Lady
Petra sat a moment on the bench in the corridor, eyes closed. She
remembered the recent intimacy she shared with Prince Zenos. Their
reunion, their kiss freshened up a passion that the young woman
believed extinguished. Her cheeks flushed at the thought of the young
prince's lips against her own and the grip of the former fiance's
hands on her hips and hair. She regretted not having the occasion to
spend more time alone with him, not to mention they didn’t even get
to have a conversation, a real one. Even so, speaking to him had been
liberating for the young woman, she relieved herself from many
unspoken words and feelings. Petra recalled the pictures of her on the wall.
They had been taken at the Island of Gal. She missed this island
dearly. Would she ever return there someday ? Unlikely, only the
Galvus knew how to go there. She had to be accompanied by one to have access to the Island. She sighted with sadness in heart at this thought.
In any case, she had nothing to do at the Garlean court anymore. She fulfilled her duty as a Legatus attending the late Emperor’s funeral. She also visited Zenos as requested by his father Prince Varis, there was nothing left in Garlemald castle for her. Decided, Petra headed to the castle entrance. Two soldiers of the imperial royal guard resolutely blocked her way out.
“Nobody leaves the castle during the period of grief.”
True, the soldiers of the imperial royal guard held a certain standing but Petra was still a Legatus. They still had to maintain a certain respect towards her but those two seemed particularly presumptuous which annoyed her quite a lot. She intended to remain calm while responding to them. “Who gave this order ?”
“Myself. It’s been a while sweet Patricia.” declared a cunning voice.
Petra rolled her eyes. She remembered Zenos confessed her that one of his family member enjoyed butchering her name, Prince Titus yae Galvus. The young woman didn’t get to know him well even when she was living in the castle. Their exchanges were merely greetings and family dinners. While intimidating, he always had been very kind to her. Yet, his somber and penetrating eyes always disturbed her.
“Your Imperial Highness…” she stuttered, uncomfortable.
“We kneel before a prince, bend the knee.”
Troubled by this sudden request, Petra remained immobile. Prince Titus raised his eyebrows to express his impatience. With heavy heart, she yielded to his demand and knelt before the prince.
“Both knees on the floor, your hands as well.”
She intended to hide her anger, in vain, betrayed by her facial expression. The two soldiers most likely under Prince Titus’ orders contemplated her with a teasing smile. How humiliating ! She couldn’t stand the idea to be on her both knees before those two rookie soldiers. Titus walked straight to her almost threatening. She stepped back, closed her eyes, took a deep breathe and obeyed his orders.
“Better ! Under my rule, the Legatus will learn to know their place.”
Lady Sokovar strongly held her fists. “No tears, not in front of these men” she repeated herself in her mind. Titus ended up leaving. She stood up, didn’t miss to furiously push the two soldiers and ran away to the Great Hall. She was suddenly very exhausted. It had been a long and emotional day. She planned to sleep a little on one of the sofa to stop overthinking. When she wanted to cover herself, she finally noticed she forgot her scarf in Zenos’s chambers. Although it was silly, this tiny little detail triggered her tears.
“Little bird you’re still here ?” sounded a calm and reassuring voice. Prince Varis. It was the only one person calling little bird. She wiped her tears promptly and answered him without looking at him.
“I can’t leave. Your uncle’s orders. He closed the gates.”
Varis grabbed her arm quite violently, astonished, she had a little scream. “I bet he did. You’re leaving, follow me.”
Prince Varis led Petra faced to a wall. He opened his third eye and the wall turned into a secret door. Him and his former future daughter-in-law went through the secret passages hidden behind the trompe l’oeil. Zenos never told her anything about it. Probably one of the various imperial royal secret he mentioned at occassion. He revealed some of them to her when they were dating but not this one. Varis walked with calm and vivacity, obviously, he knew these passages by heart.
“Seeing your surprise, I assume Zenos never told you about these passages. Back when you two were a couple, he used to sneak out the castle through these passages to visit you during the night. Haha I used to do same many years ago when I discovered the many joys of the Supplex.”
“You ?! To the Supplex ?” Petra giggled.
“I was 20 as well Petra. As every young Garlean, I thought there was no better place in the world.”
