“I was foolish enough to admit that I bought it for myself.”
Richard burst into laughter.
“I can imagine their reaction.”
“You bet! It’s easy for you to imagine the anger that was directed at me. What killed me was Alicia’s ice-cold smile and her question about whether I knew that Mariella is my wife’s creation under the protectorate of the Crown! Turns out that Lilian is a boss there, but it’s kept in secret.”
“How did you react to that?”
“How could I have reacted? Like a real man! I nearly fainted, my eyes bulged, and my mouth opened. I must have been a pathetic sight.”
Jess became somber.
“I couldn’t stand it anymore. I exclaimed, “Your Majesty! How could this cow”—”
“You called her a cow?” Richard grimaced.
“The word slipped out. I always used to call her that—and especially now, when they were making fun of me…”
“You’re a fool, Jess! I’ve told you this before. You’ve never called her anything but a cow! She was probably aware of it. If a person is continuously told that she is a slug, for example, it will eventually push her to prove otherwise and roar with all her might!”
Jess looked at his friend with surprise.
“You won’t believe it, but the king gave me the same example, only he said that a chicken would eventually cluck. Are you relatives, by any chance?” quipped Jess.
“You won’t believe it!” Richard mocked back. “Don’t get distracted, go on with the story!”
Jess shuddered.
“It’s you who’s distracting me,” he said without enthusiasm. “I was so unhinged that I didn’t even realize where I messed up and went on digging a hole for myself. I declared that she was only a woman, a silly woman, and if she seems to be good at something, it is because someone else is standing behind it. I said I desired to know who the person was, make him bleed to death and let his blood fill all the wine-jugs of Ativerna!”
Richard let out a whistle.
“You couldn't have made it worse even if you’d wanted to.”
“I know! I lost my temper. Their mocking maddened me so! I immediately realized my mistake and explained that I had said it only because I’ve always seen my wife as stupid, whereas, in reality, she was not in her right mind because of the poison. I said I rationally knew that she was a clever girl, but haven’t yet felt it with my heart. My eyes told me she was a total freak. When she came to herself, I was already away. I spoke badly of her only because I couldn't contain my emotions from spilling out. It took me around three times to repeat this thought in different ways before I realized that I was going around in circles.”
“Did they believe you?”
“I think so. But, of course, Edward remained greatly displeased with me.”
Richard thought to himself that Jess had better things to worry about, but kept silent so as to not interrupt his train of thought. So Jess continued.
“But he believed me. Otherwise, his answer to me would've been different.”
“What was the answer?” Richard realized that Jess was going to continue his story anyway, but he wanted to keep the appearance of a dialogue.
“Lilian Elizabeth Mariella, the Countess of Earton, is under my own protection. Be sure that I will stand by her side even if she ceases to remain an Earton. She will get another name. As for the man who stands behind her deeds, you have nothing to worry about. We have sifted it through the finest sieve. There is nobody. How she endured everything still amazes me to this very day.” That’s what he said. His words made me sweat. He added gloomily that he was terribly upset that Lilian didn’t have her husband by her side, although he ought to be there.”
“Oh yes. Such phrases would unhinge anybody. What did he say next?”
“It gets much worse. Edward became silent and let my mother bury her claws in deeper. Why did he let her do that?”
Although the question was rhetorical, it wasn't left without an answer.
“I will explain to you in detail after you finish,” snickered Richard.
“Hmm, you’ve got me interested. Okay, so…” Jess remembered the conversation.
“At first, he listed all the people who’ve lied to me or betrayed me. Two governors, two village elders, a mistress (whom she called ugly names) and her cousin, Baron Donter, the medicus whom I invited, Miranda’s nanny, her teacher, one of the soldiers. There is proof of their disloyalty; there is either a confession, a testimony or both, or confessions from the people I’ve hired! That is not the worst part though. One of the rings that I gave to Adele belonged to Lilian, just as you suspected. Moreover, she inherited it from her mother. As it turned out, August bought out all the jewelry that was paid for hiring the killers. I wouldn't have paid so much; he paid way more than it’s worth,”
“That depends.”
