A procession approached, and king and queen, dressed all in black, fell on their knees before Andre’s coffin without deigning to look at me.
“My son...”
“My dear child!”
Crocodile tears in their eyes, or at least in Abigail's. Her hope for ruling the country was gone, even if Rene had informed me that powerful life mages had been summoned to the castle.
I really didn’t like it. A powerful mage meant a practicing mage, and who knew what they would discover? Yes, I was half-human, but sometimes, my demonic nature awoke inside me, and chaos reigned. During such moments, I couldn’t control myself, and I had no intention of announcing my half-demonic nature.
Fine. Let them come, and I’ll find a way to deal with them. Maybe they won’t even accept the invitation!
Rudolph did portray himself as the Templars’ loyal son, and they weren’t really fond of magic. Nobody wanted competition.
But that would happen later. For the time being, Rudolph was spending his time kneeling before his son’s coffin, Abigail was wailing like a cat whose tail had gotten squeezed, and the others were staring at them with empathy.
What a tragedy!
They noticed me only half an hour later, after having wept to their hearts’ content. Rudolph turned his pale face to me, and...
Apparently, the common saying was true. Villainy becomes the villains. Tearful eyes, pale face, a noble look...show it to young maidens, and they would fall in love right off the bat! Honorable suffering personified.
“Alex, tell me, how did it all happen?”
“Yes, relate the story of our son’s death!”
While you remained alive.
Abigail didn’t say it out loud, but the smart ones could easily reconstruct the intended phrase. Obviously, it fell on deaf ears. I dropped to my knees before the inconsolable parents.
Do you want a beautiful picture? You’ll get it!
“Behead me, Uncle! It’s all my fault!”
Abigail’s jaw dropped. It didn’t seem cute at all.
“I wasn’t able to save him! I should have been next to my cousin all the time, but I let him go to have a date... If only I had known! I cannot be forgiven!”
The courtiers were chuckling, and Abigail once again looked as if she had just been bitten. You bet! Now, all attempts to blame me for Andre’s death would look ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. How could I accompany Andre to his date? Who does that? It’s preposterous!
I continued yelling, loudly declaring that His Majesty Mikael had investigated the issue thoroughly.
But I should have gone with my cousin! Or, even better, instead of him! Maybe I should have died instead...
Rudolph, finally touched, raised me up.
“Stand up, nephew. I place no blame upon you...”
“Nobody could ever free me from this burden,” I said, heartfelt.
Abigail wiped a tear from her cheek.
“My poor son...”
A flash of red appeared amidst the courtiers.
Carlie?
A painful stab forced me to straighten up even more.
“If I could, I would have died instead of Andre.”
Abigail didn’t believe it, of course, but she couldn’t muster any objections. Meanwhile, Uncle was looking on, sad.
“Let’s go, Alex. The funeral’s in the morning, and the day after tomorrow, I will name you the heir.”
You will? But...
“Until my son is born, that is.”
So that’s how it is?
“Glory to the Bright Saint, Abigail’s with child.”
And she got pregnant the next day after hearing about Andre’s death.
Wait. The life mages couldn’t have arrived yet, but Abigail had already conceived! Or had she already been pregnant, while they had been making a fool out of me? The latter was more likely, as I had faith in Martha’s skills.
A truly hateful necromancer... Only an executioner’s axe and the gallows were worse, and efficiency-wise, they were on the same level.
What was going on? I had to find out.
“Your Majesty....”
The duke couldn’t help it. He knelt before Rudolph, freezing in a deep bow.
“My life and honor are at your feet.”
Rudolph sighed deeply. If a situation reminded him of his beloved chivalric novels, he knew how to act. There was a spark of nobility in him, his wife couldn’t have destroyed all of it.
“Stand up, Duke. I trust that you’ve done all in your power.”
Just as the duke had planned.
***
The council.
What was that? Well, back during my grandfather’s reign, it was a big deal. He had appointed people after his heart, not giving a care if they bowed down to him. He had wanted sound advice. Rudolph, on the other hand, had gathered a council out of sycophants and toadies who sang him praises in any situation.
Avenging Prince Andre is definitely our duty! Those cowardly Riolonians! War, and only war!
Nobody even mentioned that the army was in a sorry state, that the treasury had no money, that the country was exhausted and that a war could very well become the last one for us. Scum!
Rudolph read aloud the assassin’s confession, and he was led into the hall. It was funny on some level. That was the guy being sold as a cunning predator? He could barely stand. Still, he was quite glib.
Yes, he did kill the prince, and yes, it was a Riolonian plot. They didn’t want the prince to get married! It’s all on them!
Rudolph broke down and ordered his men to lead the culprit away. Execute him in the morning! Hang the villain...wait, that wouldn’t be enough! Burn him!
I wondered if the Tevarrians would have the conscience to give him poison. I would, both conscience and experience. I wouldn’t release him however. He would have to make do.
The council also decided on my wedding. Everybody approved of Lavinia, and how could they not! Such a great match, so smart and beautiful...no worse than Abigail, really.
