Chapter 62 - Exploring

"Go away," Alexa grunted to the Prince, still threatening him one last time with the candelabra. He just rolled over on his back, and said,

"Why don't we use the opportunity and ask Cordelia why she wasn't in the flower float?"

"What are you talking about? Go away! Ask those questions in broad daylight!" she pushed the Prince out of bed, but he didn't move. Apparently the comfort of the bed was appealing to the Prince's drunken mind, and he didn't seem willing to leave.

Cordelia's voice came from the other side of the door, again, "Alexa? Coff Coff! What are these noises? I'm coming in," the door opened, and Alexa scowled at the Prince, covering him with a blanket and throwing cushions over him. Alexa relied on the darkness to hide Magnus in the princely bed. 'It's going to have a payback, you bastard!'

"Ahhhhwnnn! Who's there? Is it you, Cordelia?" She pretended to sweep away her sleepiness, and sat on the edge of the bed. Taking the lamp, she placed it next to her, as far away as possible from the pile of furs and pillows where Magnus was buried below. If that drunk asshole decided to reveal himself, Alexa knew that it would be the end of the undeserved trust that Cordelia had for her. In addition to other possible consequences. The maiden just wanted to have faith that the First Prince was not that stupid and impetuous.

"Alexa! I heard noises, I thought there was someone here," Cordelia approached the bed, with a candlestick.

"This castle is full of drafts and the wind brings sounds from everywhere," Alexa made up an excuse. When Cordelia was close enough, Alexa was startled as she looked cadaverous and ghastly, and got up quickly.

"Cordelia, what's going on? Are you fine?" When Cordelia touched her hand, Alexa noticed that she was still slightly warm, as if the Flemish damsel had a low fever. "Are the medications working?"

"I'm afraid they are poisoning me, my friend, so I stopped taking them!" The Flemish girl then confessed, "I can't sleep either! Those sounds that you speak of, yes, it disturbs me all the time! It also seems that there always someone is watching me, especially when I close my eyes!"

"There is no better remedy for this than prayer, Cordelia. But tomorrow morning we can talk to my confessor, Father di Borghesi, and you can tell him these things," Alexa hugged the taller girl. She realized that while she was becoming a bride herself, and fleeing or chasing assassins, the affliction of Magnus' Bride was not over yet.

Cordelia sat on the edge of the bed, which forced Alexa to sit by her side. The Greek girl tried to stay in a position that would prevent the other girl from looking at the other end of the bed. The long shadows of the gothic style chamber could help with this kind of pathetic concealment, just as it allowed an assassin to easily hide inside a room.

"Alexa, once again you took a chance to save my life! But tell me, there are so many rumors coming to me, I don't know what to believe!"

"I saw a man armed with a crossbow on the cathedral roof, Cordelia. But the killer wasn't there for you, but for the Prince. The girl they put in your place ... well, to begin with, it wasn't a girl. He was also an assassin!"

Cordelia had a coughing fit, and Alexa had to reach for the water jar and give her water, so they could continue talking. It was natural for Cordelia to be nervous, but Alexa followed the instinct that she should put pressure on her a little. Even if it made her suffer.

"Cordelia, why weren't you at the parade? I thought you were infirm, but look at you there, walking down the castle halls at night."

"My father came in the morning and said that I shouldn't go, because Prince Magnus was not even in town. If I went and was shamed that he didn't come, our family would be humiliated and demoted. Everyone was scared, and decided on this ploy," she sighed.

"Maybe he was too busy, that was the reason. But he did arrive at time, didn't he?" As much as she hated to defend Magnus's honor, it was better that way. Cordelia nodded, with a smile, which ended in a dry cough.

"But ... what happened to the person who would replace you?" Alexa asked.

Magnus's fiancee was confused for a moment, and said, "Well, I don't know. I didn't know until now that someone else was there."

'What an incredible coincidence that her family thought of replacing the bride on the day that the murderers have the same idea,' the Greek maiden thought, but kept her suspicions for now. Cordelia seemed to cringe, and Alexa wondered if the maiden was not having her own suspicions at this point. But she decided to dispel the uncomfortable mood.

"I'm glad you weren't there, Cordelia. I thank God for that."

"Me too. And I'm glad for you not get hurt too. But ... They said the Prince chased you, I mean, the masked maiden. I was also told that you were seen being dragged by two men in the early evening. I begged my dad to try to find out if it was true and to interfere if necessary, but he didn't return until I retired."

"Well, Cordelia… That's true. I have many things to tell you. It is better that you know it by my own mouth than by rumors, and ... ouch!"

Magnus' pinch on her ribs made her start, and she held her breath so as not to curse him and end the farce immediately. Of course, the worthless Prince didn't want her to reveal all his stupidity. He was so full of himself, so cocky!

"My God, what was that?!" Cordelia was startled too. Their recent struggles had certainly left the poor maiden on edge. Alexa pointed to the painted closet door,

"Look! That door moved!"

"Ohhh!" Cordelia groaned, grabbing Alexa's arm in a painful way, "Are they evil spirits?!"

Alexa, however, knew it was a secret passage, and at that moment, exploring its destination would be more than convenient. When would she have another chance to be alone in the Countess's bedchambers? In addition, she would divert Cordelia's attention and get rid of Magnus, all at once.

The maiden did not answer her friend, and lighting up the chandelier, she went to the closet, opening it and groping its false bottom until it slid. "Cordelia! A secret passage! This is where the noises you say you heard must come from!"

Alexa felt a little guilty about playing this prank on Cordelia, but it would be for everyone's good. Cordelia came with her own candle, moved by curiosity, "Should we be peering at this?"

"Of course we should! You need to know well every recess of your new home!" Alexa pushed the taller girl into the closet, following close behind.