Chapter 2 - The Maiden and the Prince

Given the fact, Alexa could not help thinking about the irony of fate. Would Cordelia's fantastic adventure go unquestioned, and would the mourning for the young prince overshadow the pressing marriage? Perhaps that way, her own existence would also fall into oblivion and she could simply disappear with a modest farewell letter to Lady Cordelia. It was all she wanted the most. Return to her original plan and preferably put a great distance from this realm, as soon as possible.

But right now, on a whim of Prince Magnus, she is riding his stallion with him, despite all the nonsense against decency. His men pretended to ignore it, and the best the foreigner maiden could do was try to push her body as far as she could from his, and cling to a bundle of clothes she managed to bring with her. 'Spoiled and perverse bastard, not even in front of your bride and the news of a brother's death, you could stop trying to take advantage of a girl below you.'

If Alexa were another kind of maiden, she would be on the verge of tears.

Cordelia was still in the carriage, a bit behind with what was left of her entourage. Alexa noticed the Prince did not ask questions about the events that caused the comitive to arrive in such weird circumstances to Holstein frontiers. That was pretty weird.

At first Alexa had not linked the facts, but stopping to think, he was a Prince. According to Lady Cordelia and her old maid had told, she was about to marry Prince Gutard's eldest son. In that region, there were no kings, for they all swore allegiance to the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. But as it turned out, heredity also worked, which meant that this man could be Holstein's next ruler. But he was engaged to a maiden who was neither noble nor beautiful. Apparently Cordelia was quite rich from what she wore and all the rich trousseau her staff carried.

"Speak. Who are you?" he questioned in a hoarse voice. "And what happened? Why is my bride saying you saved her? What rags are these and where are the rest of the people in her entourage?"

"I'm Alexa Zoë Saskia, from the Byzantium's Saskia House," Alexa spoke with a tone of pride and pomp, purposefully. She was betting the ignorant man had no idea, just a general notion of direction and a few stories in his head about Eastern Trade and Crusades.

" The Saskias from Byzantium…" he repeated thoughtfully as she imagined. "And why are you so far from home, fair maiden?" he was as grumpy as Alexa, and because she took a while to answer, the Prince grabbed the bundle she was holding against her chest and threw it away. Alexa, of course, was taken aback by the crude and arbitrary gesture of the arrogant nobleman.

"What are you doing?!"

"You're very suspicious, foreigner," with one hand he grabbed her chin and turned her face to himself. "Pretty suspicious, maybe you don't want to tell me now as we head back to the castle, so I imagine you'd rather tell my men," his mischievous smile left no doubt that this could involve pain. Alexa squeezed her eyes, and moved her face away as he loosened his grip on her face. 'Damn bastard!'

"You shouldn't treat me like that, Prince. When you don't know who I am. Look at my situation, being humiliated because I'm alone and helpless, exactly by the nobles who should recognize and respect my birth and noblesse."

"Lady Saskia," he said mockingly, "I will apologize to your family and pay your weight in gold for any offense. But at the right time. Until then, tell me what I asked or, be sure, I'll treat you like a stray dog."

"Hmmm…" At least Alexa saw that one of the men caught her bundle on the way, "Kill me then, Prince, if you believe I lie. So far I have only helped, although my own situation has only worsened by doing so. The horrible things that have happened to us in the last days are obscene and unnatural. See what I've got for saving your bride, the precious Lady Cordelia!"

Alexa showed her bandaged hands once more, knowing that the outward appearance of the rags was disgusting and pitiful, "My hands burned, it was my last resort to save Lady Cordelia and myself. If there is any nobility in you, you should look into your heart and think if you should really threaten me as you have done. But…" realizing that he shifted closer to her, Alexa moved to continue the distance and crossed her arms in front of her chest, holding as she could the hood drawstring. It would avoid the 'accidental brushing'.

She continued, "Don't worry, you'll have a spontaneous report of all the horror we experienced. Lady Cordelia said I would be welcomed here as her esteemed friend, but I see that her future husband does not think so."

"You make many assumptions and have a fast, poisonous tongue, Lady Saskia. But I will leave it for now. At the news of my younger brother's death, many things surely will change. I'm glad my bride arrived unscathed, apparently thanks to you. Let's first hear everything everyone has to say," was the acid response of Prince Magnus.

In the distance, they could already see the fantastic sharp peaks of Holstein. As Cordelia had said, it was a kingdom apart from the others.

"But I have a question, Your Highness, if you will allow me," said the maiden.

"Hmm," he looked surprised, but intrigued enough to hear.

"Why did you drag me out of the carriage if it was the first time we met?" better to ask the question abruptly and candidly, Alexa knew.

He growled behind her back, annoyed, "How could you know, wouldn't you?" The tone of suspicious was evident, and of course Alexa didn't know. But at least she realized that he had reason to be suspicious of her…

"My dear Prince, I have already abused your hospitality by being on your horse and not in the carriage with my friend. I have already abused your patience for having, as you said, a fierce tongue and strange manners. Forgive me. I am foreign to your customs. I find it odd that I am riding on your horse with you, just as you find it strange that I have a mouth to ask things out."

"A mouth that you use freely, by the way. But do not think that I will forget you because the other events. Soon I will come back to you. Your arrival can only mean something bad."

"Your Highness is quite superstitious."

He took one of her hands, using it to point at the tall buildings they saw on the horizon, and said in her ear, maliciously,

"Once you step there, Lady Zaskia, you will see that there are indeed reasons to be superstitious."

Alexa felt a shiver of foreboding run down her spine.