Chapter 13

Despite my general distaste for Britannican society, not showing up for dinner would have been more than peculiar.

And that was the last thing we wanted.

The conversation between Janson and Antonietta had definitely left an impression and what Minho had said last night was still fresh in my mind.

I had never cared much about intrigue back home. It was vain and frivolous.

Sure, it was a good exercise for the brain but it wasn't worth it.

Well, it wasn't until Isabelle Winchester popped into the picture.

"So you went to finishing school together…something happened…and now because of that you are shunned from every drawing room west of the capital?" I asked as I paced across the room.

Teresa nodded.

"Hmm…is she engaged to be married?" I asked. That would really take care of everything. I could just give her husband an honorary title and move them to the provinces or near the border.

Teresa shook her head.

How disappointing.

She shifted in her seat and glanced nervously up at me.

"Well… up until a little bit ago everyone believed that she would certainly marry the prince."

I turned towards her and folded my arms.

"Teresa, I like you. You're not vain and that is extremely refreshing. Now the problem is that you are isolated from the thick of things. I don't want to get rid of you so I need you and Agnes to find me someone that can travel to any social circle. Keep in mind that I want them as my lady in waiting so its extremely important that they can be more than tolerable and socially useful."

I finished my tirade and smiled to reassure her.

Teresa simply nodded her head.

She was impossible.

I didn't have enough time to see Gally before dinner so now I stood on my tip toes trying to spot him in the crowd. He was a highly decorated general; he should be invited to the Queens publicly exclusive gatherings.

I felt a hand pull me down slightly and I turned ready to snap.

"Roan, at least try to not be so obvious."

I glared at Thomas. "Where have you been?"

His face momentarily froze but he loosened it with a small smile

"Janson was just going over with me on how to make sure you don't get banished from the country"

I narrowed my eyes. "Sure he did." I shook my head at him and held a hand out "That's all right Thomas. I see where your loyalties lie."

He scoffed and I rolled my eyes. "I'm just kidding."

"So I heard you spent the day with Newt?"

"Don't remind me. It was pure torture. I thought he would never shut up."

"He told me he quite enjoyed himself. He also said that he wants us to take a trip to the Brighton Woods this week."

"Absolutely not. I have a lot of work to do here."

"What? Plot to get rid of Isabelle?" Thomas asked, smiling smugly.

I took a step back "She slapped me. I can't have a threat to my safety running wild."

Thomas rolled his eyes and sighed "Roan, Isabelle isn't that bad. She was just upset. Newt and Isabelle have been together since finishing school. It is a little sad knowing their relationship has to end. I mean I remember helping Newt sneak out so he could go see her-"

Wait a minute.

"What do you mean you helped Newt sneak out?"

Thomas shrugged his shoulders "Well the girls finishing school was just a mile or two away. We would all sneak out and meet some girls from time to time in the fields."

I grabbed Thomas's arm "Did Teresa ever join you?"

He shook free "Of Calcutta? Sometimes but then something happened between her and Isabelle. Something that I am not going to repeat, so don't even bother asking."

I scoffed. "Absolutely useless, Thomas. You know, if this keeps up I'm going to reconsider our relationship."

"Don't be nosy. Some people would prefer that you not meddle with their past."

"I beg to differ. They treat my lady in waiting as if she is past the gone. That undermines me Thomas."

Thomas shook his head. "That is more Teresa's doing than Isabelle's"

I sighed in fake pity "How awful, you've been brainwashed by a blonde snake."

"You know what Roan? You are being more insufferable than ever. I tried to be understanding but I'm tired of you taking your anger out on everyone else. Some who have had nothing to do with what is going on."

I squinted my eyes and opened my mouth ready to retort.

"Oh! There you are! I've been looking positively everywhere for you!"

Bloody Hell.

"Newt wants us all to play a game of cards and there is no way we can start without you. Won't you come Thomas?"

Thomas let out a deep sigh and bit his lip before talking. "I'll be right there, Isabelle."

I raised my eyebrows at him and puckered my lips.

He narrowed his eyes, expecting something. When I crossed my arms and stayed silent, he shook his head disappointedly.

"I'll see you tomorrow Roan."

No, you won't Thomas. I will make sure of it.

Furiously, I spun on my heel and headed for the doors. I was almost there when the fist good thing in my day happened.

"Gally. I'd thought I'd never say this but aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"

He rolled his eyes "Just follow me."

Gally took me to a darker corner of the room where pipe smoke floated around rather thickly.

"Don't say anything unless he directly speaks to you." Gally warned.

Gally slapped a tall man in the back and greeted him with some rough jabs.

Once they were done thrashing around. They turned towards me.

"Princess Roan this is Lord Benjamin of Dovershire. Lord Benjamin this is Princess Roan of Suecia, our future Queen."

Lord Benjamin bowed, took my hand and kissed the top of my glove.

"A Pleasure to meet you."

I tilted my head forward "Likewise."

"I've heard many things about you, your grace. Your reputation precedes you."

I raised an eyebrow "One always hopes so but its rather tiring trying to keep up with it."

Lord Benjamin smiled " Rather true. General Gally says you're phenomenal at chesskers and I've been dying for a worthy opponent. Would you care for a match?"

"Honestly, I expected more from you Lord Benjamin."

I hid my smug smile behind a teacup and overtook his last piece.

Lord Benjamin shook his head. "Set them up again. This cannot end like this."

I let my smile and show and shrugged "If you insist on losing."

I was almost done setting up the pieces when there was loud thumping from the center of the room

"HEAR YE! HEAR YE! The Regent has demanded the presence of every able body noble blood to the southern court yard at once!" A man in a ridiculous flat green and yellow hat stood with a scepter by his side.

