Chapter 249 - Family Council

It was late when Bertha came to warn her frantically that the meeting in the war room was finally over. 

The princess was waiting in her castle room, determined to find out what the von Wuttenfal brothers planned for the future. 

In the corridor towards the war room, Alexa crossed with several ministers and soldiers leaving, but they pretended not to see her, avoiding her completely, looking the other way and deviating from her path.

Were they afraid, or were they angry? Or both?

She opened the door without knocking, knowing that she should not announce herself. Alexa also thought it was useless since she suspected that Alexander might know she was coming.

The Princess didn't expect to find the other von Wuttenfal there, except for Cordelia.

Everyone was standing and away from the strategy table, and looked at her when she entered. Alexa smiled, although she was a little irritated 'Am I not attending important meetings? Why?!'

"Hi. You are all there. I was wondering where everyone was, since I haven't seen you lately..."

Countess Godiva motioned for Alexa to stay by her side, and the princess obeyed. Duke Kurt stared at Alexa with obvious rancor, and pointed her out,

"Can't you see it, Godiva?! Your nephew cannot see he was deceived to leave the kingdom to chase chimeras, while the witch had all under control! I was fooled thinking I was dealing with Alexander, but it was this Greek witch instead!" 

Well, Duke Kurt showed courage, by questioning them so openly, she had to admit. He was right in one thing, and wrong in another.

Well, Duke Kurt showed courage, by questioning them so openly, that she had to admit. He was right in one thing, and wrong in another.

"Magnus, it's not possible that you are not seeing this. Or are the rumors correct? Did she seduce you? She has been possessing your brother's body, and she controls him completely now! As far as I know, he can be as dead as Florian, just a better corpse!" the man yelled, out of himself.

"Alexa just agreed to the spell to save Alexander, uncle! But it's all over now! Leave them alone! She's not a witch!" Konrad defended her.

The Countess put her hand on her heart, shocked. She didn't know any of that until now.

"Kontze is right, and that is a fact that I witnessed it myself. Is it hard to accept that your return as Holstein's savior tripped over your fanatical blindness, uncle?" Magnus snarled. Alexa could have sworn he was at the limit of his patience, just by the way his thumb scratched the tip of his nose briefly.

"It doesn't make any sense. This woman even managed to make my brother do the stupidest and strangest of promises! Godiva! How can a woman leave one brother and marry the other?! I am neither crazy nor blind! Everything we know about Orcaius... She is one more of his servants!"

Only then did Alexa understand why Kurt was speaking so openly. This was a family trial. He had no option but to defend himself.

"My father trusted that she could save my brother… And even though he was wrong, she diligently carried out her task to the end! And you, out of your arrogance, thought you knew a lot and brought the Inquisition here!" Magnus accused.

"Don't be unfair, those witches..."

"Hahaha ... Kurt. 'Your Inquisition' only showed your inability. The only thing they are good at is dealing with frightened peasants, to show that the Holy Office has some use. The only thing they care about is gold for their Orders, financed by fear!" disdained Alexander. "Alexa overturned Zilda Bartolini's mystery. But your performance on the bridge was beautiful, I admit!"

"Is it true that you have powers, Alexa?" asked the Countess, regaining her presence of mind in the middle of the argument.

"Er, aunt ... I can hear and see ghosts ... But this isn't uncommon in this castle..." Alexa dragged her feet to tell her secret. But the Princess felt she shouldn't hide it at that moment.

"Oh, poor thing!" the older woman crossed herself. Then turning to the younger ones, he said,

"Well… I think this was a mistake caused by your uncle's ignorance. Who, wanting to solve a problem that always haunted Holstein, tried to interfere without knowing that other measures were being taken by Gutard."

Magnus took a deep breath, listening to his old aunt and struggling not to retort at the Countess's seniority. He respected and esteemed her.

Alexander kept a look that ranged between attentive and amused.

"Be understanding, Princes of Holstein. The troubled mind of a man who has carried his sins for so long ..." The countess continued.

"Aunt Godiva. He caused many deaths. He brought the Inquisition and tarnished Alexa's honor irremediably. He also planned a coup!"

Kurt remained silent, looking sideways at Alexa. She felt his penetrating gaze burn her skin. He didn't even try to deny all the accusations.

"He kept spies inside his brother's castle and possibly more spies at sensitive spots inside the city! I knew Charlotte was a spy, but I was a fool enough to think she worked for someone else... But it wasn't after the government secrets she was after… It never came to my mind that a von Wuttenfal could do this with his own family ... But, what to expect from a man like him?!" Magnus declared, crossing his arms in contempt. 

That alone made Kurt sway as if he had been whipped. Alexa imagined that, having fed the illusion of being Magnus' father, hearing those words hurt him.

"Listen to that old aunt! Kurt will agree to leave his title, and to join a reclusive monastic order."

Kurt looked quickly at his sister in revolt.

Alexander smirked, for the first time,

"I like the way you think, aunt. It's wise. If there is no desire for political action, there's nothing like summing up the rest of one's life in spiritual contemplation. Out of sight, out of mind! You may lessen the burden you carry until the end of your days..."

The Duke trembled in his place, Alexa imagined how his pride was hurt by being banned for the second time, even trying to do his best.

Unexpectedly, the Duke moved, as quickly and boldly as she had seen him at Ashgraufelsen. The metallic sheen of his dagger gleamed in the candlelight. Towards her!

"DIEEE!"

Alexa dodged, at the same time that another blade, bigger and much faster, intervened, with a SWEEESH! cutting through the air, and the unrelenting sound of metal breaking bones.

"GRMMFH!"

Kurt didn't scream, just bit his lips to stifle his painful grunt. Not even Countess Godiva screamed, covering her mouth with both hands.

Alexa saw Duke Kurt's forearm hang from his clothes, attached to his body by a tiny patch of skin and fabric. Kurt grabbed the bloody severed limb with his other hand, the rest of his body immediately white as wax, his mouth twisted in horror and shock.

Her stomach turned, and Alexa also covered her mouth in horror.

Magnus was beside his uncle, furious and with his sword drawn and covered in blood in his right hand.

Then Alexander raised his hand toward Kurt von Wuttenfal, his face finally drawn in a frown of hatred.

The man leaned towards the ground, while before the eyes of the von Wuttenfals present there, he wrinkled and shrunk. His life being sucked from him!