Nevertheless, she accepted his offer. She was even happy for some while. The thought of her purest happiness didn't leave her in peace. It made the present situation worse. She couldn't throw out the lyrics from her song. She had loved him once. Only Lons was never a prince and would never become one. They had different fates. He must have realized this himself. He was the one to blame for everything. Why did he need to come to me? Why come back from the dead? Anna knew the answer but refused to acknowledge it. Pathetic idiot! How dare he even think about my love! Eww. He deserved his destiny. It served him right to die.
Yet still, at the thought of their elementary happiness in the old palace, the boiling tears marred Anna’s vision. She let out a sob and threw herself on the pillow. She glanced at the moon. It was past midnight. It’s the end of him. Goodbye, Lons. Goodbye, my husband. I am truly a widow now.
***
Erik showed up at breakfast. Jess was already at the palace, attending to embassy affairs, therefore, Lily’s sole companion was a large pink rose. Lily admired the flower and contemplated the vicissitudes of life. The Virman interrupted her.
“Erik, what happened?”
“They didn’t come.”
“HOW COME?”
“Nobody came, neither he, nor she, nor any of your people.”
“What did you do?”
“I sent my people there. They searched everything and found a couple of drops of blood and trampled grass. They were lucky to come before the dew fell.”
Lily nodded.
“Do you think it was—?”
“I am sure of it. It was a murder.”
Lily threw a napkin on the table. She lost her appetite entirely.
“Hans Tremain. I need him now!”
***
Hans could sense something ominous and showed up within half an hour. He stole a couple of buns from the dining room and presented himself to the countess chewing them.
“Excuse me, My Lady.”
Lily waved her hand and rang the bell. The servant appeared in the doorway.
“My Lady,” tried to insert the leir.
“Hurry!”
Lily was silently waiting for Hans to finish his breakfast. Only when he put aside the cutlery did the countess begin pacing the room.
“Lilian, what happened?”
Lily gathered all strength and said, “I suspect that Lons Avels was killed last night.”
“What?”
Hans rose to his feet. He and Lons were friends. They had gone for a drink a couple of times and sometimes talked about life. Avels was a diligent worker, and Hans took notice of it on more than one occasion for he himself was an avid workaholic.
“Yes. They expected him today, and he didn’t come.”
“Lilian!”
Hans could tell that Lilian was hiding something yet he kept silent for fear of scaring her off. He was right. Lily walked across the carpet, tapped her fingers on the mantle of the fireplace and finally resolved to tell the story.
“Hans, you and I share so many secrets that one more wouldn't make much difference.”
Tremain smiled sadly.
“The truth cannot leave this room. I understand. Who was Lons? A spy? A prince? Gardwig’s illegitimate brother?”
“He was Anna’s husband.”
“WHAT?”
Hans was genuinely taken aback.
“He once taught the young princesses. Anna liked him and started making gestures of affection.”
“What?”
“She began to flirt with him and tried to make him like her.”
“Hmm!”
“Lons couldn't resist the temptation. Since he was an honest man, he first married Anna.”
“But they didn’t tell Gardwig and didn’t run away either. Did they live a secret life?”
“Does that surprise you?”
“Gardwig could have easily cut off his head and sent her to the monastery.”
“He could have,” agreed Lily, recalling the king’s recent behavior. “I bet he would've done so!”
“And then? The love ended when Anna was chosen to be Richard’s bride?”
Lily nodded.
“You are smart, Hans.”
“Is it time to kill me now?”
“No, it’s time to reward you.”
“So, what happened after all?”
“They found out about them. According to Lons, it wasn't the king. It was Count Lort. He’s a dexterous piece of work.”
“Very well put.”
“Do you know him?”
“He is the head of Gardwig’s intelligence squad. He is a beast and a piece of scum, and very smart. He is loyal to the country and his brother, the king, like a dog.”
“His brother?”
“Gardwig is his milk brother.”
“Wow. I see.”
“Lort caught them out.”
“He must have interrogated Lons and ordered his men to kill him.”
“How did he survive?”
“They decided to make a profit on him and sold them into slavery.”
“The guy was lucky and managed to run away.”
“It seems like he’s not so lucky.”
“Lilian?”
“Oh, Lons! When he told me that, he asked me to help him return Anna.”
“What did you get yourself into?”
For the first time in her life, Lily saw Hans turn white as a piece of chalk, jump to his feet, and grab her shoulders.
“Who else? Who else knows that you were involved?”
“Nobody. Lons kept silent. I didn’t tell anyone else.”
Hans let her go and almost dropped onto the chair. He sighed heavily.
“Forgive me, My Lady.”
“Call me Lilian. Nobody knew about my involvement.”
“Glory be to Aldonai!”
Lily nodded.
“I'm not that stupid. Such secrets reek of human blood.”
“Both your blood and the blood of your loved ones,” Hans responded gloomily. “What else should I know? Maybe Lidarh is an enchanted prince? By Jove, I could believe anything!”
“Lidarh is not a prince. And neither am I. I think that’s it. Why?”
