Chapter 21

A storm of thoughts swirled in Kresta's mind as she rushed through the castle. Try as she might, though, she couldn't seem to find them. She'd checked his quarters as well as with a few guards but no one seemed to know where they'd gone. She was even considering checking the Ildoni quarters, even if it meant risking bumping into him. Anything for answers.

Before that, however, she hurried down towards the entrance hall. Perhaps they were out on the castle grounds and merely neglected to tell anyone. Sure enough, as she entered she finally spotted them across the way by the main gate. Aaron looked a little winded after whatever they'd been up to but he wasn't the one Kresta was after as she set her sights on his sister.

Looking at Helena with those memories fresh in her mind, there was no mistaking that it was her. She may have been younger at the time but Kresta would have remembered anyone from that night. Now all she had to do was talk to her, alone preferably.

Not that she was going to approach Helena directly. She preferred to be less obvious, so instead of rushing over she lingered off to the side, watching and waiting as Aaron conversed with a guard while accepting a few papers. Before long the two of them set off together down one of the side corridors, with Kresta quietly slinking in tow. She probably should have waited for another opportunity, after she'd had some time to think things over and craft her approach, but she just couldn't wait. Kresta had to know what Helena knew, if she knew anything at all about it.

As such, after a brief pursuit to ensure they were alone, she called out, "Aaron!" That got the pair's attention, turning to look at her as she caught up. Aaron looked mildly pleased to see her while his sister instantly snapped into a guard, watching her with what was almost a twinge of trepidation as Kresta exclaimed, "And Lady Helena, what a delight. How fortunate for me to bump into you."

"Kresta," Aaron replied with a respectful nod. "How are you today?"

"Oh, I'm wonderful. Slept like a baby last night." She was already disregarding him as her focus settled onto the other woman. "And you, Lady Helena? I hope you're also enjoying your time here in Arendelle."

It was all Kresta could do to keep her voice steady but Helena didn't seem to be any the wiser as she respectfully said, "Certainly, your highness. My duties keep me busy but my brother and I still manage to find time for one another."

Glancing at Aaron, Kresta innocently asked, "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"Hardly. I'm… just taking care of a few things and Helena's sort of tagging along until I'm done."

"Sounds enthralling," she jested to Helena, who didn't so much as smirk.

"Mm. Immensely."

Forcing herself to sound more amicable, Kresta slid a step closer to her. "Well I can accompany you if you're looking for someone more interesting to talk to." Anything to persuade Helena as she ignored Aaron's protest of, "Hey!"

Even so, Helena maintained her distant demeanor as she replied, "That's alright, your highness. I wouldn't want to keep you from your responsibilities as princess."

"That's one of the perks of being royalty. I can deal with those whenever I feel like it. And right now, I don't feel like it."

Were she anyone else Helena probably would have continued to rebuff her, but she obviously had enough experience with royals to know she couldn't win as she relented. "Then by all means, join us."

With that, the three continued down the corridor. There was hardly anyone else about in this part of the castle as they talked about meaningless chaff. Apparently the pair had been spending a great deal of time outside together up to who knows what, and under normal circumstances Kresta would have at least been polite enough to listen attentively. Try as she might, though, she couldn't stop her attention from slipping back to Helena, who was content to let her brother do most if not all of the talking. Fortunately, Kresta didn't have to wait long to get her chance to isolate her.

After a little while, Aaron spotted a few figures further down the hall and said, "Actually, I need to discuss something with Captain Reynard. If you don't mind."

Seizing on her opportunity, Kresta waved him off before Helena could speak. "Certainly not. I'm sure we'll be fine without you for a minute or two."

That was all the push Aaron needed to send him off calling out, "Captain!" and just like that the two women were alone together. For a moment Kresta thought about making small talk, trying to ease down Helena's defenses before asking anything. Something about her demeanor suggested she wasn't the type to make small talk, however, so Kresta dismissed the notion and just went straight in. She was already anxious enough without having to wait any longer.

"You know, I finally remembered where we'd met before, Lady Helena."

"Is that so, your highness?" Helena replied quietly, watching her brother go without glancing at Kresta.

