She was not content, she was tired. Emilia’s interaction with the Lady of Larson had only made the mess she called her feelings spill in more directions. It didn’t help that Landervik promised to consistently beat her until she produced results. She couldn’t do it anymore. If she didn’t find something today she may as well let him beat her to death, at least she wouldn’t be held up almost broken while she barely could spy for him; like a broken marinette.
She spied and watched and spied and watched but to no avail. The Lady of Mercia only stayed with her husband for the past few days and the Lady of Larson holed up in her room except for eating. She’d have to look back to the Lady of Impetus. Being already suspicious, Emilia had kept a tight eye even when it seemed hopeless. Yesterday she had seen the Lady carrying a letter back to her quarters, hidden under a fold in her skirts. It was so secretive that it’d almost gone right past Emilia unnoticed. She could assume this letter wasn’t the first and wouldn’t be the last. Training had just ended, meaning time to search the Ladies quarters.
As Emilia made the long trek through the castle halls she thought of the Lady of Larson. She thought of the way those cool blue eyes pierced through something Emilia herself couldn’t understand. This thought has encapsulated her for days. Were they the same as the Lady had implied? What was the Lady attempting to imply? More importantly, why was she so hung up on it? Once again the Lady seemed to penetrate deeper in a simple stare and statement, how was it so easy? Emilia began to doubt she even guarded herself at all when she felt so vulnerable in the presence of someone so much weaker. She could disable an opponent in seconds, but the Lady had done the very same thing to her. This vulnerability is unacceptable, in time Emilia would have to eliminate it somehow.
But for now she was on duty, feeling surprisingly guilty about searching through the Ladies underwear drawer. It was where a lot of people hide things, she kept having to tell herself to feel like less of a creep. After dropping a pair of scanty pantaloons Emilia decided it would be best to check under drawers and search for any and all small crevices that could foster a letter. She would quickly swipe her hand under a drawer, feeling the smoothie surface for any bump or piece of paper, then move onto the next.
She had finished the drawers and was checking the door frame to the bathroom when she heard the entrance door creak open. Hurriedly she shut herself in the bathroom without a peep, but she was unable to see who had entered. Due to the sun's position she couldn’t risk her shadow being cast under the door and headed to a corner. Lucky for her, whoever had entered apparently liked to speak at a decibel much higher than needed.
“Darling I don’t know what else you want me to do,” The loud voice clearly belonged to a man, his anxiety was conveyed in his tone, “nothing is good enough.”
“Oh shut up will you!” A more feminine voice perked up in a harsh whisper-yell. At this point Emilia could assume it was just the Lord and Lady, she stayed still and kept listening.
“What exactly have you done for me-us at these meetings?” The Lady waited a beat before she spoke again. “Hm? Nothing, right. They’re going to know soon enough if guards consistently show up where we said would be clear. What Happens then?”
There was more silence before the Lord spoke up again, “We should back out, I-I tried to warn you no power is worth this much risk. Don’t we have enough?” Emilia heard the floorboards creak as one of them moved somewhere, but she couldn’t tell.
“There’s a beautiful manor where you can have anything you want, you can let me try and reign in the land while you relax.”
The Lady scoffed. “Let you run the land? You’re ridiculous, this dynamic I’ve gotten us into may be difficult and dangerous but in the end everything we desire will be guaranteed and secure,” The Lady inhaled clearly trying to pull back her distress, “honey, eventually you’re going to have to stand strong without me pulling your strings and holding you up. I can’t monitor meetings I'm not allowed in, especially those that vote on the matters immediately.”
“You’re right,” His voice was calm and complacent, “just tell me what you need me to do and I’ll do it. As long as you promise it will bring us home safely.”
Emilia heard them walk and probably embrace one another, she debated staying longer.
“Let me get their most recent message, it’s in the bathroom.”
Shit. She had seconds to act but she didn’t waste one. Rapidly she looked to see a letter where she’d predicted, door frame. The footsteps got closer and closer but Emilia was fast, as soon as she grabbed the letter she dived out of the window she’d opened earlier. Since they were on the first floor she was able to close it before suspicion arose and she would be traceable. She sprinted through the darkening courtyard as she tucked the letter into one of her daggers pockets, slowing to a walk when she reached a path. Plucking petals and leaves off of her dress she headed back to the central area, she would have to get this to Landervik before supper. She looked down at her abdomen to see a tear from a thorn in her dress that cut through even her corset.
A body bumped into Emilia’s shoulder causing her to stumble but due to her nerves she stood at ready, one hand prepared to grab a dagger and the other one ready to block a blow. The person in front of her looked at her incredulously but also a little condescending slipped into the long up and down stare she was given. Of Course, it was the Lady of Larson.
“Princess, you look quite disheveled,” The Lady feigned care, Emilia could see right through her masks, “are you alright?”
