Chapter 15: The night that changed everything
The group returned to the castle it must have already been six in the afternoon and the sun had already begun to set. Gilbert hoped in every possible way to be able in that short span of time that connected the return of those, with the night hours, to find his dear friend and make sure that everything was fine. Although that was not primarily his purpose. The first thing he would do was retire to his room, take a bath and change his clothes for the dinner. After that he would go to see the young baron of the North in the west part of the castle: first of all to make sure he was okay and second to apologise for his impertinence that morning.
As soon as the group returned to the familiar gravel path that led to the secondary entrance of the castle, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Some of them for fear, some for fatigue and some for boredom, they all had not particularly appreciated the hunt.
Mostly that person was Gilbert, who, for more than hours was now forced to feel on his shoe the damp fur of the deer, that the princess had managed to kill. At a certain point in the evening, the young woman actually managed to glimpse the silhouette of a young deer with a brown coat in the wilderness of the forest and approaching it through a hiding place, she managed to shoot him directly in the head.
In that situation Isabelle seemed an incredible hunter, but in the eyes of the general she seemed a completely different person. She was not the young girl with her sweet manners. It had seemed to him that the young woman looked in every way satisfied and pleased with her gesture, mostly when the poor animal's blood had splashed partially on her dress and on her face. All of a sudden Gilbert had finished feeling that strong attraction for the princess and as if awakened from a bad dream he felt incredibly ill. The smell of dried blood on the animal's body made him begin to feel some sense of vomiting.
Eventually, once the horses were stopped inside the huge royal garden and just a few steps from the huge marble staircase, something incredibly unexpected began to happen. Henry, who had long since begun to behave strangely began to curve in himself as much as possible and grab his flat abdomen firmly and began to vomit on the white gravel floor. Although not everyone was still on horseback, it was clear to everyone that something was happening and in a short time the attention was turned to the prince. Gilbert, who was the closest person to the man, noticed relatively large patches of blood in his vomit, almost as if some organ inside the man was bleeding.
-Brother dear, are you okay? - came out of Isabelle's soft lips, almost with a worried tone, so much so as to almost surprise the general in himself. On the one hand he was completely panicked and confused by what was happening, on the other hand he would never have believed that after so many words of hatred the young woman could feel any, even the slightest, feeling for her older brother.
The prince's head began to move with impressive slowness, literally letting the man fall unconscious to the ground. The prince's body lay on the white pebbles covering the ground. The man's golden blond hair fell from his forehead to scatter disheveled on the white ground. Gilbert took a look at him and noticed the redness of his hands and more than anything else noticed the bright colour of the fresh blood that came out of the prince's head and dripped in drops on the ground.
The wound was not particularly deep, but in every way it let see the freshness and the intensity of the prince's blood. Isabelle had no time to be assisted in her descent from the horse, so she decided, with a quick movement of her legs to descend nimbly from the white horse and rush to the body of her brother who was lying on the ground. It was at the sight of the prince's face that inside the girl a remote feeling came out of the depths of her heart and so she began to carefully inspect his head, covering his wounds with her tiny hands.
The prince could still move, but strangely he could not get to his feet and sometimes his breathing had become more hasty. The princess's gaze passed meticulously through her hunting companions. Gilbert looked at her young face, her cheeks were red and her eyes were suddenly filled with tears.
-What are you all waiting for?! - she asked the others - don't you see that my brother is losing blood ?! Call some guards, I beg you-. There was no need for anyone to call guards, in fact, those whose job was to guard the secondary entrance to the castle ran to Henry as soon as possible, making sure that nothing in the man's body was broken or that he had received further wounds.
Gilbert in all this was struck by the timely and unexpected reaction of the girl. It was as if it were not really her, or even, explained more exactly, it was as if Isabelle in a moment of panic had given way to another self to come out. The general did not know exactly if the gestures of the young princess were induced by herself, trying in every way to create in her selfishness a greater compassion towards her or if in her way she was seriously worried about her older half-brother.
-He has fainted, but his heart continues to beat- one of the guards tried to reassure the princess by extending his hand to raise her body from the ground -I will personally make sure to take the prince inside the infirmary-. The girl lowered her gaze and took her small hands covered by long white gloves and her brother's blood one inside the other and answered almost like a whisper -Thank you from my heart-.
Less than ten minutes had passed since the attendants had already taken care to lead the horses to their stables and the hounds were led through the keeper inside the kennel. To the point that, once the prince's body was carefully transported inside the infirmary, neither the horses nor the hunting dogs were to be seen. The only thing that remained on the white pebbles was, in fact, the lifeless body of the deer, which in profile looked at the general with a temper of sadness and at the same time of contempt. The more the man looked at the animal's body, the more times gagging began to run down its throat.
When he looked up no one was around him anymore, the Dustin twins, as they used to do in situations of tension, had decided to disappear as soon as possible so the only figure that remained nearby was in fact the silhouette of the girl.
She did not seem to move, she was almost as if immobilised in the attempt to climb the huge marble staircase and reach the secondary entrance of her huge castle. - My princess - the man called from behind her trying to catch her attention -what you did, before, saving your brother, I find it a completely noble and generous action ... -. The lady's face began to take a strange look, which he could not see since he was behind her. Anyway he realised that Isabelle had started laughing almost hiding a sense of wickedness in it.