“Because, My Lady, you are bad at keeping secrets and bad at lying, too. Is there anything else?”
Lily hesitated. A moment later, she took out a simple scroll of parchment from her drawer.
The fireproof safe was not yet ready, but the drawer was already metal and stuffed with sand. Lily had trouble unlocking it. She didn’t remember the principles of safes, and it was hard to recreate a code lock.
“This is Lons’ letter. He wrote it with his own hand. It’s a full confession.”
Hans looked at the scroll as if it were a poisonous snake. He accepted it and turned it over in his hands.
“The seal of Pastor Vopler?”
“Yes.”
“Did he read it?”
“No. Lons wrote it in front of him. He sealed it himself and gave it to the pastor to seal it for the second time.”
“That means that the pastor’s life can be saved. It’s good. What are you going to do with it?”
Lily sighed.
“I don’t know, Hans. I want you to find out what happened to Lons and the two people from Leis’ guard who accompanied him. If they are alive, we need to free them. If not…”
“Do you want revenge?”
“Revenge?”
Lily’s smile was bitter.
“Do I look like an idiot?” Hans was tempted to say that, in some cases, the resemblance was spot on. He refrained from making that joke. Having spotted its trace in his eyes, the countess sadly dropped her eyes.
“We have a peaceful relationship with Wellster. What would happen after we let the pig out?”
Hans was confused.
“The pig?”
“The letter that says that Anna is a tainted fruit.”
“Scandal, dispute, war!”
“Do we real
ly need that?”
“No.”
They exchanged glances. They weren’t going to leave the suspected murder of Lons unpunished. It was up to their conscience on how to seek revenge.
“I am going to the embassy.”
“Take your people.”
“I know. I won’t go alone. I promise. I will try to figure out what happened. Where did they agree to meet?”
“I didn’t know anything. Lons enclosed Anna’s note inside. It’s written in her own hand.”
“Here is where!”
“Next to the gate for gold.”
Hans sighed.
“My Lady, promise me to do nothing until I return.”
Lily promised with a clear conscience.
***
The Embassy of Wellster, Hans had been there before—before the arrival of the royals from Wellster. It was his job. He knew the gates and already suspected why they had been chosen as the meeting place. The honey diggers came in the early morning. Even if there had been a crime, all tracks and traces would have been covered twenty times. Yet Hans wanted to double check. Still, he found nothing. The place was so trampled and packed with sewage that it was possible to murder a whole military squad there without anyone noticing.
Hans did notice several cots. Someone must have waited here for a long time. But why?
He suspected the killers had waited for Avels there. As for his companions, the two Virmans were a good backup, but only if they were at sea. The Virmans were good for fights and crusades. As bodyguards, they were below average. It was simply not their vocation.
Lons had most likely been killed. Hans didn’t think the others less clever than himself. It was tricky to hold a prisoner for interrogation in a foreign territory where it could cause an international scandal. If Hans were in their place, he would've simply killed Lons. No person, no problem.
Let’s assume Lons and the Virmans were dead. There is a letter with a full confession and enclosed proof. Should we offer it to the king? We could. How much is he interested in the marriage and the union with Wellster? Would it be better for the king to kill the agent instead?
Hans knew too much. He risked getting killed by the Crown. Sadly, the countess’ joke had a shred of truth in it.
Who else could we present with the evidence? Gardwig? Very funny. The Iverneans? Could do, although such an act smells like state treason. What if we catch Anna in a trap and give the letter to Richard? That could work. The main thing is to remain unnoticed.
Hans didn’t want to put the countess in danger. She was also loyal to her people. If he didn’t take care of everything himself, the countess would definitely intervene.
If she gets involved, she will do more damage than a bull in a china shop! The whole party, including me, will have to flee to the Khanganat. I would like to avoid such extreme scenarios!
***
Anna was sitting in her room when she heard a tapping on the door. The princess raised her head and saw a familiar face. The man took a respectful bow as if it wasn’t him who had spoken so crudely to Anna a few days ago.
“Your Highness, everything is sorted.”
“Is he…—”
“Yes. This time for real.”
“T-thank you.”
Anna coldly led the man to the door and burst into tears as soon as she closed the door behind him. Is it relief? Grief? Sadness? Only Aldonai knows. Oh, how it hurts!
***
“Lydia, this evening we are going to the ball in the palace.”
“Miguel!” Lydia looked at her brother. He was still a boy.
Aldonai knows, he is still a child!
“What is there to be happy about?”
“Why not? You will dance, have fun…”
Lydia didn’t reply. What use is the ball to me? Richard had already chosen someone else. Their visit was just a diplomatic gesture. It tortured her.
She wasn’t beautiful. She wasn’t even rich. Although Lydia was a princess, her dowry was still very little. Her soul hadn’t healed yet from her betrayal. Betrayal is an awfully painful thing. I know that the pain won’t cease for another ten, maybe twenty long, lonely years!
Her father wouldn’t give her into an unequal marriage. She wondered what would happen to her. She expected malicious glances, chuckles, whispers.
