Chapter Nineteen
Rose was itching to confirm Alisha was okay with her own two eyes. The pangs in her empty stomach were nothing more than an inconvenience. And her friends' cries to slow down as she marched through the oat stalks bounced off her ears and fell haplessly to the ground. Alisha's condition was the fault of her carelessness, and she needed to do anything she could to set it right. She marched on until she met the invisible wall constructed outside the palace by the increased guard.
She stopped and stared up at the red-hued spires from the middle of the street, her mind racing. The castle was no more than 100 meters in front of her. That's right. She'd only gotten in before as Alisha or Sergei's guest. Sergei was back on light duty which meant he could literally be anywhere, and Alisha was... well. In a coma. Her eyes traced the routes the knights patroled, searching for any gap that might allow her to slip through. If she could just back around into the courtyard without being seen she could climb in through Alisha's window like she'd done before.
"I know what you're thinking and it won't work," said Edna, catching up to her and doing her best to mask she was out of breath. "The guards are everywhere, including inside Alisha's room. There's no way you're getting in without an official entrance this time."
Rose clenched her fist. "But I have to see her." Her guilt demanded it.
"Here to see your friend?" A voice asked from behind.
Rose whipped around to the source. There was a woman with curly hair in the kind of dress you'd expect only nobility to wear. She had a open lace parasol resting on one shoulder and when she twirled it, the little dots of sunlight dappling her face danced.
"Who-"
"I'm also here to see Her Highness," the woman said, not slowing her stride as she passed Rose. "Come, I can get you in."
"Who are you?" Rose stepped in beside her.
"Evelyn DeWitt," she replied with the faintest of smiles. "I'm a good friend of His Majesty."
"Should you really let me into the palace? You don't know me. I could be dangerous."
"You're really going to look a gift horse in the mouth?" Evelyn laughed.
"I'm just trying to figure out your angle." Rose's attention was so focused on the other woman, she nearly tripped on the first step up to the door.
Evelyn watched her stumble but made no move to help her catch her balance. "No angle. I've seen you with Her Highness, and I know that both she and Captain Strelka trust you. I'm just doing a favor for the friend of a friend."
"That's very kind of you then. Thank you." Rose mustered as much sincerity as she could offer. Evelyn's explanation had done nothing to assuage her doubts. Her mind drifted back to Sergei's words. He didn't trust Evelyn or her brother. So neither would she.
"What friend is she talking about?" Zaveid asked the question Rose had been wondering aloud.
"This reeks," Edna muttered.
"I'm worried about her too, you know," Evelyn said conversationally. "Her health is, of course, important. However, if she doesn't make a recovery, this fragile peace we have will finally crumble."
Rose kept her face neutral but regarded the other woman with a healthy amount of suspicion. She was rather calm about all this.
They were let inside with naught but a nod to the guard. Once the heavy doors were shut behind them, Evelyn closed her parasol and turned on Rose. She aimed the tip of the parasol at the floor and rested on the handle like it were a cane. Her other hand came to rest at her hip as she made of show of looking Rose up and down, an amused smile curling one side of her mouth.
"Before you go any further, however," Evelyn finally met Rose's gaze, "you'll need to get cleaned up. I'm sure a nice hot bath will do you good. You look like you've had..." she pursed her lips, searching for the right words, "a rough day."
Rose lifted a hand to her head, attempting to work out the tangles but she only succeeded in making them worse as they caught on her fingers. She resisted the urge to subtly bring her nose near her armpit. It had been a while.
"I didn't really come here to take a bath," Rose protested.
Evelyn's eyebrows ascended, roused by amusement and condescension. "You won't be doing your friend any favors walking around the castle looking like that. Or yourself. Besides, I won't be accused of bringing filthy vagrants into the castle. You there!" she called to a servant passing by. "Excuse me. Please see to it my friend here gets cleaned in the east wing and some fresh clothes. Once she is presentable, you may bring her to Princess Alisha's chambers."
"Yes, m'lady." The petite maid bowed. "Right this way, miss."
"I'll see you soon." Evelyn waggled her fingers as the maid started to lead Rose down an opposite wing.
Rose cursed inwardly. There was no getting out of this. But she couldn't help but feel Evelyn had another motive for this display of hospitality. Rose didn't exactly of a map of the castle layout memorized, but she recognized the direction the maid was leading her as going towards the infirmary.
"Um," Rose said not knowing how else to begin, "aren't there baths in the guest wing? Closer to Ali-to Her Highness?"
The maid slowed to give her a sympathetic look over her shoulder. "There is less high profile traffic this way - more discrete. The guest wing has been very busy since Her Highness fell ill. Lady DeWitt is being considerate."
Rose knew that was code for 'this is so you don't embarrass Alisha or Evelyn.'
The maid led her to a washroom the size of her entire room at the inn. There was a small entry area with with towels and wash clothes folded neatly on shelves just before the washroom itself.
"If you leave your clothes on this bench, we will wash them for-" the maid began.
"No, that's fine-" Rose said quickly, wincing at her tone. "I'd rather wash them myself. I'll probably leave before they're dry anyway, so."