-Do you really think I care about my brother?! - the Isabelle asked with a sarcastic voice -I can't stand him! And every action I do, I certainly don't do it for him ... -. The princess took a break from her harsh words, but then resumed with the same malice of the time before -I know very well what happened to my brother, food poisoning, induced by myself personally ...-.
Gilbert was totally struck by the young princess's cruel sincerity and harshness.
-Why did you do such a thing, my lady? - Gilbert asked trying to make sense of these words.
-I thought it might be fun, putting a few drops of Tofana water in the prince's food ...-. The girl continued to communicate her shady plan with recklessness, but equally determined security. Since all the power of the crown had passed to her, she was totally sure that both the state and, in every way, the aristocracy were on her side. Henry no longer mattered much, in a normal situation, he, being the eldest son of the late king, would have inherited the throne. Anyways on the side that their father had disinherited his own son, taking away all legislative power, it was at that point totally indifferent what happened to the prince.
-Than why did you reacted in such a way? You seemed...worried ... my princess ... -. Gilbert tried politely and under cover of kind words to find out more. Isabelle clenched her fingers in her fists, which began to tremble.
-I didn't do it by myself, Gilbert ... - admitted the princess whose head had sometimes started to shake - it was an innate act, unwanted, I hope you understand me ... -. The lady suddenly stopped all body movements, starting to lower her gaze and breathe deeply.
- As soon as I carefully saw his eyes, his golden hair, his face, it was much stronger than me to see my father in him ... -. The princess began to breathe more and more deeply and started to swing - I wanted to help him, I wanted to save him somehow, I wanted to do what I couldn't do that day four years ago... -. The young woman turned her desperate gaze to the general hoping to learn a minimum of understanding or compassion. -I couldn't do much to save my father, I was only a little girl back then, but I doubt you can understand my pain, the pain of someone who has lost a parent ... -.
The man's hands joined in a strong grip on the small ones of the girl and from then on it was no longer difficult for him to speak. Gilbert understood that despite Isabelle's bitter and cruel nature, the young woman continued to keep her pain and regret in her heart, as much as her compassion or this kind of basic feelings. The girl raised her gaze to that of the general, who at the moment had a sincere smile on his face.
-I understand how you feel, and I understand it deeply and fully- the man admitted -I have never met my mother, and I don't think that at this moment she is still alive or it is too late to get to know her-. The princess's eyes widened and her pupils dilated, leaving her barely a glimpse of her black irises.
-Are you serious, my lord? You don't know your mother, or who she is?-. Isabelle seemed impressed enough by her statement that she felt pity for the man for the first time. Gilbert slowly shook his head and smiled. The princess on her side felt a certain sense of confidence and trust in that man now. She believed on the one hand that no one in the world could ever understand what she felt and what great anger she carried inside her, but seeing a person as damaged as she made her feel comfortable.
In any case, it was as if finally someone could understand her feelings and understand that deep inside her little heart of stone a bit of love was left alive. -What do you say Gilbert, should we go back? -. Isabelle asked, removing her small delicate hands from the man ones. The princess wiped the tears that had rolled down her cheeks, from her eyes and she managed to put on a fake smile. She did not know much about the general, it had never even occurred to her to ever care about the facts of others, but strangely, their painful pasts found a very particular connection.
Of course, it should have been natural for her to be able to find compassion and comfort even in her older brother or her own cousin Juniper, since both of them had lost her parents. But no, she had never been like this and thinking about it she thought she had never, in her young life, felt such empathy towards anyone.
-Soon we will get married and we will be husband and wife ... - Gilbert commented looking away. This comment raised a certain uneasiness and discomfort in the young woman, almost hurting her stomach.
- In any case I find it very constructive to entertain with you, sometimes even about the past if necessary ...-.
The princess smiled again and began to climb the massive marble stairways intent on going to the castle.She turned her young and sweet face in profile towards the man and found the strength to comment on what she had said.
-Oh, yes my lord, you're absolutely right ... -it came out as her faint hiss from her soft pink lips -I bet you really have a lot to tell me ... -.
The man was struck by such coldness in being able to say such sweet words that he was confused for a few moments by that certain attitude.The princess had not had any problem at all in poisoning her elder brother or in carrying out the ignoble act of making her cousin lose his mind, but in that moment, in that moment it inevitably seemed to him that she was worried.
Was it so easy for her to cry, or were the tears she shed seriously in the memory of her deceased father?
He imagined that certain questions could not be answered so easily and on the other hand he found these little things not essential for the trail that he was trying to follow. It was certainly not a sentimental trail and he knew it. It was more a mixture of why and how the princess had acted and would still act in the future. All around him had remained silent and immensely empty, that even the bloody and hardened corpse of the deer that lay on the white boulders seemed to have been dragged away. He didn't know what was happening to his body that day, but he felt immensely confused and alone, more lonely than he had ever been.
