Chapter 90 - The Quickest Rosary in the West

"Kill the king?" It wasn't something that took Alexa by surprise, but she hesitated. She knew that, at some point in her life, she would be forced to make this kind of decision, but she didn't imagine that it would serve the wishes of a vengeful and cunning ghost.

Before the maiden could answer, however, Father Agnello took two steps forward, and wielding his rosary, performed the exorcism rite, pasting the cross on Shade's forehead. Alexa rolled from under the spectral creature, which shrieked in an angry and desperate manner, while her cousin tried to banish her.

Something flung the priest away and Blue Eyes hit his head against a wall, losing consciousness, but Letitia soon vanished. Whether by the Shade's own will or because the ritual had hurt her, the Princess did not know.

Alexa saw Magnus bringing his father, who looked injured, while she was trying to bring Blue Eyes back. The bird struggled inside her clothing, seeming to regain some vigor. Getting him out quickly, Alexa encouraged her husband,

"Go outside! Get away from the smoke, Alexander!"

~ Come with me, I know where my body is!~ cried the Prince. Alexa realized that Alexander's soul had returned to his usual alertness. Handing the priest over to a soldier, Alexa followed the bird up a side staircase, just thinking the priest's intervention was essential. Had the Black Queen shown herself to everyone at that time, or could only the priest see her, besides Alexa?

She didn't have time to deepen her thoughts as she ran, as she nearly tripped over a bloody body lying on the stairs. Alexa didn't examine it, because Alexander followed without stopping. She found a barred gate that led to the outside, and it was unlocked. Going out into the drizzly night, she saw three women carrying Alexander's body wrapped in a sheet with difficulty.

"Halt!" the Princess yelled, furious.

The women stopped, startled. The tallest one turned, trembling.

It was Cordelia.

~ Isn't that my brother's fiancee, Lady Cordelia Agnes? ~ asked Alexander, astonished.

"Alexa! Alexa! They were trying to get the prince out of the castle!" Cordelia came towards her, with a terrified gaze. The Princess noticed that Cordelia's hands were covered in blood.

Alexa was silent, and the two women carrying the body of the Second Prince returned to them, asking Cordelia,

"What do we do, milady?"

"I thought about taking the Prince to the Chapel, Alexa, I mean, Your Highness. I don't know what to do, I'm sorry!"

Although her heart was uneasy, Alexa said nothing and went to her husband's body, uncovering his face. Nothing had changed, upon a quick inspection.

~ Can you make up your mind soon?! They're holding me like I'm a bag of onions! ~ the Prince complained.

"Yes! Come on, Lady Cordelia. Let's go to the chapel," Alexa finally agreed. Something was bothering her, but it would make Cordelia tell her what had happened, and why it was stained with blood. At that time, the most important thing was to protect Alexander's body, and ​​the chapel was a good option. Considering that Letitia had fled after the confrontation with Father Agnello, she would probably avoid the holy place. This wasn't a rule for Shades, for all she had learned, however.

They went across the courtyard to the chapel, and the bird landed on the Princess shoulder again, at her call.

There, finding some servants sleeping on the benches, not even imagining that another part of the immense castle had been set on fire, Alexa sent them to warn that she and Cordelia were there, safe and with Prince Alexander's body. The novices put the Prince on a bench, and left to tend their Lady. The Princess sat next to Alexander, watching Cordelia and her ladies-in-wait. While Alexa suffered from cramps and generalized pains now that her blood and spirit were cooling, the Flemish maiden threw herself on the floor in front of the altar, murmuring disconnected prayers.

~ What is she doing? Is she okay? ~

"It's a good question. So did she save you?" the Princess murmured under her breath, as she sensed that the novices' glances, though turned to the prostrate lady, were on her.

~ I don't know. I felt myself being pulled somewhere, I felt suffocated, and blacked out. Then I woke up ... between your breasts, ~ Alexander whispered too.

~ They always mistook me for a boy, so you didn't get much out of your nest, ~ she replied crossly.

Magnus broke into the chapel, followed by Balbo and some soldiers.

"Is my brother hurt?"

"As before, Your Highness. Lady Cordelia can say more," Alexa should be grateful that Cordelia intervened, but after the morning of her wedding onwards, she could no longer look at the lady without resentment. Perhaps an undeserved grudge against Cordelia, and Alexa knew it.

"Lady Cordelia, tell us," said Magnus.

"I was coming from the chapel and up the stairs. We surprised two men carrying Prince Alexander down. One of them ran away and the other ... I killed the other. I stuck the knife he had on him. Oh my God, forgive me! Forgive me, I didn't want to kill him!" she was in tears, speaking confusedly to the Prince.

Her chaperones confirmed Cordelia's version in more detail. They had tried to return Alexander's body to his quarters, as they narrated, but when they saw the smoke-filled corridor, they were left without options and decided to go down again.

"Hmmm," she mumbled, but had no hard evidence about her suspicions. It was better that no one realized that Alexander could talk to her, or about Romeo, at the moment. More people were arriving at the chapel, attracted by the news.

Motioning for Balbo to take Alexander's body, she asked Magnus,

"Your father? What happened to him?"

"Something in the square earlier, coupled with… a forgotten candle. He says he'll be fine, but he needs a break," his words just implied that the ghosts tried to kill his father. But of course, Prince Gutard was a formidable enemy even for witches as Gisela and Letitia, alive or dead. He won twice, it was a fact.

"In this case, I will be in Father Agnello's chambers, and I will take Prince Alexander with me. I don't intend to disturb you while taking care of what is necessary. Someone, please, take Lady Cordelia to her mother. She's terrified, and needs to rest," Alexa used to be highly pragmatic when exhausted and feisty, and she was both. Lady Eudoxia would be proud of how she behaved like royalty at that time.

Now it was time to leave the chapel haughtily.

Too bad, when she got up, her legs didn't support her. And if it weren't for Magnus to hold Alexa in his arms, she would have fallen to the floor.