WOMEN WHO LIVE TWO LIVES ARE VERY OFTEN (chapter 28)

"As far as I can see, I have interrupted a pleasant meeting." Halim said, taking a few steps forward, addressing his granddaughter with a skeptical expression. Meanwhile, both Ashe and Basch turned to the Marquis figures, both were far too close for Halim's opinion.

-Ashe you have not by chance "forgotten" about our meeting .. why is he here? -

The marquis pointed out. -I thought it was just you and me ... -Halim said, glancing at Basch in his uniform as Judge Magister.

-I want to remind you, my dear nephew, that the matter is serious ...- added the Marquis, taking on a serious expression, taking a few steps towards the figure of the young princess.

-I don't see why Basch's presence should be a nuisance. He has the right to hear what you have to tell me about my sister. "Ashe thundered, losing patience, asserting her position as future queen.

-You are wrong Ashe, it does not concern him. On this occasion, his presence is out of place. "Halim pointed out, squaring the judge from head to toe.

-Did you hear Judge Gabranth? Your presence here is no longer required, you can go.- Ondore said, addressing Captain Basch with a certain coldness. After all Basch was impersonating his brother at the time and had to continue supporting those appearances, the risk of getting caught was too high.

The Landisian could not afford such a misstep.

Basch however much he wished to remain to see the developments of that situation, he had to obey the request of the Marquis in spite of himself, since he had addressed him as Judge Gabranth and not as Basch.

This made the Marquis want to understand the house.

An unkind and subtle way to make him understand that his presence there was inappropriate and at the same time annoying.

Ashe protested not a little with his uncle for that lack of respect for the captain, that by not wanting to make unnecessary discussions, I reassure the young woman not to worry and to focus on what was really important.

Once Basch left both Ashelia and Ondore alone, the judge decides to go to little Larsa, who has been waiting for him in the meantime.

Left alone, Ashe did not give time to speak to his uncle. The princess almost verbally attacked her for the lack of respect he had for the former captain.

-Are you always so unbearable, with what arrogance do you come here, in my rooms, to pretend to dictate the law? This is not Buhjierba .. here we are in Dalmasca! - Ashe recalled imposing his will as a royal member.

"It surprises me that you answer me this way, after I have come here to bring you the news about your sister." The Marquis objected annoyed that little tolerating such ways in his granddaughter, this was not the way a future queen had to to behave.

But Ashe as queen was an exception according to some pirate airman with a bad sense of humor.

-The last time I saw Ondine was that day on Bahamut.- the princess said returning with the mind to that day when the war with the empire had finally ended.

-What you don't know is that your sister has been in Buhjierba all this time ...- said the Marquis, taking a step towards her granddaughter who was resting on the desk.

-Probably because of his second marriage ... that's why you wanted to dismiss Basch.-Ashe added almost annoyed, anticipating the marquis, his uncle in hearing this insinuation was almost surprised for a moment then returning to his usual imperturbability even if visibly somewhat annoyed.

-NO! - said Halim, raising his voice almost irritated. -The reason I'm here is them! - said the Marquis, pointing to the door with a gesture of his stick.

Ashe at first did not understand what the huma had meant then he saw his uncle, flying towards the door, calling the name of a woman.

-Get forward Karaii, bring the two principles here!

-Can I come in?! .. Are you sure? - a weak female voice answered from behind the door, you could notice a certain anxiety in her, as if she had an aura to be seen.

-What's going on!? - Ashelia asked in a frenzied way as she lost control of herself, in an instant all her determination disappeared and a certain agitation took over the girl who, addressing her uncle, asked for answers that seemed not to come.

"Now you will see!" Halim replied, addressing her granddaughter, with a calm that made Ashelia nervous.

From afar Ashelia saw the door open and a young woman, perhaps twenty years older, dressed in the typical Buhjierba clothes, come forward. The woman carried two children with her, a boy of about three years old was holding her with her plump hands on the long skirt of the nurse, with a frightened expression.

While in her arms, the nurse was holding a newborn baby, perhaps a year younger than she was sleeping, while the young girl gently rocked him.

Ashe was amazed she could not explain the presence of those three figures in front of her and how they related to her sister Ondine.

-Who are they?! - Ashe asked stunned while still observing the young nurse with the two children skeptically.

-They are why your sister, Lady Ondine, was hiding. As you can see in the middle, there is no second marriage. If you do not believe my words, observe with your own eyes. "The Marquis said somewhat amused, diligent as he corrected the gaffe made by her granddaughter.

Ashe couldn't believe everything she was seeing, that moment was so surreal.

But finally the princess knew the real reason, which had pushed her sister into hiding and cut all ties with her. The girl don't believe you have her eyes, Ondore had really caught her surprised this time. So he suddenly understood that "the event blessed by the gods was that" they were "the two princes, considering the origins of his sister.

The princess didn't know what to say or home to do, whether to be happy or to get angry. On his face an expression was revealed that was indecipherable, while his uncle, Ondore rejoiced at the mere sight of the two children, was convinced that the two principles would be Dalmasca's future.

Ashe could not notice her uncle's joy and enthusiasm in seeing those two creatures, in a certain sense she too felt happy to see those two angel faces.

