Chapter 92 - Soul Mates

As the carriage went to the convent of the Poor Clares, Alexa pretended not to see Nerissa, sitting between Father Agnello and Balbo Cerdán in front of her.

Beside her Edel played with the nightingale in the cage, never imagining that she was being so intimate and playful to a prince of the kingdom.

"Romeo, Romeo, you are so cute. Look at that puffy breast, isn't he cute?" she tried to caress the nightingale's breast, which ran away from the hand of the young lady-in-waiting, asking his wife,

~ So is this what our relationship will be like? Any woman can try to seduce me, and won't you show any care for me? I will not forget this, Alexa, ~ Alexander complained, anguished.

"Edel, Romeo is shy," the Princess put her hand over the young lady-in-wait, which she obeyed, realizing that she was bothering the Princess. But if it weren't for Alexander complaining, the Princess wouldn't have cared less. Edel was very cheerful and full of energy, it was always good to have her around. And if Alexander didn't really like it, he could peck at her hand. 'Uhn, he doesn't realize I saw him flirting Edel by lowering that sweet little head of him and pretending to hide under the wing ... Now he wants to play the innocent!'

Nerissa was also full of energy, apparently. Alexa realized that the redhead ghost was following her, which was not at all common. 'Is she… haunting me?!'

Although the Princess previously believed that Father Agnello could also see ghosts, she realized that this was not the case. Although he looked a little out of place on the bench, he hadn't tried exorcisms, but his hand was on the rosary. Both men seemed oblivious to Nerissa, and each was looking out the window.

Nerissa gave Balbo a flick in the ear, which immediately scratched the spot. She was indeed trying to get the attention of Alexa! The Princess finally faced the Shade.

Then the ghost began to make gestures. Alexa just understood the number '4', and 'walking', of the sequence of mimics that the ghost tried to show. Sometimes she pointed to Blue Eyes, but it was really hard to understand the rest.

Frustrated, Alexa spoke out loud,

"Ah, I suck at enigmas. But you know, Father Agnello, I was curious now about a fact that has been forgotten amid so many situations. That girl who was to be my maid in England. Someone drowned her in my tub. Didn't they just investigate why someone murdered her? Are murders common in the castle? Who was she? Her name was Nerissa."

Nerissa disappeared, as expected.

Blue Eyes relaxed a little on the bench, saying,

"Prince Magnus selected all who'd travel with you. But I remember he picked her because her mother is English or something. She volunteered, in fact, as he mentioned."

"Was she a spy, Your Highness?" Balbo commented on his suspicion, and Alexa remembered the whole incident. A spy for Lady Duvignes, perhaps? It was she who was around at that moment. But if she had an English mother, it was a little unlikely that she was a spy for the Frenchs. Both kingdoms were going through a long war. The idleness of body was making her mind to work on past issues, so she questioned next,

"What about the assassination attempt against Prince Magnus? I fear that they will take advantage of him going on a trip to kill him on the road. Whoever made such a circus to fake trying to kill Cordelia but aiming the Prince instead, used big money to hire the killers. Edel, please take the black coin from my money bag," Prince Gutard, probably giving ears to the First Prince's nonsense opinions, forbid Alexa to use her hands until they fully recovered. And that was why she was going to the convent of the Poor Clares. For a treatment with a so-called miraculous balm made only by the nuns of those convents.

"Balbo, do you know this symbol?" the Princess asked, making mention that Edel would deliver the item to the soldier. Balbo examined it quickly and replied,

"Yes, I know. It is not a local Guild. Can I stay with it, Your Highness? I'll investigate, if you allow this subject."

Alexa smiled, because that was her intention from the beginning. She could trust that Balbo would find the answer. Blue Eyes raised an eyebrow at her questioningly,

"I admire your political mind, Your Highness. The Von Wuttenfal gained a lot from this marriage. Your wit is exceptional. But shouldn't you leave matters involving your brother-in-law to other people?"

Of course, Alexa understood the multitude of innuendoes in that question, but answered only,

"Father Agnello, the Von Wuttenfal take care of each other,"

~ I like you! ~ thanked Alexander in a cheerful tone. And he decided to sing loudly, leaving everyone a little deaf inside the carriage with his musical demonstration.

The arrival at the convent took place without incident, as a group of 20 soldiers escorted the party. She did a thorough treatment with the nuns, and then she could rest.

Enjoying the silence of the cell she was staying in, lying on the bed, Alexa asked Alexander,

"Ale, you said you went to look for me, on a soul's journey. Our conversation was interrupted then, but I haven't forgotten. Why did you say that?"

The bird perched on the window turned to the Princess, and she heard Alexander's voice,

~ Because it's true. I dream about you all my life, ~ the Prince's honest tone made Alexa have no doubt that he spoke what was in his heart. ~ I dreamed of a boy I thought was myself. Living many adventures in exotic lands. I imagine it was the Orient. I didn't dream about it every day, of course. But I often dreamed of you. Lex grew as I grew. So that boy became a girl ... That part was strange. That's when I realized it wasn't me. It was another person. My soulmate. You, ~ Alexander's soul sighed in Alexa's mind, losing himself in thought.

How could that be? Alexander dreamed her life? In fact, the physical resemblance they had, besides their close age, and even names ... That had to have a meaning. It was impossible to ignore.

"I cannot doubt what you are saying, Alexander. But it is still incredible."

~ Yes. I know. When things started getting dangerous for you, I thought I should meet you. I just didn't know how, ~ he completed.

The Princess, who was looking at the ceiling, turned to the bird, and asked,

"Did you tell Balbo that?"

~Yes, and he started telling me about the things he learned in the East, and… When I asked him if he was a Lazarite, he freaked out! You should have seen it! ~ he chuckled, and Alexa joined him.

"Did you tell Blue Eyes that?" she continued the interrogation. It was good to know who knew about her life through Alexander's dreams.

~ Blue Ey ...? Ah, you must be talking about Father Agnello. No, even though he's my confessor ... I didn't think he would understand. He might think it was demons or something ~ he explained.

"Hmmm, I suspect he worked to marry us," she revealed, remembering various attitudes and even the 'song about the princess who came to save the prince.'

~ Him? ~

"Yes, he's not what he seems," and Alexa went on to tell the veiled threat in the carriage and how Blue Eyes made her follow Prince Gutard to the lighthouse. And of course, she told of the prophecy that she and Magnus heard the Witch Sigrid reveal.

"I think he influenced your father's decision, in some way, Alexander. Because, according to Magnus told me, he had asked his father to marry me the day before that," Alexa revealed.

~ Magnus? Why would he do that?! ~ he asked and the tone of his voice sounded suspicious. But then the tone changed completely, exclaiming,

"Alexa! Now that we have fulfilled this part of the prophecy, what else is to come? We must know!"

The Princess was a little stunned at first, but then she agreed,

"We must visit the Lighthouse's Witch again!"