Chapter 47 - Under the Pillow

Bedridden, the Konrad the Duke was ailing and Alexa could smell the medicines and ointments from afar. Still, he smiled and was very happy with Lady Saskia's visit.

The Duke was a tall, handsome, broad-shouldered, athletic-type young man who, even bedridden from injuries and fractures, still seemed more vigorous than many healthy people, though he had lost some of his glowing and serene looks.

Still, his general appearance and state were far worse than the solitary purple bruise under the eye that Prince Magnus sported. He was pale and had purple circles around his eyes.

But there was something strange, at least in the perception of the young Greek lady, and it took a while before she understood what was out of the ordinary here.

The energy was good, happy and relaxed, and Alexa realized that it was different from most other places in the castle where she had been before. She felt calm and comfortable at Duke's chambers. Surely the fact that Konrad, though recovering, kept a smile at his older cousin's constant teasing and sarcastic jokes contributed to that. But Alexa felt that it had some other reason.

He was very grateful for Lady Alexa's visit and for making sure she was all right. Rumors of a maid's murder had reached the bedroom, but they spoke only briefly of this, as the Countess vetoed the matter, saying,

"Leave the unpleasant affairs aside and let's work on cheer Konrad up, so that he will heal soon. My nephew can't stand being bedridden! He's got too much energy for standing still!"

It was the cue Alexa needed to offer the calmant herb-filled pillow.

"I thought this could help you withstand the recovery period, and get a better rest, Your Highness! I must admit, I didn't do it myself, but I would have done it if I had the opportunity! I'm so sorry for what happened! It's all my fault!"

The girl was sure Konrad would survive, and hoped no sequels or scars to remain. But the same, she felt bad he's gotten hurt because of the assassins chasing her.

He smiled, thanking and calming her, and teased Prince Magnus then,

"Cousin, you captured the bad guy, but I get Lady Saskia's care! I'm very lucky! And don't worry, Lady Saskia, now that you've brought me a special pillow, it won't be so hard to stay in bed."

"Don't brag or show your teeth so much, Konrad. She just does it because you're convalescent, don't think you should try to be charming. You look more like a horse with huge teeth, with that stupid smile on your face," the comment was followed by laughter, but Alexa felt a hint of irritation in the Prince's voice. And maybe that's why she had done what she did next,

"Let me put the pillow under your head, Duke, you'll find you will rest better with that fluffy smelling-good pillow. The lavender, mugwort and chamomile pout-pourri will make your rest invigorating , Your Highness!"

With that, Alexa approached and with a gesture, got the Duke raised his head so that she changed the pillows. The Prince quickly came to her, ready to take the pillow from her hands,

"Give it to me, you don't have to!"

But Alexa quickly tucked the pillow under the Duke's head. Before the Duke rested his head, however, Magnus pulled back the pillow.

"Cousin, why do you want to stop the Lady from getting me a pillow? It's me here with broken bones!"

"Yes, why can't Your Highness let me be glad to the Duke and try to make up for some of the discomfort he feels, UHN?" Alexa stared at him with fiery eyes, pulling the pillow from the prince's hands again.

"This is not even appropriate for a lady!"

Alexa was again setting the pillow for the Duke when Magnus pulled back the pillow, but Alexa pushed it back with her fingers.

"GET OUT, Lady Saskia," the Prince stared into her eyes with a cold glare, but Alexa stubbornly pushed the pillow a little further, defying him like a cat. Magnus jerked, still staring at her, pulled at the pillow at once, dragging the other pillows and making his cousin moan and complain,

"Can you two make up your mind? My neck hurts…" Konrad caught the couple's attention beside his bed.

The Prince of Holstein stuck his hand under the bottom cushion, and Alexa sensed that he was hiding something there as he groped for the bedding under the old pillow. Maybe she wouldn't have noticed anything if she was a little farther away, but now she was sure the Prince was up to something. 'Uhn, so that's it… As always, making a scene to hide your real purposes…!'

She used the herbal pillow as a shield, and quickly tucked it once more into the Duke's back, and used this ploy to slide her hand under Duke's original pillow as well.

"What are you guys doing?" the Duke sounded worried now, as his head bobbed above the jumble of pillows coming and going under him.

While both were pushing and pulling the herbal pillow and feeling the soft cushions and bedding for something, her hand found his, firmly clutched around something that fit the Prince's palm. Her hand only partially covered his, as they were disparate sizes, but it was enough to feel he was holding something.

"...!" She stared at him, with sparkling eyes and a defiant smile, but Magnus just keep his cool and pulled the pillow hard enough this time, shifting the maiden forward with a strong thrust. The fabric of the pillow ripped, and goose plumes and dried herbs flew down across the alcove, and over the convalescent Duke and belligerent couple.

Alexa coughed up a plume from her mouth, with a grimace, while composing herself again.

"It's enough! That was very funny, but now Konrad needs to rest!" The Countess scolded them in an exasperated tone, rising from her chair as Konrad laughed and complained,

"Hahahah You mustn't make me laugh! It hurts!"

The maiden tried to see what the Prince had removed under the Duke's pillow, but he was very skillful at concealing the object and keeping it in his doublet. Apparently taking advantage of the cue, he apologized to his cousin and aunt, and said goodbye for the evening, saying,

"Lady Saskia, I know you are quite agitated with the events of the day, but take a rest. The seneschal and palace housekeeper have already provided a new place for you to stay, at my father's request, so enjoy and rest. As you have seen, my cousin has plenty of pillows, and the herbs will have a lot of effect after being so vigorously shaken and rubbed! Sleep well!"

As always, Alexa thought that all his words and expressions had some double meaning, but at this moment she did not bother to analyze the possible meanings. She had to go.

Magnus had another mystery hidden from her, and probably, from everyone.

But Alexa, in this case, had suspicions of what could be. And that really changed things a lot.

However, the maiden had already lost a lot of time tonight, and if it took a while longer, she might not be able to follow Prince Gutard where he was going.

'Gotta go!'