I spit on them! I am Lydia of Ivernea. I don’t give a damn about this trash! I am a princess!
Her chin lifted. Lydia was a fighter, only she wasn’t used to fighting for her own rights.
***
Lily was playing backgammon with Miranda when Jerisson Earton entered the house. He stumbled upon a peaceful picture: his two favorite women, wooden checkers, dice. Jess watched his wife and admired her beauty. If she had looked like that at their wedding, he would have thought himself a lucky man. He wouldn't have even thought of getting terribly drunk or sending her away. She was tall and had full breasts, a slender waist, gorgeous golden locks, white skin, a tiny sliver of a smile on her pink lips and a spectacular sense of self-worth. How could I have been so blind?
“Mars!”
“I will try anyway!”
“Don’t give up. Who knows, you still have a tiny little chance of beating me!”
Were it not for the growling dogs, the two players wouldn't have noticed the earl’s appearance.
“It’s Papa! He’s arrived!”
Lily slowly rose to her feet.
“My Lord.”
“Madam,” replied Jess, rewarding Miranda with a kiss on the nose. “Baby girl, go for a walk in the garden.”
“In that case, you have to promise me not to quarrel!”
“We will try our best. Go!”
“Take the dogs with you, Mirrie,” Lilian said.
The girl glanced at her, smiling, and left the room. Lily looked at her husband.
“How are you, Jerisson?”
“Better than ever! Lilian, would you accept my invitation to the ball in honor of the Iverneans this evening?”
“Uh!” Lilian genuinely didn’t want to go anywhere.
“We very rarely appear in public together. Maybe it’s about time to announce to the world that the Eartons are one?”
Jess made a compelling point.
“It is. Have you seen the prince yet?”
“Richard?”
“No, I am talking about Miranda’s fiancé, Amir Gulim.”
“Not yet,” Jerisson frowned.
“I will try to introduce you to each other at the ball. I suppose he is invited?”
“I should think so.”
“We will need to discuss the dowry and his future contact with Mirrie.”
“You don't want to give our daughter away to a foreign country.” Jess could see perfectly that Lily was worried about their little baby.
“It’s true. I don’t want to let her go. Yet, we have no say in the matter. Amir is not a bad man. He is smart and earnest, Mirrie knows him, and they have mutual respect for one another.”
“What about love?”
“We ourselves don’t love each other yet,” sighed Lilian.
“But we have a chance, no?”
Lily shrugged.
“I hope so.”
“I will do my best.” Jerisson looked into his wife’s green eyes. They were so close to each other, even a saint wouldn't have managed to resist such a temptation. He slowly leaned over, giving his wife time to change her mind and pull away, but Lilian stood still, her look fixed on his eyes. The man slowly touched her pink lips with a kiss. At first, the kiss was tender, but it gradually became fiercer and deeper. His strong male hands enclosed the woman into a tight embrace. One palm held the back of her head and drew her closer to him. She is sublime! The kiss could have led to something more if it wasn’t for a loud “woof.”
Nanook was perfectly polite, but the couple withdrew from each other as if scalded.
“Good Lord!” shouted Jess. Lily blushed and snorted.
“Jerisson, weren’t you tryin
g to invite me to the ball?”
“Yes.”
“In that case, I’ll go get ready.”
“But wait—”
“Don’t offer me your help. We would never get to the ball like that.”
Lilian disappeared faster than a whirlwind, leaving Jerisson alone. He sank into a chair. His hands still retained the feel of her voluptuous body, and the kiss still burned his lips.
He felt like such a fool for not being able to appreciate his wife before.
What a woman! It’s not too late to catch up. I want more, more, longer, longer! What a woman!
***
Hans managed to return while Lily was getting ready. He found the countess in all her glory—white dress, flying green lace, and expensive emeralds around her neck, in her ears and on her wrists.
Her golden hair was braided in a complex braid, which was also intertwined with lace and amber.
What a beauty!
“Hans! Finally!” Their eyes met in the mirror reflection, and she noticed his meaningful glance.
“Girls, leave us alone.”
Hans waited for the servants to leave the chamber, inspected the adjoining room, and sighed.
“Things are bad, My Lady.”
“How bad?”
“I suppose we won’t see either Avels or your people again.”
“Are you sure?”
“I cannot say for certain, but the meeting place was chosen with purpose. One would never find any trace of murder in that swamping ground.”
“What about the bodies?”
“The honey wagon. They were most likely put into barrels and transported along the road. Nobody would check inside of them.”
Lily nodded.
“It is very bad. What are we going to do next?”
“I need to think. In any case, a slutty murderer on the throne is not the best gift for the country.”
Lily sighed.
“Who knows who else might take the princess on the leash. What should we do?”
“We have to wait at least a few days.”
“What next?”
“I'll think of something, Lilian.”
Lily sighed. It was sad and sickening. She had already lost her loved ones. She had now lost a man who had become her friend and her teacher in this world. It hurt.
The Price of Happiness: A Strong Woman in the Middle Ages (A Medieval Tale Book 5) Page 28
