In my mind I knew of how great a fighter Bell is. I have heard of countless stories of the ‘Golden death’ in the battlefield but I never thought I would get to see it first hand on our wedding day.

The first thing I heard was Tia’s voice and then Bell suddenly charged towards Tia with a dagger in her hand.  The room had erupted in chaos and while my parents and I were frozen in shock and fear, Bell and her men looked and acted as if it was a normal occurrence that a bloodbath occur in the middle of what was only a few seconds before, a celebration of our marriage.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her, even as I was being dragged away to safety. Her golden locks that were tied up were now in disarray, her floor length dress torn up and dirtied with blood, but her face was alight with fierce determination and her eyes were solely focused on one person – her goal and destination, Sir Anthony.

I wanted to scream, to call out her name but I knew it wouldn’t amount to anything. Everything about her was only focused on him and it took a few moments for that miserable fact to settle in my mind.

I knew about their feelings for each other beforehand and it’s not as if I harbor an intense amount of romantic feelings for Bell but I didn’t think I would be this unsettled with their relationship. Knowing something and actually feeling it are two entirely different matters. Would I have to feel this way for the rest of our relationship?

I remember one of the conversations I had with Sir Anthony when I was tailing him back in the Pavenia Empire. I had consistently told him that he could speak to me as if we were friends because my interest in the both of them could not be satiated by any other person.

We had just finished sparring when he suddenly talked, which was uncharacteristic for him.

“I hope you take no offense about what I’m about to say but since you’ve insisted that I could speak with you like a friend, I choose to exercise it while you are still offering,” he says, his eyes full of question and I nod signalling him to continue.

“I met Aife when I was only 6 years of age and she was only 4. My father constantly told me about how it would be my duty to protect her and at first it was a sense of duty that bound me to her but as we grew up my feelings has deepened. I now can’t imagine spending the rest of my life and raising a family with anyone but her. That is why I told her to take me in as her concubine,” he says, shaking his head.

How he addressed Bell with much affection and a personal nickname did not escape my notice. I didn’t know what to say. I knew that it was part of the agreement that we were not allowed to take any concubines or mistresses so I know that Bell must have refused him but why do I feel shaken? Is it because I hadn’t expected the depth of Sir Anthony’s feelings for Bell?

“Of course she refused me. She told me that I deserve someone who could devote herself to me fully but what does it matter if I myself could only ever devote myself to her? That is why I had decided that I would not give up,” he says and I immediately turn my head to look at him only to be met with eyes ablaze with passion and resolve.

“But we are to be married, Bell herself accepted my proposal with the condition of not having any extramarital affairs,” I answer, dumbfounded by his declaration.

“I know and I will honor your marriage. I also respect her decision and I would not do anything to hurt her but the heart cannot be easily swayed. We have been together for many years and in those years we have gathered numerous memories,” he says, his eyes trained on the horizon. No doubt reminiscing about their past that I could never be a part of.

“I need not to do anything but stand by her and be by her side, a constant reminder of everything we were as well as everything we could be. I am a very patient man and I believe that there will come a time when she herself will come to me, until then take care of her in ways I cannot and know that I will come for you if you ever hurt her,” his eyes were clear, an affirmation of the solemnity in everything he had said.

What else could I have done but remember everything he had said, accept it, and nod?     

I shake my head, an attempt to drag my consciousness back to the present. Time seemed to stretch and it felt as if two whole days had gone by when it must have only been a few hours. The guards failed to bring Bell to our safe room but at this point it seems like no news is good news.

I feel useless and pathetic. While Bell was out there protecting the safety of the Kingdom, I’m confined to this room, like a glass ornament everyone is afraid of breaking.

The deafening silence was broken when the guards came in to inform us that everything had been secured. One of the guards reported that the empress was responsible for subduing most of the assailants, leaving only three alive enough for questioning.

He also reported that the assailants were kept separate in the dungeons but that the empress had stationed her guards as well as prohibited access to anyone other than those who she had granted permission to come in. At this my father grew red with rage.

“What?” he bellowed. “What authority does she have to take charge of the dungeon in my palace in my own kingdom?” he says, outraged.

He starts to walk towards the exit when the guards stop him.

“With all due respect your majesty, we are under strict instructions to confine the royal family of the Ocelon kingdom until further notice. This is for your own safety and to maintain the integrity of the investigation,” one of the guards say and I see my father’s eyes pop out of their sockets.

I knew that Bell always travelled with a handful of knights and guards but was it enough to subdue all of the guards in the palace? What was happening?

“We request for your patience your majesties. Her imperial majesty is doing this to avoid tainting the innocence of the royal family. She is working to clear the royal family of any suspicions. She has instructed me to relay her message that she will be coming to discuss as soon as the situation allows,” the guard explains bowing his head.

At this, my father releases a breath and nods.

“I trust that her imperial majesty knows what she is doing but do tell her that if she does not uncover anything of significance, her acts could be seen as a coup meant to overthrown our family,” the guard nods and scurries off presumably to relay my father’s message.      

The next few hours that I was confined with my family, a number of thoughts ran around in my head. Confining us already sent a message of distrust but I could not blame her, especially since I explicitly promised their safety in the Kingdom.

It also meant that there was a good possibility of the attack originating from the inside, which meant that there were one or more people in power who collaborated with the assailants or even hired the assailants to do their bidding and doing either one would equate to treason.