“Yes. Mother also said that, as a present, that ring is more precious than all the things I bought together.” Jess frowned. “Do you know how much I’ve bought?”
“More or less. Alicia is right, and you know it yourself, only you do not wish to accept it.”
“I did not wish to, until they laid all the evidence before my eyes. Before, I had only been told what happened in those interrogations briefly. But here, for the first time, the king ordered food for them and a tall pile of documents for me. Those secret reports could leave the walls of the palace only in ashes, so I don’t have any illusions. Two candles burned down before I could finish.”
“Considering your reading speed, that’s too many.”
“You bet! I only had time to read half. I skimmed through the papers, paying particular attention to the ones Alicia pointed out. She was so sarcastic! She said that I seemed more like a complete idiot than the poisoner and murderer of my wife. She asked me to read carefully the report about the servant in Earton with whom I had an affair. It turns out that that fool decided me throwing her around a couple of times and whispering a few compliments meant something more serious. This tart,” swore Jess, “turned out to be the one to blame for the miscarriage. She was even worried that Lilian had survived.”
“Jess,” Richard couldn't resist making a remark, “have you tried wearing a chastity belt or asking an herbalist for some medication against sexual arousal? If you didn’t like your wife no one would blame you for starting an affair on the side, really, but not in Earton and not with a servant! Goodness me!” Richard stammered, realizing that he shouldn't have snapped. A painful silence suspended over them.
“Well, never mind,” Richard’s voice wasn't entirely genuine. “I was only scared that since you chase everything that moves, it would be safer for me to stay out of sight.”
Jess forced a smile. The joke was bad, but both friends pretended to laugh.
“Don’t be hard on me,” said Jess finally in a tired voice. “I am having a hard time as it is.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, I’m just… Maldonaya take it! Let me tell you what happened next.”
Jess was relieved.
“Tell me, and afterward, I want to explain why it was Alicia who spoke to you and not my father. Maldonaya take that silly maid. Go on!”
“The second document that my mother told me to inspect was about the Baron of Donter. It gets worse. Together with the nanny, this bastard tried to kidnap Miranda. He was going to take her to his estate. Whatever it is he had planned to do with her, it makes me angry. Given we found out about the sins of this bastard, his premature death was for him a blessing in disguise, especially since no one got hurt.”
By “no one” Jess meant Miranda. All the dead, of course, meant nothing to him.
“The official story is that the baron (who, by the way, turned out to not even be a baron) was stabbed during the fight. That’s what Lilian says, and the rest, including the king, pretend that this is what happened. In reality, though everyone had a chance to find out that Donter was caught alive. Lilian ordered her Virman guards to punish hi
m as they punish child theft on Virma. Hence they—”
“Don’t!” Richard stretched his arms forward. “I know their customs. Although I entirely support this way of dealing with criminals, I’m going to pass. I guess that my father did you a tremendous favor by ordering you to keep celibacy. Maybe if you try very hard, your wife will forgive you. If you let your member loose now, I doubt you will ever be able to have it up again.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your wife will chop it off with a blunt knife—in five goes! Even worse—in twenty, and with a very blunt, very rusty sword, too!”
“Very funny!” remarked Jess with a tinge of uncertainty.
“Maybe. But if I were you, I would not risk it. Judging from how she tamed your mother and my father, they would both swear that you were born a woman—only they needed an heir, and so you had to wear a codpiece. But one day it suddenly went off because of excessive emotions!”
Jess gave out a nervous giggle.
“Don’t make jokes like that! Otherwise, it will give me nightmares.”
Richard thought himself very witty but didn’t say anything. Jess continued.
“Besides, I myself became a bit wary of her. It turns out that I did not know my wife at all. Can you imagine that Lilian led the pursuit of Baron Donter? I don’t know what she did exactly, but the soldiers and the sea wolves…golly! Such authority must be hard earned!”
