Contrary to the previous glamorous night, the next morning was quiet and clam in palace of Laria. All the mess was cleaned, in mere hours so that no guest could tell of the weaved conspiracy and the assassination attempt. The matter was dealt with briefly and secretly so that the image of power and control Hestia maintained would not be shaken. The traitorous soldiers were confined and beheaded, the secret letters were held in her highness's custody as a solid proof of the Wilshire's treason to be used when needed, the blood staining the corridor leading to the ballroom was wiped in the same instance it was spilled. Not only no trace of the dark side of that joyous night remained, the marry and cheerful decoration and celebration had also faded into quietude as it had never been. No one remembered his or her dancing partner, no one cared for the crude or kind words conversed, and no one repeated the gay songs or romantic ballads sung and danced at its rhythm. There was nothing left related to the masked ball and the palace once again regained its dignity and tranquility.
At the palace farthest garden, that was only accessible to the king's family, The younger princess Selene was standing looking at the vernal scene. A few roses were withering faster than usual, gifting a place for new ones to bloom. The peace with which the fell, gracing the grass while leaving the branches denuded in lament caught the priestess princess's interest. Her eyes were not wide as a sign of beauty alone. They contained many wisdom and knowledge, both poured into them and discovered by them. The serene blue could see beyond the acts, and deep into the words. Every behavior of a man or a woman, every flinch and change in the nature carried a meaning her eyes longed to decipher and successfully did so. She was a woman who can be deceived having disregarded her body and its surroundings from earthly pleasures.
The sound of resolute steps made her turn around. Hestia was looking for her younger sister, correctly guessing where she would be. The crown princess raised her hand motioning for her guards and maids not to follow her into the garden. She was wearing a dark red robe, simple by her standards and her hair was resting from the complicated hairdo of yesterday's celebration, laid into a low ponytail tilted to the right side of her face, a small tiara adding the necessary air of royalty. Normally, after an assassination attempt made on one's life, this one would be furious, afraid, guarded but as she gazed upon her little sister, she was nothing of the sort. She was her usual self. Hestia had expected nothing less. Even if last night's arrests and beheading were for her sake, Hestia had no reason to worry about the mental well being of her sister. She was always calm and at peace. Selene wanted nothing to do with yesterday's accident, not an act of running away, but it was foreseen and expected. Nothing to fuss about and Hestia could read her sister's thoughts quite as well as the latter cold read hers. If There is any danger on the princess's life, it was across that upcoming journey, no longer here at the palace. Still, Hestia was seeking a way to start a conversation, and instead of normal morning greetings or asking about her sister's well being, she opted to explain yesterday's mess although pretty certain the picture was quite clear.
"The Wilshire yesterday bribed and conspired with some of our guards to assassinate you but I realized there was something fishy going on... my eyes never fail me."
Hestia spoke, receiving no answer, sh finally decided to ask about her younger sister's status, sounding she was doing so out of courtesy.
"Say, are you all right?"
"I'll be leaving soon."
Selene announced without add anything else or answering the question. It was known that the king's two daughters didn't get along well enough because their personalities were totally different and it seemed that Hestia had a little fear from her younger sister's popularity although she never showed any sign of being interested in inheriting the throne that's why, Hestia always kept her close, even in her chosen seclusion. Hestia thought for a moment before saying:
"I am not happy sending you on your own onboard that nefarious ship, but you chose to take no one with you and I will respect your wish. Anyhow, there's a strange man onboard that ship... he sees things differently from the way we do... from how it should be seen..."
Selene raised her head, interest flashing in her eyes briefly as she continued listening to elder sister, knowing who the man she was speaking of was. Hestia actually smiled at her own silliness as she went on:
"He reminds me of you. Somehow, he was able to make me see things like he does for an instant. Stay with him, I'm sure he's the only one who can protect you.
The crown princess's tone shifted at the last sentence, sounding more of a command after a transient moment of contemplation. The younger princess didn't say anything; she bowed her head with respect for her elder sister and excused herself to make the final preparations for her departure but Hestia called to her without taking any step closer.
"Selene..."
Selene stopped in her track, Hestia took a deep breath, the words she wanted to speak feeling strange to her ears, but not her heart, although not showing at all in her poised expression. This was the first time she had called her younger sister like this, with her bare name like sisters usually do... she sighed and smiled at her as if she was praying for her.
"I'm going to miss you, return safe."
As Selene didn't turn at her, Hestia also moved to leave expecting the lack of response. Then, her sister's voice called to her, in a gentle tone, a tranquil smile blessing her face. Hestia's eyes softened at the sight. The younger princess replied.
"I will do what I am ought to. Goodbye, big sister Hestia."
Hestia didn't say anything satisfied and calmed by her sister's smile. She nodded her head in acknowledgement and left the garden silently with her usual proud stand as the crown princess.
