บท 27: Chapter 27: Catherine Russell and Adelene Evans.
Somewhere in Britan
Catherine POV
Catherine Russell is one of the Duchess in Britan. She was the successor of the House Russel. She does not have any siblings and she is the only daughter. Rest of the kids are from the branches and were not eligible to succeed the seat. But from tomorrow that all will change as I will be hanged in the public along with my Dame, accused of being traitors.
To explain how this happened, let's start from the beginning.
I was born in the house of Russell. My mother is the duchess and Father married into our home. Since mother was the head, father was not allowed to have any other wives. He was warned not to sire any children other than the one from my mother, which is me.
Regardless what others talk, Mother and father loved each other and Father did not cheat on mother under any circumstances. They loved me with all their heart. I was allowed to study the most up to date knowledge. Trained with most talented artists. Wore most expensive clothes and jewelry. I was missing nothing.
But all that changed when she entered my life. She is Adelene Evans. My dame. She was my body guard and martial arts trainer. She is also my childhood friend. She is the daughter of one of the Barons. We met each other in a Ball and hit it off.
After she went for Dame training, we lost contact. I was longing to see her. She was someone who treated me as Catherine rather that Heiress Russell. I missed her very much and wanted to share many things with her.
It was at my 16th birthday I got the surprise. Father told me that I will get my own Dame and I was allowed to built my Knighthood under me. I was ecstatic. And when my father introduced my Dame, I was over the moon with Joy. There stood my best friend, My partner in crime and my new Dame, Adelene Evans.
Too bad she stood there with a stoic expression. She did not talk to like usual. She followed proper etiquette and treated me like how a lower noble would treat a higher noble. This Hurt me very much. I did not treat her like an outsider.
After the party ended, we both went to my bedroom. I was sad and angry. I wanted to yell at her and cry. She was the only friend I had and she is treating like a someone superior to her. Once we were inside my room, she checked the surrounding, I assumed it was for my safety. Once she was done, she came before me.
Before I could say anything, she started laughing at me saying, "You should've looked at your face. It was so hilarious. I was trying so hard to control myself from teasing you then and there." Out came the tomboy I know and love. That's when I realized that she was acting and tease me.
I wanted to get angry at her, but my body had a mind of its own and just hugged her. She also stopped laughing and hugged me back. We just stayed there standing and hugging each other for few long minutes. The hug told each other how we are feeling.
After few minutes of silence she said, "I missed you very much, my Kitty Cat!"
As soon as I heard my nick name that she gave me, I knew nothing has changed. Everything was the same. What I did not know was that, no, what we both did not know at that time was that something more than friendship was born between us when I said, "I missed you too, my crazy Adele!"
After that we talked all night, I told her all that happened after we last separated. And she told me what happened in the Knight academy and what she learned. She then asked, "Do you know why I joined the Knight academy?"
I was confused as to why she was asking this question to me. So, I simply shook my head let her know that I did not know the reason with a confused and curios expression.
She then smiled Brightly and said, "It was because of you, my silly Kitty Cat!"
I was stunned, before I can speak or ask questions, she continued, "Do you remember the time you told me that the Knights will stay with Lords they serve till they day they die? It gave me the idea that if I become your Knight, I will be with you till one of us will die. It was a silly reason then, but after going to the Knights academy, I learned a lot and got to know more of the responsibilities of a Dame. So, …"
Adelene got up, went to the corner where she kept her gear. She came back, donning the Armor with a sword on her waist. She knelt down before me with the sword in front of her said, "I, Adelene Evans, 3rd daughter of Baron Evans, hereby solemnly vow as your Dame. I, Adelene Evans will guard you from any dangers that may arise, will stick with you till the day I die. And in case if you get hurt, it will be only because that I had died and unable to protect you from that moment. Please accept my Allegiance."
