Chapter 195 - Greetings from the Black Queen

The atmosphere became so cold in a few seconds that a fine, whitish mist formed inside the Prince's room.

Alexa, inside the Prince's body, looked this way and that, flabbergasted, still finding it hard to believe Alexander had betrayed her and something scary was about to happen.

"Alexa ..." the familiar voice whispered very close to the Prince's ears, and Lex turned in the voice's direction. On the other side of the bed, standing, wrapped in her black undulating robes, the Black Queen watched her with interest.

"Letitia!"

Shade remained silent, and all Alexa could see is that the Black Queen seemed even more powerful, if that was possible. Her appearance was more solid and her voice was not a mere whisper. She might not have an actual body, but she was possibly capable of many things that ordinary Shades would never achieve.

How had she achieved this power in so little time?

Perhaps with the help of her cultists, worshipping her like a goddess.

But, where did Alexander get into all this?! She couldn't understand, she really couldn't!

~ Where's Magnus? ~

"Uh, well… You know. He's traveling," Alexa replied, discreetly positioning herself so she could at least try to defend herself if the Black Queen tried to attack her. Unfortunately the Prince was wearing gloves. If Letitia wanted to attack her, Alexa knew she would be in a lot of trouble. Maybe, just maybe, all she wanted was information ...

~ Even your limited understanding must be able to realize that what you are doing is impossible. I am not your enemy, even if I am an enemy of the von Wuttenfals. ~

"Your son is a von Wuttenfal, and he is very proud of it," Lex said, scratching his eyebrow. He could already see the steam coming out of his mouth when he spoke, and his chin trembling.

~ The knowledge to solve what you want is well beyond the reach of a common sorceress, Alexa. But you can do it. If you want to enter my domain, you will need to open the door ... ~

"What are you talking about?" Alexa saw no reason to pretend disinterest. If a Shade like the Black Queen was looking for her a second time, it should be important.

~ You can find out if you want. But this is my warning. You have until the Solstice to do it or... Our deal is over. I'll do whatever is necessary, then ... ~

"Deal?" Alexa brought her knees to her chest and hugged herself, cold.

~ Blind fool… You carry the light… But you are blind yourself… hahaha! ~ Letitia disappeared, but her laughter reverberated.

All the cold dissipated instantly.

Within seconds the day's natural light had returned to the room. It was possible to hear the noises of the castle outside, and even the birds chirping, unaware of what just happened.

Lex hit her fists hard against the mattress, just to regret it. The Prince's hands still had wounds that hurt when forced.

"Aghhh!!!! Alexander! What was this?! Why are you involved in this?! Are you there? Or ran away? If I catch you! If I catch you, you will go straight to the throne room of the Lord of Hell!"

'I probably deserve it…' he lamented. I'm not worth anything. I cannot help... Nothing I do can help us ... Nothing I do can save Magnus ... 'The diaphanous figure of the Prince emerged at her side, exactly as she knew him. Beautiful and ethereal. And he was crying.

'You… what are you talking about?! Cut off the enigmatic words right now!'

'You're going to hate me a lot ...'

'Don't make guesses on me. Alexander…! You…! What did you deal with the Black Queen?! Stop ... Stop crying ... '

Oh!

He looked so heartbroken that Lex put his gloved hand to his mouth, nervous to see him in distinct pain. She, who had just heard words of comfort from him, while she was afraid, in front of those ministers, was now split into wanting to punish him for doing something behind his back, and to comfort him.

"You… You shouldn't cry when you're the traitor here! And ... Oh my God! Zand, don't cry! Don't Cry!"

Finally, her heart could not bear to see him suffer, and she sat down beside him.

"I can see you now ... Should this happen?"

'I think it's happening because you and your vitality are healing this body. You were the only one who could, after all. But that will eventually leave me out, remember? '

Lex blinked, concerned.

'Tell me everything from the beginning.'

Alexander looked up at her, looking intimidated, 'From the beginning?'

She shrugged, 'Alexander, I need to know why you set up this meeting with Letitia's Shade...'

'There is something you don't know ... About Magnus. And he doesn't know that either.'

Alexa's heart froze as much as the room minutes ago.

