marry the royal family of Tigris"
- "My lady, that can't be!"
-"It is as I have told you, the king has decided that my marriage will help to reinforce the pact that maintains the peace of both kingdoms"
-"Ha, peace? Do beasts know peace? - Unable to contain himself by the anger that caused him to hear that news, Sir Alfonso responded sarcastically to his wife, who looked him directly in the eyes, disapproving of the slip of his tongue.
-"Watch your tongue, Alfonso! That your neck and mine share the same destiny"
"What do you mean, your highness?"
– "You have sworn loyalty to me above all things, right? That is why I have come here to ask you to fulfill your vow as a knight that you once offered me" – Extending her hand through the bars, Elena looked once more with the dignity of her bearing at the knight in front of her.
Who obediently knelt down to his lady and took her offered hand, placing a kiss on her skin while reciting the oath of the knights.
As decreed, five days after that event in the tower, the princess's caravan set out from the capital to the cheers of the commoners who rushed to bid their princess farewell.
Inside the cabin of the carriage, Elena kept looking out the window at the tumultuous sea of people who smiled and threw flower petals at the passage of the princess's entourage. Sitting next to him, Eunice nodded sleepily lulled by the movement of the car, being stopped from hitting her head thanks to Sir Alfonso.
– "My lady, I do not want to question your decisions. But of all the maidens in her service, why her? - The expression of concern visibly marked on Sir Alfonso's face made Elena laugh, who felt relaxed seeing him that way.
– "Apart from you, she is the servant who has been most loyal to me during all these years. I've known her since she was a simple brat who tripped while walking in her maid uniform. If I had to put it in other words, I see her as a little sister."
-"My lady, try the cookies, they are very tasty" - Stammering in her sleep, Eunice drooled on Sir Alfonso's hand, who could not hide the disgust that the situation caused her.
"How is it possible that his character changes while he sleeps? No one could say that it is the same person when they are awake" – Princess Elena's laughter made the maid wake up from her lethargy and realize Sir Alfonso's face. Blushing all over seeing the result of his behavior while he slept.
"I, I am very sorry Sir Alfonso! I've made him see something unpleasant. My lady, forgive me too" – Stammering as she tried to apologize, the maid provoked a laugh from Sir Alfonso, who took his handkerchief and extended it to the maid to wipe her face.
"Remember the spirit we have in this carriage today. Because we are going to need that same strength now that we are heading to the kingdom of Tigris" – With the firmness of her character and the determination shining in her eyes, the princess called her companions who responded affirmatively to her lady's command.
The road ahead of them was littered with countless trials, like the thistles and thorns they must traverse now that they were heading to a kingdom that would outwardly welcome them, but secretly would be utter hell.