Chapter 59 - First Prince's Misstep

The maiden swallowed when she heard Prince Magnus' words. That meant that she was in big trouble now. What could happen next?

"Can't we talk about it another time…? I was going to see Lady Cordelia, and find out if she's fine," she didn't think Magnus would give up this easily, but that wouldn't stop her from trying to buy time. "I can explain everything, just this is not the best time and ..."

"Knowing everything you are capable of, I don't think I should leave it for another time," he winked at Alexa sarcastically, turning his back and leading the way. Magnus' friends started to drag her, and Alexa tried to get rid of them in all ways, but it was impossible.

"You are hurting me! Let me go! Your Highness?! What are you doing?! Shouldn't you be looking for who tried to murder you, instead of harassing me? Let me go, I promise I'll explain everything!"

"Hahaha, don't make me laugh, everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie! Were you having fun at our expense?! AT MY EXPENSE?!" without turning to her, the Prince shouted, and the sound echoed down the hall. Alexa really started to get scared.

"And wait! Where are you taking me to? I should have a right to defend myself and, I ... I'm innocent! I am innocent! I AM INNOCENT!" she yelled too, struggling again. However, she felt so weak after all the stunts of the day!

"Innocent is the only thing you are not!"

Alexa wondered where the Prince got the information about her identity, and how much he would know. Was it with the port killer, or somewhere else? She had no way of knowing. The maiden didn't get surprised that the Prince was feeling furious, having been deceived that way. However, she's got surprised to realize that she was not being taken to the interrogation room or a place like a dungeon, but the Royal Family's Private Wing.

The guards at the door got surprised, but they did not stop the First Prince from passing by bringing Lady Saskia, dragged by his friends.

The maiden realized that it was a private dining room, and at a glance she saw Prince Gutard, Countess Godiva, and some Ruler's trusted men, sharing supper while they talked. The Bishop who performed her engagement mass was also at the table, with a less pompous cassock, Alexa acknowledged. The tone of the conversation seemed friendly and even cheerful, but it fell silent when Magnus arrived.

Magnus kneels briefly to one knee on the floor in greeting, as usual.

Finishing the sip of his wine, Prince Gutard assessed the situation and asked,

"What is going on?"

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, I must interrupt your meal. I need to prevent a terrible mistake," said Magnus without looking up. Feeling that everyone's gaze strayed from the Prince's figure immediately to her, Alexa made her best possible expression of suffering and injustice.

"By God, son, what is it now? What are you doing with Lady Saskia? I've been told about what happened in the square. We've been talking about it right now."

"Lady Saskia? She is not a Lady, nor is this person's name. I interrogated the mercenary who tried to murder ... this person at the port."

"I thought you told me he died."

"Not before he even confessed that. That he was hunting a Greek boy named Alexios. Who used to dress both as a man and as a woman. The price for Alexios' head is high, his weight in gold, for what I was told."

"Does that make any sense, Magnus? We just heard that Lady Saskia once again interfered in an assassination attempt. Is it not true that if the 'Purple Mask' had not arrived in time, you would be dead?" said the Countess, aghast.

This drew a low grunt from the Prince, who cannot avoid answering his aunt.

"The reasons for this attack are not yet clear, are they? But, whether or not I would survive? Don't you think you're underestimating your nephew a little, Aunt Godiva?"

Countess Godiva did not reply, but Prince Gutard, who finished his plate as the conversation unfolded, while keeping his eyes fixed on the whole action, muttered,

"And you at least do you know who this Alexios is and what he did to have his head costing this much?"

Magnus looked at Alexa, this time,

"No, but 'Lady Saskia' said he could explain everything," his look was malicious and condescending. Alexa saw there the opportunity to try reversing the situation. Revealing her identity to those people. Not in the Bishop's presence was a no-deal, though.

"Your Majesty, please! Allow me to disagree with Prince Magnus. I am not this person. But I know who Alexios is, even though I don't know him in person."

"Hmph! You really are…" Magnus grunted, furious, but the Prince interrupted him,

"Speak, Alexa,"

"The Dallassenos were a family very close to my father, who was an imperial diplomat. We had business relationships, and they attended my father's meals, and vice versa. Alexios was the youngest son," the maiden tried not to be moved, but felt her eyes moist with just the first words. "This family also served the emperor, but they apparently committed terrible crimes, and the emperor took his hand off them. The Church persecuted them. They took my father and all his men for questioning, to reveal their whereabouts. My father sent a letter about me to get me out of the city. I lived in the convent, as I said, since I was fourteen."

"Your lies have no end!" This cried Prince Magnus, outraged by Alexa's audacity. But he couldn't understand the fear she felt, or what she had already been through. She would lie as many times as needed. Magnus countered, inflamed,

"Have you ever seen a convent maiden capable of so many feats? Is this a boy thing or not?! Father, this filth boy's tongue is trained in the art of lying. Don't be fooled by this appearance! He's a boy! And this marriage to my brother, this is inconceivable!"

The realization that Magnus's fury was because he received the news of Alexa's identity and thought he kissed and lusted after a boy came to Alexa's mind. She would have a little sympathy if she wasn't getting angry at his motivations. Magnus could say it was because of Alexander, but in fact, he was disgusted, for imagining he had committed a 'sin'! He had a very convenient list of sins!

Now thinking from this point of view, she understood Magnus's bloodshot eyes, and how he almost spit when talking about her. But the Prince didn't have many details about the Dallassenos, she realized. Or he would have said it there, in front of the Bishop, to get her killed immediately. The maiden imagined that she was not yet dead only because she had Prince Gutard's protection, as Alexander's Bride.

And she had to work with it,

"I'm not a boy! Please listen to me, Prince Magnus! Everything I said now, I had already told Your Majesty. Why are you bullying me so much, Your Highness?!"

"You should spend all your energy on more useful things, Magnus," the Sovereign Prince said in a bad mood, taking another sip of his wine. "Select a few men to help you investigate these attacks on you and your Princess, and leave your brother's wife alone."

The terms could either be interpreted as a suggestion or order, but it surprised Alexa to see the definitive tone with which Prince Gutard spoke of couples. For greater dramatic effect, she shook herself into the still tight grip she was being subjected to, and moaned and sighed in frustration.

Being treated as a capricious futile person angered the First Prince in such a way that he came towards Alexa. Alexa thought Magnus would slap her, as his father did, and got up immediately from his chair. She instinctively closed her eyes, curled with fear.

But that was not what the First Prince did.

His raised hand grabbed Alexa's skirt. Magnus lifted it in a sudden and single movement, petticoats and all, up to her neck, exposing her body.