She bit back the urge to attack her with harsh words. Situationally, she looked like she’d fallen out of a window (which she did) and too many people were around getting every look they could at the oh-so mysterious princess. So, she bit her tongue.
“Yes, my apologies for not paying attention to where I was going.” Emilia forced out the angry words of compliance before turning continuing past the Lady, but the Lady reached out for her hand.
“Let me help you back to your quarters, you’re injured.” The Lady linked arms with Emilia, feigning a relationship the same as her mother. She didn’t know what her edge was or what the hell was going on but she intended to play along and find out. As long as she informed Landervik of this odd interaction he wouldn’t reprimand her for the delay.
Walking alongside the Lady was long and awkward. Especially since she looked like she’d fallen out of a window (Which. She. Had.). They didn’t really pass by anyone since most were near the main dining area for supper mingling, but Emilia had to redirect the Lady who had tried to go down the Southern Wing; assuming her quarters were alongside the King and Queens. The Lady's face remained stoic as Emilia led her through the Western Wing and up the tower to her room. Once they arrived Emilia slipped out of the Lady’s arms and closed the door behind them, she turned to find her meandering around the almost barren room.
“Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised, my Lady.”
“I think I know why you attacked me, and I can help.” The Lady’s face remained still, Emilia wasn’t susceptible to believe her like that. People like them only told the truth when they were at their most vulnerable, with no defenses left to bare.
“Do tell. I find it interesting you led and armed women to a remote area,” Emilia took a step closer holding her hand up near that impenetrable expression, “even more so since that woman has attacked you before.” Her hand smoothly flowed down the Lady’s jaw, perking her chin up to look Emilia directly in the eyes.
She didn’t falter. “You’re looking for viking sympathizers and spies, and I found one.”
Emilia scowled. “And I’m supposed to trust you.”
The Lady gestured to Emilia’s numerous bruises, “You trust them.”
“I feel like nobody is learning not to touch things that don’t concern them.” Emilia moved swiftly, pushing the Lady back as a warning; attempting to keep her cool.
“That’s… not where I meant to go… I’m sorry.” The Lady folded her hands together, looking regretful; but Emilia knew better.
“My patience is faltering, tell me what you know.”
“I will but… not for free,” The Lady moved closer to Emilia, this time placing her hand on Emilia’s cheek, her scarred cheek, and peering up at her seductively. It was a gesture so intimate Emilia flinched back, confused.
“What are you doing?” The words came out vile, as if the Lady was some disgusting thing. It wasn’t the Lady that disgusted her but the intimacy she’d attempted to take for information Emilia would not pay for. So she did what she did best, pulled out a dagger and placed it to the Lady’s throat while she pinned her against her dresser.
“Speak,” The Lady only gulped, clearly surprised by Emilia’s reaction, “Now.”
“I saw the Lord of Dent looking through those very same records you took from me,” Words flew out of her mouth that shook in fear, she’d realized how dangerous of a situation she’d gone into. Emilia smirked, satisfied.
“The Lord of Dent is in his tattered land, he never made the journey to the castle.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Emilia cut a thin line behind the Lady’s ear, a warning for her careless warning, “I-I mean where you were misinformed. Multiple people have gossiped about seeing a shadow pass through the library at night, but when they checked the other side there was no one there. I saw him.”
She thought about this a moment, still searching the Lady’s eyes for any hints at dishonesty but she couldn’t see anything in there anymore. Maybe the letters were from the Lord since he was lying about his location it would be hard to meet in a heavily surveyed castle. Maybe this Lady’s words would be of use to her.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I want to stay here peacefully, my father watches me at home the same way you do here. If I could slip away from your glance by proving I mean no harm it would free me from anxiety and fear.” She wasn’t lying.
“How do you know I will not follow through on my threats, you should know by now I have the means to do so.”
The Lady exhaled carefully, trying not to get pricked by the dagger that sat millimetres from her skin. “I don’t,” she admitted, “but I can see past your barriers as you do to mine, I know you only do this under the compliance of others. You would only kill if given the orders to do so, but it would be a guaranteed death. I assume whoever put you into that state believes in reform and subjugation, chaos and death would not benefit them.”
Her words were calm and calculated, she even flinched when she thought she’d gone too far but Emilia only listened. Intrigue clouded her anger. She didn’t know why. Again, she stepped back. Again, she was seen straight through. A spy who couldn’t control her emotions, there was nothing weaker. Emilia closed her eyes, trying to block the pain that contorted her face.
“Go,” she said weakly as she stepped back and sat on her bed, “you’ll be late to supper.”
The Lady looked conflicted as to whether or not she should go. “So will you.”
“Leave. Me.”
“If you need more information then know that I am on your side.” The Lady was out of sight before Emilia could respond.
Emilia laid back and stared emptily at the ceiling until sleep forcibly overtook her.
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