Chapter 137 - The Two Sons of Otten von Wuttenfal

On the way to Holstein, along with Balbo, Bastien, Prince Gutard, and his men, Alexa's mind wandered to the terrible secret she had discovered through the diaries of Princess Odila, mother of Duke Konrad.

Otten von Wuttenfal, Holstein's sovereign before Gutard, had fought the paganism that existed in those lands with fervor. He greatly hoped to transform the kingdom into a place free from beliefs other than Christianity.

To this end, he persecuted everyone who showed to think differently from him, or believed in anything other than what the Holy See said was right.

More than that, he had the dream of erecting a beautiful cathedral on the ruins of the ancient Roman city that gave rise to Holstein. Prince Otten wanted to completely bury the ancient temple to the pagan gods. 

But Holstein, despite having a strategic port in his capital, didn't have enough resources for such extravagance. 

Through several alliance by wedding with his beautiful daughters, the ambitious Prince Otten managed to make his kingdom flourish.

As for his sons, according to his aptitudes, Gutard pursued a military career. And continued, according to his father's desire, to hunt witches and heretics for the kingdom and even for the neighboring kingdoms. Kurt was educated as a politician and diplomat, learning from the emperor's court the art of politics.

When the old Prince became ill, he called his children who still lived in the castle, and made them swear to obey his wish: Gutard would be the new ruler and make Holstein a great kingdom, under the law of the Church. And Kurt would help him govern, pledging to help him build the most beautiful cathedral in the west. Odila, as a princess of only thirteen, was only asked to be obedient to her brothers and to God.

The early years of Gutard's reign were troubled. The cathedral had begun to be built, but ungodly superstitions and false Christians still dominated the kingdom. In addition, all kinds of problems occurred during the construction of the cathedral, removing workers and consuming resources. 

Kurt then went to Rome to speak to the Pope. And while on Italian soil, he went to Florence, looking for sponsors and business partners in that prosperous region. 

Thus began the connection of the von Wuttenfal with the di Borghesi.

A year later, the di Borghesi offered the money to build the cathedral, and also the hand of Letitia, the eldest daughter of the patriarch, as a worthy wife for the Prince of Holstein.

After seeing Letitia's portrait, Gutard readily agreed to the wedding, and Kurt traveled with the Italian emissaries to fetch the bride.

According to Konrad's mother's diary, however, things only got complicated with the arrival of the Italian bride and her court.

Lex, traveling as Prince Gutard's second son, felt an oppression in his chest as he looked at the broad back of the man in front of him. He had a haughty, martial stance, but he had carried an enormous weight so far. 

Alexa could never sort out her feelings toward Prince Gutard. Whether she understood him, or if she sympathized with him. Not even if she really trusted Gutard.

In that strange mind of a Prince who still considered himself a Witch Hunter, there were many answers that the maiden felt she needed to know.

Stepping forward with her horse to stand side by side with Prince Gutard, she cleared her throat,

"Aunt Odila liked you very much," Lex started at the edges, testing the terrain as she impersonated Alexander. The men beside Gutard moved away when they realized it would be a private affair between father and son.

"Uh… Odila? How do you know that?" he didn't look at Lex, but slowed his horse's trot.

"I read one of her diaries. She was a literate and very fond of writing, and it recorded that," simply revealed Alexa.

"Meddling, nosy, cunning, seductive, is what you are. Did that fool give you his mother's diaries so easily?" he grunted, and Lex suppressed a laugh at Prince Gutard's words.

"I'm trying to understand Holstein's past. I know that a thick and twisted vine sprouts out of it and wraps us in the present, Your Majesty. As the reason why His Majesty married Gisela, for example. I know it was because she saved Magnus' life. But Magnus's mother… I know she was a witch, who settled in the castle and was living under von Wuttenfal's noses with all those diabolical practices."

Prince Gutard sighed, deciding whether or not to listen to Lex. Then at last he said,

"Yes, those terrible years created everything bad about Holstein. I learned to be less impulsive and to wait for the right moment. And talking less. And you should do the same. Also, in the past I took actions that today would have been different… For example, you are still alive."

"...!"

"Just so you can shut up."

"It means you are not going to let that happen again. Right, Your Majesty?" she asked hopefully.

"Mind your own business, and straighten your back."