"What is it?" she spoke out loud. But there was a knock at the door,

'Your Highness, please, we don't want to interrupt your rest, but we have to proceed with the preparations,' said Balbo, on the other side of the door.

At that moment, Alexa hated her friend for interrupting. Alexander said,

'Anyway, it's a long conversation, and it has to do with Magnus's heart. The heart of stone in his chest. And about the prophecy Sigrid said to my father, and you heard at the top of the lighthouse ... I will tell you, I promise. '

Alexa couldn't help it. She felt a bitterness in her chest, a feeling that she would not like to hear the things Alexander had to say, let alone want to wait to hear.

With a lump in his throat of nervous frustration and foreboding, Lex got up, and ordered everyone in.

But she swore to herself that she would not let nightfall come without knowing Alexander's motives and the terrible secret of Magnus' heart of stone!

The wave of people practically hit lex, and there was no time for anything else. Except to hear Father Agnello explain the concepts of the speech, in a way the Prince could understand why he had to say this, and not that. 

Lex could at least be grateful that the Prince wasn't a mere parrot, and understood the nuances of what he would say in his first appearance as Prince Regent, in place of the real Second Prince.

In the meantime, an army of servants and professionals made sure the young Prince's first public appearance as regent was impressive.

After being bathed, shaved, and combed, they dressed Alexander in gold and white. According to Agnello and the tailor, 'as a symbol that the sun will shine again and push away the dark period in which we are living'.

They brought him a tray with the Prince's meal, and the meager quantity and variety shocked Lex

. If only they knew that the more nervous she was, the more hungry she felt!

"Do we have empty pantries, now?" asked the Prince, gesturing to the tray.

The page who brought the tray was confused and nervous, and looked at Fani for help. But Father Agnello replied instead, in a soft voice,

"Is your Highness' appetite exacerbated today? This should be a good sign, as this is usually your normal day meal. Please provide the Prince Regent with more food."

'This might be my last meal!' she thought, feeling sorry for herself. With all that pressure on me! Besides, it was impossible for a human being to consume so little food. That shouldn't be enough for even a child!

"I am recovering, I am feeling more hungry than usual, it's a fact."

Still, what they brought was just enough to appease her stomach, but not to quench it.

The priest put his hand on the Prince's shoulder as if reading Lex' thoughts of asking for more food. It would certainly be very strange for everyone who was used to seeing Alexander refuse food.

But everything went by so fast, and Lex wasn't sure if she had understood and learn everything so fast. But Blue Eyes ensured the Prince he would be at his side all the time. In retrospect, how could Lex foresee that the relationship between them would have taken so many turns?!

She couldn't see Alexander now, but she knew he was close to her.

As Alexander walked up to the anteroom close to the throne room, where the court was anxiously waiting, he met Cordelia and his new ladies.

It was inevitable.

Her heart seemed to burn painfully as she realized the position the Princess Consort was in at that moment. A source of wealth. A political token, only, who couldn't be discarded until they tested her usefulness. Scorned by her husband, isolated, without the support of the court, without the love of the people. Whose only connection with Holstein was an unfulfilled marriage to a Sovereign who could die at any moment. Used by her mother and father in a diabolical plot for revenge and power.

Still, Cordelia had been conniving with so many cruel things! What a weak and cowardly woman! Lex saw it as a reflection of the world they lived in.

"Cordelia. Are you ready?"

"I was told that your father will survive, but I haven't been allowed to see him yet! I also cannot see my father, or my friends, who I know are innocent! I beg, Your Highness, have mercy!" Cordelia threw herself in front of Alexander, on her knees, in front of the entourages that accompanied each of them.

Lex felt his face red with embarrassment. The whole situation was awkward to begin with.

The Prince held out his gloved hand to her, but it was Duke Kurt who helped Princess Consort to get up. Cordelia looked at Alexander, and all Lex saw in her eyes filled with the fear of dying.

"Calm down, Princess. We have something to do for Holstein. Help me."

Lex could only assume there was a good reason why their fate was so intertwined.

The doors to the throne hall were opened, and the buzz of the court invaded the anteroom.

"It's time, Your Highness," asked Father Agnello, showing the door.

Lex took a deep breath. And after the heralds entered, when silence took over the hall, the Prince Regent of Holstein entered and went to the royal dais, sitting on the throne.