Chapter 136 - Little Big Secrets

"Sleep well, Alexa of Holstein," said old Cymric, pulling the curtain that separated the only bed in the house from the rest of the room. Although Alexa insisted that she didn't need to sleep in his bed, the old man was insistent, saying that she was a guest of honor.

She lay down, thinking about the lengthy conversation she had had with the strange old man. 

~ So he believes that the Tanbury cult is nothing more than an empty cult, fed by priests who know that their beliefs no longer make any sense, because the gods of the past no longer hear them… Is it so? ~ Alexander asked. 

But Alexa just felt her mind more confused the more she thought about it, and remembered her own dreams.

"I know that our meeting was no accident. Cymric's words go beyond the obvious utility they have for us now. But to recap the information we have, thanks to him, the Lady in Red has no access to magic. And all the priests in the local cult do is deceive people with narcotizing drinks, complex rituals, and empty prophecies. Lady Gwen believes herself to be a special person, as is the Baron of Brentford. Only because the priests decided a long time ago that they needed them to maintain belief and power over the people of the region. The people here cannot understand this, as they are very superstitious and the priests are smart."

~ I wonder why this should be our business, ~ Alexander commented.

"And I wonder why I am being treated as a guest of honor by this ex-druid, ex-monk, even though he told us that crazy dream," the long talk of the afternoon had revealed some of Cymric's past. Druids were what the priests of the ancient cults of that region were called.

~ The people of the forest trusts him, and trusts his judgment. What is he after all? A blessed person? A prophet? And whose side is he on? ~ the Prince seemed to try to put the pieces together in his mind, with little success however. Alexa was just happy that the old man didn't question when she gently introduced that she would need to sleep all night without interruption. 

"He's on the side of his truth, Zand. A man who has known so much can be a sage, a madman, or both. And I don't even feel myself on 'one side' to begin with."

~ You are on my side, and I on yours, Alexa, ~ said Alexander. ~ I'm sorry for trying to help and just causing your biggest nightmare. And as for what Cymric said about... ~

Alexa interrupted him. She didn't want to talk about it now,

"We must save Cymric's words for the foreseeable future, Alexander," at that moment, the princess was suspecting that Magnus would not be in Duncaster looking for them.

But sleep took her before she could say that to Alexander.

ººº

Stretching her toes in clean and dry socks, the princess woke up in a soft and perfumed bed, different from the sweaty and chicken-smelling hut in which her actual body was lying in distant lands. She rolled from side to side on the soft mattress and between the furs and the satin sheets. Lex let out a sigh of pleasure. Up to the moment the princess rolled to the edge of the bed and see two muscular knees standing in front of her eyes. The rest of the leg was equally muscular and Alexa didn't have to look up to know who they belonged to,

"Hello, father-in-law!"

Prince Gutard crouched down by the side of the bed, so they could look each other in the eye,

"Any explanations of why you think you can walk around with my son's body around will never be valid, Alexa."

His dry tone left no doubt about his mood, and Alexa sat up quickly,

"I'm sure Alexander's fencing teacher explained the situation well. They are suspicious that Helga knows of the whereabouts of the Second Prince and have even tried to kill her. And then, your wife ordered a funeral for me, I mean, Princess Alexa, while spreading nasty rumors. But that's all what he could say. I can say what I saw in Cordelia's room, during the absence of the royal couple."

Gutard raised an eyebrow, 

"You are suddenly very insolent, Alexa. Are you feeling comfortable in a prince's body? Should I question where I was thinking about believing in you from the start?"

Alexa reproached herself for using a certainly defiant tone when speaking with the proud Sovereign Prince, just for thinking he would prefer her to be assertive.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," she lowered her eyes, "nothing is right. Certainly not in Holstein, let alone where we are."

"And how are my children?" he asked, tilting his head to the side with an enigmatic expression.

"Something horrible has happened," she saw Prince Gutard's green eyes narrow, before she even narrated the latest adventures she and Alexander had been involved in. When it was over, the Holstein Sovereign stood up,

"Now that you have revealed Alexander to Cordelia, there's not so much reason not to announce that my son has woken up…"

"Well, wait. I can only stand on this body at night, so it will be strange. A good explanation would be needed. And rumors about the reasons could harm Alexander in the future ..." Alexa raised the points that worried her. "Perhaps it's better to leave it as it is, until it's important to reveal it to everyone… But of course, your wife will ask you. I'm amazed that she hasn't asked, actually."

"You make sure to keep Alexander out of danger. Here, and wherever they are. And keep an eye out for witches …"

The Princess had questions to ask, but the door opened after a light knock and Duke Konrad came in with a huge smile on his face. Alexa smiled back.

"Your Highness, how good it's seeing you again!"

"Ah, uhn, well, I don't know how to do this! You are Zand and, at the same time, Alexa! How can I get used to it?!" Konrad sat on the edge of the bed, examining his cousin's body closely.

"Don't get used to it, Kontzie," said Gutard crossly. "The princess will soon leave Alexander's body and he will be the same person again."

"I hope so, Your Majesty," said Alexa. "But what are we going to do about the Princess's funeral. I mean, my funeral?"

"I will say goodbye to my sister and we will return to Holstein. There you will know," the arrogant prince left his nephew with Alexa saying nothing else, and the Duke shrugged,

"My uncle spent the day in a foul mood, but he'll do his best for the family, don't worry. "

Alexa raised her doubtful eyes to Konrad,

"I don't know if he considers the bonds of marriage, or that I am a real von Wuttenfal, after all ..."

"Don't think so, he is a difficult person, but ..." Konrad turned his face and looked away, suddenly.

"But ..."

"Well, just get used to it. He's here to advise me and help prepare a defense, so I know he demonstrates his loyalty in distinct ways. Don't think I don't hear a lot of harsh things from him. He says my aunt spoiled me too much!" the Duke smiled, turning to 'Prince Alexander' again. 

He looked tired, Alexa could see black circles under his eyes and it was clear that Konrad needed more sleep than he had been having. 

"Well, I see I have no option but to get used to it," she said.

"Before you go, I prepared the armor you saw before, so that you can take it. I proposed to my uncle to let 'Zand' stay here, but because Würtz's position is closer to conflict than Holstein, he thinks it's not a good idea. As for me, I think Holstein isn't a good place for you right now ... "

"I appreciate it, Konrad, and I promise that if things get bad over there, I will bring Alexander here. But for now, I think the best I can do for him and the von Wuttenfal, is to stay there and help with the mysteries that occur in that castle,"Alexa thanked, feeling the same great affinity with Alexander's cousin, a generous person and noble as few.

"Well, since you are such a good wife for my cousin, I think I can call you a friend. And we can even talk alone without the danger of being misunderstood, right?" a fresh smile opened on the Duke's face, and Alexa joined him.

"Indeed! And if I'm your friend, you would undoubtedly help me with some mysteries of the von Wuttenfal family, wouldn't you?"

"Um, why not? If it's helping…"

"Konrad, I need to know why Duke Kurt was banned from the kingdom. Tell me, if you knw! "

The Duke was speechless, listening to what Alexa asked him. And she insisted, with pleading eyes,

"Please, please! You know it's important!"

Konrad swallowed, but shook his head in agreement. "I think I know what you're talking about. He did something horrible in the past. I read everything in my mother's diaries. I'll tell you why he was banned and what his relationship is with all the tragedies in our family."