When Thérèse woke up, she was in an unfamiliar room of the castle. It was plainly decorated. The floors were wooden, and so were the walls. There were a few paintings on the wall, and a table in the center of the room. There were travelling boxes strewn about, and a stack of books on the table. A fireplace on the opposite end of the room roared with warm flames. Thérèse was in the bed. Her shoes were on the floor next to her. She sat up and pushed away the heavy blankets.
Thérèse crossed the floor in her stockings, lifting the heavy ball gown as she walked. When she tried the door she found it locked from the outside. She pounded on the door, hoping that a guard would hear and release her. When this failed, she went to the window. It was on the wall adjacent to the bed, just like in her room. She was considerably higher up than her room was. She couldn't escape from the window without falling to her death. There was nothing she could do but wait.
Thérèse sat down on the bed. Slowly, the past night's events came back to her. She remembered the magical dance with Henri, showing him her place in the forest…and then…and then he had taken her prisoner.
This must be his guest room. Thérèse heard footsteps coming in the hallway. She looked for something to defend herself with. She grabbed a letter opener from the table and scurried back to the bed. She laid down and pulled the blankets back up. She shut her eyes and tried to calm her breathing as the door unlocked and Prince Henri came in. She heard him close the door and drop something heavy on the floor. His shoes clicked on the hardwood as he approached the bed. She felt his weight next to her. He sighed sadly.
"I wish you would wake so I could explain myself. This isn't at all how I wanted things to go."
Thérèse shot up in the bed and threw Prince Henri to the ground. Stunned, he laid there on the wooden floor. Thérèse sat on his stomach and straddled him. She held the letter opener above her head, both of her hands clasped around it.
"Bold of you to think I'll give you a chance to explain. You and your family are done in Argence." Thérèse plunged the letter opener's sharp point towards his chest. He caught her forearms with both of his hands. He struggled for a moment, then managed to gather enough strength to throw her off of him. The letter opener flew out of Thérèse's hands as she tumbled onto her back. Prince Henri was on top of her now, with one knee on each side of her waist and his hands pinning her shoulders to the floor.
"Thérèse, I'm not going to hurt you. But you have to let me explain. The situation isn't what you think it is. You don't know everything."
"I know enough." she said. She punched him as hard as she could and managed to knock him off of her. Thérèse scrambled to her feet and found the letter opener. She again held it with both hands. As Henri approached her, she backed towards the fireplace.
"Thérèse, put it down." he said, holding both of his hands palms-out. He reached one hand out to take the letter opener from her. Thérèse reached behind her and snatched the red-hot iron poker from the fireplace and seared Henri's hand with it. She smelled his flesh burn. Henri fell to his knees. Thérèse dropped the poker and ran for the door.
"No!" Henri yelled. He grabbed Thérèse around the waist as her fingertips brushed against the door knob. He lifted her off the ground. Thérèse kicked and screamed and slapped, to no avail. He carried her across the room and threw her on the bed. Henri climbed on top of her and pinned her down. He reached into the nightstand next to the bed and pulled out a long white scarf made of thick cloth. He tied her wrists together and held them with one hand above her head.
"Stop!" he yelled at her. A few pieces of his shoulder-length dark hair hung in his face. He was breathing heavily. "Just stop." he said again, more gently. Thérèse went still.
Henri rolled off of her and onto the bed. He stood up and went to one of the travelling boxes. He pulled out some cream and a bandage. He spread the cream across his inflamed palm and wrapped the bandage around it. Thérèse watched him.
"My mother will hear about this." She said.
"Again, if you let me explain, everything will make more sense." Henri finished with his hand. He smoothed his hair back into place and re-locked his door. He pulled the curtain shut so that no one could see into the room.
"I'm going to untie you. You can either try to run and we can repeat this whole process again, or you can listen to me and then go about your day." Henri said. He waited for her to respond. When she didn't, he reached for her wrists and pulled them close to him. Thérèse sat up. Henri undid her hands and put the scarf back in the nightstand.
"I went to your room and got you some clothes to change into." Henri gestured towards a bag on the floor near the door.
That must have been what he dropped when he came in. Thérèse thought. She nodded and walked to the bag without saying anything. She pulled out her plain brown dress and some stockings. Henri turned around and faced the corner while she changed. She draped the ballgown carefully over the table, and walked back to the bed. She sat next to Henri.