No surprises there. Like draws like.
***
The wedding was to take place in three days. Why so soon? We had to prepare for war, and Tevarr could help us only after the marriage. Therefore, the wedding would have to be quick and small-scale.
Lavinia never left Abigail’s side, and the latter seemed quite affectionate. We could speak in private only when we danced, and even then...
“She lied about being pregnant.”
“I know.”
I was sure of that myself, but getting a confirmation from a vampire was nice.
“Are there pregnant women in her entourage?”
“Yes. Two, both at early stages.”
I nodded, my suspicions validated.
“Why would she need to give birth herself, really?”
Lavinia lowered her eyelashes. She realized everything as well. The baby would be presented as a fruit of Abigail’s loins. She didn’t give a damn about that child having any royal blood. She just didn’t want to go back to the dirt she had climbed out from.
And again, if I had a baby cousin, could I ever hurt them without earning the hate of the entire country? A child killer was an easy image to exploit.
That left me with only one option.
Dear aunt, you’re living on borrowed time.
“Let’s go outside.”
I escorted my fiancée to the balcony.
“You want to become the wife of an heir apparent, not a regent, Lavinia, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“Are you going to...”
“Yes. I’ll go to war, and you’ll have to deal with Abigail. Make sure she doesn’t ‘give birth’ prematurely.”
A smile, wicked and predatory, appeared on the vampire’s face.
“I’ll think about it.”
“I hope so.”
I felt no remorse. She was unholy spawn, nothing more. I kissed the vampire’s hand and we left the balcony.
�
��Alex...”
Carlie?
It was her. As bright and dazzling as before. A red sun, not mine, not my girl, not my love... So much pain, so much longing, so much agony...
They say, time heals all wounds, but in truth, it barely dulls the pain.
“Alex, we need to talk!”
I was about to think of an answer, but Lavinia attacked first. She didn’t feel any pain, after all.
“Dear madam! For you, His Highness is not just Alex.”
“Alex!”
Carlie didn’t pay any attention to Lavinia, but I had already recovered.
“Lavinia, my love, thank you. Viscountess Latour, I don’t believe we have anything to discuss, do we?”
Carlie recoiled, as if she had gotten slapped.
“So you’re truly... Alex!”
For a moment, I felt amused. So I was supposed to pine after Carlie for the rest of my life? Or assure her that I loved her but had to marry on my uncle’s orders?
Funny.
“Viscountess?”
I was absolutely unemotional, polite, and even smiled a bit.
Carlie grew pale and bowed.
“Forgive me, Your Highness.”
Lavinia watched her go.
“She’s with child. One more pregnant woman...”
I bit my lip.
“We-ell...”
Would the viscount give his child to Abigail? He’d be happy to! And they could ask a life mage to help with the birth and give the baby the necessary attributes, no problem. To get rid of the red hair, for instance—magic could lighten a person’s hair, at least right after birth, or darken it...
Could it be true?
I kissed my fiancée's hand once again.
“Thank you, Lavinia.”
“I liked it more when you called me your love.”
I smirked.
“I don’t like being one of many, especially when there’s no guarantee that I’ll be the last one.”
Lavinia looked daggers at me, but held her tongue, and rightly so. She wouldn’t get any slaps from me here, but later... Beating women was awful, but demons?
Still, at least, Lavinia was good for something. Carlie never approached me in public anymore. As for in private...
***
In the evening, I got a visit from Rene.
“Alex, I’m so glad you’re in one piece!”
“Me, too. Has Ivar reached you?”
“Yes. He’s being watched.”
“Don’t push too far. It’s not easy to hold him, you know.”
“We never planned on it. How are you going to use him?”
“Why do you think I will use him? Maybe I’m just being merciful.”
My friends laughed as if they had just heard a funny joke, and I started to tell them the details of my plan. Rene listened carefully and suggested a few corrections, all valid, by the way. I hadn’t thought of them myself. Having friends was nice, especially when your friends were smart.
***
Carlie came to me at night. She scratched at the door and I opened, expecting to see Tommy. No such luck.
“Alex! I beg you!”
She didn’t have to, really. I wouldn’t have shut the door in her face even if it was a trap.
“Come in, Viscountess, or we’ll have a scandal on our hands.”
“Don’t call me that!”
I looked at her in surprise and with a good deal of pity. Carlie didn’t look like the happy girl she had been not that long ago. Her eyes were sullen, her lips chafed, her hands clasped under her chest...she definitely wasn’t at ease or content. But what did she want from me? It became clear right away.
“Alex, I was such an idiot!”
Really? Why the past tense?
“I thought Dion loved me.”
“Doesn’t he?”
If he was disrespectful, I would rip something off his body and make it painful. I warned him, didn’t I?
“Well...sometimes, he looks at me in such way...”
“Just looks?
“Yes. Like a predator at its prey. He almost doesn’t notice me. I feel so alone.”
I shrugged.