"If you insist. I'll find you something to wear."
Rose kicked off her shoes and began to strip once the maid had left, taking mental inventory of all her hidden weapons and being careful not to let them poke out of the pile of clothes she left on the bench in the entryway. She didn't need to show she carried more than just the daggers on her belt. She grabbed herself a washcloth. When she stepped into the washroom proper, her heart sank a little. She hadn't realized how much she was hoping for an actual hot bath until she saw there was no bath to be had.
There were three faucets lined against the wall, low to the ground, with stools in front of them and wash buckets stacked nearby. No sign of a tub. She snatched a bucket and with a sigh, Rose plopped herself on one of the stools and began to fill her bucket with hot water.
...
Rose neared the door to Alisha's chambers just as Evelyn was leaving in a parade of important people filing out of the room. The emperor was the first to exit. Rose bowed hastily. Behind him were Edith and the two Hyland chancellors. And taking up the rear was Sergei, who looked surprised when he saw rose.
"The princess' room is awfully busy this afternoon," Evelyn commented.
"She's finally awake; it's to be expected," said Drakon.
"I'd like to see her," Rose steered the conversation forward. "Your Majesties."
"Go right ahead." Edith gestured for her to enter as her group continued their exit. "Don't stay too long, though. She still needs her rest."
Rose barely bent 30 degrees before she brushed past everyone and charged into the room. She stopped halfway to Alisha's bed, barely believing her own eyes. Alisha had been sitting up in bed, staring out the window. She was dressed in a pale nightgown. Her unkempt hair fell in a frizzy cloak around her shoulders. She turned her head when she heard Rose enter. Rose's chest tightened at the sight of her pale skin and the dark circles under her eyes.
It was like a switch had been flipped in Alisha. Her dull eyes began to sparkle with warmth, and a grin split across her face as she saw Rose. She made an excited sort of gasp and for a moment looked like she was about to try and stand.
Rose was at her side before Alisha had even finished saying her name. She wanted to sweep the other girl into her arms but she still looked so frail. So she settled for sitting beside her on the bed.
"Rose, I'm so glad you're okay," Alisha said, sandwiching Rose's hand between her own. Her eyes were watery with relief that Rose feared she might drown in.
"I think that's my line," Rose countered.
"Are those clothes yours?" Alisha's brows knit skeptically as she finally took in the sight of Rose in a skirt.
Rose ran her free hand through her still-damp here. "No, actually. I've been - you've been asleep for over a week. I sort of avoided society during that time... I rushed to see you and I was pretty gross. I bumped into Evelyn on the way to see you."
Alisha's gaze drifted away a moment as she processed this. "I think Sergei is right not to trust her."
"She probably saw helping your friend as an opportunity to get in your good graces."
Alisha shrugged, dragging her eyes back to Rose. "So if you're okay does that mean Lailah and the others...?"
It was Rose's turn to look away. "No." She felt the word like she felt a punch to the gut. "Your resonance is too low for them to really purify anything."
"Oh." Alisha let go of Rose's hand. She pulled her own hands back into her lap and gripped the fabric of her gown. Her smile, which had slowly been fading, was finally gone. Her eyes flicked away again. Tear spilled out of the corners. Her voice was filled with quiet shame. "I'm sorry. I wasn't strong enough to help you."
"It's not your fault." Rose reached for her hands again. "No one could have known Symmone had a move like that."
"But if my low resonance hadn't been putting a strain on you, you might have been able to avoid it."
Rose held onto Alisha's hands, not letting her pull away again when she tried. She rubbed circles with her thumb against the back of Alisha's hand. "I don't think I would have been able to avoid it no matter what."
Alisha bit her lip. "If Lailah didn't purify you then how...?"
"Sorey's here."
Alisha's eyebrows jumped, guilt temporarily overridden by surprise. "He woke up?"
"Yeah." Rose nodded slowly. "To save us."
The guilt returned and Alisha's expression crumbled. "I just keep causing him trouble."
"Hey." Rose's sharp tone pulled Alisha's gaze to hers. "I was one wrong thought from becoming a dragon. I'm at least equally guilty of causing trouble for Sorey, if not more so."
"It was that bad?"
"It was that bad. I think having two minds in one body that didn't always agree accelerated the process. I think Symmone's goal was to make us the next Lord of Calamity."
Alisha's lip quivered. A fresh torrent of tears trailing down her cheeks. Her voice wavered with thick emotion. "Then is it selfish of me to be glad Sorey woke up? If he hadn't then..."
"We'd both be goners, one way or another," Rose finished for her.
"How's Mikleo?"
"He's fine."
"Good." Alisha sniffed. She stole back a hand to wipe at her tears. "And what happened to Symmone?"
"Dead," said Rose matter-of-factly, with just a hint of satisfaction."And so is Lunarre."
Alisha nodded with understanding. "That's probably for the best. And is Angelie...?"
"Also dead," Rose answered grimly. "Lunarre killed her."
Alisha's mouth formed the shape of a small O. She was silent for a long time.
"How are you feeling?" Rose broke the silence.
"Tired. But otherwise fine."
"That's good. What was the party earlier about?"
