"When did it start?"
Emilia and Alistair strolled through the night streets of Velaris, both dressed in black combat attire. Their eyes were fixed ahead, keeping an eye on a palace maid who was trying to hide under a long coat, but they already identified her as an informant for an enemy country. Despite feeling tired from their recent intense activity in the pool, Emilia still had obligations to fulfill, which is helping Alistair with this task.
"One month ago, after I fell into the sea."
Emilia knew that Alistair's question was referring to the mind-reading ability she now possessed.
"Why did you fall into the sea?"
Emilia's head snapped towards the man next to her in disbelief at the question. They had just been intimate, yet now there seemed to be a chasm between them that no one would believe that they could carry out Countess Evelyn's orders until the end. It seemed like their acting was quite convincing, seeing the woman's satisfied expression, even though it was just the beginning of a long drama that the two of them had to play.
"Finding an answer." Emilia replied while looking forward again.
At the moment, she couldn't be fully truthful with Alistair, since their relationship still seems complicated. It was a known fact among her servants that she had attempted to jump off the cliff because Alistair had asked Emilia to let him marry her lady-in-waiting. As much as she wanted to tell him this, it would only make things awkward between them, so it was best to avoid the topic for now.
"Then, have you found the answer?" Alistair asked again with his low and husky voice, which had become his trademark.
"Maybe." She replied, unsure of what answer the original Emilia was hoping to hear. However, she could feel the weight in her heart when tried to recall the incident from this girl's fragmented memories.
"What are you planning about Isabella?" Emilia asked, turning their conversation to the girl they were following.
"Gather evidence," Alistair responded curtly. "The mere fact that she works as a maid in the Queen's residence is already a risky situation."
In her brief glimpse of the Queen's thoughts, Emilia had seen that the woman was not ambitious but deeply in love with both the King and her son, Crown prince Alistair. However, if a spy had truly infiltrated the Queen's residence, it would be concerning as the woman could potentially be used as a scapegoat in the future. Alternatively, there was also the disturbing possibility that the spy had been sent to assassinate the Queen and commit treason against the kingdom.
In order to keep track of Isabella's plans, they had no choice but to continue following the girl. "She entered that place."
Their attention turned towards the grand restaurant, adorned with a glass door that boasted its name, The Whispering Phoenix, in glimmering gold. The name alone hinted at secretive dealings and whispered exchanges of information. Phoenix itself signified rebirth or transformation, as well as possible shifts in loyalty or beliefs within its walls.
The restaurant's design included a ballroom on the ground floor for dancing and an exclusive dining area on the upper level for private conversations. The hotel rooms above provided a convenient space for secret meetings or overnight stays, making it a popular location for clandestine activities.
Emilia and Alistair trailed behind Isabella as she led them to the top floor of the restaurant. They settled into a room adjacent to the one where Isabella had gone, straining to hear her conversation with two unknown individuals. Emilia's talent for creating small peepholes allowed her to catch glimpses of a well-dressed woman sitting in one of the chairs, while the other figure stood by the window with back turned towards them.
"It's been a while, Isabella." Said the woman sitting across from the girl, who appeared to be in her late forties.
"That's Seraphine Arlowe, the owner of this restaurant," Emilia interjected softly. "She's really curious about us."
Isabella politely greeted Lady Seraphine and removed her coat, revealing her round face to the woman.
"What information can you share with us tonight?" Lady Seraphine asked, getting straight to the point as she sipped tea from a ceramic cup on the table. "What's the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess?"
From her voice, Emilia could feel a slight disgust when asking about herself and Alistair, as if the question was just small talk because the whole kingdom already knew about their current condition, as a broken royal couple.
"Nothing has changed," Isabella replied with a hint of bitterness. "They're still just as distant."
"Wasn't Countess Evelyn sent to assist them?" Lady Seraphine inquired once more. "That should mean we'll see some progress from them on this journey."
Isabella picked up the cup of tea in front of her and took a sip of the drink, giving warmth to her throat. "What's the point if it's all just an act."
Lady Seraphine chuckled at Isabella's response, trying not to choke on her drink. "Why do you say that?"
"Because there is no hint of love in their gazes," Isabella replied, twirling the cup in her hand as she imagined Emilia's outbursts that always seemed to plague the couple when they were together. "No passion or longing either."
