All night I waited and I don't remember when I fell asleep. When I opened my eyes it was already morning and I finally saw my husband returned, it seems as though he looks exhausted.
"What happened?" I couldn't help but ask.
He took off his coat and gave it to Heinz before turning his attention on me. "It's nothing." He said. He walked away without another word.
I decided to drop it. I don't really wanna be part of it.
It was the next morning that Jared told me something rather suprising. He remembered that a few days back the Empress came to the bar he said. I know not why or how but I knew that this is going to be something bad.
"My lady did you know the Empress is really really pretty I thought all nobles were pretty like you but she's something else....", that hurts Jared but go on, "...she came here in secret. She said the palace life is so boring and came out to have some fun. Don't you think Her Majesty is the greatest?" Jared said showing a proud look.
I became uneasy. I feel as though her majesty doesn't like me. I don't know what I did but I'm certain she hates me.
It didn't take long until my suspicions became true. Everything was out. The day Her Majesty came to the bar, she happens to remember Heftan's face and so it began. On the night my husband went to the palace, it just so happens that a maid was trying to poison Her Majesty and so my husband went running to her even though His Majesty was there.
Everything went down hill when the guards came to my bar and arrested not just Heftan but also my dear Jared too. And I... I don't know who but the morning of the day they got arrested there were flyers everywhere that were saying that the respectable Duchess owns a bar and the criminals were employed there.
My husband once again ignored me. I feel as though I'm going further and further into the darkness. When I thought I couldn't go any deeper one or the other I keep going further down at the bottom.
A trial was going to be held at court. I tried meeting my husband to help me but in the end, he also don't know what to do.
"How could you not tell me?" He said.
How could I? You never gave me a chance to speak before and I was afraid. By now the situation got even worse as the relationship of both the captives were out. The public loath at the idea of two men in love.
"It's a sin!" I heard them yell.
"They have disobey our Gods"
"Burn them!"
Why? Why can't a man love another man? Aren't they also human like you and I? As their relationship was out people forgot about me. This was the first time in history that a man love another man so people think it's a sin.
How is it a sin? Did the Gods tell you? Did they say a man can't love another? I don't even know if a God even exist.
Both Jared and Heftan were imprisoned. I begged my husband to let me see them. I begged him to help us. I begged him to do something but in the end he turned away.
A trial for Heftan was going to be held. Afterall he was a real criminal. On the day of the trial, I saw him covered in bruises, it seems as though he was tortured. I couldn't look at him. If Jared were to see..... I don't know I wept as I couldn't do anything.
"Duchess Vivian Valentine please come up." I heard my name called.
I saw the Emperor looking as serious as ever and the Empress...., the Empress smiled as she looked down on me. And I knew then and there it was all because of her. Everything that is happening now was because of her. For the first time in my life I hated someone almost to the point of wanting to kill them.
"I promise to speak nothing but the truth." I vowed before them.
I don't know this feeling but as I stood on the opposite side of Heftan and saw his state, I feel... I feel dark. I want all of them to suffer. Those who tortured him, those who called them names just because they love each other. I want them all to burn in hell.
"Duchess is it true that you have taken in this man as your employee?" The judge asked.
I looked to my husband, a stone cold face without any concern for his wife who will now be falsely accused. Should've divorce him sooner. "Yes." I said.
"Were you aware that this man was the man who tried to kill His Majesty the current Emperor?"
"Yes."
"Then would you agree that you somehow had connection to the assassination attempt?"
"No I only met him after much time had passed from the assassination day."
"What about your other employee?"
"He also met him much later."
"Duchess is the bar under your name?"
"No it's under an alias that I used."
"So in short the bar is yours?"
"Yes."
I was allowed to go back to my seat and then... and then they brought out Jared.
Heftan's expression changed. He became anxious, he became worried. He became fearful. Ah how can someone who didn't look as though they felt anything after being tortured turn around completely when they saw the one they love being hurt.
When Jared came out, people started yelling and throwing things.
"Sinners!"
"Burn them!"
"God will punish you!"
I didn't realised but I stood up. My voice as if it has a mind of its own raised itself louder then ever. "Shut up! All of you!" I didn't even know I could yell out this loud. The court went silent as my voice echoed for a second. Everyone turned their eyes towards me. But I felt nothing. My fear of being judged was nowhere to be found. I looked at everyone who laid their eyes on me. Especially Her Majesty and.... My husband.
Dear my husband who doesn't love me, I feel like I want to kill you right now.