Courtroom of Doubt

Not long after, the prince brought almost all of the members of the court together to discuss this situation. Servants, courtiers, guards, and even some of the clergymen were ordered to appear. I arrived at the great hall for the discussions. Before I even stepped foot inside the room, the retainers and servants were already bickering and at each other’s throats. The situation is as tense as if the heavy fog outside had come within and shrouded the tall walls in the room with its chilling embrace, nullifying any chance of a rational discussion on the matter. The long desks in the middle of the room act as a stage for these people to throw words at one another with the prince’s blonde hair acting as its light. The prince, remained silent at the end of the table, only speaking up once he saw me approach the table. The whole room stopped and stared at me, as if pleading for me to have an answer for this mess.

“Ah… Alex! There’s no one I trust more than you and your insight. So what do you think about this? Is she a spy? Or had she forgotten her memories?”

“I’m conflicted, Sir… She is different, that part is certain. But I don’t feel any hostility from her gaze. I even saw Lady Catherine this morning just to make sure, and those eyes remain the same.”

“So can we trust her or not, Sir?”

Asked one of the knights.

“She couldn’t have been switched with a spy. Faking the appearance of the “Jewel of the North” is no easy feat, and our security for the Lady is state-of-the-art. So there is virtually no chance for her to be replaced. Memory loss? It’s possible, but for what reason? There were no traumatic incidents nor accidents. Not only that, but she was at least aware of where she was. Other than that?”

I paused briefly and point at my eyes.

“These blue eyes of mine can accurately read someone’s personality, and everyone here can attest to that fact. I have seen all the types of people there are. But never in all my years have I become as baffled as I am now. “The Switch” is illogical. Some explanations that I can conjure are either that the heavens meddled with her mind for reasons beyond our understandings, or it could have been a Skinwalker from the folktales that our grandfathers told us! Truth be told, I don’t have an answer to give you all, because even I don’t know the answer myself.”

Everyone is stunned in silence. Though they don’t mention it, they must’ve thought that even if I don’t know, then no one can provide the answers they desperately wanted to hear. The prince, as if understanding everyone’s worried looks, then soundly exclaimed.

“Well… If Alex says there’s no ill will, then I will trust his judgement on that. Moving on to another issue, now that this “person” has been here for the past few days, let me ask you all this: Do you people prefer the Lady after the change or before? Because she sure is more bearable now.”

I don’t know if I showed it, but I was utterly shocked when the prince told us this. Yes, Lady Catherine was no paragon of virtue, but to say that this someone is the better Lady Catherine when we have no clue who or what she is is just preposterous and downright disrespectful to Lady Catherine.

“My Lord, surely you jest, are you implying that the present Lady Catherine, whom I need to mention, is the person who has a complete change in personality due to reasons which we cannot understand is the one you prefer?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. This is a question for everyone in this room. Has her personality not changed for the better? Her arrogance is no more. The maids are no longer terrified when tending to her needs. Now let me ask you this, then, Alex. I know you are the one who does the Lady’s chores, and you abhor that fact. Tell me, don’t you feel at least a little more relaxed now that her demands have somewhat diminished? Had she not respected you more? Now you are being treated not just as a butler but as a respectable person. . It pains me to see my close friend have to do menial labor. I mean, you’re royalty, for goodness sake! And more importantly, my right-hand man. Is that not an improvement?”

I nod along with the others in the room, because, as much as I vehemently deny it, I have to agree with the prince this time. My happiness has increased exponentially ever since “the switch”.

“Alright, are there any complaints?”

The captain of the royal guards and my close friend Minerva, or as I call her, Mina, then speaks.

“Fear not, folks. If she dares to even think about harming any of us, rest assured that we, the royal guards, will be ready to protect you all. You have my word.”

Though the murmurs still remain, Mina’s pledge manages to ease the worry of a majority of the people here.

“Wonderful. Then, with the seal of approval of the royal guards, I decree that this issue is no longer relevant. Dismissed.”

As everyone emptied out of the room, there were some things that still lingered in my mind. ‘Who is she exactly then? And if she is indeed a different person, what happened to the original Lady Catherine?”. Determination? Maybe. Curiosity? Absolutely. Perhaps it’s my sense of justice trying to fix this situation and bring about the old Lady Catherine. It could also be my stubbornness to not want to admit my skills are deteriorating. Whatever the reason may be, it does not matter. I will find out who she really is.