"I'm listening." Thérèse said as she crossed her arms.
Henri nodded and took a deep breath.
"I am the man you saw that night in the forest. Yes, I killed that man and we put the body in the ravine. I knew it was you who had seen us when we arrived in Argence. I chose to do the execution here before my father told us we were coming, or I would have chosen another place. You've met my father. He's a kind man, but many exploit his kindness and turn it into a weakness. Many people in Bayonne's court and in my father's closest circle of friends have been betraying and taking advantage of him, including the man we killed that night. My father refuses to accept that his friends and fellow countrymen would deceive him. Queen Lucie adds to the charade. She's being paid by the traitors to convince him that I'm spreading lies and rumors when I tell my father these things are happening. So, I've had to take matters into my own hands.
My supporters and I have been slowly eradicating the traitors in our kingdom. But, we can't kill them in Bayonne. It would be too obvious. So, we wait for them to travel and then hunt them down outside of the kingdom. You see, it's not just my father who is being betrayed. The people of Bayonne are being robbed and stolen from by these people. Honest merchants having goods stolen. Hard-working men being blamed for crimes so these monsters can get away clean. Families torn apart, sons and daughters never seen again. Homes burned to the ground, fields destroyed. These evil people want to overthrow my father and take control of Bayonne, and one of the advisors in your mother's court has been helping them."
Henri paused to give Thérèse a moment to take in everything he had just said.
"It's Claude, isn't it?" Thérèse asked.
Henri looked surprised. "Yes," he said. "How did you know?"
"After spending enough time with him, it's become fairly obvious he has only his own interests at heart." Thérèse said.
"My group found out he's been accepting thousands of dollars in bribes from Bayonne's traitors, to help smuggle stolen goods. He's been promised a position in Bayonne's new government once my father is gone in return for his help. He's stolen from my father, my people, and he's going to try to steal my kingdom from me. I won't allow it to happen." Henri finished.
Thérèse nodded. She felt anxiety rise in her stomach. "Am I in danger? What about my mother?" Thérèse asked.
Henri shook his head. "Not yet," he answered. "But I don't know their full plans yet, so I wouldn't put it past them." He took both of her hands in his. Thérèse looked up and met his eyes.
"I need your help, Thérèse." Henri begged. "To save my kingdom, to save Argence, and to keep everything you and I hold dear safe."
"What do you need from me? Whatever it is, you'll get it." Thérèse felt a sense of pride swell up inside of her. She had never wanted to lead Argence. But she would fight to the death to keep it safe. She owed the kingdom that much.
"We need to get rid of Claude. Permanently." Henri said. "But we can't do it in the same way as the man you saw. My friends and I have discussed it. It needs to be poison. It needs to be soon."
Thérèse nodded. "I've found friends in many of the servants and staff here. I'm sure one of them will know where to get something like that. I'll get it for you somehow." Henri nodded.
Thérèse stood up and walked to the door.
"Until then, I don't want to see you again." she said.
Henri was shocked. "Thérèse…why?"
Thérèse looked at him with hurt on her face. "You lied to me, Henri. What if I hadn't found you out? When would you have told me? Or would you have danced all over my heart, killed one of our most important advisors, and left my home in chaos?"
"Thérèse, I-"
"I will help you save Argence and Bayonne. Then you will leave and never return to Argence. Understood?" Thérèse stared coldly at Henri.
"Understood." he said with a choked-up voice. Henri looked at the ground.
Thérèse left his room and went to find someone who could help her secure the necessary ingredients to make the poison. She'd never have to worry about Claude again after this. It felt horrifying yet exhilarating. Even if he lied to her and would have broken her heart, at least Henri could give her that.
—
The next day, Thérèse found herself in the kitchen with Olivier. She had told him everything that happened the night before.
"Wow that's…a lot." Olivier said. He took a drink from his tea.
Thérèse nodded silently.
"I just feel so stupid." she said. "I should have known he doesn't really care about me. He just needed someone to help him get rid of Claude, and I was the best and easiest option. I don't know why I ever thought he would want a girl like me."
"Thérèse, come on." Olivier said. "You're better than that. Plus you have other things to be focusing on right now. I found someone who can help you."
Olivier led Thérèse through the servant quarters. They passed the stairs that led down into the library, and instead continued down a thin, dim hallway. They got to a room at the end of the hall and Olivier knocked gently. An old, shriveled woman answered the door. She stepped aside and Thérèse and Olivier stepped into the room.
