Chapter 228 - Reunion

"Ah, I… I had a dream. Horrible." Alexa was a much better liar than that, but that was exactly the intention.

She wished to seem too embarrassed to lie.

The problem with lying was always the same: having an excellent memory and guessing what people already knew about the subject. But with so much going on, she didn't quite remember the name of the convent where she was supposed to be.

In that case, once she discarded the possibilities of passing out and running away, it was time to counterattack. Of course, with a soft voice and as shaky as possible.

"And it seems that my dream came true. So many dead people! This place should be locked and protected. What are you doing here?"

The prior didn't expect to be questioned and blinked, puzzled.

"I was warned that something bad had happened here, Your Highness. But I am concerned about your health. Your Highness does not seem to be well ... You are even barefoot and..."

Alexa looked at her feet, as if she saw them for the first time. Then she looked at Narses. Her brother picked her up immediately.

"I think my sister is confused, Prior. She has seen horrible things and such a scene is not good for her."

"Please, Prior… Pray for these helpless souls. This place was once the scenario of many horrible things," the Princess asked. She didn't even want to look at the depressing scene near the guard's lodge.

"A group is coming," warned Bernard, and everyone turned toward the road. The sea and the seagulls made a loud noise that covered the horses' hoof on the road until they were close enough. Lex immediately recognized 'her' own horse. That is, the Prince Regent's horse. He was riding the steed, accompanied by Captain Gunnar and a large group of soldiers.

Alexander!

He was awake!

Asking to get off her brother's arms, Alexa turned anxiously to wait for him, her heart filled with a sentiment of joy and relief!

It was absurdly strange to look at the figure she had got used to seeing in the mirror, in the flesh, in front of her.

Alexander was wearing the same dirty clothes as the day before, the clothes Lex went to sleep in when she put the pomegranate seed under the Prince's tongue. Still, this person was distinct from the mirror person!

All she could see now was the difference between them, not the similarities!

The Second Prince got off the horse in a fluid movement, and came striding towards Alexa.

The two looked at each other, first with serious looks, but their smiles mirrored immediately. She didn't know that his eyes carried this depth!

Then, suddenly, Alexander knelt in front of her, and took her hands, kissing them and placing them tenderly against his face, saying nothing.

"Ah, Alexander ... You ... My hands are dirty, don't do that!" Alexa was a little embarrassed, even though her eyes were full of tears for finally finding Alexander in the flesh! Only then did she realize seeing him awake was almost a distant dream. But it was happening now.

And he continued to hold her dirty hands, which were just now touching the beam full of soot and dust.

"Don't be silly!" His hands tightened on hers, while his youthful grin only intensified.

"Your Highness ..." Narses was noted, with an 'ahem', bowing respectfully. "Wouldn't it be better to take the Princess to a less unhealthy place? She just arrived and found us here ... But it seemsagain she had her disturbing dreams, which made her flee through the night aimlessly. And my sister just arrived at this place… Where we found this terrifying scene!"

Good idea! Sleep-walking! She could count on his brother to make up an indisputable lie!

Alexander looked at the people around him, nodding briefly to the Prior in recognition of his presence, and fixing his gaze on Jette.

The princess was astonished. What she had said about Alexander to Magnus was true. She had never before imagined that his youthful beauty could display the same harsh reactions she used to see in Magnus. Or was it all they went through and everything they discovered what made Alexander tougher and less innocent?

"Jette, Jette, Jette ... Yesterday I committed a mistake about letting you go."

Alexa saw him imitating her mannerism, this time mockingly. She hadn't no idea about what he was doing right now, since he was so protective of Jette.

The troubadour was pale, and her body swayed a little, showing her desire to turn and run.

But Alexander turned to the Prior again,

"Those lives, which the Prior sees wasted here... These are the wasted lives from this kingdom's traitors. First, they had a very simple duty. Keep this forbidden place from the presence of strangers. But they failed. If their reason was banal, so much the worse. If they let an intruder in just for fun, they were useless and dangerous for Holstein's defense. If for some other reason, they incurred a conspiracy. And their wage was death, deserved as well. And the same intruder," The Prince looked at Jette blankly, "tried to cause an uprising, with insane and unreasonable accusations. Accusing me and my wife of a pact with the Devil, and other bullshit nonsense. My family served God by hunting demon servants for years! And a person I housed and trusted, bit my hand like a snake. In fact, she led an assassination attempt."

