Chapter 17

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The Cardinal was at the head of the court. The countess de Laroque was a feisty woman. That's probably why Athos took an interest in her. That's why he enjoyed their banter. That's why he hurt him that she lied but it won't last, I'll make sure of that. He deserved to be happy after all. And if it has to be with the Countess then so be it. Fleur Baudin was called to testify. Fleur explained that Ninon taught her philosophy, the cosmos and the secret of our bodies. Of course the Cardinal twisted her words and made it sound as if the Countess's works were corrupted. The Cardinal dismissed Fleur and called another witness; Madame de la Chapelle. Now this woman was beautiful but there was something in her looks that sent chills down my spine. I just don't know the reason what it was. She has black and curly hair and her eyes were blue. She started to tell a story that came right from a novel. She told to the Cardinal how Ninon drugged her, how she awoke in room, naked. That once awake she heard incantations and felt deeply ashamed. Now, I know that she was lying but why? This story was completely ridiculous.

"This woman is a liar." Athos yelled. "She is not even who she claims to be. She is a convicted criminal and a deceiver." He tried to reach for her in his rage but Aramis and Porthos stopped him.

"Why is this man accusing me? Is he a friend of Ninon's?" She questioned panicking.

"Arrest him immediately." The Cardinal ordered.

"She can't be trusted." Athos shouted.

"Athos calm down." The Captain yelled in his face while they tried to restrain him. She couldn't be, could she? She couldn't be Athos' wife. But in this world nothing is impossible. The Eminence excused her and she fled the court.

Athos went away for a while and the Cardinal found the Countess to be guilty. She was to be executed. Thanks to God's little miracles the Queen arrived and declared that as long as the Countess doesn't confess freely and without torture, she will be spared the death sentence. The Countess with all her pride stood up and stated that she has never consorted with the devil until this very moment. She was looking at him. Now that was a sight the Cardinal was speechless, everytime he tried to say that she confessed his word died in his mouth. He fell back in his chair. Definitely something was wrong. He convulsed. The Cardinal was poisoned and was taken back to his chambers by Aramis. Everything went so fast. Aramis gave him an emetic to stop the poisoning and the King asked the Captain to find the one responsible for it. Porthos, Athos and I went back to the court to find out where could be the poison. The Cardinal will recover.

"Now can someone please tell why did we save the Cardinal?" I asked.

"It is our duty Emma, doesn't mean that we like it." Porthos answered. They were silent until Porthos asked him the dreadful question. "Athos, that woman; Madame de La Chapelle, who was she?"

"How do you know her? How do you know she was lying?" Aramis questioned.

"Her all life is a lie." Athos replied. Yes, this woman was his wife. This woman as dangerous as she can be was beautiful and the Countess is beautiful, I would never stood a chance against them…wait where did that come from? I'm not interested in Athos like this. No definitely not in that way.

"Whoever she is, she can wait." Porthos said understanding that Athos wouldn't say more about the subject. "Right now we should find out who tried to kill the Cardinal."

"It was clearly the witch." The father Sastini who was on visit in Paris said. "You all heard her curse him."

"He was poisoned not bewitched." I argued.

"Satan turned his blood into acid at her command." He glared at me. "I've seen it before."

"We'll add Satan to the list of suspects." Porthos replied sarcastically. He then went on, on how he will pray for the Cardinal. According to him, we aren't safe since the Cardinal was powerless against Satan's power. He was leaving Paris. I don't like that Sastini. If I could add him to the list of suspects, I would. We went back to the garrison and we interrogated Fleur, well, the musketeers did.

"You think I poisoned him?" Fleur asked in disbelief.

"That's the most stupid think I've ever heard even by musketeers' standards." Constance scoffed.

"Let her talk, please." D'Artagnan chastised her which caused me to snort.

"Tell us the truth." Aramis asked.

"I didn't her hurt him." She assured us. "I didn't do anything, I swear it. I have to go, my father is waiting." She got up and as ready to leave. She paused and turned to Constance. "I am to be married. With a forty-year-old widower who owns a butchery at Montmartre. I've heard he's a good catch." And she left. Constance seemed upset, she then left after Fleur.