He had a very specific plan, he would go back to the dormitory and get ready for dinner first of all. Much as he might be sorry for the death of that majestic deer, Gilbert hoped that its meat would be cooked and served on the table as every time passed the hunger began to grow. The cold and lonely climate around him literally gave the general goosebumps. He wanted to climb the steps as soon as possible and soak in the warm tub, take a bath, wash and taste something good before doing all the rest of his duties.
In a couple of days it would be the fourteenth birthday of his betrothed and this implied that the next day for the event, his family, along with those of all his companions, would be presented at court. He hated the idea of having to see his father and his older half-brothers again, after everything they had done to him, after making his existence hell, he even hated the idea of being in the same place at the same time.
On the other hand, he was excited and curious to know how the young princess had planned her party, what kind of activities would have taken place. The girl's birthday would have been on Saturday and the next day would consequently have been Sunday. He knew that in the royal family it was customary to attend Holy Mass every weekend, located in the modest chapel within the royal park.
He didn't think it would be much of a problem to take part in the celebration since Man, his island, had taken the Anglican Protestant religion under English influence. He was not aware if the twins Dustin or even Juniper were also considered participants in the celebration, just as he knew very well that Southern Ireland as well as Scotland were firmly Catholic. In any case, the sun was beginning to set and in a few hours dinner would be served at the table. The bell tower of the town of Warwick tolled twice, drawing the general's attention to itself.
The golden hands of the clock were counting half past six, and as he got his bearings he would say that dinner would take place at eight o'clock. He planned a good half hour of relaxation, getting ready with clean clothes and new perfumes. After that, he planned another good hour to visit the young baron and clarify any possible misunderstandings that might have arisen that morning. In his plans he was also visiting Prince Henry in the infirmary, to make sure that everything was going well, but he did not plan to do all that same evening, he did not believe he had so much time available before dinner and the rest he so deserved.
He walked quickly enough to his room, he had no time to spend on things of little use at that moment. Gilbert quickly entered the west part of the castle and reached his spacious bedroom. He took a look at Francis's room and stood there for a long time trying to imagine through his hearing if his dear friend had already returned to the dormitory. He was sure that the twins had already returned to the dormitory hearing their joking and noisy voices, but in any case he was unable to hear any noise or smell in that place.
On the other hand, he had no time before preparing himself for dinner, so he had no problem knocking on his friend's door. Two quick knuckles hit the wood of the door, echoing in the long, dark corridor. The only light in that place was that of the cold and pink sunset that with all its strength was trying to penetrate through the thin and elaborate arched windows. Some time passed before someone opened the door, enough to make the man believe that at that moment the room was empty.
Francis opened the door slowly, almost not caring who was behind it and for him it was a beautiful and pleasant surprise to notice that the person behind it was Gilbert himself. The young man's cheeks filled with a sudden blush, which he tried to hide by covering his freckled cheeks with both hands.
-Good evening Francis- greeted the general completely lost in his thoughts and speechless. The lieutenant was dressed less formally than he had ever been. He was wearing a pair of baggy dark brown linen trousers and a thin and decidedly light white linen shirt. He wasn't even wearing his own white wig tying his wavy caramel brown hair into a short, curly ponytail at the nape of his neck.
-Good evening my general, can I help you in some way? -. These words escaped from Francis's mouth as he looked away in embarrassment.
-Well, I didn't see you at the hunt this morning, I was really worried, I thought something had happened to you ..- Gilbert answered with a certain tone puzzled and confused at the same time. Francis was amazed by that statement and a slight blush returned to his cheeks. He knew well that Gilbert would get married in a short time and that his were only daydreams, but was it possible that the man cared for him, more than a mutual friend?
Francis touched his hairs embarrassed and admitted - Nothing to worry about, really, I had to meet some relatives today ... -. The general smiled, and his smile made the marquis become more and more comfortable and calm . -I understand, anyway it was really nice spending time with you ... -.
Francis quickly shook his head nodding, and trying to act as calm as possible without getting overwhelmed by his feelings. A long silence enveloped the scene for a few minutes, until Francis felt a certain pressure on one of his shoulders. Opening his eyes he noticed that that strange sensation was caused by the pressure of Gilbert's strong hand, which from that moment had started to look into his brown eyes. The man's mouth came up to one of the young man's ears, and he began to whisper words to him. -I wanted to inform you only of this, Francis, Prince Henry was poisoned ... -.
The marquis was amazed by the strange and impulsive change of voice and character of the man, so much so that he gasped, together with the alarming news that had just been provided.
-Oh my God, tell me, Gilbert, is he still alive? -. The general slowly moved away from his companion's ear and nodded, yes.
- He is now unconscious in the castle's infirmary, and I am determined to get to the end of this confused case ... - the man whispered almost between his lips.
-Anyway, Francis, here at court it's not safe, not at all ... - said the general, staring back in his eyes - promise me only one thing Francis ... in case something should happen to me, promise that you will escape from here, as soon as possible ... -.
The young man kept his lips parted, he was confused, he didn't know exactly what the man was talking about and he didn't even want to believe that something could happen to him. He would never betray or abandon or disobey his beloved general in an emergency, but as confused as he was of this situation the only words that came out of his lips were.
-Alright, my lord, I will-.
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