******
Albert gave the city of Laria one last look; his hometown was once vivid like this city before the drought attacked it. He peeked at the younger princess from her personal carriage feeling sorry for her; she must be feeling lonely having to board a strange ship with strange men, sailing away from her town and people. He got on in another carriage where Alex was waiting him. As he sat down he could not help himself but examine with his eyes the man in black; Alex was still pale and tired from yesterday's night, he was barely able to stand since last seeing that woman in white dress and flowery mask at the end of the corridor. Albert narrowed his eyes with what he called a justified suspicious; of all the girls and ladies in the ball, why did Alex choose to dance with that certain woman? The woman who was clearly behind the princess's assassination attempt. He thought he had to be slick about the matter and pry answers out of that sealed mouth carefully. Maybe a bate would do. Albert got out the narcissus the lady had thrown, he was still keeping it with him, and he noticed that Alex was looking at him, tearing its petals with his eyes.
"It's a mere flower!"
Albert sneered, happy to find something that actually enraged Alex. But then he asked trying to sound casual as if he was not trying to interrogate a stone.
"By the way, Who was that woman?
"The head of The Wilshire."
"The head of The Wilshire?!"
Alex did have the will or the energy to repeat himself. Albert remained baffled for a moment; why would she be there? Then he understood; she was trying to strike a deal personally with the crown princess and when the latter changed her mind and gave permission for her sister to travel with them, she opted to disrupt the war on her family with a vile assassination attempt. Albert was shaking with frustration, if he knew who she was, he would have stopped at nothing to speak to her and pursue her to help them instead of taking a hostile stance.
"Why didn't you tell me it was her? If I had to spoken to her, then maybe..."
Albert shouted angrily at Alex but he didn't go any further when he noticed that Alex was really tired and exhausted, it was obvious that he was trying to pull himself together until they reach the ship. He closed his mouth in contempt, reluctant to let the matter drop easily but deciding to wait until the captain seemed fine. However, as they boarded the ship, Alex collapsed gain unconscious and boiling with fever. The whole crew looked at Albert in unified enmity waiting an explanation about what had happened to their captain, even Alice left her work and rushed like a missile to the deck. The sailors surrounded Albert while Alex's assistant, Howard, held him from his collar yelling:
"You bastard... what happened in that damn palace? It was you...was it not?"
Albert tired with no use to free himself from the man's strong grip, mumbling:
"It's not my fault! He collapsed yesterday as well... I..."
"And you didn't do anything about it, you hypocrite aristocrat!"
The boy pressed on Howard's grip with a matched anger, yet still failed to free himself until a calm voice ended the quarrel:
"The Wilshire woman had poisoned him."
The men turned at the voice, it was the younger princess whose presence was forgotten by the heat of the occurrence. She went on uncaring for the men rowdy behavior and apologies:
"That woman had poison on her lips."
Howard let go of Albert in shock, he shouted with disbelief:
"Our captain fell because of a woman's kiss? Wait, he kissed a woman?!!"
The two questions left the entire crew in denial and wonder. Albert recalled when the woman had kissed Alex, feeling glad that he didn't speak with a woman who had poisoned her own lips to kill a man. Everyone on board the ship guessed why she would do that, it was probably to avenge her cousin's death. Selene approached from the fevered man and put her hand on his forehead, and remarked:
"It's a deadly poison; only extracted from the Wilshire's island flowers."
Howard watched two men taking Alex to his room, and since Alice had some experience she stayed by his side. Howard turned at the princess begging her in a way Albert had never imagined Howard would do... They were truly loyal to no end to their captain.
"Please your highness, do you know a cure to it, an antidote perhaps?"
"Don't give up hope. It may be deadly but making the antidote is too simple, all the herbs needed grow in a nearby island to this province, they are easy to get."
Howard, along the whole crew bowed uttering their thanks and gratitude for the princess's willingness to help them. After that, he ordered the men to set sail at once though they did not need to be told so. The men's rush didn't amaze Albert, they seemed to be following Alex wholeheartedly; they seemed to respect him so much and e could not fathom for gods' sake the reason behind that. Vincent approached from Albert and asked him about the incident. Albert relayed what happened in short, the ball and the lady who left them a narcissus and he could be imaging, but Vincent didn't seem surprised at all at the event as if he was half - expecting something of the sort to happen or that it was not a strange accident or coincidence. Albert could feel that his companion was really concerned about the captain's life. Another stranger on the ship was showing a similar concern and worry. He looked behind Vincent, Serena was standing hearing the story too, sadness written all over her face but when noticed the royal officer's eyes on her, she quickly rushed back to her room. Serena and Vincent were both worried about Alex although they only knew him for few days. As for himself, standing in their same position, he couldn't feel anything toward that man except hatred and jealousy, he really didn't care whatever happens to him, whether he lives or dies, it really didn't matter to him making him feel bad about himself for harboring such thoughts and feelings... after all, Alex was a man whom his father trusted so much but he just couldn't force himself to feel even slight pity for him... he hated this about himself but didn't try to do anything to change the way he felt because it was in his opinion, the right and only way he should feel toward his father's killer.