Richard grunted.
“Don’t whine! Look at yourself. Not like your wife is any better.”
“She’s my fiancée, not my wife. Go on, continue.”
“In short, some parts I read in full, others only briefly. Not everything is so boring. Mother asked, “What do you say now?” I had nothing to say and spread my hands instead. What else could I do? Say, “You’re right, Your Majesty. I am not a murderer, I am an idiot!”?”
Jess paused for a while, then continued.
“My mother started looking through the things I had bought. At first, she asked if I remembered the stamp on the table set. ‘How could I forget it,’ I asked. There were two hallmarks. One of them was a bit more intricate, the second one was quite simple, although I still can’t figure out how they got that particular red dye. One by one, mother began showing me my purchases—they were all marked with two crests. One of them was always the same. She then asked me if I was ready to find out a big state secret. That’s when I suddenly realized, but it was of no use. Until that very last moment, I harbored the sweet hope of getting a normal explanation, a believable explanation! I begin to realize that I hoped in vain, that I was done for, but the hope didn’t go away. Please please, please! Tell me that I’ve made a mistake in my judgment, tell me that the guilds went on a riot! Anything that is not related to Lilian!” Jess almost broke into a scream. “But no.”
“Should I be afraid to hear it?”
“Don’t be mean. First of all, you already know it. Secondly, I specifically asked about it. The only people I am allowed to discuss it with are my mother, Edward and you. No one else. Oh, I forgot Lilian, if she wills it.”
“So, they explained to you that all the presents you brought back are your cow’s creation?” asked Richard, hiding his cunning eyes.
“Why do you call her a cow? How could a cow… Oh, wait. Are you joking at my expense? Or maybe you’re testing me?”
“Both!” confirmed Richard.
“Well, I have clearly passed that test!”
“Calm down. I am only trying to entertain you!”
“I know. Do you think that we’ll keep having such conversations even after you become king?”
Richard flinched. “Aldonai let my father see the day when his son inherits the crown.”
“Is this your answer?”
“It is. I could lie to you and say that everything will remain the same. I don’t want to lie to you now; I’ll save it for worse times. Certain things are bound to change. Let us remain good friends, for Aldonai’s sake!”
A cozy silence befell them.
“You know my mother! She is… I, of course, knew about her being referred to as the Ice Viperess, but I never really understood why. Yes, she’s cold. Yes, our palace is a nest of vipers. Her name combined the two together. Ice or cold, who cares? For Maldonaya’s sake! Suddenly it dawned on me that ‘cold’ and ‘ice’ meant two non-synonymous things. I’ve always thought that her attitude toward me was cold indifference. Now, I realize that her attitude was almost pure love.”
Jess was too immersed in his memories to notice Richard’s sad smile.
“It seems somehow unexpected for you to realize this after so many years. Hmm!”
A pause.
“Mother told me everything about Lilian—how useful she is for the Crown and how much profit she makes. The profit! And the digit was only a rough estimate! Mother then asked me to count how much more profit I brought to Lilian with my reckless spending at the salon compared to the worth of my marriage presents.”
“And you couldn’t tell!” Richard’s tone was affirmative.
“Of course not. Like a pile of gold next to nothing. Take only that ring! Alicia’s words hit me harder than stones.”
“She’s a mighty thing. You should calm down.”
“How do you know? Have you already discussed it with her? Of course you have, why do I even ask?”
Richard remained silent.
“Mother also told me about the rest of Lilian’s ideas. Take sea salt for instance. We used to buy it before, too. Ours was only good for the pigs. The people of course used it, but it’s a crime to spoil our normal food! I found out only scraps of information, but couldn't believe it, couldn't quite put it together. Speak only of medicine! That Khangan doctor is a dime a dozen! They treated the heir of the Khanganat. As far as I have understood, although Tahir is a famous medicus and Lilian is his favorite student, it was her who found the cause of the disease. As for my sister…” Jess banged his fist against the table. “Mother said that the medicus guild could soon cause some trouble. Edward intervened again and said that he didn’t give a damn about all the medicuses. He said he would try to avoid blood, but if they cross the boundary, he will order them all drowned in memory of Jessamine.”