He sighed, looking around with an expression of disgust. The surrounding view was chilling… "Today I returned and found her here, next to the prior. And I wonder: what does Jette want? Does she really have anything against me? Does she want to take down the von Wuttenfals? At whose service? Does she work for the Poles, or any other kingdom? Or has she lost her mind? I must find this out, and she will tell me. And that is why Jette won't be immediately killed after committing the crimes she has committed. High treason, lead a military rebellion, and try to murder a member of the royal family. Yesterday I was too stunned to realize what you did, Jette. But this morning I see. You killed everyone with your maleditious tongue, and you got our hands dirty."

"Your Highness!" Jette probably imagined that she would not escape a second time after crossing Alexander's path again. Alexa wondered why the troubadour just didn't run away from Holstein, but maybe the Second Prince was right.

"Crazy! I ask for mercy, Your Highness! This crazy woman was just too scared! And thinking about protecting His Highness, to whom she holds so much esteem!"

Alexander shrugged when Jette threw herself at his feet,

"Guards, arrest Jette and take her for questioning."

"NOOOOO! I just wanted to protect my friend! You, Your Highness! I thought you were in danger!"

Alexa looked from the corner of her eye to the Prior, who was pale as a wax candle. Certainly afraid of never leaving the lighthouse alive.

But she knew that even though he was a potential enemy, if something happened to him, things might get even worse.

"Did the Prior come here to check on Jette's words?" Alexander questioned.

"Your Highness, I certainly didn't know that she led an assassination attempt against a member of the royal family..."

Alexander stared at him, "In all seriousness, Prior, I thank you for the time-consuming, unpleasant and thorough work you are doing with the sorcery cult infiltrated in the Princess Consort court. Many people must be wanting to feel special in some way, when their relevance and fame have been overshadowed by the horrible events in our kingdom. Perhaps this is the case with the troubadour. But she will pay for what she did, whether intentionally or because of her frivolity. Her destination is the gallows."

Jette, held by two guards, barely managed to control her tongue when she heard this, but perhaps she thought better of it and remained silent. Lex knew that this woman was dangerous, as well as the Prior. Only now did she understand how Magnus and Alexander felt when she let Lady Gwen leave without punishment.

"Alexander, can we go?" she asked softly.

"The prior understands that I am patiently explaining things that are not necessarily church business, just because I am getting tired of having to defend Alexa from ridiculous and malicious accusations? All Alexa has done since she arrived here was to help, generously and putting her own physical integrity at risk. She is a lady of many sufferings, and my family holds her in the highest esteem. Be sure that whoever attacks this lady will face von Wuttenfal's wrath. And my anger, mainly."

Well ... He wasn't very threatening, in fact, even though Alexander was so serious and eloquent. Alexa lowered her eyes to the floor, to keep a straight face, because she knew he was saying exactly what he thought.

"I am sorry to find myself involved in yet another unpleasant situation and confusing accusations about witchcraft, Your Highness," said Prior Reuben after a while. "And although I always wanted to meet your wife," he emphasized the last words, probably stressing that he was aware of the divorce application and disregarded it, "it's unfortunate it occured in such a depressing place and situation. But it's part of my role as a servant of the Holy Church, please understand. "

"Come and see us tonight, if it's not a nuisance." Alexander offered, and that was a surprise even for Alexa. "Can Narses accompany his sister, or is he necessary in any way?"

"No… I think he can go on with his sister, who he misses so much! He has already done many things to be reunited with her," the Prior could not hide his discomfort.

Turning to his men, Alexander ordered,

"Soldiers, prepare everything for a Christian burial for these men. Despite being traitors, their relatives will have the comfort of bidding them farewell."

Alexander still held Alexa's hand all this time, until he ordered a small detachment to accompany them back to the castle.

He helped her onto his horse and climbed after her.

Alexa felt a strange shiver, when he spoke, behind her.

"I missed already being with you."