Chapter 239 - The Savior

The news made Alexa blink, and then laugh. In fact, she tried to contain herself before Blue Eyes' worried look, but the air escaped her mouth mockingly,

"PFFFFFFF! Haha ha! Is this how Cordelia's father is going to die?!" There was a little nervousness in her reaction, but it was also hilarious. Magnus captured by an allied vessel of the maritime merchant league, to be delivered to Cordelia's father.

"Alexa, you don't understand the gravity of the situation..." the priest still tried to compromise, but the Princess interrupted him, with a big, childish grin,

"It's like putting the wolf inside the sheep pen!"

"I thought your political knowledge was more refined, Alexa," she heard the bitter voice behind her, and the Princess turned, surprised.

Cordelia was coming with two chaperones down the hall. Alexa felt her feet stick to the floor, and saw out of the corner of her eye the priest changing his weight for the cane that helped him walk.

"Princess Consort is right, Your Highness," in public, Blue Eyes returned to formality. "The political situation is tense, and perhaps your view of what a single man can do in the face of large numbers is wrong. Because of the recent tensions between Holstein and one of Holstein's greatest allies _ and the driving force of the kingdom's economy _ the Prince can destroy the kingdom if he follows the path that Your Highness envisions…"

"And what is he supposed to do, if it's true?" Alexa stubbornly clung to the idea that Magnus wouldn't accept being taken prisoner for anything in this world. However, she knew that the First Prince was well aware of the political implications and of his position as a presumed heir.

There was still a smile on her face when her eyes filled with tears. Why did it have to be this way?

She put her hands back, looking at Cordelia who was frowning in her direction, as if she saw something worrying and slightly unpleasant.

"If the news got here this way, it is because Hansa still believes in negotiations," added the priest softly, placing a hand on Alexa's shoulder. "So a lot of diplomacies is required right now. After all, we are at war on two fronts. It is a time when all caution is needed."

Now Alexa understood what Blue Eyes meant. The effects of the disastrous engagement between Magnus and Cordelia, and the marriage that didn't happen... and the treatment the Dutch court was receiving, in the eyes of foreigners, demonstrated that Holstein was unreliable. The 'Jewel of Low Saxony', the great rich and powerful city, was ruled by sadistic and inconsequential madmen. 

Prince Magnus killed a nobleman, and in a vile whim, didn't allow his corpse to be taken to his homeland to be buried there. And it allegedly caused the conflicts on the eastern border, 

Accusations of witchcraft, murders, and Prince Gutard's greedy and cruel record were combined with the inconsequence of his eldest son, and the illness of his youngest son. The di Borghesi and the Hansa might have very different interests in Holstein. But at the moment, everything depended on Magnus's delicate situation as a prisoner. And that was due to Cordelia's situation at the palace. She was a hostage in the eyes of the Hanseatic League.

Not to mention that Alexa knew nothing about what would have happened to Iacintho, Captain Dubois, or even Inventor Mirna.

"Excuse me. I ... I just got back from a tiring trip to Ashgraufelsen, I'm not thinking well..." she murmured her pathetic excuse, glancing at the priest and the other princess, but Cordelia's gaze hasn't changed. 

Gutard's wife spoke to the Florentine Father,

"Father Agnelo, congratulations on your nomination as the new Bishop of Holstein. I hope the nomination is well accepted by the Church. Please help us with this mediation process."

Alexa didn't know that this had happened and didn't hide her surprise, while Blue Eyes just nodded.

Princess Consort just nodded, and continued on her way.

"What happened here?"

"On the days he was absent, a letter from Prince Alexander was sent to the Archdiocese, with his formal commendation, after the tragic death of Bishop Hildebrand. The process is a little slow, but we always receive the commendation of a regional authority with respect..." sighed Father Agnelo, explaining succinctly. "Did you hear that the Bishop was found dead?" he asked suddenly, looking at her with piercing eyes. Alexa lied,

"I heard rumors. Is the Church investigating, I suppose?"

The priest's gaze became hard, but he said,

"It is, and it's not pleasant at all. I will do my best to help, but I feel that at some point, we made a serious mistake. Alexa... Stay alert and ready to run. I'm serious." He lowered his voice at the last sentence. But they were in a public place and a group of nobles came in that direction. They ended the conversation, and the priest blessed her before going the other way.

