Respiratory condition. Hanes. Narcia. Estellia. Regentine. Carlana. Helena.

Sitting in a marble grey bath tub that was more like a swimming pool rather than a bath, I mulled over the names and situations, which, the more I heard them, the more they seemed to ring a bell in my head. 

Perhaps I was simply getting accustomed- unfortunately- to living in this place, this world. But the nearly nine years of my experience in the police force had given me something that was dangerous to blindly rely on but convenient to utilise at times- instinct.

A strange sense of de ja vu tingled some memories in the back corner of my head when I heard those names.

"My lady, are you sure you would like to bathe alone?" Regica asked for the third time standing outside the bathroom.

"Yes I'm sure! Getting out soon!" I stepped out of the bath tub, wiped down, and got into the soft, lilac dress Regica had picked out for my brief meeting with Narcia.

The furnishings of this bathroom, the guest rooms and the corridors I'd passed by, were just like the personality of this castle's owner. Simply stretches of clean, pristine marble, and nothing, just the necessary furniture.

I would've expected the castle of the emperor to be more richly decorated and furnished than the castle of a woman who'd practically been taken hostage of after war. Helena Katrine's castle had sculptures, statues, fountains along the corridors and in the first story lobby, along with paintings of sceneries. There was nothing of that sort in this castle.

"What kind of a person is Narcia like?" I asked, as Regica dried, and then intricately twisted my hair into a low bun.

"My suggestion would be for you to get accustomed to calling them by their official addresses, my lady," Regica added with a small sigh, "But... Lady Narcia...is someone I cannot describe. She has gone through many things, and she is a...complicated person."

That sounded too much like an entry-level employee cautiously trying to describe a difficult boss.

"Oh." As much as Regica seemed to be on my side, I couldn't expect honest evaluations of the castle people from her. "Do you how my relationship with her was like?"

"You didn't particularly like her, if that's what you're asking, my lady," Regica said with a small smile. "There, it's done."

"Seems like I didn't really like anyone in particular in this country," I said drily, looking at my reflection in the mirror.

What kind of a life did this Helena Katrine lead? She was surrounded by enemies, didn't have anyone she liked, and was living as the wife of the man who brought down her country.

"Well- that is because you're too good for anyone in this place, my lady." Regica said, beaming.

"This man is right. You will receive the furore of the heavens. One who takes the life of others like that of flies, never lives long. Look at history." The words, quivering in all sorts of emotions I didn't know where they came from- fear, rage, and disbelief- came in eloquent words I didn't know I was capable of. "I will go with you. I will go with you, on your journey to your own downfall. My pleasure to be your guide, Your Majesty."

My words, which ricocheted through the chambers, were followed by a deadly silence.

Hyle silently sheathed his sword, and retreated. The ghost of a smile touched the corners of Hanes's mouth. "Now that is the spirit of the Lady Helena I wedded."

What kind of a person was Helena Katrine, that Hanes seemed to be suspicious when I was friendly and cordial, and only seemed relaxed and accustomed to the Helena inflicting curses on him?

"Not because this woman has a bit of a temper?" I said only half-jocularly, pointing to myself.

"Oh, no, not 'temper'. You have a strong spirit and that is your charm, my lady."

A knock came on the door, followed by a placid, strong male voice. "Empress Mother, Lady Narcia is here."

Regica stood, clearing her throat, and glanced at me. I nodded. "Please enter," she replied.

Judging from the way Regica fidgeted with her fingers and chewed on her lower lip, from the way her eyes looked even more shifty than around Hanes, I knew I had to be prepared to meet this woman Narcia.

The doors were thrown open.

~ * ~

Narcia was a dazzlingly beautiful woman. With lustrous flows of dark auburn hair, deep blue-green eyes and an elegant, shapely figure, she seemed like someone straight out of a hair commercial.

She was beautiful, but didn't look anything like Hanes- I would've been able to tell that she was his stepmother without being told.

Even the ways they carried themselves, were starkly different. While Hanes had an openly hostile, frosty and unapproachable air, this woman immediately seemed motherly and ready to be amicable. Maybe it was because she seemed to be around my own mother's age- late fifties to early sixties.

"Greetings to Lady Narcia," Regica muttered, curtsying, and glanced at me, reminding me of the procedures.

"Greetings, Lady Narcia," I echoed, doing something I hoped would resemble a curtesy.

As soon as I uttered the greeting, Narcia closed the distance between us, and enveloped me into an embrace. Being on the tall side as Alice Edwards, it was instantly awkward being completely folded into the arms of Narcia as Helena Katrine. Narcia smelled of some rich body lotion, like coconut and vanilla.

