"I can sense the questions that are racing in your mind now," she continued and I quickly turned back to her. "At times such as this, it's your father who you must talk to."
"You already mentioned this to me. Couldn't you just tell me what I should know?" I asked.
She sighed as she pressed her lips together firmly. She replied, "As much as I want to, it is not my responsibility to explain the entire history of our family. That obligation is on the shoulders of your parents."
"Then, tell me only what you can. Tell me your side of the story," I insisted.
She chuckled. "Young Robert, your parents are not the kind that will twist lies into truths. The same goes with the truth to lies," she answered. "If you doubt your father's words, it's best thay you consult my sister about it. But I will never take the responsibility of telling you everything." She added, "It shouldn't be my burden to carry."
"But--"
A knock interrupted me. Marcus rushed towards me and whispered, "Your Highness, the guards are slowly waking up. We must leave at once."
"But--"
"It's best that you leave, Your Highness," Bethilda interrupted. I returned to her and she continued, "We don't want your father to know of your whereabouts. I don't think that he will particularly like the fact that you're here. Especially, at this time of the night."
"But you didn't answer my question," I complained as I approached her. I repeated, "Why did you do it? What can you possibly gain from such crimes?"
She stood from her chair and took a few steps towards me. She then said, "I already answered your question, young prince. In order for you to understand my actions, you must learn of the past."
"Couldn't you just explain it to me?" I complained, frustrated.
"My apologies, Your Highness, but we must be on our way. We don't have much time," Marcus interrupted once more.
Bethilda then put a hand on my shoulder. "Even the most beautiful roses have its thorns," she said. She then turned to Marcus and continued, "Remove the prince from my sight. I don't want any trouble within my chambers."
As Marcus pulled me out of the room, I never lifted my eyes from Bethilda. What could she possibly have meant by that? What was it that I needed to know? How was the past even connected to what was happening now? Could James and Mother be truly hiding something from me?
♔♔♔
My gaze was stuck at the beautiful moon that was just outside my window. Its gentle beam comforted me through what was already a sleepless night. And the stars were always at its company. Such a lovely sight. And it never failed to remove all worries, especially my restless thoughts.
However, ever since I returned to my room, I did everything but rest. I couldn't finish my food. So, I told Marcus that he could join his fellow servants for dinner. But my meal has sat on my bedside table for a few hours now. I didn't even touch it upon my return.
After I heard Bethilda's answers, all I could think about was what her words meant. I wanted to ask James in regards to that matter. But I decided not to do it now. So far, James was still unaware of my secret visit to the duchess. If I asked him tonight, it would lead to another argument.
But I just wanted to get to the bottom of everything.
Why was everything made difficult for me?!
Couldn't I just solve one debacle without any sort of hurdle along the way? It was as if every time I made progress - a small amount of it, to be exact - there was already a humongous challenge that awaited me.
I sighed as I laid back onto my chair. Looking up at the stairs, I thought, 'Ancient gods of our time, am I being punished for being disobedient? For being such a stubborn Immortal? Why must I suffer so much, just to obtain the truth about everything?'
"Your Highness?" a guard called from the outside after a knock. "His Majesty is here to see you."
I immediately turn around. "Let him in, please," I replied as I made my way to the door.
The door opened and James entered. He was already in his night gown.
I bowed as we met in the middle. "It's already late, James. Why are you still awake?" I asked as I stood upright.
"I should be asking you the same question," he chuckled. "Between the two of us, it is you who needs more rest than me."
I scratched my nape as I replied, "I have too much on my mind."
"I see. Your unfinished dinner is the perfect explanation that you've been thinking a lot," he said as he glanced over at my food behind me.
I shrugged. "You and Mother are well-aware that whenever I have something on my mind, I'm not in the mood to eat something. I prefer to drink rather than to eat something."
James nodded. He looked over to my window and asked, "Have you been gazing at the night sky?"
I looked behind me and nodded as I returned to him.
"Why don't we have a seat? It's such a lovely night. I would love to see what the sky has to offer tonight," he smiled. He didn't even wait for me. He proceeded to the window right away and sat on the other chair.
I followed and sat across from him. And for a while, we shared a moment of silence. No one said a singlr word. We were too engrossed with what we saw outside. Perhaps, James needed something to calm his mind as well.
"I was told that you were already informed of Bethilda's trial," he started cautiously. We looked at each other as he continued, "What are your thoughts about it?"
I stared at him for a bit as I collected my thoughts. I already wanted to ask him about what Bethilda said. But I wasn't sure if he was aware of my secret rendezvous to Bethilda's chambers. After I spent time in my thoughts, I said, "I reckon that Marcus was the one who informed you, correct?"
He nodded and explained, "He mentioned that you asked for me and that he accidentally mentioned the trial in your presence. I do hope that you're not angry about not being informed. I didn't want to disturb you during your time of rest. I prefer that you recover quickly than to force royal duties upon you."
"I understand," I nodded. "What did Bethilda say about the charges against her?"
"In regards to the abduction, she denied everything at first. She even asked to see the person responsible for the confession," he begun.
My eyes widened, horrified. I leaned forward towards him as I was about to ask my question.
Quickly, he replied with a smile, "Calm down, Robert. I didn't show Marcus during the trial."
I closed my eyes as I sighed out of relief.
I laid back onto my chair as he continued, "I told her that seeing the witness was unnecessary. And that she only needed to admit what was already confessed against her. When she didn't want to cooperate, I had to threaten her. And I know you don't like it when I use that method. But I had to."
My brows furrowed as I asked, "What did you threaten her with?"
"I told her that if she didn't admit the truth, I'll have her ladies taken to the dungeons and be tortured," he replied.
My eyes widened even more as my jaw dropped. As James said that, I remembered the look on Bethilda's ladies when I arrived in her quarters. As well as how Bethilda protected them with her whole being. I was also reminded of the feeling that I had when I saw her ladies in a stage of fright. How it reminded me of Mother and her own ladies when we were attacked at the Sea of Gliss.
"Why would you do that to them? Do you know how scary that is for her ladies?" I protested. "Are you even aware of the possible, long-lasting trauma that you left on innocent people?"
"Robert, I didn't want to do that. But Bethilda wouldn't cooperate with us. It was the only solution that I thought of at that very moment," he answered after a long sigh. "But I had no intention to forgo that threat. Her ladies don't deserve to undergo such torment, especially when they didn't have anything to do with it. And besides, her ladies didn't accompany her during her trial. I kept them in her chambers."
I settled back onto my chair as I sighed out of relief. I held tightly onto the arm rest as I laid back. For a moment, I feared that he made those threats in the presence of Bethilda's ladies. They didn't need to be put under scrutiny and punishment, just because of their mistress' wrongdoings.
He then proceeded, "In the end, she relented and what she said left another mystery for us to solve." He leaned in closer towards me. He lowered his voice and continued, "She said that she did that because of a bribe."
I leaned in closer to him and asked, "From who?"
He hesitated for a moment before he replied, "She said that Benjamin bribed her to do it."