Chapter 10

"That maid is the bastard child of Duke Jorgenson," Camicazi stated next and that statement alone caused Astrid to actually gape this time. "Which means," Cami continued, "bastard or not. She is also in line for the throne!"

"Wait, wait…. Wait just a minute!" Astrid shouted and then clamped a hand in front of her mouth. Her brain was already in overload and this piece of information was just too much. It was already astonishing that Sierra seemed to be Duke Jorgenson's daughter. They really looked nothing alike with the exception of the black hair. "How…. how…." She sputtered.

Camicazi rolled her eyes at Astrid and then muttered "I didn't think I would have to explain the birds and the bees to you,"

"Not that!" Astrid growled at the sarcasm, blushing slightly, before swiftly taking hold of Camicazi's wrist and dragging her much deeper into the maze. They came to the middle of the maze where there stood a large ornate fountain with several carved granite benches around it. Camicazi gingerly took a seat and patted the spot next to her which Astrid took after sending her a glare that said you-better-explain-or-I'm-getting-the-axe. That glare couldn't have been clearer.

"So I met Sierra after coming back from the Honeymoon," Camicazi muttered and kept an eye out on how Astrid would react. She noted Astrid clutching her dress tightly.

"Go on," Astrid said a bit terse.

"This was….. A few days before you got thrown in prison," Cami stated. "I met or well…. I tripped over Sierra."

"Home Sweet Home!" Snotlout exclaimed as he stretched his legs after he and Cami had gotten off the carriage. Several porters were busy unloading the luggage. "Should I carry my wife over the threshold?" Snotlout then asked as he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"I think I can manage good sir," Camicazi stated while staring at her shorter husband. "We wouldn't want you nearly throwing out your back again,"

Snotlout pouted as Cami entered the foyer, her hand fan now folded neatly. His eyes soon widened as his new wife shrieked, having stepped on a wet soapy rag and gliding across the polished tile floor before colliding with a maid.

"BAHAHAHAHAHA!" Astrid guffawed upon hearing that.

"Oye!" Camicazi exclaimed going red in the face from either anger or embarrassment. "Are you done indulging in your schadenfreude?"

"Yes…." Astrid held a hand to her heart as she tried to calm her laughter and get back on the serious topic. Though it was a funny image she had of Camicazi in her head right now. "Please continue,"

"As you can imagine Snotlout was mad. He started berating the poor girl." Cami said. "She seemed rather meek and kept her head down before going to her knees and apologizing profusely. Snotlout would have continued if I hadn't stepped in and told him it was partially my fault for not looking where I stepped. I later learned her name and that she had been working as a maid for as long as Snotlout could remember."

"So Snotlout doesn't know that Sierra is his sister?" Astrid raised a brow.

"Half-sister, and no," Cami stated. "All he knows is that she was some orphaned girl his father decided to take in."

"And he wasn't suspicious?" Astrid now asked incredulously as Nobles didn't take in just anyone if it wouldn't benefit them.

Cami sighed and then muttered "He isn't the sharpest tool in the gardener shed." Astrid raised a brow. That was just like Cami. She was as blunt as ever even when it came to her own husband.

"Then why did you…." She started asking before it dawned on her. "Oh my Thor, you are actually in love with him aren't you?!" Things suddenly started to make sense. Things Astrid had noticed but thought were trivial. Cami, who was trying to talk to Snotlout at gatherings, trying to get a dance or two with him, offering him cake at picnics. How could she have been so blind.

"Will you shut up!" Cami uttered as her cheeks turned pink. "I'm trying to explain things here!"

"Right…. Where were we," Astrid mumbled while starting to dislike Camicazi just a little bit less. Sure this woman stole her groom but at least now she knew the true reason why.

"I learned of Sierra's origins by accident. It was…. two days after you beat Snotlout up." Camicazi stated as she thought back.