The princess returned to her room, with a heavy heart. The feeling Alexa had was that she could never breathe with all the capacity of her lungs. Of having to keep her breath suspended because the danger was always imminent. 

And if Father Agnelo had suggested such a thing ... Not even he trusted the future.

And they were right ... Magnus was perhaps more in danger among men than facing monsters. Alexa knew that human beings could be more corrupt and scary than forces from beyond.

In addition, Cordelia's father had immense political power ... and perhaps even had contact with necromancy.

But she couldn't just be with her thoughts. Noble ladies looked for her, and by the sake of keeping gathering information, Alexa received them.

The news had alarmed everyone. And the idea that, perhaps Princess Cordelia should prove to Hansa she wasn't a hostage, was unanimous among them.

Alexa decided.

Early in the evening, the Princess went to Cordelia's quarters and asked to be received.

ººº

Cordelia received her with a small book in her hands, and her look showed curiosity,

"Alexa, I can't say how surprised I am for your visit. I thought we shouldn't see each other again, unless strictly necessary..." she showed she hadn't forgotten the humiliation Alexander imposed on her. Alexa however, had completely forgotten it.

"Ah, I think he still has a problem with what happened in Ashgraufelsen..."

"Apparently, to the Prince Regent, I am a useless and despicable thing that his relatives insist on keeping close by. But I don't blame him, since I am treated like that most of the time by everyone."

"No! It's not like this! It's just ... Your family caused a terrible mess. But my father-in-law better assessed who you are! As you said one day, he values ​​you!"

Cordelia looked Alexa in the eye, and without saying anything, it was clear she didn't think exactly like that.

"You have a lot of benefits and you can go wherever you want, without a worry in this world. Besides… You weren't a bit least surprised about the capture of your brother-in-law," Cordelia raised an eyebrow. "As if you knew exactly where he was supposed to be. Don't you think you're the most valued here? My husband even had the audacity to say that, even if you are married to one, you could choose the other if you wanted to!"

Alexa felt her head throb, suddenly. Cordelia perhaps would be hard to reason with, and she knew it, but the only thing she could count on was that Cordelia had common sense.

"Did the Prince Sovereign say such a thing?!" her best attempt was to pretend to be surprised and horrified.

"Are you surprised? Didn't you know anything about that?!" Cordelia tilted her head to the side, puzzled.

Alexa slowly shook her head. 

"You know, Alexa… I don't believe you. No longer." Cordelia walked away, going to a bookcase, and carefully storing her book. And then he turned to her visitor, "I should be afraid of you. You saved me from something I didn't want, and I was grateful. But after that, all you did was ruin my dreams, my life, my future. My mother was a witch ... But what are you? How different are you from her?"

The Princess swallowed. The conversation was definitely not going as she wanted!

"It was an artifact, a sacred relic! I already explained everything to the Church!"

Cordelia wrung her hands in exasperation and looked at Alexa with bulging eyes,

"Are you trying to drive me crazy?"

"No Cordelia! Calm down! We already explained everything to Prior Reuben… It was an artifact, the V.i.r.g.i.n's Lamp, and…"

Princess Consort's face contorted in an ugly frown, and she laughed bitterly,

"So that's it. I'll be called crazy for everything I told. Perhaps even I will be accused of slandering you for everything I have witnessed."

"..." Alexa fell silent, it was better to wait for Cordelia to calm down.

"You shouldn't have come, Alexa, if you had nothing important to say. I already understood that I must stay out of your way for several reasons. All I want is to survive. Is it so hard to understand it? For this reason," Cordelia gestured, showing the door to her rooms, "If you have nothing important to do here, it is better to keep us from wear and tear."

"NO, wait!" Alexa exclaimed, going in the opposite direction, that is, toward Cordelia, who stiffened with her approach. "I have something important to say. Something important to ask, actually."

"...!" Cordelia looked at her with astonishment when Alexa knelt in front of her.

"Cordelia. Please intercede! Save Magnus, and the prisoners! Only you can resolve this quickly!" she was willing to beg, and that was why she had come here.

Cordelia's face contorted between disbelief and anger. Her eyes became red and watery and her mouth twisted in contempt,

"So you finally showed your face, Alexa? Have you finally decided to take on who you chose?"