Chapter 22 - The Maiden in His Arms

"What are you doing?"

"I thought it was obvious," was Magnus's reply, without even looking at her. Alexa looked around, still a little stunned, realizing that she had slept a lot and were still in Prince Magnus's new residence. The night was dark and windy, but his body was warm and somehow protected her from the cold, as he carried her. Still it was a relief when he crossed the porch and entered the residence.

"Why are you taking me inside? Did you tell them?" surely Alexa wasn't thinking straight yet, and once again realized that she had dreamed, but couldn't remember exactly what. What had she slept on? Two, three hours?

"They're gone, but I'm staying tonight. Should I have left you in the carriage?" he said, setting her sitting on a puffy cushion and walking away. The maiden narrowed her eyes in suspicion, realizing that this change of plans was not without purpose.

"My absence will be noticed!"

"A risk you was aware from the beginning, wasn't you?" he was provocative.

Alexa just did not respond, because indeed the Prince was right. There was a risk, but she decided she should do it anyway. "Did you think about what I said? Are you going to apologize to her?"

"It wasn't even me."

"Was it your lover then?" Alexa was incisive, wouldn't let him escape without taking responsibility. She really hoped he wasn't behind what happened in the villa, but his words in the carriage hinted that he knew something.

"My mistress?!" he laughed in surprise.

"She went to Lady Cordelia. How much will you allow for humiliation for the mother of your future children?"

He took a deep breath, his muscles clearly tense. Alexa was pleased to realize that she had hit him hard this time. But he finally said, "Enough of that, Lady Saskia. For a change you are talking about things you don't know."

The tone was low and dark, but he laughed shortly afterwards,

"Instead of arguing, come see the house, I'm sure you're curious. We'll have dinner later," he reached out to her, but then remembering that their hands were bandaged the Saxon Prince helped her to her feet holding her elbows. This was more or less like her brothers or Locke used to do, even if Alexa protested. Even wounded the damsel liked to be independent and adapted herself to using bandaged hands, since she was rarely without the bandages.

The grand residence was more of a small chateau, and Alexa followed the Prince as he showed the rooms. The residence was adorned with several precious gifts received from important families from Lower Saxony and also from other parts of the Empire, as well as from some foreign kingdoms. In a moment, in the main room, he stood in front of a splendid and big domestic oratory, richly carved with sacred images and decorated with an elaborate piece of embroidery. All this Alexa saw, and admired without attachment. Apparently the Prince expected another reaction from her, as he was staring at the maiden a little surprised, but said nothing and continued the tour, showing the main floor. In front of a door, he said,

"Here's my personal armory, but I don't think you're going to ..." he didn't finish the sentence as she was practically going under his arm to get inside. "Bring the light," she pleaded, as he stepped aside to give the damsel passage.

Different armors but all adorned with House Wuttenfal symbols were the focal points of the weapons room, and different types of weapons and war accessories were dispayed across the walls and tables. Swords, shields, spears, and even two hand cannons were exposed. There were some oriental weapons that Alexa knew very well, and others that piqued her curiosity. Magnus would explain something when he saw her looking at something a bit longer, while holding the lamp beside her.

The objects were organized by type and size, and Alexa soon reached out to touch a short sword whose blade was slightly bluish in color, only to be slapped on the wrist. She withdrew her hand, but soon saw another weapon that interested her, and her hand went instinctively to the sharp object. Just to be pushed away with a new slap.

Each attempt was a slap on the wrist, and a word from the Prince,

"Take. Your. Hand. Off it. You. Little. Pest. You'll. Hurt. Yourself. Now. I know. How. You're. Wound!"

After realizing that he wasn't going to let her touch his precious swords, Alexa just ignored him and turned her back, going to the other table where the hand cannons were. Pointing the modern firearms, she said,

"In Ankara I met a man who created a different cannon. It's easier to use because it has a hook shape in that part."

Magnus approached her, looking thoughtfully at the firearm, then glared at her,

"So you like guns more than embroidery?"

"Oh, well, when I was a kid my dad used to host a lot of foreigner visitors, and I enjoyed listening to the stories."

"But do you like weapons?"

She laughed, spontaneously," It's not me who is hoarding such a collection here, isn't it?"

"And what do you like? Jewels? Rabbits? Flowers?"

"I like horses," she confessed, beaming a smile, knowing it surprised him.

He seemed to like what he heard, "Well, my horses are not here yet, or I would show you tomorrow before we leave."

They were still looking at each other as a little silence fell after the Prince's comment. Alexa realized that she should look down, but when she did that, Magnus with his free hand gripped her chin gently, which made Alexa startle.

"Let me see it again. Your fiance's ring."

'Uhn? What the hell? Why does he want to see this up close? Would it be good for me to show? Well, but I don't have a good excuse to avoid showing,' the maiden thought worriedly.

She started to pull the cord off the modest neckline of her dress, but Magnus reached the cord with one finger and fished it deftly, making the hairs on Alexa's neck prickle in the process. He didn't pull the cord from the maiden's neck, however, just held the ring between thumb and forefinger and brought the light closer, rolling the jewel to analyze the details.

Alexa knew the jewel very well, it was a heavy ring with a black stone, where the complex family crest was expertly engraved.

"A Blackrose? Is this your fiance's family? "The tone of distrust and amusement with which he spoke so annoyed Alexa. What should she say? Does anyone really fake such a jewel? In fact, maybe it was even better that he considered her a scam. She just kept silent, and he dropped the jewel with some disdain, as if it were something false or of less value. 'Ah, you really are so arrogant, Prince Magnus…'

"Let's have supper, it's late," The Prince invited her in a way that sounded more like an order. To be honest Alexa was really hungry, so she followed him happily even though she still thought she shouldn't let her guard down around him.

"Your Highness?"

"Uhn?"

"Tell me a little about Holstein, please?" The time had come for her to gather some information about the castle and the people who lived in it. Alive and dead.