"Indeed." Kresta's heart was thumping heavily as she asked, "You were in Maneva, weren't you? In my family's home of all places. It was, what, roughly four years ago?"

"Something like that."

"And there was a party. A gala of sorts, in honor of my impending… And of course Cyrus was there, along with his attendees. And you were one of them, weren't you, Lady Helena."

That finally got Helena to look at her as she nodded, although her eyes remained veiled. "I'm impressed, your highness. You do have a good memory."

"I told you, I have a knack for faces." Continuing to probe her defenses, Kresta added, "But I also remember seeing you with Cyrus and being impressed by how young you must have been. How old were you at the time?"

"Sixteen, give or take."

"Sixteen. Wow. And what was someone so young doing there?"

"It was my first attaché."

"To do what exactly?"

"I was just there to listen and learn."

As Helena spoke her face gave away nothing. No hints, no emotions, just an impassive wall of stone. That being said, there was something to her voice. Traces of a reluctance to even speak with Kresta as she accepted she was never going to get anywhere by being coy and instead focused directly on what she needed to know.

"But you were there in Maneva that night, weren't you. So perhaps you know."

"Know what, your highness?" Helena asked.

Up to that point Kresta had been maintaining a ruse of friendliness. Anything to get Helena talking. But that was gone now. She didn't even try to maintain it as any lingering warmth left her voice, her expression draining into a grim demand as she quietly asked, "What happened to my parents?"

Helena's face might have remained steady but Kresta could still sense the shift in her upon hearing that question. The quick yet subtle withdrawal as her trepidation morphed into an uncomfortable understanding. In spite of all that, she still aped ignorance as she replied, "What do you mean? I was told it was an accident."

"So was I." Kresta's eyes narrowed as she hemmed her in. "But something tells me we both know better."

"I don't know about all that. All I know is that it was a tragic incident and I'm sorry for your loss." Helena was no longer looking at her, instead her focus firmly elsewhere.

"Thank you." Kresta wasn't looking to play around, though, as she uttered, "So Cyrus's father didn't have anything to do with it?"

Instantly Helena's reluctance collapsed into shock as she shot Kresta an aghast look before glancing around to make sure they really were alone. "Your highness! That's a very dangerous thing to say. Are you trying to start a war or something?"

Admittedly it was a risky accusation to utter, considering if she said it to the wrong person it could have dire consequences. Kresta had played this game long enough to know what she could and couldn't get away with, though. More importantly, she just didn't care at the moment. "Did he?"

"You know you shouldn't speak ill of the dead, Princess Kresta. You don't want it to haunt you later, do you?" Helena was already trying to retreat again, unwilling to entertain the thought further.

"Helena."

She let just enough threat creep into her voice to convey how serious she was taking this and, as she suspected, Helena was smart enough to pick up on it. Even so, she didn't cower like most people did in front of royalty. Instead she set her shoulders and met Kresta's stare head on. "What makes you think he had anything to do with it?"

That was a good question, or rather it should have been. After all, her brother Charles had called foul immediately after the incident but there had been no proof to support him. No lingering evidence, not even so much as a single guard out of place that night. Just a horrible accident that left both her mother and father dead by morning. And yet, if that were really true, then why…

"If he didn't, then tell me why, when I tried to ask people from Ildonen about it, including Cyrus, they refused to talk about it?"

Measuring her words carefully, Helena continued to pick her way through Kresta's questions as diplomatically as possible. "I can see how that would seem suspicious. And again, I am terribly sorry for you. But I'm sure that his grace the king never would never give such an order. Not that it matters, considering he himself passed shortly thereafter."

The way her eyes lingered off to one side and how she kept trying to deflect made it clear there was something she wasn't saying as Kresta felt herself sneering. "Please. If you're going to lie to me then-"

Instantly Helena's cold stare flashed back to her as she cut her off harshly. "Princess. I'm telling you that he didn't do it."

Whereas earlier Helena had been trying to be polite that was also gone now as she watched Kresta, daring her to question it. Under normal circumstances Kresta might have been offended by the open challenge, but she was too busy contemplating what she'd said to bother. After all, if that were really true, if the former king of Ildonen, then why all the subversion? Someone must have done something. "Then who?" After a horrified thought she whispered, "Cyrus?"