“I can see why.”
“Yes, I remember what you said to me in Wellster. Do you think that if they got their hands on you, you would—”
“Almost certainly.”
“Hmm. And then Edward declared that…” Jess sighed deeply. “‘It’s good that Lilian follows the covenants of Aldonai and keeps her marital bed chaste, even though it might not be worth it.’ Those are his exact words. He then said that if it occurred to Lilian to ask him for a divorce and a new husband, he would only ask when and how many husbands she needed. And if there is any Aldon who is against it, he’s got Gardwig as an example to back it up.”
“Aldonai be merciful!”
“Well, it was clearly a joke. He said it with a smirk. But the mere fact! I had nothing to say. Well, he finally said that was probably enough learning for one day. He said that he wouldn’t mind me speaking to you in private. Lilian was also among the trusted, but she should not find out about his last words, neither from me nor you. It would have been a crime not to take advantage of her patience.”
“Obviously not! I’m not a fool.”
“Well, I’m only passing on his words to you. Although I understand you’d keep quiet anyway. Can you explain to me, Richard? I see, I hear, but I don’t understand! My wife and all… She is different! Fine, I know she was poisoned. But still, it’s not Lilian. It’s a different person, or rather a different crowd of people! It cannot be! Everyone says she is beautiful, but every time I remember her, it makes me gag! It could either be mockery or a compliment. I never paid too much attention to it before the conversation with Alicia and Edward. Does this mean that all the unbelievable rumors about her are true? I want to bang my head against the wall, or better—to finally wake up. I keep pinching myself, but it gives me nothing b
ut bruises. I don’t wake up! I don't un-der-stand!” Jess didn’t even take a breath.
“Maybe they poisoned me and not her? Lilian this, Lilian that… The ruler of the Khanganat worships Lily, Gardwig asks me if Lily will come, where she got that dress from, if it was me who got her such beautiful jewelry, could I make Tahir come and see their relative because he doesn't go anywhere without Lilian! Lilian is everywhere!”
Richard nodded sympathetically, letting Jess talk his heart out.
He continued. “Edward forbid me to meet her in person! Do I have to spy on her to figure it out? She seems to be everywhere! I will be peering around the corner only to have her come from behind out of nowhere! I will turn around, have a heart attack, and she will just evaporate! She won’t be guilty of my death because the moment I pass away, she will have an alibi! She will have proof of being in five places at once, all of them five hours away from each other on her Avarian horse! She would get her presence confirmed by those whose words cannot be disputed!”
Jess sighed heavily. “I never used to understand those who suffered from insomnia. I always thought they were making it up. Aldonai has punished me for my disbelief!”
“Jess, you seem to be slightly exaggerating. Lilian is only a woman, although not very ordinary.”
“She’s not a woman! She’s a mixture of a racehorse with a tornado! I will sooner believe that a shilda got into her after she lost her child.”
Richard noticed that despite Jess’s joking voice, his eyes expressed a certain worry.
“Let’s consider the option with the shilda.”
“It’s only a joke, Richard,” Jess nervously replied.
“Let’s do it anyway. Don’t interrupt me. I listened to you.”
“It’s silly to interrupt a jester, you will get less laughter,” murmured Jess. Richard pretended that he didn’t hear him.
“Thank Aldonai I am not a pastor, but I know a few general things. First of all, shildas are lustful. They cannot contain it. As far as I know, they studied Lilian’s life and background. They found nothing and no one at all apart from you, which was a long time ago, a couple of times a year, without any particular excitement from her. By the way, considering your appetites, a shilda sooner entered you than entered your wife. We need to ask the Aldons to check you.”
The Price of Happiness: A Strong Woman in the Middle Ages (A Medieval Tale Book 5) Page 18
