Chapter 97 - Moonless Night

Excusing himself, Magnus warned that he'd be packing for the trip and was waiting for Alexa and Konrad as soon as possible, and left after greeting no one.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, the Countess didn't hide her expression of contempt when looking at de Wit's family. Raising her glass at eye level Godiva smirked,

"Very appropriate, very appropriate! Cordelia has this aspect that matches a mature man, a widower. In addition, she has the calm and patience of a nurse. Bride, haven't you adapt to Holstein's weather yet? I noticed you aren't coughing anymore. And… Brother. I didn't expect you to take a sixth wife. But it will be a prosperous marriage, and a great and strategic Alliance for the Hanseatic League. Indeed! Well done! As for my older nephew… I now hope that Magnus is soon matched to a bride according to his tempestuous, vigorous temperament. After his brother married a noblewoman from the East, Magnus must find a noblewoman in the West, don't you think?"

The brothers looked at each other, and the Sovereign Prince looked at his older sister for a long time, digesting the insults.

Then he said,

"You are not obliged to attend weddings you don't want to, Godiva."

"I know I don't, and I won't be able to, anyway. I decided to leave with Magnus group, at dawn, back at my house. Konrad and I are overstayed because of recent events. I'd use this dinner to bid you my farewell. But I still wish the couple a long life. Let's toast to it!" the Countess's strong personality reigned for a moment, and Gutard shrugged, giving a very amused smile,

"My dear sister, I love you, despite your disapproval! Let's toast!"

The Countess's words deeply hurt the guests, but they had the wisdom not to reply to her. Alexa, on the other hand, was paralyzed at the table. 'What does this all mean? Will Cordelia become Princess Consort of Holstein, even though the Von Wuttenfal suspect her family's mischief? And Cordelia's mother was a servant killer? Why did she kill Nerissa with her own hands?'

Cordelia looked at her inquisitively, and Alexa knew she should give her position for or against this wedding. But she preferred to be blunt,

"Are you happy, Cordelia?"

The Flemish maiden stiffly smiled back, but now Alexa identified that Cordelia's eyes had lost the innocence she had seen when they first met,

"Yes, Your Highness. It is an honor to be chosen by the Holstein Sovereign as his bride. And happier than my future husband is someone who is understanding and mature, able to tolerate my deficiencies," said the maiden. Alexa felt a tightness in her chest. She remembered making a promise to Cordelia one day. That she would be by her side until the birth of Cordelia's first child.

"I'l be back soon. I believe my promise is still standing."

Cordelia thanked her and wished her a good journey, as did everyone. Then the Countess, the Duke and Alexa left. As they left the room, they looked at each other apprehensively.

But the exhilarating older lady said,

"You two, come back soon so we leave at dawn. I don't want to have to sit at the table with these people anytime soon again. Ahh, sometimes a man just has to know when to stop ..." and walking hurriedly Countess Godiva left them, dusting off her clothes and tapping her shoes on the floor. In the extravagant and elitist way Countess Godiva acted, she was very perceptive to people's characters, Alexa mused.

~ My aunt is usually this honest. Creepy honest, argh! But changing the subject, Alexa. Do we still have time to go to the lighthouse? ~ Alexander asked, showing that, contrary to what she said earlier, he cared about important things.

"Do you still want me to talk to him?" the Princess asked. Konrad, calmly walking beside her in silence, asked, confused,

"Is the Princess talking to me or ... to the bird?"

Alexander left Alexa's shoulder to land on his cousin's head, and tugged at his hair,

Alexa smiled, "You're right, Duke. I was talking to the bird. Or rather, Alexander."

Konrad took the bird in his hand carefully, with his typical big smile. He examined the bird from all angles, even the tail feathers. It fazed Alexander,

~ Tell him to let go and stop it! What is he looking at so much?! That great idiot! ~

When Alexa repeated the Second Prince's word to the Duke, Konrad burst out laughing and shook the bird, jokingly kissing its beak,

"So that's why this damn noisy bird was singing in my window and wouldn't let me sleep!"

The Duke had no difficulty in accepting that his cousin was now a bird, and Alexa tried to summarize the events until they met with Magnus.

"Prince, Duke, I know that you'll probably say that this is dangerous or a waste of time. But Alexander wants to go somewhere before we leave. This is more urgent for him," the Princess revealed to the two nobles Alexander's plan to question the lighthouse witch. Konrad was speechless, brooding over the news of direct communication with a prisoner witch, but he didn't speak against it. Alexa insisted, "If we go quickly, it won't take us more than three hours to get back and forth, maybe even less."

"This time, however, we will enter through the front door," said the First Prince, resolute. "But don't trust that woman blindly. She has a deep hatred for our family, and there is no guarantee that she won't try to manipulate us through pantomimes and tricks."

"Do you really believe that, Your Highness?" surprised Alexa asked, as for her, the Prophetess Sigrid had enough knowledge. "She knew about the keys, don't forget that."

"She also said something about the journey. Twins who walk together, but with different temperaments and fates," Magnus reminded the Princess.

~ Don't waste time discussing it here, if you don't want to go, I'll go by myself, ~ Romeo was about to take flight, when Magnus grabbed him, putting him inside his vest,

"I don't know what you intend, but you won't fly around on a moonless night."

~ Tell him I know how to take care of myself! Tell him I'm going to kill him! ~

"You better let him go, Your Highness. I already found out that my husband doesn't like to be treated like a child," she held out her hand to welcome Romeo back, but Magnus denied,

"Just stop acting like one, don't you think? And to think he was the thoughtful and kind brother. The more time he spends with you, the more alike you become," Magnus mounted his horse to set off immediately for the lighthouse.

Alexa still didn't see the moon in the sky, when she did the same. Konrad followed them.

Such a dark night was conducive to rituals, secret pacts, betrayals, murders and dark communications with the other world. But it should never have been the night of a marriage contract.

The trio left like thieves in the night, crossing the castle gates.