บท 37: The Truth Of Nicklos Past
"What? When?" I had never been told about any attack on Nicklos's kingdom. My father never said anything to me. If he had, I would have sent over every man I could to aide him. Why was I never told about the issue with Nicklos? I suddenly started to feel very guilty about how I treated him. I was only ever cold and suspicious about his actions. I always wanted him to justify why he didn't keep in touch with me, but never really though about how this could possibly impact him.
"I asked your father not to say anything. I knew that if your father had said anything to you, you wouldn't have hesitated to come to my aide. The whole situation was a surprise from the start, and almost caused a war between my Kingdom and the West. With you having enough on your plate, I didn't want to add any further stress, and your father agreed. With my brother still being young and not even having a coming of age ceremony yet, I had to devote my time into caring for my Kingdom. My original plan was to pass the throne to Jespah when he hit of age, but with my father's death, things where delicate. Your father had suggested I married Illiah so that way I could handle things in my Kingdom." He paused, gauging my reaction. I was silent, unsure of how to react. He took this as a sign to continue.
"I was against it from the start, but I knew how much you cared for your Kingdom, and how Illiah was. I couldn't ask you to hand over your crown when you where the best suited for the throne. So I played along for awhile until I was able to pacify the Western Kingdom, and Jespah had his coming of age ceremony. Within that year, I had Jespah ready to take over the throne. So I came here, to hopefully earn your forgiveness. I was hoping that with my last letter to Illiah, she would have given up and went after my brother, but no one knows of my plan other than your father. We weren't going to announce my step down from the throne until the night of the banquet. With everything you where going through, I didn't think it was appropriate having this conversation with you, but it doesn't seem like there would ever be a good time." I sighed, unsure of how to process everything he told me.
So this was why he ignored me. He knew that I would have done anything for him, and that was dangerous. He kept me away, to keep me safe. Everything he did, was in the best interest for the both of us. Although it still stung that he had turned to Illiah instead of me, I was able to understand the situation better. It wasn't like he had feelings for Illiah, but he needed an heir, and Illiah was the next best option. I let go of the horse and stood before him, pity and anger filling me.
"I still think you are an absolute idiot, but I understand what you had to do. Although next time if you are ever in a dangerous position, I would rather you ask for help. We were friends before we were lovers. I hope that in the future you will remember that." Nicklos smiled down at me, wrapping and arm around my waist and keeping me locked to him.
"I can't exactly say no to you, considering in the future I will be bound to your side." He said with a sheepish wink. I felt my face turn red as I blushed, fully remembering that he was publicly my betrothed. With a flustered shove, I pulled myself away from him and back on to my horse, who was now idly chewing on the long grass protruding from the trunk of the tree. A harmouneous snicker came from the others as I settled into the saddle. How dare he publicly display his affection towards me. I wasn't exactly willing to forgive him just yet, and he tried to swoon me in front of my soliders.
"We are burning daylight. We have what we need and we should get going." I pulled the reign on my horse, turning away from the others as I tried to hide my blushing face. Another round of snickers erupted.
"Alliah, before we take off, I think you really need to hear about the fourth leader. She is after all, the most dangerous of them all. If she hadn't led the attack on my Kingdom, I probably would have never heard about her." He spoke hurriedly as he gathered himself in his saddle and rushing over to my side. I nodded my head for him to go on.
"I don't know her real identity, but she goes by the name, Lady Ghost. She leaves no traces behind, and immediately will get rid of all lose ends. She is called Lady Ghost because no one has ever seen her face. If anyone is really fortunate enough to meet with her, she is covered by a white thick vale. There is only one person who is truly allowed near her, and that is a man with a black mask they like to call the Joker." The others had saddled up and huddled up as we started to head back on our journey. Their attention fully on Nicklos as he spoke.
"If they are hard to get information on, how do you know this much?"
"We where able to capture on of her loose ends. He was more than willing to cooperate as long as we shielded his family. With the description the General gave of this man, I can only assume that he had been attacked by her henchman." I could feel the heavy feeling of his words rest upon my shoulders. I still had so many questions too. Why was she coming after me? I had only ever traveled to the west to meet with diplomats or to help squish squirmishes. But I never traveled so far to the West that I would run into any other their people.
"Is she someone you can pay off?" Seria was close behind me, her horse practically rubbing with mine. Nicklos was quiet for a moment, lost in thought.
"If she had a group of people, I would think that she was a service. But with the lack of people, and the fact that she hires random people off the streets to do her dirty work. Or in other cases, people within the castle walls. Before we could question the motive of our captor, he was poisoned in the middle of the night. It was a very strong and unknown poison that even our researchers are still scratching their heads over." So this was a personal motive. But what did she have against me?
"Wait, did you say unknown poison?" Marquise spoke up, his horse was just sitting behind mine. "If that poison matches up with the contents we found on the supply carriage, they might be planning to poison the entire ball." A thought occured to me, and it was all starting to slowly link together. An angry gasp escaped my lips as I bit my lower lip.
"What is it your Majesty?" Michael asked, worry lacing his words.
"Delphine was given those ingrediates to poison my father. She knew exactly how to prepare the poison. With Delphine gone, they don't have anyone else to prepare it. They weren't expecting me to catch on quick to their plans, so now they are starting to get sloppy."
"We could use this against them. If we can some how make them become so flustered that it seems they can't win, it'll make them reveal themselves. We can then capture them and end this once and for all." Nicklos finished my thought and I grinned. They only appeared dangerous because of how big their messes are they create. But take away their element of surprise and they start to get careless. That's exactly why they are drawing me out into the city. They can't kill me as long as I have a group of soliders with me.
They know I won't try and draw attention to myself because I don't want to get the three big leaders on my heel in the process of a rescue mission. So I am going to draw myself thin and be unguarded. Little did she know, that my fiance, was a tactical and well informed genious.
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