It was late at night and Camicazi couldn't sleep so she had grabbed an oil lamp and made her way towards the kitchens for some food. She knew that there was at least some turkey leftover. Snotlout was happily snoring next to her and wouldn't awake even if a gigantic dragon rampaged through the Kingdom.

When Camicazi was walking through the dark hallways of the West wing of the manor she heard someone begging not too far away. Thinking that there was an emergency she hurried towards that door that turned out to be Duke Jorgenson's study.

"You stupid girl!" Came the muffled shout from behind the door followed by the sound of a slap. Camicazi had a hand over her mouth and an ear against the wooden door as some of the conversation filtered out.

"How dare you spill tea on my rug!" She could hear Spitelout angrily shout.

"...s-sorry father," Cami's eyes widened as the faint female voice was heard. It was so soft and shaky that it seemed more like a whisper. Another slap followed and caused the poor girl to let out a whimper.

"If you weren't useful to me I would have thrown you back into the alley I found you in," Spitelout could be heard saying and Cami could hear footsteps retreating and a chair being pulled back. Soft sobs could also be heard as Spitelout ordered the girl to clean up the mess. Cami then decided to act now. If Spitelout was planning what she suspected he was then it would be better to catch him off guard. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

The two people inside froze upon her entrance. Spitelout's eyes were wide and Cami was surprised, though she kept it well hidden, to see that it was the maid she had accidentally tripped over when she had first entered the manor. The woman kept her gaze downcast as she cleaned up the broken porcelain cup and saucer. Her hands were getting cut on the sharp edges and Cami noticed some blood and also some bruising on her cheek. Her respect for Duke Jorgenson plummeted as she thought she would have no compunctions of taking this man down.

"My my, the walls of this mansion sure are thin," Cami stated casually while alluding that she had heard every bit of their conversation. If Spitelout's eyes could widen further it would almost be comical. Sierra let out a whimper at Cami's statement, probably thinking that she would get in trouble again.

"Leave us," Cami ordered. Now was not the time to care for the woman. If the Duke smelled emotion he would pounce on it like a hyena. Weakness was not an option right now.

Sierra quickly got up, the shards of porcelain cradled in a piece of her long black skirt. She was out of the study like lightning, forgetting the tray table with the tea set she must have brought.

"How dare you presume to order my servant around!" Spitelout said with an angry bite in his words but Camicazi put up a front to show that it would not affect her.

"So she is your servant now?" Cami raised a brow and she looked every bit a scheming shrew in the lamplight. Her venomous words slicing right at Spitelout. "I believe she called you father." Cami was quite happy as she noticed Spitelout give a flinch. 'Feed him bits and pieces and make him think you know everything,' Her mind supplied as she continued. "Maybe I will presume to gossip about this matter at the ladies luncheon later today," She raised a brow. "Or perhaps I should involve the authorities…" She thought aloud.

"What. Do. You. Want!" Spitelout bit out as the leather armrest he was clutching creaked.

"For one I wish to be in charge of the household budget," Cami stated. It was normally the Duchess who handled the budget but Spitelout's wife had passed from illness several years ago. Spitelout's eyes narrowed at Cami. "I am the future Duchess. I have the training and I doubt you want to be burdened with simple household things." It was uncommon for a daughter-in-law to immediately take over the mansion's finances once married but it would put her in charge of the servants as well as other things.

Spitelout nodded and Cami grinned. The man had just signed his death warrant.

"I may have other requests in the future," Cami said as she moved to leave. She stopped at the door and turned back to Spitelout "Don't worry. I won't speak of this matter to strangers."

Once the door to the study was closed she could hear the clatter of objects on the floor. Spitelout must have vented his anger out on his desk and Camicazi hoped that the inkwell fell on his nice rug. She set out for the maids quarters next to see if the girl was alright and to get the whole story while making plans in her head to tell the Queen about this incident. After all, the Queen was hardly a 'stranger'. Everyone in the Kingdom knew her.

AN: *Squishes Harrypanther's Porg*
Harry: "Not again!"