She frankly laughed. She was trying to picture a young Prince Varis dancing with passion in the Supplex with other well-known nobles of the Court.
***
“We are soon outside.”
“Wait. May I ask you a question ?”
Varis stopped. He faced the young woman and drew his torch to her. He was still very fond of Petra, even if she broke up with his son. He knew she was a good person. He always considered her with a lot of tenderness. He already adopted her in the family and being separated from Zenos didn’t change how he felt about his almost daughter-in-law.
“What do you want to know my child ?’
“Will it be war ? Against Prince Titus ?”
“We’re already at war Petra. It began the moment someone failed poisoning my son. Did you see him ? ”
“I did Your Imperial Highness.”
“Thank you Petra. Continue straight forward then turn right, the exit is there. A car is waiting for you.”
“I’m not done yet.”
Prince Varis softly smiled. Someone gained some confidence indeed. The shy young woman, too scared to look him in the eyes grew up. He continued to think she had what it takes to be an Imperial Princess and never gave up in the idea Petra and Zenos could get back together. He knew Zenos still held strong feelings towards her.
“No offense but how can you agree on killing Garleans ? Your people, our people. Hundreds will die. There must be a way to handle the succession of the throne peacefully.”
“Worry not child, a man without friend is a man without power. Titus never cared about anybody except himself. The Court doesn’t like him, I know this Court very well. Many are ready to support my claim. Regula and his whole legion is behind me. Agatha pledged her allegiance to me as well, I have her spies. Zenos’s legion will naturally side with me. Soon enough, Titus will realize he has no chance against me and will surrender. We may not even have to fight, one thing certain about him, he is a coward. “
“You really believe this ?”
“Yes. I know him very well, he will do everything to stay alive.”
The Lady Legatus was convinced. It was a good plan. If she also sent men to Prince Varis, he will have even more people by his side. If they clearly showed Prince Titus how disadvantaged he would be and how going through this war would be running to his death just as Prince Varis said, there might not be any fight. With all her heart she wanted to avoid the death of Garlean soldiers.
“I will side with you.”
“I’m going to kill my uncle Petra. No matter the issue. You’re okay with that ?”
As someone very close to her own uncle, she was obviously very disturbed by this. But she couldn’t be judgmental, every family is different and not all are as joyful and heartwarming as her family.
“Prince Titus. He’s not a good man right ? There is something in his eyes. Something that scares me. He can’t be Emperor of Garlemald.
“Why are you saying this ?! Did he do something to you ? What happened ?”
He almost screamed at her. His face became pale and his voice trembled. “Another family secret ?” the young woman assumed. What kind of dirt Prince Varis knew about his uncle ? Petra was uncomfortable. She somehow felt the need to tell her father ex-fiance about the incident that occured earlier. Who but him could understand ? He seemed to hate his uncle with a flaming passion. She told him everything with no omission. Titus voice full of disdain. The lecherous look on his eyes. The humiliation in front of the two rookie soldiers.
“Hmpf I’m not surprised. He is familiar with this kind of behavior. However I would like to leave you out of this. You shall return to Altamira, send men and supplies, that will be enough.”
“I won’t be able to send a lot of men. I still need to defend Castrum Alta and the city. Oh but I know someone who could be a great help. The Legatus of the XIth legion, Troy van Brachium.”
“Troy, Setzer’s son. His father was one of my best friend. I saw Troy when he was a baby, he used to play with Zenos but they didn’t get along quite well hmpf. He must have grown up ever since, so he became a Legatus like his father. Good, Setzer would be proud. Where did you meet Troy ?”
“I know him from SGMU, I think I can convince him."
“Why ? He’s crushing on you ?”
“Hmm… sort of…”
She blushed, it had been a while since the few private lessons she gave him when she tutored him at the university. He might have moved on ever since. However she was willing to take the risk.
“I can try to seduce him.”
“Oh I don’t think you will even have to try hard. Go ahead little bird. Contact me as soon as you’re done with little Troy.”
“Yes Your Majesty.”
Rain. Petra sprinted to the car. Once inside she ordered the driver to go to her next destination : the Noble’s district.
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