Chapter 112 - A Strange Conversation

The Princess sought to follow Gutard's own advice, and act like a Prince. It wouldn't be difficult. She spent many years pretending to be a boy. Cordelia knew very little about Alexa, and her ladies-in-wait had only seen her once.

It was better to use the opportunity to your advantage than to wait to be discovered by Prince Gutard's future wife ... and Alexander's future stepmother.

Walking slowly, but leaving his face in view, Alexa, or rather the Second Prince, approached the women,

"Milady,"

watching their expressions, Lex, incorporating Gutard's second son the best she could, leaned forward his head to one side. The nun, further back, looked back with eagle eyes and slightly tense. The other two women looked frightened. And Cordelia ... She was pale as a candle.

Bowing slightly in front of the Lady, 'Alexander' said,

"How lucky I am to find you here, milady. I was divided between disturbing your rest or not. We can talk?"

"P-Prince Alexander? But how?"

Showing his dimples, the Second Prince smiled at Cordelia, extending his gloved hand to take hers. Cordelia took his hand, and they both walked away, followed by the ladies. Even through the gloves, Lex could feel how cold the lady's hands were. As he imagined, Cordelia had been outdoors recently.

The Prince led Cordelia to a study room next to his own official room. The ladies followed after them, as expected.

"Can your ladies leave us?" without waiting for an answer, in a soft but firm voice, he said, as Magnus or Gutard would have done. "Wait outside." There was a possibility that the nun would appeal to good manners and so on, but internally Lex knew she wouldn't do that. Sister Ludovica wouldn't prevent this conversation from happening.

The Prince left the door open in order to be seen, and to see, the three women waiting outside. Although his heart was pounding under her clothes, Lex tried to maintain a princely composure. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and saw Cordelia fidgeting with her ring nervously. Then the Prince led her to the window, where the moonlight would allow them to see better.

"Lady Cordelia, you saved me. I feel in debt forever, "in fact, Lex was making it up as he spoke, because he hadn't been able to think of a subject. But Lex figured it would be the only reason for Alexander to look for Cordelia in the middle of the night.

Cordelia's nervousness eased a little with her words,

"Oh my God! Your Highness! I didn't know you had recovered… "

" Shhh! " the Prince puts his fingers over his own lips, asking for secrecy. "Right now, I'm breaking the word I gave my father, because I wanted to see you. But of course, I will have to tell him that you already know. If anyone else discover my secret, Father will … show his displeasure... But I needed to come and thank you, my lady. Know that if you need anything ... I will do whatever I can to fulfill your request," again Alexander smiled, noticing how Cordelia's eyes scanned his face intently, still surprised and mesmerized.

"Is there something wrong, milady?" out of the corner of his eye he realized that the three women outside didn't take their eyes off what they saw.

"I just did what anyone would do, Your Highness. And ... You are so similar! You and she!"

"You say, the maiden my father married me to?" it was better to lengthen the conversation and get as much information as possible, Lex thought.

"Yes. Did you see her?"

'Think fast,' deciding what things to say were important. Sighing, he commented,

"I came back to consciousness for short periods of time, but I was very sleepy. It started to happen after I was taken out of my room on the day of the fire. I can't explain how and why. My conscience gradually returned. I just woke up yesterday. And they told me a few things. All I have are vague memories ... Only the day of the fire was strong enough. I was ..."

Cordelia's distressed expression was palpable. She was guilty of something. So Lex decided to keep her wondering about what Alexander knew,

"Well, answering your question, no, I didn't see you. Maybe I remember your hands or something. But then ... I was told that she also saved me, before milady yourself. And my father became attached to her, by the way, he mentions her. But ... Who is she? It is strange to be married ... And to someone you know nothing about. Perhaps milady, who brought her to this castle, is the right person to ask."

It would be an opportunity to really evaluate Cordelia. Cordelia played with her dress sleeve for a moment, buying time to think.

"Yeah… I'm surprised, Your Highness. But your question surprises me even more. Where's Princess Alexa?"

"Lady Cordelia usually answers questions with other questions? Our conversations will be interesting, then," to be honest with himself, Lex was relishing the moment when he could use the Second Prince status in this way. Cordelia had shown signs of courage before, but she used to pretend to be docile and submissive. It would be interesting to know how she would get out of this without breaking her character.

"No, forgive me. Only emotion drives me to ask confusing questions. I am happy, because when I got here the news of your death shocked me to no end. The events that followed left me very confused and scared. But ... Yes, Lady Alexa came here because I brought her. I took responsibility for her even though I didn't know her. She told me that she was going to England when our destinations crossed. But I can't say that I know her ..."

"I wonder why the woman who married me was not at my side the night after my wedding. Maybe if she was, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now," maybe Cordelia needed any encouragement to say what she thought.

"Yeah… Well, about that, I don't know what to say, Your Highness. Lady Alexa was engaged to another man when she arrived here. But she agreed to marry you at your father's request. I can't say what's going on in her mind. You will soon find out that she ..." Cordelia looked nervously at the door,"is shrouded in more mystery and controversy than one might expect from a… maiden. Some hate it, and others love it ... But the Princess has won the hearts of many here, including the von Wuttenfal family! "

"Apparently," said the Second Prince with a sigh.

"Haven't you seen her after you woke up?" Cordelia raised the matter again, puzzled.

"No, I haven't been told where she is as to yet," Lex said quickly, not wanting the issue to go where he couldn't control it. "But ... you will no longer be my sister-in-law, but my stepmother."

Cordelia's eyes gleamed for a moment, and Lex was sure it wasn't out of happiness, "Oh! Yes! Our families will follow up with the plans! Your father found me worthy to be his wife. Let's say… "the Flemish maiden hesitated a little, but she didn't necessarily change the subject. Alexander asked, as expected,

"It puzzles me. In fact, the only thing I know is that, I lost several days of my life and when I wake up, nothing else is the same. I got married earlier than my older brother. And now he is not your fiancé, but my father. And… the castle is very quiet."

"Your brother apparently was going on a long trip, and before that… let's say he had shown that he didn't want to marry me. I don't know if it was something with me or my family or if ... someone stole your heart. Our families were going to break the deal and then his father took a step forward. I appreciate the nobleness of honoring a family commitment," this time Cordelia's voice betrayed her bitterness and even the way she breathed heavily showing contempt was different from other times.

"Lady Cordelia, please. We have to go," the nun spoke from the door, urging Cordelia to say goodbye. Right now that Cordelia was starting to speak!

Cordelia turned her body towards the door, but the Prince held his hand again, in a strong and determined way.

"You have someone at your side, if you wish so. Since you were on my side when I needed to, "Lex was surprised when Cordelia stared at him intently,

" Your Highness. Ignore what I'm going to say if you want. I have no proof. But ... Princess Alexa, she ... Maybe not what she seems. Let's say I have seen and lived too much since I came here to change my opinion of her. Don't trust your heart to her, I beg you. I may regret my words, but the older and more experienced people have opened my eyes ... If you trust her without first discovering what she is, I am sure you will continue to be in danger. From our meeting to how she conquered the von Wuttenfal ... Take care of your life, and our lives, Prince. "

"Why you say that?" despite hoping to hear something like that, it hurt when it really happened. But wasn't Cordelia doing something she was doing herself?

"She's your wife, find out for yourself," said Cordelia, walking away.