"This is Genese. She's the doctor for the servants. Since we don't have access to royal medicine, she's the best we've got. She has the things you need, and is willing to help." Olivier looked at Genese and bowed his head for a moment.
Thérèse looked at the old woman. She had dark brown skin with pure white hair that hung loose down to her ankles. Her skin was a desert of wrinkles, but her grey eyes seemed kind, and her smile told Thérèse she could be trusted. Genese hobbled away into one of the dark corners of the room and returned with a few small deer-skin pouches. She placed the pouches gently into Thérèse's hands. Despite the appearance of her skin, Genese's hands were impossibly soft. When Genese spoke, her voice was low and raspy.
"Mix these herbs together in boiling water, then add warm goat milk. Let the mixture sit while you sleep, and it will turn solid. Grind it into a powder and mix it into the man's dinner or wine. The deed will be almost instantaneous."
Thérèse nodded. "Thank you, Genese. You will be rewarded."
Genese gave a toothless smile. "It is reward enough to keep Argence safe."
"When are you going to do it?" Olivier asked as they left Genese's room.
"There's going to be another banquet three days from now, for one of the advisor's birthdays. That will be the easiest time. I'll give the powder to one of the kitchen staff and tell them it's to be added to Claude's plate, as a gift from me. I'm sure they'll oblige." Thérèse stroked the deer-skin bag with her thumb. She couldn't believe how easily she'd gotten caught up in a plot like this.
Thérèse and Olivier walked to the kitchen and dug through the cupboards to find the preserved goat milk. They took a large pot, a grinding stone, and oil to light a fire. Olivier scooped the supplies up in his thin arms and carried everything back to Thérèse's room.
"Do you think this will actually work?" she asked as they went inside.
"Genese knows what she's doing." Olivier reassured her. "If this doesn't work, nothing from Argence to the Eastern Sea will do the trick."
Thérèse and Olivier moved the chairs and other furniture towards the walls to create a large open circle in the center of Thérèse's room. They put the pot, oil, and ingredients on the floor.
"I'll go to the well and draw some water." Olivier said. He left quietly and closed the door. Thérèse began to open the pouches and inspect the various herbs Genese had given them. One was full of a fuzzy, moss-like substance. Another had bright pink flower petals. The third was filled with a fine gray dust that smelled like the essence of death itself.
Thérèse jumped, almost spilling the powder. She'd heard a noise from across the room, and saw that someone had slid an envelope under her door. She gently closed the pouch and placed it back in the pile with the others. Thérèse rose from her knees and walked to the door. The envelope was small. It had a brownish-yellow hue, like parchment that had been in the sun for too long. A black wax seal kept it closed. As Thérèse bent down to pick up the envelope, she saw that the seal had an extravagant "H" in a calligraphy-style font.
Thérèse sat on the floor with her back to the door and opened the letter. The handwriting was large but neat. The paper curled at the edges, so Thérèse pulled her knees up and smoothed it out on her thighs.
My dearest Thérèse,
I know I have made a mess of everything. I should have told you the truth from the beginning, and I understand now that I was wrong not to. I'm heartfully sorry for the hurt I have caused you. I hope that one day you'll be able to forgive me and comprehend why I kept the secrets I did.
You said you didn't want to see me again, and I understand. That's why I wrote this letter. I needed to confess something to you, my little gold rose. In our short time together, my heart has been pulled into yours. I've fallen for you, Thérèse. Not only did our bodies dance at the ball, but our souls did as well. They've been in an endless waltz since I first laid eyes on you upon arriving in Argence. I simply couldn't live with myself if I never told you this, and with how you feel towards me now, this was the only way I could.
I'll understand if you don't feel the same but I needed you to know. I'm in love with you, Thérèse. Against my better judgement. Even though I know it's unlikely we'll be together at the end of all this. I've never met anyone like you. I am totally, completely, hopelessly, fearfully, utterly, in love. You could rip my heart from my chest and it would beat with joy just to be held by you.
Do not feel obliged to respond. I have said my piece and shown you the deepest parts of my heart. If you do wish to speak with me again, you know where my chambers are. I've instructed the guards to let you pass, day or night. I will be here. I will forever belong to you, my little gold rose.
-from your vine of thorns, Prince Henri
Thérèse saw small pools appear on the page. She realized she was crying. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and pulled her knees up to her chin with the letter resting against her stomach.