"I know that we might not have been the closest two in the palace," she said as she let go of me, offering a rueful smile, "but you must believe me when I tell you how relieved I am."

Quick, something polite, something fitting of this palace. "Um... Thank you...for your concern."

Smiling, Narcia led me naturally to the tea table like she was the host. Without even looking at Narcia and her own lady-in-waiting, she raised a hand, and the two dismissed themselves, closing the doors after them.

"I heard you lost your memories. But your personality must be the same. And I presume you still do not like beating around the bush." In her velvet, low and soft voice, she sipped the tea, and looked at me with the benign smile thin on her lips.

"I...presume so." I was starting to get a hang of Helena's personality. She didn't seem to be the super sweet type, was what I could ascertain for sure.

"So I will cut to the chase. After what you experienced at the forest- and coming back from the threshold of death- perhaps you have a change in mind."

"A change in mind?"

"Irennia's king might have died and the kingdom might have surrendered to Emperor Hanes, but Irennia is still not entirely under Castrinsa's control yet."

"...Y-es." What was she trying to say?

"Your older brother, the Crown Prince of Irennia, is still perfectly well and alive, and so is the rest of your family. You might've lost your memories, but I am sure you have felt it acutely during the past few days of your waking- this kingdom is not your home."

Oh, to be sure. I sipped tea and smiled, not knowing what to say.

"At this point I will repeat the offer I made you before your gun accident at the forest." Narcia put her hands over mine on the table, and gently smiled. "I know that you and your...husband are not exactly in the most...amicable relationship. And Castrinsa could use a more benevolent, more merciful and kind...and fitting Emperor."

Wait, what? "Let us join hands, Lady Helena. In two days I hear you will be travelling to Irennia with your husband. When you are at Irennia and in front of the people...say what you really have to say as the princess of Irennia. Speak the truth."

My mouth felt sandpaper dry, and I wanted to extricate my hands from hers. "...What is it that I really have to say?"

"That Irennia should not surrender and should continue war with Castrinsa. And that you were shot by your husband and are being held captive and leading a miserable life here."

Narcia, with a sympathetic smile like she understood everything I was going through, patted my hands.

I was starting to remember who this woman reminded me of. A forty-six year old woman from California our team had caught, who, after killing five of her friends and three more of her town neighbours, smiled her way through the interrogation and denied knowing anything about the murders.

"The fate of Irennia is in your hands."  Steadying my breath, I said quietly, "Lady Narcia. When I say that, the people of Irennia will surely be riled up. The countries will go to war again."

And it wasn't the truth. The truth was that Helena Katrine had shot herself in front of her husband, Hanes. 

"And right in front of His Majesty, you shot yourself." 

Husband. It'd been almost over a year since I last had a boyfriend, and now I had a husband.

"Exactly the point, Lady Helena. That will create reason for your brother Crown Prince Kezar to rise to the throne, to lead the army to war. In midst of the chaos I will help you escape back to Irennia, and your hostage life here will end. The people of Castrinsa are already suffering because of the aftermath of the war. They will rise up against Hanes, and it will create opportunity to bring the more fitting man to the throne of Castrinsa."

I gently, but firmly removed my hands from hers, and sipped my tea. "...Exactly who is the more fitting man?"

Narcia cocked her head infinitesimally, but she seemed pleased that I was asking questions. "I don't know if you remember him. But... Vincen Locke, the son of Willender Locke. You liked this man, called him just and kind-"

With a bang, the doors were thrown open violently, and Hanes calmly walked into the room, to our table.

With him standing by our table I realised how tall he was, and at the moment, how for the first time I'd seen him, not just coolly nonchalant or withdrawn, but irate. His grey eyes, filled with barely contained anger, glanced at me, and then Narcia.

"What manners, Your Majesty," Narcia said with the very sweet smile she had shown me. "I was just having tea with-"

"She was having tea with you but now I shall go with her, Lady Narcia."

Venom was laced around his words, and from how his jaw was tightly clenched and fingers curled into fists, I realised his behaviour toward me hadn't even been close to hostility.

Narcia calmly smiled, and Hanes marched over pulled me up to my feet. His fingers were iron clad and strong around my wrist.

"Wait-" I barely stammered, trying to get a grasp of the situation, still reeling from the words that had come from Narcia's lips.

"Tea time isn't finished, Your Majesty." Narcia stood, gesturing elegantly to the tea table.

"She is my wife and we will be taking our leave."

Hardly able to take in the situation, I numbly followed Hanes out of the room, trying to keep pace with his walk, wondering why his fingers, on my wrist, were trembling.