Later that night I went to bed and thought about the events of the day. The Cardinal was poisoned and the Countess was to be executed for witchcraft. And Athos' wife reappeared in his life. And I, well, I caught myself thinking about Athos and his wife and maybe his choice in women. His wife is a beautiful woman but her eyes were cold. She might have love Athos in her own way but today she was out for revenge that much I know. I don't know why she accused the Countess, I don't know in what way the death of Countess might be beneficial for her. I couldn't sleep so I went out of my bed. I've decided to take a walk outside in order to clear my head. I've thrown some clothes on and walked down the stairs. Athos was sitting at our usual table with a bottle of wine, maybe drowning his sorrow.

"I thought you were gone by now." I said as a form of greetings. I sat across from him.

"I needed a drink." Athos replied. There was a pause.

"Was it really her? That woman at the trial was she your wife?" I asked. He looked at me drunkenly and only nodded. "Why did she do this? Why does she want the Countess dead?" I questioned.

"Who knows what lies in her twisted mind?" He answered. "You should go back to bed, Emma." I didn't make any move to go.

"You certainly love them beautiful." He stared at me confused. "Women. I know your wife is criminal but I saw her and now I see the Countess. They're both beautiful, in their own way."

"They both lied to me." He spat.

"Athos, your wife have cheated you that doesn't mean the Countess did. I've already told you that she did it to protect Fleur." I reasoned with him. "Listen, I think you shold give her a chance. She is really beautiful and really intelligent. Someone that fits you perfectly."

"What do you mean?" He slurred.

"I mean that just like you, she clearly doesn't want to get attached and she doesn't believe in marriage. Then she is loyal and sheltered the person that needs her help." I explained. "A perfect match." I stared at him for a second. I realise now and then that Athos in the dim light of the candle was a really handsome man. I could see the colour of his eyes, they were blue. I've never noticed how handsome he was. That might be what was the Countess was talking about the first time we met her. "Athos, you should go to bed." I said before leaving him and going back to my bed.

In the morning I accompanied the musketeers to collect Sastini's bag. We went to the Wren who informed us that the thief died while having a drink at the inn. When he described to us how he died; he convulsed and fell down dead on the spot; just like the Cardinal. Sastini was the one who poisoned the Cardinal. Athos emptied his bag while D'Artagnan ad I examined the contents of it. Books, scroll roll all of them were damp. Athos ordered us to wash our hands when Aramis confirmed to us that the dead man's breath smelled the same as the Cardinal's. We left as soon as we realised that Sastini will attempt to kill Richelieu again. We rode until the monastery were the Cardinal was staying. When we arrived we saw that the pyre was built. When asked why, one the soldier answered that the Countess confessed. We didn't have time to loose. We ran through the corridors, Aramis noticed Sastini was disguised as a monk. But when we reached the monks, he was already gone. So, we ran to the Cardinal's chamber. Athos was at the head and I at the rear. Simply because I don't run as fast as the men. We burst into his chamber and Athos shot Sastini. The Cardinal has the audacity to complain about us being late.

"You knew it was Sastini who tried to poison you." Athos accused him.

"A sacred relic soaked with poison." He said showing us a bone in a box. "an old papal trick. I should have guessed earlier."

"We're running out of time." Aramis reminded us.

"There's no use for you to kill the Countess." I said to the Cardinal.

"Please." Athos knelt down in front of the Cardinal. It was disturbing to see Athos so vulnerable, ready to humiliate himself to save a life. "You can have everything you want and still let her go free."

"This is all very dark ages, isn't it?" His Eminence remarked dryly. "A glimpse of your own mortality does make one rather less eager to harry to their doom. I'm not a cruel man, just a practical one. What do you propose?"

As soon as they discussed the terms of their agreement, we hurried outside to stop the execution. Ninon thanked us all and God and she left with Athos to see his Eminence. His Eminence was to gain all of her belongings, her lands and her money. She was to receive a small income to live peacefully outside of Paris as long as she kept the events for herself, otherwise her sentence will be reinstated. Athos accompanied her to the outskirts of town. I stayed behind with Porthos and Aramis. I didn't want to intrude on their farewells. I felt sorry for Athos and for Ninon. They will never get to live their story and at the same I felt relief that they will never get to live this romance and I felt horrible for it.