Closing the matter, he fell silent, and Alexa thought if he had the same doubt that she now had.

If Magnus was actually Gutard's son. Or Kurt's.

°°°

Despite the dark and cold night of riding, they arrived in Holstein in the middle of the night, without fanfare. Alexa felt the stench of the city and death's presence, and the princess had no doubt that it all had to do with her confrontation with the White Queen, on the day that room was opened, after her wedding. 

The prophecy had not only opened a door, but had also released a great evil over the city. She felt the cold in her bones. Restless Shades prowled the city, even though she couldn't see them.

Shrinking from the cold, she would rather be somewhere else now, like in the soft sheets in Würtz. 'But I apparently don't deserve that much luxury,' concluded the maiden.

The castle gates were opened for Prince Gutard and his entourage. When the Sovereign dismounted from his horse, he said, addressing 'his son',

"Follow me. We will settle this matter yet this evening."

Balbo helped Lex to get off his horse. Looking at the sky, he wondered if they would have at least half an hour before dawn. 

Exchanging a look with the warrior, who understood his time constraints, he obeyed Gutard's order and followed him through the palace's courtyards and corridors, until they entered the family's private wing, when Gutard's escort dispersed.

Stopping in front of the door of Princess Cordelia's room, the huge man even cast a stern look at the Second Prince beside him, before opening the door without knocking.

Only a few candles were kept lit far from the Princess Consort's bed, and Lex saw the movement of her maids, who woke up frightened and stood up, asking who was there. The room was scented and heated, very different from the cold Lex was feeling after an hour's ride on a cold, dark road.

"The Prince," replied Gutard dryly, and while the maids came to light the room and wake the princess. Lex remained beside Gutard, silent. 

He saw Cordelia get up and get dressed in a rich peignoir over her nightgown, and come to the Prince, still a little confused. 

And she was even more confused when she saw that her husband had company.

"Oh, I… Good night, Your Majesty. Your Highness Alexander?" she bowed modestly, and Gutard did not stop her. Cordelia hugged herself, showing discomfort. "What happened?"

"Did you kill my son's wife?" asked Gutard somberly. Even Lex shivered under his cloak. It was possible to see that, no matter the fact that Gutard had hidden his thoughts from her, seeing Cordelia stoked the anger he had controlled.

"ME? Uh, Your Majesty, such a weird question ...?!" Cordelia laughed, nervously.

"Is it difficult to answer?" he asked again, menacingly. He didn't move, but it was as if he had taken the entire room with his intimidating presence.

"I certainly didn't kill Princess Alexa!" the consort exclaimed, her voice high and pitchy because of her nervousness.

"So how can you say she is dead? How can you set up this circus behind my back, Cordelia?!" he roared, and even Lex cringed, watching Cordelia literally tremble at her husband.

"I… I was led to believe that, my husband! Forgive me! Prince Alexander has already warned me of my mistake! But… "

"Listen to my words, Cordelia. Don't even bother to deny you have it in for my son's wife. Fueled or not by wild fantasies. Don't even try!"

"But I have no grudge! Why would I ...?" Cordelia tried to deny it.

"Don't forget, Cordelia, how ridiculously exposed you were at their wedding. And how the folly of your family caused the death of Baron Florian. I will not go into the merits of the female quibbles, which don't concern me. Just remember, you are my wife now. If your family urges you to challenge me, it is better to choose soon, either to send them away and preserve them, or take sides and incur my wrath."

"I heard about the rumors and tried to have a decent funeral, because ..." she stammered, trying to explain, but Gutard cut her off, turning his back.

"Dare to give such impacting orders behind my back again, and you will see the strength of my hand. This is certainly not your role. Don't leave your room until Sunday, it's an order. "

It was clearly an effort for the Prince to stop only in punishment. He slammed the door, which, despite being reinforced, shuddered. 

Lex looked at Cordelia with a stricken look, and saw her eyes filled with tears of fear and contained fury. Turning his back as well, he left the Princess's room.

Finding Balbo outside, he urged, striding.

"I need to see Father Agnello before dawn. We have few time."

When Lex arrived at the Florentine priest's quarters, there was no answer when he knocked on the door.

Suspiciously, the door was easily opened, and Balbo used the torch he carried to investigate the dark room.

Lex felt the stench of death, and before he saw it, his foot tripped over something soft on the floor.