Alex locked the door to the balcony and drew all the blinds. He knew Helena was standing outside the bedroom door eavesdropping, but he didn't care. As long as they spoke in hushed tones she wouldn't be able to hear a thing.
Felicia was sweating buckets, her fingers repeatedly clenching and smacking the bedsheets. Though no sound escaped her, she thrashed about as if fighting someone. Her expression was both painful and angry.
All three men were deeply concerned. Hildegarde pulled the blanket lower and began wiping down her lady's face and arms with a cloth soaked in cold water.
Liam spoke up. "Alex, what was that just now? That symbol? It looked like an infinity." He glanced at Felicia's strained expression, wishing he could somehow ease her pain. "And why is she not waking up from her nightmare? That symbol, it's...it's the same one carved onto the top part of Goddess Kartara's sword. Right? I remember reading something about it at the Academy."
"What has happened to your sister, Alex? She is not merely sick, is she?" Constantine chirped in.
Alex was impressed by Liam's sharp mind and extensive knowledge. He didn't expect him to make the connection so fast. The infinity had appeared for but a brief second.
Taking a seat, he propped his elbow on the armrest. It was time to tell them the truth. He knew he could trust these two with his life and he desperately needed allies to help him protect Felicia. Seeing how they were both smitten with his sister, he could utilize that to his advantage.
"I will tell you everything, but we have to speak in whispers because Helena is standing outside listening."
Constantine felt confused. "Why isn't she in here too? She loves her sister dearly, Alex. Helena informed me in her letter that you refused let her in to see Lady Felicia. She was greatly upset by this. It appears you've changed towards her completely. What went wrong?"
"I do not trust Helena anymore. She harbors no good will towards my real sister," Alex replied in a spiteful tone. "She is very jealous and hateful towards Felicia. Helena wishes to be the only daughter of House Del Montague. She does not wish to share that position with Felicia. Since she is a Del Montague by blood, standing next to her makes Helena feel inferior. As a result, she is always competitive and spiteful. She's always trying to get Felicia in trouble with our father."
Constantine arched a brow. "Truly?"
Liam nods. "I have witnessed Lady Helena's jealousy towards her sister firsthand. It's not so surprising that there is jealousy behind it."
Constantine looks at the Young Marquis. He is about to speak, but Alex cuts him off. "Never mind that. That is not what we are here to discuss."
He glances at the door. "I can't tell the brat to outright not show her face to me ever again as it would get me in trouble with the Duke, so at best I can ignore and exclude her. Mainly, just ensure she is not alone with Felicia."
"You were so fond of her before, Alex. What brought about the sudden distaste?" Constantine felt troubled. He loved Helena and to see Alex talk about her so disdainfully did not sit right with him.
"I was deceived by her and so was the Duke. Unfortunately, he is yet to fully recognize her sly manner."
Hildegarde chirped in. "Indeed, your royal highness. I still remember how Lady Helena treated Lady Felicia when she first came to this manor. She acted as though she wished to get along with her new sister, but her neatly concealed jealousy was clear for me to see. The other servants were deceived by her innocent looks and soft voice. The Duke and even Master Alexander was deceived. But I knew that she despised Lady Felicia and wanted her gone so could hog all the attention."
Constantine frowned. The image they painted of her was conflicting with the Helena he knew. The kind, soft and innocent lady whom he had grown so fond of. Was that really all an act?
"Helena told me that Felicia is the one who bullies her constantly because she does not wish to accept her as a sister."
Alex chuckled. "Felicia has better things to be doing than bullying that false Saintess who lacks common sense."
Constantine and Liam both looked at Alex with surprise.
"False Saintess? What does that mean?"
"Exactly what I said. Helena is a complete fraud. She acquired her power from a demonic entity and is merely mimicking holy magic."
All three were shocked.
Hildegarde knew Helena was rotten, but she had not anticipated something this bad. "So the little wench has resorted to demonic magic in order to take Lady Felicia's place? How shameful!"
It took a solid minute for Constantine to response. "Alex, how did you even think of something like that? How could Helena even--that is a heavy accusation!"
"Keep your voice down," Alex hissed.
"What exactly did you see her do?" Liam asked, completely disturbed and spooked by what he'd heard.
"I have not seen her practicing demonic magic, but I know that the power she has is not holy. It comes from somewhere else."
"Somewhere else? And you've just assumed this somewhere else is from a demon?" Constantine's tone was stern, even a bit reprimanding. He felt the need to defend Helena's character. Saying she was spiteful was one thing, but saying she was a witch was a whole nother matter.
Liam folded his arms and leaned back, waiting for Alex to provide more information.
"Helena is not a real Saintess because that position is already occupied by Felicia. She is the one Goddess Kartara has blessed. Hence the infinity symbol appearing before her; it is one of the Goddess's markers. Felicia possesses very strong healing magic. She saved my life when we got attacked four days ago. An arrow tore through my stomach nearly killed me. Felicia is unconscious right now because she used a large amount of holy magic to heal me. She pushed herself too far without prior training and fainted."
Constantine and Liam both searched Alex's expression without blinking. They cast a lingering stare at the sleeping beauty.
Lady Felicia was the Saintess?
"I thought the attack was done in order to extort money from the Duke?" Liam asked.
"Yes, that is the lie that I propagated because I didn't want to deal with any unnecessary gossip being spread about my sister and myself. You know how quick people are to make things up. Scandals breed with very little sex." Alex answered.
Both men coughed out a laugh at the analogy. Alex chuckled when he realized what he had just said.
"But what was the cause?" Liam inquired, serious once more.
"We were attacked by the church. The current leader, Pope Matthew sent assassins to kill myself, Felicia and Nanny Hildegarde too since she would have been a witness and thus a liability."
"What?!" Constantine cried out.
Liam's eyes widened.
Alex glanced at the door. "Keep it down."
Outside, Helena grew frustrated over not being able to hear anything. For a brief moment she had heard their voices clearly, but then it immediately cut off. She heard her name mentioned by Alex in a spiteful tone. She heard that stupid Nanny spout some nonsense about her being hateful.
Her eyes filled with angry tears. She could not stand being accused or insulted. It hurt her heart so much! She would have barged in if only the door was unlocked.
Are they badmouthing me in front of Prince Constantine and Marquis Liam?! How dare they?! Are they praising Felicia? She's pretending to be asleep and they are all standing around her in sympathy! It's not real! She doesn't deserve their care! This is so unfair! That bitch is taking everyone for herself! How selfish can she be!? How can she have four people hovering around her in concern and I get nobody!?
Yanking at her hair in frustration, she stomped away.
Just you wait, bitch! You want to pretend to be hurt? I will make sure you don't wake up!