“Maybe he’s just lost interest temporarily. It happens.”
“He wasn’t even happy when I told him we were having a child! As if we were getting a puppy!”
“What do you want from me, Carlie?”
She grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly.
“Alex! Help me!”
“How?”
She faltered.
“Go to your husband, Viscountess. You’ve chosen him yourself.”
“I didn’t know... But you love me, Alex!”
“I did.”
“No! You still love me, I see it!”
That wouldn’t do at all. I would have to work on my body language. Still, apparently, Carlie could see right through me even at that moment, as her fingers clasped my arm even more tightly.
“You do. I know that...” She sounded pleased. “Why would you marry that dummy?”
“I need an heir,” I explained calmly, “and a good dowry.”
The second thing, at least.
“You could have married me.”
“You’re married, Viscountess.”
“That can be fixed!”
Oh boy, and I thought I was a cynic? Who was that woman that I had loved? She was looking me right in the eyes and offering to kill the father of her child so I could marry her!
Of course, her first child would become the viscount’s heir, but the second one would definitely be mine! And the third one, too! Love and fidelity until the day we die!
I was numb in horror. Whom had I loved? Whom!
Carlie took my silence for agreement and elaborated. We can also kill the viscount’s father! As for Lavinia, well, let her go home! A disgrace? Pfft! Nonsense! She’s a Tevarrian!
I finally recovered from my dazed state.
I stood up, took Carlie by the arm, and pushed her away from the room.
“Viscountess... I don’t want to see you. Ever.”
She was trying to say something else, but I slammed the door and didn’t answer her knocking. She was too afraid to make too much noise and attract attention. How would she explain that to her husband?
Her poor husband. Whom had I loved? Gods, what would I have done to myself, to the kingdom, had I married her? Carlie, oh Carlie...
I spent the rest of the night on the balcony. My cheeks were burning, my heart was beating like a drum, and I felt sick.
My love, my pain, Carlie...
Never again.
***
The court was buzzing with wedding preparations.
I was busy as well. I had to leave the capital for two days to chase the Riolonian ambassador.
I didn’t really have any choice; when the coffin with Andre’s body was delivered to Alethar, Uncle went into a frenzy.
He obediently ate the bullshit he was fed and declared war on the Riolonians. The ambassador heard him out, tried to purge Riolon of suspicion, got a vase thrown at him, managed to dodge it, and ran away.
He made the right call, really. Enraged, Rudolph could easily attack him with a sword.
I caught up with the “Riolonian schemers” in two days’ journey from the capital. My horse could barely move, but that was worth the cost. The eyes of the Riolonian ambassador upon seeing me were enough to compensate me for all my misery, including my butt, sore from riding in the saddle. They were huge and wide with shock.
Without thinking twice, I threw the reins to a servant and sat down near the campfire.
“I come on business. Or will you pour at me everything that my Uncle didn’t get?”
The ambassador resembled a fish, opening and closing his eyes, batting his gills... I patiently waited as he traveled the arduous road of evolution. Finally, the man came to his senses.
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Prince Alex.”
“Well, you didn’t expect my uncle’s st
unt either,” I remarked, smiling like a courtier and staring admiringly at the roasted meat. The aroma was delicious. The ambassador seemed grim.
“You’re right...”
“And now, I’ll tell you an interesting story about the real murderers of my cousin and the reason for his death. Oh, and about my marriage, too.”
Obviously, I didn’t tell him the whole truth. I simply said that the letter had been addressed to a prince, and a prince had received it. Only the wrong one.
The Tevarrians had simply used the opportunity.
Did I have any evidence?
Yes, the assassin’s hand-written confession. No, not that wretch, the true assassin, who could show where he was lying in wait, how he killed the prince, and even whom he had planned on killing. And I really don’t want a war with Riolon. We won’t survive that war, especially if Tevarr backstabs us...
Who wouldn’t backstab us?
The ambassador listened to me with keen interest.
“And what do you want, Your Highness? What is your offer?”
“A peace treaty, definitely. And a part of Tevarr.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Uncle will go to war in any case. I’ll try to persuade the Tevarrians to deploy their troops as well. They don’t really have a choice. And when they attack, we’ll hit them in the rear, and then, march to Tevarr.”
“An interesting proposal, Your Highness...”
“I cannot give you much yet. But could you relay my words to the king?”
“I can promise you that.”
“Great. I’ll write you later. How can I send you a letter?”
The ambassador thought some more and gave me the name of one of his spies.
“Via the confectionary on Thrush Street. Tell the owner—a red-haired man with a moustache—that the thrushes are especially green today and give him the letter. He’ll understand.”
I nodded.
I will say it, and I will send the letter.
Underestimating my relatives wasn’t a good idea. If they could destroy me, they would. Therefore, I had to strike first.
And I will.
Yet I shouldn’t underestimate the ambassador either. Riolon wanted to pit us against Tevarr, and Tevarr, to play us off against Riolon. But what about me?
Half-Demon's Revenge Page 28