The room was paralyzed in silence until Antonietta clapped her hands and started to gracefully usher people out.

I stood and glanced inquisitively at Gally and Lord Benjamin.

"We better go. Making the regent wait is like making a death wish."

Lord Benjamin took the lead and I followed reluctantly, Gally trailed after me.

As we walked through the halls, more people in nightwear spilled out from their rooms and joined the walking crowd.

"What is going on?"

I looked at Gally for answers.

He shrugged

"With the regent one never knows."

I shook my head and followed the crowd for what felt like an eternity.

Once we got outside, I could hear gasps and murmurs. The wind chill broke through my heavy dress and I felt my skin start to shiver. All the torches were lit but they emitted a low glow. The nobles had formed a circle around who knows what. I felt a hand slip into mine and my eyes focused on Lord Benjamin.

"Lets see what all the fuss is about."

He pulled me along as we pushed through the crowd. The murmurs were heavy and constant.

Whatever was going on was intriguing enough to keep everyone talking despite the persistent thumping of scepters and the calls for silence.

When we made it to the front, my blood ran cold and it had nothing to do with the wind.

Most countries had either banned or ignored the old law. It was useless now but Britannicca had always been different because it never changed. It was extremist and relentless in its scourge for purity.

I had seen anything like this since I was a kid.

A girl stood in a nightgown next to a man. She was sobbing and her blond hair spilled over face, loose from its braid. The man was in an open shirt, he still had his pants on, but he did not have shoes on. His face was stoic but his jaw trembled and he forcefully sniffed constantly. His hands were bound by a thick rope

A stake, the stake. Was being set up by two guards.

My chest heaved with the effort to breathe. I let go of Benjamin's hand to pinch my own.

One had to keep their wits about in these situations.

I felt blood rush back to my face but it quickly went away. I kept at it until I felt the heat of my blood on my fingers.

The regent appeared as the crowd parted. He was in an ornate red and golden robe. Once he was in the center he had a footman take it off him.

The crowd grew silent in his presence.

He smiled smugly and walked towards the couple; he slowly shook his head and turned around.

"My dutiful subjects I called you here because sometimes we…we forget what is important. We think oh my life is comfortable and safe but we forget that there is danger. Danger that is present. Many laugh and ridicule the old law… some blatantly violate it. We are here because we need reminders of what the goal of our civilization is and that is to be superior. Above all nations and all peoples we must be superior. The only way to achieve that is through purity."

He motioned for the girl to be brought forward.

"This was a scullery maid, someone with the lowest blood purity." He flicked his hand and the girl cried out when the guards dragged her to the stake. They chained her to the stake and my knees buckled.

"She wanted to advance her blood line by impregnating herself with this nobles," He pointed at the man "pure blood. Thankfully, I walked by just in time to stop such an atrocity."

It felt like time had slowed down. A guard walked up the regent and handed him a whip. The girl cried out repeatedly denying the claims.

I jumped when the whip initially hit her skin.

"It's an outrage." I heard Lord Benjamin whisper.

I looked at him, his eyes were narrowed and his jaw was clenched but he wasn't watching the atrocity before him. He was watching the royal family.

"He can offer a royal pardon but all he does it stand there."

Of course. How could I forget?

Lord Benjamin was not the only one watching Newt. The crowds' eyes had expectantly turned towards him.

The girl's shrieks called back the crowds' attention.

Her blood had started to spill onto the frozen grass and steam rouse from her back as the blood met the cold air.

Before I could really know what I was doing or thinking, I felt my legs start to move. A direct objection would be ignored and seen as an attack on the customs. I had to be smarter than that.

I pushed past the crowd until I reached the royal family. I took a deep breath and attempted to ignore the girls cries.

It was the first time I willingly touched him.

I grabbed on to his bicep to get his attention.

He turned towards me, surprised.

"Roa-

"You said on the boat that you wanted to be friends right?" He nodded his head " And before dinner that you wanted us to get along better?" His nod was more hesitant this time "Make him stop and I promise I'll try" He opened his mouth "Not like today. I'll really try-" I shuddered when I heard her scream "I'll try to be your friend."

Newt stared at me longer than was necessary to process my request so I slightly shoved him.

Slowly, he nodded his head. "All right."

I watched him step forward and walk up to his uncle who was splattered in blood.

"That's enough Uncle. We'll grant them a royal pardon and exile them from court."

The regent stopped and wiped his mouth, smearing his shirt with more blood.

Suddenly, he started to laugh. To cackle.

Until his eyes found me.

"Of course, how could I forget. Tell me Newt, how good is she? Hmm? What did that Mountain wench do in your bed to get you-"

"Uncle! You will retire to your bedroom, gather yourself, and tomorrow, you and I will write up an official pardon" He turned towards the crowd "I apologize for this display. You may retire to your quarters. Once again, you have the crowns deepest apologies."

The crowd dissipated sluggishly. They knew it wasn't completely over.

Newt had gotten closer to his Uncle and they were arguing arduously. I looked at my hand and pressed my finger down to stop the blood I had forgotten about. It wasn't much but it was there.

When I looked back up, Newt was in front of me.

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure." I looked back down and tried to rub the blood away.

"Here."

Newt held out his handkerchief.

I took it and wrapped it around my hand tightly "Thank You."

"What happened to your gloves?"

I looked up "Oh, I was in the middle of a game of chesskers and I took them off because I couldn't pick up the pieces. I've must have left them in the drawing room."

Newt grabbed my arm lightly and I gasped.

"Can you please join me in the library in twenty minutes? I need to tell you something."

I nodded my head and fought the urge to refuse.

"All right. I'll meet you there."

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