"It's only the first day, we'll have to wait and see if they can conform to the royal family's expectations or fall short."
The person in the coat standing by the window turned around and set a small glass bottle on the table. It contained white powder that Isabella examined closely before turning to Lady Seraphine for an explanation. Because the mysterious figure in the coat never speaks and remains hidden.
"You can mix this powder into the Crown Princess' drink to make her unable to conceive an heir," Lady Seraphine explained.
Isabella placed the bottle back on the table and replied, "It's not necessary. I doubt they will have a child even after this trip, since the Crown Princess has been drinking it for the past year, without missing a single day."
The answer created tension between Emilia and Alistair. Neither of them knew the details about what the real Emilia had done to this body. Alistair's gaze on her was intense, but he remained silent, whether out of gratitude or pity for her.
"I believe we need to convince them," Alistair stated at last. "No matter what, we must persuade the maid to take the bottle."
Emilia grasped the significance of the man's statement to gather proof, they needed to create a situation that was completely unexpected, especially for Isabella. "Then we need to put on a greater show to make them believe that we genuinely care for each other."
Alistair shook his head. "They won't be fooled so easily." He locked eyes with Emilia and the man's response sent shivers down her spine. "Let's make it genuine this time. Let's truly fall in love."
***
The next day, Countess Evelyn carefully planned a series of activities designed to foster not only physical intimacy but also an emotional connection and trust between the couple.
The day began with a sumptuous breakfast brought to their chambers, where they were encouraged to eat together in bed. The Countess instructed them to feed each other, taking turns for each bite. This was meant to create a pleasant yet intimate environment, breaking down the barriers of formality that still existed between them.
"Food is a pleasure, my lord, my lady. Savor each bite, and let the act of feeding each other be a symbol of caring," Countess Evelyn instructed.
After breakfast, Countess Evelyn took them on a guided walk through the palace gardens, but this was no ordinary stroll. She encouraged them to focus on the sensory experience, the softness of the petals, the scent of the flowers, the feel of the warm breeze on their skin. During the walk, they were instructed to hold hands, a simple yet intimate act that they rarely did.
"Is she around?" Alistair asked quietly as he surveyed the gardens.
The man didn't need to speak at length to explain who he meant to Emilia. "Yes, of course." She answered while turning towards the flower cluster planted on her left. "She even laughed inwardly seeing how hard we tried to hold hands like this."
At the end of the walk in the garden, the Countess asked them to stand under the flower arch and look at each other while still holding hands. "My lord, after walking around for a while, is there a flower that you think resembles your wife?"
Alistair glanced around then back to Emilia and answered, "Tulip."
Countess Evelyn nodded her head in understanding, then continued her question. "Can you explain a little, why is that flower so similar to your wife who is standing in front of you?"
Alistair took a small breath before answering, "Because that flower depicts my wife's graceful, pure, and beautiful personality."
Emilia chuckled softly, not knowing whose personality Alistair was really referring to, because it was very different from her own. Maybe it was the real Emilia, although it seemed impossible to hear that compliment come out of the man's mouth about this girl. However, that was not important at all, because what they were doing now was just acting.
"Good answer, my lord." Countess Evelyn continued, "Now it's your turn, my lady. Can you tell your husband what three qualities made you fall in love with him?"
Emilia took in the sight of the man before her. Alistair possessed all the qualities she deemed attractive: height, neatly cut short black hair, and a pleasant scent. "He's quite handsome," she thought to herself.
Countess Evelyn nodded once. "Then, what else, my lady?"
Emilia's eyes moved from Alistair's face to his well-built physique, the muscles clearly defined even through his clothing. It was as if the man had the perfect shape for his clothes, making Alistair look even more attractive. "He has a great body."
This time Countess Evelyn locked it a little, feeling that it was not the answer she expected. "Very good, my lady. But can you think of one quality that left a lasting impression on you? Perhaps when you first met him?"
Emilia knew what Countess Evelyn was looking for, so she went back to the man's face. There was a brief moment of silence before she spoke in a sincere, hushed tone, "His eyes seemed so lonely." Emilia held his gaze as she continued, "It made me feel affection towards him, and all I wanted to do was hug him tightly."
***