However, unlike in the Pavenia empire where those guilty of treason were beheaded, in the Ocelon Kingdom, if one is found guilty of treason, the King as well as a cabinet of nobles decide on a befitting punishment which can vary from eight years in the dungeon to execution. Bell would not be elated at the system especially if one of her own was injured.

The tension in the room was palpable. I had no doubt that my mother does not have anything to do with what had happened especially because I know just how much she adored Bell ever since she was born. My father is probably having the same thoughts that I am.

The sun had set and risen but there was still no news from Bell. I could my father growing more anxious by the second and just when I thought he would start demanding to be let out, a guard appeared to escort us to the nearest meeting room where we were once again left to our own devices.

“Father, Mother, do you think she found anything?” I ask, curious as to how they would respond.

My mother purses her lips, shaking her head either in denial or in disbelief. My father just looks at me silently and when he was about to answer, the door opens showing Bell with a cold and impassive face, in full armor. She is escorted by four guards who is also in their armors.

She makes her way to the head of the table and sits then she speaks, her voice full of chill and suspicion.

“I apologize for suddenly taking charge and having you confined in a room but I hope you understand. My men and I were under the impression that we would be safe while we were celebrating our union. I thought we had implicit trust,” she turns to look me in the eyes. I could feel her observing me, gauging if I had any part in the attack.

While I was hurt, I couldn’t take offense in her suspicion because everything she just said was true. She trusted me to keep her and her men safe in my kingdom, I failed her.

“It turns out, I was wrong. After questioning the assailants and following the leads in the investigation, we have found two of the culprits. However, I do believe they aren’t the brains of the operation. Unfortunately, they are the ones who must take responsibility for the incident,” she says.

“Bring them in,” she nods to the guards stationed by the door, commanding them to bring in the perpetrators.

My father stands from his seat when he sees Marquess Rotcher and Count Colevan being escorted in handcuffs with their eyes trained on the floor. Marquess Rotcher and Count Colevan are infamously outspoken nobles. Everyone knew that they weren’t happy with the marriage but were still invited because of the long history of their families’ support to the royal family.

“This is preposterous. I’ve known Marquess Rotcher and Count Colevan since we were children. They would not do anything to harm the royal family nor its dignity,” my father defends.

Bell raises his hand then speaks.

“That is exactly the point. The Marquess and the Count sees my addition to the royal family as a stain and does not treat nor see me as part of the royal family,” she says.

“Wha-“ my father starts but Bell continues, reaching her hand out to the guard beside her who gives her a stack of papers.

“They see me as a ‘perverted witch who is out to take the Ocelon Kingdom’s throne’ and as a ‘heretic who will dirty the sparkling dignity of the royal family and my personal favorite a ‘seductress who copulates with anyone I desire’,” Bell reads, looking straight at the Marquess and Count who are standing before us, unable to lift their heads.

“While the letters are distasteful, it doesn’t prove that they were the ones behind the attack,” my father reasons and Bell nods.

“That is true. However, these detailed exchanges are,” she says, distributing papers of what seem to be copies of a document that details the requests of the contractor and the payment with the seal of the houses of the Marquess Rotcher and Count Colevan at the bottom.

 The document specifies Bell’s name in particular as the target. It also includes how the assailants gained entry to the palace – they were provided with fake identities and were entered as servers. More than the seal of the two families, their signatures beside their seals were more incriminating because it meant that they themselves were the only ones who could have ordered the assassination. 

“But this could have been forged,” my father yells.

Bell looks to turn at my father and nods.

“I was expecting for you to say that since I knew of your friendship with the two. That’s why I prepared a counter measure,” she answers.

She whispers to the guard on her left who then leaves the room and comes back escort five more nobles in. The guard then releases the Marquess and Count from their handcuffs.

“Please stand side by side on this side of the room,” a guard says, gesturing to the brighter side of the room. After the nobles have stood side by side, they escort two men who clearly came from the dungeons after questioning.

“Hello again gentlemen,” Bell greets the two who flinches at her voice.

“Now then, at the count of three please pinpoint the person or people who ordered you to do the assassinate me,” she says loud enough for everyone to hear.

Everyone in the room has their eyes trained on the assailants.

“One,”

“Two,”

“Three,”

At the count of three, the two assailants point towards the left side of the line both at Marquess Rotcher and Count Colevan with no hesitation, which were beside each other.

“Thank you gentlemen, you may go now,” Bell says, instructing the guards to take away the assailants as well as the nobles except Marquess Rotcher and Count Colevan with a nod.

“Just in case you have any more suspicions know that I questioned the two assailants separately and they explicitly told me the names of these two nobles right here. I did all the questioning in front of not only my knights but yours as well and all of them will be ready to testify if needed,” she finishes.

My father sat silent, looking at the gaunt faces of his friends and I could see how torn he is. I’ve known the marquess and the count ever since I was a child. They often visited my father and I see them as my own uncles. I knew they were loyal to my father but I never thought they could order an assassination on anybody, much less the ruler of an empire simply because they felt it would be besmirching the name of the royal family.   

“I know the Ocelon kingdom still holds trial for those guilty of treason but since I was the target of the assassination, I find it would be fair to leave their punishment to me,” Bells says, a glint in her eyes.

“and what punishment would you deem necessary?” my father asks.

“A beheading, of course,” she answers, her voice decisive with no hint of remorse.