Could I ever forgive him? She thought. After everything? He killed someone, for goodness' sake! He's asking me to help him kill again! What else is he hiding? What other secrets does he keep? Thérèse picked up the letter and stared at it. She sighed deeply.
"I don't even know what I would say if we were alone." she said to the letter. "I mean honestly, what do you expect from me?" Thérèse stood now, angry. She heard the paper crunch in her fist.
"You lie to me, ask me to help you kill a man, drug me, kidnap me! In my own kingdom! Then you write me this little note thinking that will fix everything?" Thérèse walked around her room and gestured wildly with her hands as she spoke her thoughts out loud. "No, Prince Henri, you are not my vine of thorns, but a thorn in my side!" Thérèse crumpled up the letter and envelope and stuffed them both into a desk drawer.
By the time she was done with her outburst, Olivier had returned with the water. He either didn't notice Thérèse's red cheeks and puffy eyes, or chose not to say anything about it.
"Let's do this." he said.
Thérèse placed the pot on a small stand and lit a fire on the tray underneath. Olivier dumped the bucket of well water into the pot and they stared at it, waiting for bubbles to rise to the top. Once the water was boiling, Thérèse opened one of the pouches and handed one to Olivier. She pulled out handfuls of the mossy substance and dropped it into the pot. It disintegrated when it touched the water. Olivier put the petals in one by one. They floated on the top.
"Are they supposed to do that?" Thérèse asked.
"Just follow Genese's instructions and everything will work." Olivier said. He was beginning to get annoyed with Thérèse's repetitive questions.
"You seem to have a lot of faith in this woman." Thérèse said.
"Like I said, she takes care of us. We don't have doctors who can come any time of the day or night like you and your mother do. She's all we've got, and she's never been wrong. Do as she said and Claude will be…" Oliver paused.
"Dead." Thérèse finished.
Olivier nodded as he dropped the last few petals into the pot. Thérèse opened the final pouch. The grey powder stunk just as much as it had the first time. Thérèse coughed a bit as she dumped in the putrid dust.. It swirled around in little clouds and thickened the water. The petals sank to the bottom and broke apart until they were no longer visible.
"What is all of this stuff?" Thérèse asked.
Olivier just shrugged. He grabbed the glass bottle of goat milk and unscrewed the top.
"She didn't say how much, did she?" Olivier asked. Thérèse shook her head.
"Well, hopefully this is enough." Oliver drained the bottle into their concoction. When the goat milk touched the water, flames roared violently out of the top of the pot. Thérèse fell from her knees onto her back. She sat up slowly, coughing harshly as she did. Olivier was covered in soot and drops of goat milk.
"I'm going to assume that was supposed to happen." he said. He wiped his face with the back of his sleeve. Thérèse crawled forward and blew out the fire underneath the pot.
"So now we just…wait?" She asked.
Olivier nodded and answered, "She said to let it sit overnight, so that's what we do. It should be solid by tomorrow morning. Then you grind it."
"I still can't believe this is really happening." Thérèse said.
"Just try not to think about it." Olivier said. He stood up and put a comforting hand on Thérèse's shoulder. "I've got to get going. The sun is almost down and I'll be needed at the gate."
Thérèse nodded. Olivier left the room. Outside it had started to snow once again. Thérèse walked to the window and pulled the curtains shut. She climbed into bed without changing out of her brown dress. As she laid there, she thought of Henri. She fantasized about having him next to her.
I could go to him. She thought. She was torn inside. He had lied to her, but she still wanted to be with him. Did she love him too? No. Yes?
Thérèse rolled over so that her back was to the window. When she could take it no longer, she got out of bed. She strode through the castle in her stockings. It was late now, and mostly everyone was asleep. She climbed the stairs to the level Henri's room was on. As she walked down the hallway to his room, she felt her heartbeat quicken. The guards in front of his door parted when she stood in front of them. Thérèse paused for a moment. She stepped forward and pushed the door open.
Henri was bent over his desk with paper and a quill when she walked in. Their eyes locked. Thérèse closed the door behind her without looking away. She stayed standing there with her back to the door as Henri approached her. He had a soft look in his eyes. He reached his bandaged hand up and held the left side of her face. With the other hand, he reached behind Thérèse and locked the door. Neither of them would be seen for the rest of the night.