When she finished her vow, my heart skipped a beat. At that time, I neglected as it was due to the sincerity in that vow. But I gathered myself and said with the Duchess dignity, "I accept you Allegiance, Dame Adelene Evans." She then stood up and saluted. Then she went back to remove the armor.
Once she came back, I was overwhelmed with emotions. My body started to move before my brain started to think. Once my brain caught up, I was already in her embrace. She was surprised and asked, "What happened Kitty Cat?"
I was not sure so I just answered, "I don't know, I just wanted to hug you."
She then said in a pampering tone, "What am I going to do with you!"
I'm not sure but I liked getting pampered by her. More than when my parents pampered me. I don't know why, but it feels different and fulfilling when she pampers. I feel happy and satisfied. Maybe her calling me Kitty Cat is not unfounded.
After that day, my life became more colorful. She will train me in my martial arts and I will teach her about governing the lands. We both were enjoying the days we spent together. We both learned from each other. We got closer and we practically know each other like back of our hands. We complemented each other.
It was during the time we got the chance to got to one of our colonies in India. The East India Trading company was doing a great job in importing more wealth and exotic goods into our country. I heard many stories that they are barbarians. But from the goods and the artifacts that we imported from there did not seem like that was the truth.
So, when I got the chance to visit, I immediately went there. Once we were there, we were able to see that the India has a Vast community with different religion, culture and belief mingling with each other in great harmony. But there is also a glaring distrust among them and the British.
We came here to spread our culture and help them develop. We are taking them under our wings to help them come in contact with the wide world and help them understand what they are doing wrong. So, I took it upon myself as the envoy of Britan empire to educate them about the advantages.
Queen Victoria was ruling the country splendidly and she will not have time to see such small matter. All the ladies in Britan look upto her as our role model. So, I decided I will do what little I can for the empire.
So, during our stay here we traveled all over India. It is beautiful country with beautiful land masses and people. Their celebrations are colorful and enthusiastic. Their worship of their so-called gods was energetic and full of devotion. I should really introduce such type of worship in churches back in Britan.
(AN: British are staunch supporters of Christianity at that time. So, please don't jump at me for dissing Indian culture here. I'm writing this from the point of view of a British citizen in 1880's.)
I really should educate them that there is only one God. They should stop following such variety of things they call God. I was really mesmerized by their dances, songs, Marriage celebrations, Banquets, etc. They are so expressive and full of life. If we compare their celebration with ours. It will be like an official gathering and enjoyment between friends and close ones. They are so free and unrestricted.
Where ever we go, we were able to see the British Lords are trying to improve their allocated region in the best ways possible. There are so many Kingdoms in one country. This in future will lead to more wars. We really should unite them as one and help them develop. This is what me and Adelene came up with after compiling all the information we gathered so far. I am planning on writing a petition to Queen once we go back to Britan.
It all changed one day. One day when we were in Southern part of India, I had a mischievous idea of disguising ourselves and escaping from the tight security that always followed us. And we did just that. We both went into the rural areas where they said that there will be a festival of some sort will happen. So, we went there to enjoy ourselves to the fullest. Without any pressure of acting all dignified and stuck up. We made a detailed preparation. We even painted ourselves with dark tone. As Adelene was taller than me, she was dressed as a Man and I a Woman. We planned on acting like a husband and wife. Somehow that thought made me giddy.
As we were enjoying ourselves, suddenly British soldiers came in with their guns. I thought we got caught sneaking and they came here searching for us. I was planning on going to meet them so that they will not disturb this festival. But Adelene pulled me and started to run in the opposite direction of the British soldiers.
I was confused and asked, "Why are you pulling me here. If they came to find us and we were not there, the soldiers might disturb the festival."
Adelene did not look at me just too me to a nearby hill and made me lie down. I'm not like other noble who will cry of little dirt. I just did as she told. When we were both lying down, Adelene said in a serious tone, "Something with the soldiers didn't feel right. They came here like they were going to battle. Not like a search and rescue unit."
