Bethilda's maids stood from their beds and rushed over to their mistress as we walked in. Bethilda ran over to them and hid them behind her. Her maids whispered amongst one another as we arrived. They huddled together, fear was evident in the room.
"Your Highness, I know all too well that we're not on good terms," Bethilda said with a shaky voice. "But I beg of you not to hurt us. Especially my ladies, they have nothing to do with my crimes."
I looked over to her ladies. The frightened looks on their faces reminded me of Mother when we were attacked on the ship. Why would even Bethilda think - just for even a second - that I would hurt her or her ladies? It wasn't a secret that I had a certain disdain for the duchess. But the punishment was already in James' hands. And I would never hurt anyone that wasn't the figurehead of the matter.
I handed the lock back to Marcus and replied, "I didn't come here to inflict pain on anyone. I only wanted to speak to you privately."
Bethilda cleared her throat. "What about?"
I glanced over her ladies again before I said, "I would like to speak with you without your ladies. It's something that should remain between the two of us."
Bethilda shielded them even more. Her ladies held onto each other tighter as they hid further behind their mistress.
"There's no need to fret, ladies," I looked directly at them, "I won't hurt your mistress. I just need her to answer some questions. Marcus will accompany you outside." I added, "I assure you that this won't take long."
Bethilda slowly looked to her ladies. She glanced over at me with distrust before she returned to them. "Calm yourselves, my ladies. His Highness is a man of integrity. He will never hurt anyone unless it's absolutely necessary," she comforted them. "And besides, I owe the prince an explanation."
The ladies hesitated for a bit before they finally gave in. They gave their bows and Bethilda gave way for them to walk towards me.
I stepped aside and instructed Marcus, "Wait with the ladies outside. And keep an eye on the guards. If they show signs that the spell is wearing off, tell me immediately." I continued as the maids walked past us, "It doesn't matter if my conversation with the duchess is finished or not. We can't risk anyone finding ouy that we're here."
"As you wish, Your Highness," he bowed. He followed the ladies and closed the door behind him.
I turned back to Bethilda, who now had a smirk on her face.
"Disobeying your father again?" she asked. "Why do you continue to insert yourself in situations that you shouldn't be in?"
"I heard about your trial," I replied as I stepped forward. "With all honesty, I was dismayed that I wasn't present nor informed about it as I have questions of my own. But before James can bestow his punishment, I want to talk to you first."
She chuckled as she headed to her writing desk. She took a raisin from a bowl and answered, "I hope you're finally satisfied with everything that's happened, Your Highness." She then sat down and crossed her legs. "My home was intruded. I'm confined to my room. I was given a trial and was pronounced guilty. All I await now is my punishment.
"What more do you want from me, Your Highness?" she continued. "Tortured? Hanged? Quartered? Skinned alive?"
I sighed as I sat on the foot of her bed. "I didn't come here to step on what integrity you have left. I only came here to ask you something," I said.
"And that is?"
"Why did you do it? Why did you do something so horrible?" I started. "Why did you cooperate with Benjamin? You claim that you love my mother. You claim that she's your beloved sister. But why did you plot against her? Why did you hurt her?"
I continued, "If you're offended, furious, humiliated by how I've treated you, don't you think it's only proper that you put all your anguish on me and me alone? Can't you leave my family out of that? Especially when Mother has done nothing but love you and welcome you warmly into our home?"
She chuckled as she took another raisin. "I'm quite surprised that as the sole heir in the kingdom, you don't know much of your family's history."
My brows furrowed. I was baffled but remained silent. I stared at her and waited for what she could possibly say next.
Bethilda returned to me and raised her brows. She added, "Am I suppose to believe that James' only son and heir wasn't told anything about their ancestry and family history?"
I froze.
So, there were things that were hidden from me. But what could they possibly be? And why would they hide anything from me? Was it vital to understand Bethilda's choices of action?
After a moment of silence, I asked, "What history?"
Bethilda blinked quickly in complete shock. She sighed as she moved her goblets closer to her. She then opened a bottle of wine. "Your Highness," she said as she poured wine into the two goblets, "If your parents have kept information from you, then it is not my duty to tell you anything." She closed the bottle and walked towards me, goblets in hand. She handed one over to me.
She then returned to her chair and continued, "Just because our family rarely get together, just because we rarely argue with each other, that doesn't mean that everything is perfect." She took a sip. "I'm certain that you're aware about the history of your parents' ascension to the throne. That debacle was a humongous mess that they tried so hard to forget. And it took them years to erase it from the minds of your people.
"But before the issue of succession was even a concern, our family had bigger, even more pressing issues behind closed doors. And I understand that they hid that, not just from you but from your sister as well, because they wanted to protect you." After another sip, she finished her wine and settled her goblet on the table. She added, "However, in order to understand the decisions that I made, the past must be explained to you first."
I already knew of James' disdain towards his siblings. Ever since he and Mother were chosen to be the ruling monarchs, I never saw his side of the family. They never visited us, not even once. Bethilda was the only living relative that Mother had left. And from what I was told, we never had any problems towards her family. According to James, Mother's family came from a humbler background. Therefore, not much tension came from their circle.
But after what Bethilda said, I couldn't help but wonder: why wouldn't they tell me this? This was a family matter. This was something I should be aware of.
Was it a shameful truth?
James' side of the family was - without a shred of a doubt - shameless. And they did questionable things that I already accepted as a part of my lineage. However, if Mother's family did something worse than that, why would they hide that from Elizabeth? From me?