Then the princess did not fail to notice the physical features of the two children, both of them had blond and straight hair, Ashe a for a few seconds met her gaze with that of the older child, her eyes were the color of the sea, they were a truly wonderful blue.

The young queen had never seen such intense blue eyes, in a certain sense that child had something familiar, she seemed to have seen him somewhere. The girl slowly approached the boy so as not to frighten him, the boy was already afraid of himself.

As Ashelia started to approach, the boy withdrew, hiding behind Karaii's skirt, to which he held on firmly.

-Don't be afraid ... -Ashe said turning to the three-year-old boy in a sweet and calm tone.

-Your Majesty, you must understand Rasler doesn't know you, this is the first time he sees you ... it's all new for him. -She said the nurse to the future queen of Dalmasca, who was surprised to hear the name of the little boy pronounced.

-Did you say Rasler ?! -The young sovereign asked even more stunned, while blinking her eyes several times staring at the figure of Karaii.

-Yes is the name of the child. It was his mother, Lady Ondine who wanted the boy to bear this name .- Karaii replied looking at the small Rasler. Ashe was more and more incredulous, while smug Ondore watched the whole scene.

-Is that the other child? - asked the princess curiously, wanting to know also the identity of the second child.

"He is Noah." The nurse quickly replied to her Majesty's question.

Ashelia had already heard that name coming out of Basch's mouth, Noah was the name of the captain's twin brother, the same name as his father's killer.

The princess darkened for a moment, wondering to herself why her sister had decided to give "that very name" to that child, the name of a murderer, the name of a man whom Ashelia hated with all of herself.

At this point the princess, irritated enough to face Ondore to ask explanations, her eyes sparkled full of anger and resentment but her uncle was unable to give her any answer.

Ashelia returned to look at the child, staring at him for a long moment that creature who blissfully slept in the arms of the nurse, then her gaze rested again on her uncle, asking her not to lie and tell her the truth.

The princess understood that her uncle was still hiding something from her that hesitated to tell her.

-Because he called him Noah! - Ashe roared forcing his uncle to tell her everything he knew about his sister.

-Because those are Judge Magister Gabranth's children. They are the fruit of the relationship between your sister and the Archadian judge. Do you understand what I mean ... is it because this whole situation is so complicated? -She said the Marquis assuming a serious and gloomy expression. He didn't like giving his niece such news at all, but for his own good he had to do it.

Ashelia hearing the words of her uncle was stunned for a few minutes. It was like a cold shower for her, a deep anger pervaded her, an hatred so ancient and well-rooted within her that she would hardly let her go.

She was indignant, offended, angry as her sister could have allowed herself to that murderer, Ashelia wanted to shout her anger, but she refrained, that was neither the place nor the right moment.

Therefore the young queen had to refrain from letting go, she was always asked to keep a certain demeanor and a certain appearance, she did not know who from the door of her study could enter and find her in a condition that would give rise to gossip and out of place comments .

A thousand thoughts passed through Ashe's mind, lightning fast and then after a long pause the young woman began to reconnect all the pieces and those things that made no sense to her.

Ashe was beginning to understand everything. Ondore's open hostility to Basch, his disrespect for the latter, not to mention the claim to have Basch turned away.

Seeing the two children, Ashe, he wondered how those two innocent creatures could be the children of a cowardly assassin, who had taken away from her what she loved and loved most, her family and father.

Ashe tried to recompose, but it was almost completely useless every attempt was vain, the princess was in the grip of strong emotions that were taking over her person. The young Dalmatian queen of one thing was certain, she felt sorry for the fate of those two children who were indissolubly and involuntarily tied to suffer the fate of their father.

Princess Ashe wanted to ask many questions, the first of all was how could she tell Basch? How did things really stand between Ondine and Judge Gabranth? What kind of relationship did they have?

But above all another question tormented the young woman why to call the older child Ralsler, like her deceased consort? What was the meaning of all this?

-Are you sure of what you are saying? -The princess nervously asked, observing her uncle for a long time, in her heart she hoped that he was wrong ... because she knew Ondine long enough to know that she would never give herself to others who were not Basch .

The future ruler of Dalmasca, Ashelia wanted to see us clearly, before reporting everything she had known to Basch. He wanted to investigate and clarify the situation and the only person he knew he could turn to was Lord Larsa.

For more than two years Ondine had hidden in Archades under the emperor's eyes pretending to be a refugee of war, who had abandoned her country to rebuild a new life.

And it was at that time that Ondine under another name, taking advantage of a false identity, had approached both the emperor and Judge Gabranth who had ended up taking her under his wing.

Lord Larsa was the one who had had the chance to meet her in those clothes, with him there was also the other judge, Zargabaat, perhaps they would have helped her to clarify the matter.

Ashe still looked into her uncle's eyes, the latter returned her gaze and then turning her gaze towards the two princes, imposed on her granddaughter a notice that she absolutely had to respect.

-Not a single word with the judge! -the Marquis made her present with absolute austerity.

Now there was never a strong tension in the room and the same Karaii who was witnessing the discussion between the young princess and her uncle, made her understand that everything that happened in that room had to keep it to herself.