Alexa stuck her heart to Magnus' heart when he lifted her up and brought her against his chest. She gripped the leather of his jacket with urge and longing, barely believing that he was actually in front of her.
Magnus was in bad shape. Dirty, stinky, unshaven. His eyes looked heavy and feverish from lack of sleep. Still, it was like coming home. There was her North Star, on his face, just as it had to be.
"How… how did this happen? How did you get here?" she remembered to breathe, and asked as soon as he put her down.
"Romeo..." said Iacintho, approaching and rubbing the top of his younger sister's head. In his other hand, he held the bird. "I made him look for you!"
"AND I TOLD YOU TO BE CAREFUL! But do you understand what that means?! Not really." Scolding Alexa, Narses tugged slightly on his sister's ear. Alexa squawked exaggeratedly. She turned huge eyes on her husband, asking for help.
"You deserve it," said Magnus, still holding her by the shoulders to stare her in the face. "And what is this about another husband?"
"This bastard caused the Dallassenos' ruin, just because he was a stubborn and crazy bastard. He wasn't really my husband. But... Where's Charlotte? That…" turning to Narses, she opened her eyes wide. "And what about Father Agnello? What happened to him?"
"He's with the doctor. My instinct did not fail me. When I got back to the hideout, Iacintho was arriving...! The priest will be fine, he just needs intensive treatment. As for Lady Duvignes, we haven't seen her." And turning to Magnus, Narses warned,
"We have a lot to tell Your Highness, but as I said, be alert. A coup may be in progress. Gather those who are loyal to you."
Magnus nodded, and raising Alexa's hand to his lips briefly, he said.
"Can you stay for a moment without climbing walls or hanging from rooftops? We have a lot of things to do here."
Alexa felt her cheeks blush as two roses, because Magnus was doing this in front of her brothers.
She blinked at him several times, trying to tell him to stop being overly affectionate with her eyes. But all she managed to do was get him to pull her close again and hold her tight in his arms.
"I'm sorry, Magnus. Your father could not wait for your return," she mumbled inside his embrace.
The Prince sighed.
"So what I can do for him is my best. Come with me," he took her hand. But they didn't have time to get to the exit door. They heard footsteps and moved away from the door, taking up defensive positions. Alexa was placed behind him. And behind Narses. And finally, Iacintho pushed her with his foot behind him.
Alexa was peeking from behind her brother's back.
Duke Kurt and some of the kingdom's warriors reached the roof, weapons drawn.
Magnus smiled sardonically,
"Hm, I was feeling guilty about having my sword drawn in sacred ground; but if I'm not the only one, fine."
The Duke stopped when facing Magnus, and lowered his sword.
"It wasn't possible to see who was running around the church causing a stir and commotion," he explained.
"Have Holstein's noble families forgotten my face yet?" Magnus questioned haughtily. "I can't say whether it is good to see you, my uncle. The news that reached me worries me. In addition, my father is dead. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to decently pay my respects to him..."
"Not so fast. What happened here?"
"Sheesh… It's tiring, but it starts with betrayal and ends with a well-deserved final. I would have preferred it not to have happened here, but it was a matter of life and death. And someone died." Magnus sighed. "My uncle, I swear I am trying to maintain civility in the face of the events. So tonight, allow me to bathe and make myself presentable to say my last goodbye to my father..."
"HE WAS NOT YOUR FATHER!" abruptly the phrase sprang from the Duke's lips, as if he couldn't take it anymore.
Alexa followed the reactions on Magnus' face, fearful.
"Ah," the First Prince exclaimed, at first seeming to understand what was being said, as if something inside him had lit up. Then he clicked his tongue, snorted, and looked away. Everyone was silent, and Alexa could have sworn that many wished not to be there at that moment.
"With this statement, do you intend to check my birthright? Maybe that's how you intend to legitimize a coup, uncle?"
"I am not talking about Holstein. It is true."
"And are you supposed to be my father? Is that what you're doing?"
"Magnus, I need to explain."
"NO, let ME explain. If I had any doubts about my fatherhood, I would remember how my father was at my side. How he did things... unimaginable, perhaps even, unforgivable in the eyes of God, for me. How he endured what I was, and made me become a man, following his example, for so many years. While he had a bitter reign over Holstein. This man was my father. Where was my uncle, who today vomits rude words on the night of my father's funeral?! Was this opportunistic man at my side during difficult times? Of course not, as he was not concerned with what kind of person, or monster, I would become. Even if you were my father, I'd not recognize you as such. The true link between father and son was proven several times. How can you say you are my father, if it is proved by all acts, besides blood, that my father was called Gutard?"
Alexa wanted to clap, but forced herself to wait in silence.
"If you want to challenge my right as Prince of Holstein, then this place belongs to Alexander. And if you still insist, my uncle..."
One of the warriors next to Kurt said,
"The Prince is right on several points, and the key thing is that we should all lower our weapons because we are on sacred ground. In addition, His Highness has the right to bid farewell to the late Sovereign Prince, calmly and soberly. We should bring any disputes over rights to the emperor, in case of controversy, don't you think?"
The words did not soften the spirits but got them all off the roof of the cathedral, in agreement as to the futility of continuing the discussion there.
Alexa and her brothers were still not feeling safe, however. The damage was done. The court probably believed that she was not the saint they believed, but a witch.
How could it work?