The disappointment that bloomed on Helena's face was beyond obvious as she shook her head scornfully. "Wow. I'm surprised you can even think of something like that about him."

Excuse me? That comment did manage to offend Kresta as she scowled at her. Who was this girl to judge her? "How so? Don't pretend that just because you work for him that Cyrus isn't capable of treachery."

"Oh, he is." Helena's frown hardened as she added, "But only I know what he's sacrificed for you."

Kresta had no idea what she meant by that, but she didn't come across as the sort to just say things idly. As such, she was cautious as she asked, "What sacrifice?"

At first it looked like Helena was going to answer, only for her to shake her head. "It's not my place to say."

Kresta watched her for a long time before answering. She knew Cyrus had cared for her, after all. In his own way. But she also knew why things had ended between them and didn't need anyone to lecture her on their relationship. "Be that as it may, only he and I know the things he's done to hurt me."

She'd said to make a point to Helena, only she wasn't looking at Kresta any longer. She was instead watching something over Kresta's shoulder with a rapt fixation, only when she also turned to look there was nothing. Just an empty corridor stretching out to a far entrance. Well, almost nothing. A solitary lantern was hung off to one side part way down the hall and that was when she finally noticed what had Helena so enthralled.

Although the corridor was still, the flame atop the lantern refused to stand upright. Rather, it flickered towards them as though it were caught in a stiff breeze. As she watched, it then suddenly reversed to lean the other way only to come back. Towards and away, towards and away, steady as her own pulse.

There was something unnerving about it as Kresta watched, puzzled, yet by that point Aaron was making his way back to them. She waited for him to get closer before muttering to Aaron, "Are you doing that?"

"Doing what?" he asked.

He'd been so caught up in his papers he hadn't even noticed their distraction. Before he could look up, though, the door down the hall was opened as a guard came in from the cold, allowing a gust of wind to slip in long enough to snuff the lantern out. By the time the door was closed again there was nothing but a trail of smoke smoldering up from it, although it almost looked like the smoke was fluttering as well.

Odd, she thought, continuing to watch it for a moment longer before looking back at Helena. Only the other woman was no longer watching it either. Instead Kresta turned to find Helena's sharp amber eyes fixed on her, studying her intently.

Nearly shuddering under that penetrating stare, she steeled herself while asking, "Is something wrong, Lady Helena?"

At first Helena didn't say anything, just continuing to watch her silently. Then, all at once, she shrugged with a blink, instantly sliding back into a polite demeanor. "Of course not, your highness. I was just pondering a few things."

"Such as?"

"Such as the fact that you're asking me all these questions when in reality I should be the one asking you. You are a princess, after all. Who could be more fascinating than you?"

"Oh." Kresta's suspicions were still raised but she opted to give a shrug of her own. "I don't know about all that."

"No need to be modest, your highness," she insisted before quietly saying, "Why, if I were you I'd always be walking on air."

For a moment Kresta said nothing. All she could do was look at her before eventually uttering, "Excuse me?"

Hardly acknowledging her pause, Helena gestured towards her. "I'm just saying that it must be so thrilling to be a princess. To be able to do or have whatever you like on a whim. But perhaps I'm just romanticizing it in my head."

"Perhaps." Kresta barely heard anything she said, though. All she could focus on was a sudden yet overwhelming urge to leave. To flee. She tried to compose herself only to find her breath had begun to tremble. Taking a step back, she mumbled, "Uh, I need to… I should…"

Watching her go, Helena's expression became one of concern, although Kresta could have sworn the edges of her mouth were struggling not to curl up into a smile. "I thought you wanted to keep me company, your highness."

"I do, I just… remembered something. If you'll excuse me." All the while she kept retreating. Just to escape as the two stared at one another.

Finally realizing something was wrong, Aaron returned to the conversation to ask, "Is something wrong, Kresta?" but by then she wasn't listening anymore.

Instead her mind was elsewhere as she raced through the possibilities. She hadn't said or done anything, she was almost certain of it. After so much effort she couldn't have. So then how… there was only one plausible explanation that came to mind, yet even with how strained things were between them she refused to believe it.