As soon as she said there was the sounds of guns blazing. The soldiers just started to kill all the innocent people. They only let few survive. I heard them saying, "This is to remind you that you will be like out dogs. We will pet you when we want and if we are bored with you, we will kill you like the low lives you were."
After that day, we started to Travel again. This time we visited every place incognito. I was shocked to find out that in most of the regions we govern, the lords were acting like he was their emperor. There are only few Lords who were trying to improve their region and people. The rest are bunch of greedy bastards and were just swallowing everything they can and giving nothing in return. A large part of the spoils was going to their own pocket and one a small portion was sent back to Britan.
During our travel we were able to save few people. We made sure they were safe and arranged few Indian soldiers to take care of them. I did not know at that time this will come back to bite us both and the bite will lead to a life threatening situation. We stayed in India for 10 years. We both grew up both as a person and in body.
When we went back, I spoke with mother about this. She was enraged and she said she will take this to the Queen. After few days, I got the news that reforms are being made and the effects will take place in few years.
I was relieved and life returned back to normal. At my 30th Birthday I succeeded my mother. Queen came to the party and praised me and Adelene. We both were so over the moon. But when the queen asked about my marriage, I was dumbstruck. It was not due to surprise, but to fact being I forgot that I should marry someone. But when I thought about whom I should marry, the image appeared in my mind was Adelene.
The rest of the Party was dull and I was absent minded the whole time. When I looked at Adelene, she was acting the same as me. When I saw her, I was unable to take my eyes off of her. When she felt my gaze, she turned to me and looked at me. I was not sure what she felt then, but I'm sure she connected the dots like I did. After looking at her eye I was finally cleared of all the doubts about the feeling I had with her. It was clear as a day and it was us that refused to acknowledge it.
After the Party ended, we both went to my bedroom. We sat quietly in the small tea table enjoying a cup of tea. After about an hour of silence I said to her, "Adelene, Kiss me!"
I thought she will misunderstand where she would be kissing. I was about to correct myself, but I think she got afraid that I will back down or that she understood my plight. But nothing came to my mind when I felt a soft pair of lips on mine. All I could think was that, 'Her lips taste like green tea. But I love it. So, this is what a kiss feels like. This is what Adelene tastes like.'
After few minutes, we separated to take a breath. That's when she said, "Catherine Russell, now that I know that I fell in love with you. You better take responsibility. And you are not allowed to Marry anyone other than me."
When she finished it was like something snapped inside me. We kissed and hugged each other like we wanted merge with each other. Next think I know is that I woke up in the morning in the embrace of Adelene. I did not feel rejection, disgust or worried. Instead, I felt Happy, content and satisfied.
After that day, we both acted the usual around others. But when are alone, we were unable keep our hands to ourselves. But happy times did not last long. After a year of us being together and I succeeded my mother, royal soldiers knocked at my door. We were accused of traitors and was sentenced to death by the queen herself.
It seems the people I save formed a terrorist group and bombed one of our bases in India. The death toll was in the thousands which included both British and Indians. Adelene tried to take the blame herself but I tried to advocate for both of us. In the end, everything was for naught. I had two choices; First one was to deny my participation and blame everything on Adelene, which is also the one Adelene proposed and second was to share the blame with her and get executed in public along with Adelene.
Against all the pleading of my mother, father and Adelene, I chose to die with her. I love her and I not sure if I can live without her. And that is how you can find me in this dark prison which is adjacent to Adelene's prison. We will both will be tried in public and we will be hanged to death. Also, from the moment we were prison, Adelene kept calling me an Idiot is all ways she can think of. I was not sad or angry but was just happy to die with her.
After that we both started to talk and reminisce about our days together. As we were taking, something magical happened. A boy with red hair and red eyes and a girl with Purplish-black hair and deep blue eyes suddenly appeared inside my cell. Also, Adelene was with them and she looked equally confused as me. Then the boy started to talk, "Hi there, …"
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