207 - The Most Memorable Dinner
“Are you alright, Gwen?” Delice asked as they walked further down the hallway, taking their time.
“Of course, I am alright,” Gwen responded immediately, allowing a smile to light up her face before she looked away from Lady Delice.
That was such a convincing response and if Delice hadn't been so observant, she would have believed her. There was something gloomy about Gwen’s aura tonight, like something was definitely bothering her.
She was certain of it.
“I know you, Gwen. Tell me what is wrong.”
“Mil—”
“Tell me.”
“I am only sad that I have to leave, that is all.”
“And?”
Gwen stopped in her tracks.
“My mate is not well.”
“What is the matter?”
“His leg. The injury from the war. It hurts horribly lately with the increased cold weather.”
“The strain of cold night,” Delice said passively.
“It is a frailty we shouldn't have. If this injury hadn't come to him in the special way it had, he would have healed a long time ago. It just hurts to see him in so much pain. I do not know what to do.” Her voice cracked with restrained tears. “He is hardly ever able to sleep. He tries to hide it from me and lies that he is alright, but I feel the ache in my heart and I think our new bat feels it too. I can feel them both be uneasy.”
“Gwe—”
“I had to gift him his new cane earlier than necessary and pretend it was for a random thing that I can't even remember.” Panic consumed her voice next. “Please, Milady, you cannot tell the Queen about this.”
“I won't, I won't,” she said quickly.
Then Gwen nodded, patting Mira’s back mindlessly.
“I cannot tell the Queen of this either, she will think him unfit to rule the Left Province, she will tell the King and just at the moment when he is already starting to accept and be happy with this new appointment, he will lose everything.” She sighed, tore with frustration. “I don't know what to do.”
“Doctor Nicholas—”
“I have asked him, although the kind Sir doesn't know of the gravity of things; I did not tell him. I don't think it is something he can help us with.”
A moment of silence passed between them and they both took a step forward before Lady Delice spoke again.
“Lord Rosil then. We will tell Lord Rosil, she might know of a way to help or have you asked her?”
“No.” Gwen said with stunned realization. “It never crossed my mind. It was never this serious but— you are right— why did I never think of it?” A relieved smile crossed her lips, as her eyes watered with tears of gratitude. “Thank you, Lady Delice. You are forever wise.”
Delice nodded with a gentle smile, but there was more to say and for those words, Delice doubted that Gwen would be glad to hear them.
“My loyalty is to Lavida. My kingdom.” Her voice cracked, like a dagger to her heart, reminding her of the time when the said loyalty had been shifted, like a fresh wound. “And if we try everything possible and it doesn't work before the appointment is put into effect by your moving to the Left Province, you must tell the King. Or better still the Queen, if you are too scared to face him. She will also find a better way to tell him.”
“Yes.” Gwen responded, looking into the distance. “You are right. My loyalty is also to Lavida.”
“It will work, don't worry. It wouldn't have to come to that.” Delice tried to reassure her but Gwen only smiled.
She feared it might.
By the Blood, things just weren't going well for her family recently, but this conversation made her feel better.
Before she didn't know what to do but after speaking with Lady Delice, she had, well, hope and a plan on what to do next.
“Thank you, Gwen.”
Gwen blinked, her brows furrowing with confusion. “But I have done nothing.”
“So you think. But I am no longer the Delice you know, not the Saint, not the loyal, not the harmless. I am adorned with crimes now, but still here you are, by my side, speaking to me, seeking my silly counsel, after my crimes like nothing happened. I betrayed the Lavida I took an oath to advise with all honesty and with the best intent in my heart, I betrayed you knowing how dare Lavida is to you, knowing how dare you are to me. But here you still stand, without a proper apology from me, you have accepted me, seeking my counsel. My silly counsel.”
“You didn't know.” Gwen’s words floated through the nearly empty hallway, as they moved closer to the stairway. “You made a mistake and you have put in effort to correct it. You killed the Princess!” She said with a suppressed excitement. “If you had known, you would never have done it. Besides,” she smiled. “Who is above mistakes?”
Delice held Gwen’s free hand and pressed it against her forehead.
“Forgive me,” she said, her voice strained with tears.
“But Milady,” she called out with a smile, "You have already been forgiven. All of Lavida forgives you.”
“Then you and all of Lavida are better than I will ever be.”
“You are ever too humble, Milady.”
The sound of Delice’s gentle sobbing filled the hallway and Gwen pulled her hand away from her to wipe the tears away from her face.
“Oh Milady, please do not cry.”
“I do not weep. The hallway is just very humid.”
They laughed.
“Indeed. Very foggy.”
At that moment, someone stepped into the hallway.
“Oh, Gwen! Thank the Moon you are still here!”
They looked back at Aunt Alice who approached them with a basket of food. She took Mira from her and handed her the basket. “Thank you so much for tonight. Send my greetings to your family.”
After that, Gwen decided to leave for home, Delice also followed, standing by her decision to see her off to the door while Aunt Alice took Mira along to call George to the dinner because he was starting to run really late.
___
___
The minute Aunt Alice stepped out of the Dining Hall, Valerick started telling Zezi about how great his relationship with her mother was going.
“She called me her son,” he repeated for the hundredth time while adjusting his tie. Then he started talking about all the plans he had for their relationship to grow stronger. He asked for all her hobbies and wondered what the perfect event would be to bring them together.
Zezi laughed to see him so bubbling like a child.
This was a good side of him.
She couldn't wait to express her gratitude to her mother for accepting him and making her mate this happy.
Suddenly, Valerick froze and his excitement vanished.
It was happening again, like it had happened that night.
Nicholas said it wouldn't happen again.
By the Moon, what was going on?!
“Valerick?” She called out his name but as possessed, he stood up from his seat and headed out of the Dining Hall with an unfathomable speed.
Zezi went after him and her worry increased when she realized that once again, he was headed to the Hall of Statues.
But that wasn't all.
Many guards were rushing towards the Hall of Statues from different directions.
Her heart was racing with fear.
She got there later than he did, and as he approached the door, he suddenly turned to stop her from walking in any further but it was too late.
A scream tore through her throat at the ghastly sight she laid her gaze upon.
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