Alisha shrugged with a frown. "Mostly just to check on me. But once I'm feeling a bit better they want to continue discussing the possibility of a marriage."
Rose's heart sank into her stomach, deeper and heavier than it had the last time. Because now, after experiencing how Mikleo felt about Sorey, she knew what that feeling was. "You don't have to marry if you don't want to," she insisted firmly.
Alisha gave her a weak smile. "If I want to avoid war, I'm not sure I have a choice."
"You can't give in that easily." Rose's heart burned with anger. "There must be some other way. Sorey and everyone will probably be here soon. Together we'll think of something."
"I hope so," Alisha replied, sounding like not a word was meant.
"I think - I think I actually might have a couple ideas. So please. Don't agree to anything until we all have a chance to talk. Okay?"
"...Okay."
…
Hilda, who'd been leading the Hyland delegation to the conference room, stopped to wait for them outside the door.
Alisha filed into the room behind Edith, Halbridge, and Belle. As they fanned out in the direction of their seats and the rest of the room was revealed to Alisha, she hesitated a step in the door frame. Drakon was in his place at the head of the table with Sergei at his right, but she hadn't expected to find both Adrian and Evelyn seated on either side of the emperor. She'd already known they were about to have a serious discussion – it came with the territory of a meeting between the higher eschelons of government between two nations nearly at war. But seeing the DeWitt twins here, who allegedly did not hold official advisorial positions, illicited a chill along the princess' spine.
The previous meeting, they'd been briefed after the fact when the emperor sought their advice.
"Are you going to introduce us to these new faces?" Edith asked with a smile as she took her seat.
"My name is Evelyn DeWitt, and this is my brother, Adrian." They both stood, bowing to the queen before reseating themselves.
"They are good friends of mine," the emperor explained, "and I've invited them here because I'd like their input when we're about to discuss such a personal matter."
There was a pause before Edith replied, but her polite smile did not waver. "Of course."
"So marriage is still on the table?" Halbridge asked mildly. He folded his hands on top of the table.
Belle's lip twitched downwards with a note of sourness, but she did not say anything.
Drakon grabbed Alisha's gaze with his own. "Princess, you are not responsible for what has happened since you came here. That much is certain. And I would very much like to cement this alliance and secure peace. It is a good opportunity to unite our nations, but before we can continue this discussion, first I have to ask if you're open to the idea of a political marriage between us. Are you?"
Alisha shifted uncomfortably, commanding her dry mouth to swallow. "I am… amenable," she said carefully.
Halbridge's shoulders visibly relaxed. They must have been depending on this solution.
"Marrying Alisha doesn't guarantee peace or your safety." Evelyn's sharp tone quickly reconstructed the web of tension that could be felt by every person in the room. "An engagement party will be expected after the announcement and the terrorists are still at large. There isn't a worse recipe for disaster than throwing a bunch of important people on the same life boat in hostile waters. We won't even make it to the wedding."
"She has a point," Belle agreed.
Adrian nodded his head, also in agreement.
Alisha's mind went back to her conversation with Evelyn in the rain. There was an undeniable logic to what she argued, but she couldn't help wonder how much of her argument was motivated by Evelyn's desire to send Alisha home.
She took a deep breath, remembering the plan Rose had suggested. "Perhaps we could use that to our advantage: lure the terrorists out and finally deal with them."
The table shook as Adrian brought his fist down on it. "Are you insane?! That would only succeed in putting us in more danger. My sister is right."
"No risk, no reward," Edith said calmly.
"Human lives are at stake!"
Sergei, who was also apprised of rose's plan, cleared his throat delicately. "If I may speak, Your Majesty?"
"Go ahead." Drakon inclined his head and gestured for him to continue.
"If we could learn the terrorists' plan of attack beforehand, we could minimize risk."
"And how would we do that?"
Sergei did not flinch at the condescion dripping from Drakon's words. Alisha's muscled locked up. Sergei wouldn't say anything about Rose, would he?
"Do you recall when I told you last week when he had someone on the inside?" Sergei asked.
Alisha's fingers slowly curled into fists under the table.
"And you still won't tell me who it is," Drakon huffed.
Sergei fumbled, and Evelyn picked the answer up herself and ran with it. "I imagine the fewer people who know, the less likely their cover will be blown."
"Yes," said Sergei. "That is why."
"I can't imagine I'd have much chance to do that."
Sergei cleared his throat, stood a little straighter. "You can never be too careful."
"Very true," Edith agreed.
"Well, we can use my insider to learn their plans, and be ready to counter it."
"If we can finally put an end to their terrorism," Alisha spoke slowly, balancing her words on a knife's edge, "perhaps a marriage that is likely to be unpopular with the people won't be necessary."
"The people don't always know what's best for them," said Edith gently. Her tone was tinted with sympathy at Alisha's position. "Even if we stop the terrorists, we need this alliance. We both do."
Drakon, whose eyes had been closed in thought at Alisha's suggestion, finally opened them. "We will proceed with Captain Strelka and Princess Alisha's plan. We stop the terrorists. We can discuss marriage or whatever comes after once we've crushed them at the party."