He wouldn't. He couldn't, she thought as she continued placing one foot behind the other.

As such she didn't notice when Aaron said, "Um, Princess Kresta, you may want to watch out. Behind you-"

By the time Kresta realized he was talking to her it was too late as she felt herself bump into someone. Only when she turned she felt her heart sink even lower when she saw none other than Cyrus standing there. He didn't look particularly pleased to see her either, given how guarded his eyes were as she quickly took a step away from him. His voice was flat as he said, "Careful, your highness. Wouldn't want you wandering into things, would we?"

"Oh," was all she could manage in response, followed by, "Cyrus," after an elongated pause. She might have seemed chiseled from marble on the outside but on the inside a single question rang through the panic. Could you?

When she didn't say anything else his face became confused as he waited for her to continue. Eventually he just gave up and gruffly muttered, "Begging your pardon, Princess Kresta. I'll be more mindful in the future." With that he stepped around her to address who he was actually there to see. "Lady Helena, there you are. I trust you have time to tend to a matter for me."

Turning to watch him, through her consternation she did manage to notice how stiff Helena became at the king's arrival, clearing her throat while bowing her head. "Certainly, your grace. Apologies if I inconvenienced you."

"Hardly. I just need you to deliver this," he replied while handing her a roll of stamped parchment.

Accepting it while keeping her eyes lowered, Helena nodded. "At once, your grace."

"Very good." It was only then that Cyrus glanced at Kresta again, although only for a moment before looking back at Helena and asking, "Getting to know one another?"

"Oh yes. Her highness, Princess Kresta, and I were just having an enlightening conversation."

"Well good. I'm all for my people broadening their spheres. But whilst I would love to stay and chat I-"

As he spoke the king made to leave only to have Helena bring him up short. Finally lifting her eyes to match his gaze, she quickly uttered, "Your grace."

Cyrus may not have looked at Kresta but she could still tell he didn't want to linger there any longer than he had to as he asked, "Yes, Lady Helena?"

"I realize your time is precious but I don't believe you've had the privilege of meeting my brother, Lord Aaron."

As Helena spoke she gestured at Aaron, who had fallen silent as soon as Cyrus arrived. Cyrus, meanwhile, turned to appraise him before saying, "Oh, we have. Once or twice. Although we have yet to be formally acquainted. Lord Aaron."

"King Cyrus," Aaron replied. His tone was mindful yet he made no effort to hide the animosity lingering beneath, although all it appeared to do was amuse Cyrus as he responded.

"Your sister here has told me a great deal about you."

"Has she? Such as?"

"That you're a man of many talents."

"I like to think of myself as resourceful."

"And I'm sure you are. Although resources only go so far. Wouldn't want you getting in over your head."

"Oh, that's not an issue. I have a knack for handling things. Even princes. Forgive me, I meant kings. My apologies, your grace."

"So I'd heard. But I think you'll find that kings are far more formidable than one lowly prince."

"Perhaps we'll see about that."

"Yes, perhaps we shall."

They may have been talking but Kresta hardly heard any of it. She was just trying to calm herself back down and it didn't help that she glanced over to find that Helena was watching her again. Most people would have looked away as soon as being found out but all she did was continue to scrutinize Kresta with a piercing stare. Her expression did change, though, when Kresta noticed her.

At first when their eyes met Helena just continued watching her but it wasn't long before her lips lifted into a smile. It was small, hardly noticeable to anyone who wasn't paying attention, yet there was something incredibly smug about it. As though she knew something no one else did as Kresta continued to stare at her incredulously.

Then all at once their staredown was broken when Cyrus said, "Either way, Lady Helena, please ensure that that is delivered as soon as possible."

"Of course, your grace," she said, giving him a nod while making to leave. Before she did though, once she'd turned just enough so that only Kresta could see her face, Helena flashed her one of the most brazen winks Kresta had ever seen. Then, just like that, she was gone, sauntering off down the corridor and leaving Kresta wondering if it even happened in the first place. She'd tracked Helena down in the hope of finding answers but instead she felt like the other woman was the only one to gain something as she watched her go.