Chapter 12: What We Didn't Know

  Things have been peaceful for the past few months. Even though they deny it whenever someone asks, everyone from Lotabila to Ravivui knows that Aldous and Harriette are courting.

Cloelia had given her wisdom on the standardized schooling program, she traumatized us some more, and much to everyone's dismay, she gave me back my special knife, as long as I promised not to stab anyone who didn’t deserve it. The standards are so low. She then left to wander and do whatever it is she does.

It's been nice seeing Camillus open up, he has become friends with the twins. He still finds them gross and unruly, but a little progress is still progress nonetheless. There hasn't been any more break-ins ever since Trockalon. He has been stuck in the dungeon, whenever he is integrated, all he does is spout nonsense about how great he is and how evil everyone else is. I heard rumors that Aldous has been considering giving him some lashings and setting him free to keep the peace. A dark little voice in my head hopes that he will execute Trockalon instead. I'm figuring he won't though, he wants to improve relations with the human duchies, so executing one of their lords wouldn't be beneficial. Despite my initial fears, Aldous isn't a tyrant.

I think his rule will be beneficial for Bugalas in the long run. I feel bad, thwarting him when I played the games. If I had a choice, I would have joined his side knowing what I know now. He would have to do something extremely evil for me to oppose him again. I’m happy in this life.

I came down to the cellar where Aldous and Harriette were. They were going through the inventory along with some lords that I don’t remember the names of. Aldous picked up a bottle of wine. “Well, Gotthilf was quite the drinker.”

“Not really.” Harriette commented. “He mostly just collected. Hence why there are so many full bottles. Although, back in the day, I did drink a lot. Ever since I had the twins, I swore it off, kind of miss it though.”

“Reasonable.” Aldous nodded as he put the bottle back. He batted at some cobwebs. “No one has been down here in a long time, Amice, when was the last time this place was dusted?”

“Um,” I thought for a moment. “What month is it?”

“It’s the fifth month.” He answered.

“Four years.” I stated.

“Huh,” He looked around. “I thought it would be worse.”

Harriette then piped up. “I’m just glad Camillus cast that spell to get the air flowing. The air would have been really bad in this room with being sealed off for so long.”

“I guess that party must have been super crazy. What was the aftermath like Amice?” Aldous asked.

“You do not want to know, it took weeks to clean!” I threw my arms out for dramatic effect.

“Hey!” Harriette called out. “Look what I found!” Aldous and I came over as Harriette presented a bottle. “This is the first drink I had that night!”

“What is it?” Aldous tilted his head. “There is no label.”

“I don’t remember…” Harriette stared at the bottle, inspecting the liquid. “Not a clue.” She shook her head in defeat.

Aldous hit a fist onto his palm. “There is only one way to find out!”

“Aw heck naw! Last time she drank that, the whole castle erupted into chaos.” I crossed my arms.

“We’ll be carful, that is, if you want to, Harriette?" Aldous asked politely, toning down his enthusiasm.

"Yes, I wouldn't mind a drink. What harm can one bottle do if we split it?" She chipperly replied.

Soon enough, Aldous, Harriette and I were in Aldous’ study. "Just this one bottle, and you can babysit us to make sure we dont do anything irresponsible." Aldous was confident that this wasn't going to end horribly.

"Uh huh, and what am I supposed to do if both of you are wasted?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Call for help." Aldous answered as if it was obvious.

"Eh, you two are grown adults, do what you want, I'll tell you all about the shenanigans when you’re sober." I crossed my arms once again.

"I'm not going to blackout this time." Harriette promised. I rolled my eyes in response.

Aldous poured two wine glasses of the drink. He smiled. "Why don't you take the first sip, Harriette, tell me if it lives up to the hype."

Harriette took a sip and set down the glass. She swallowed, as she was taking in the taste, her eyes rolled into the back of her head and her body went limp. "Harriette!" Both Aldous and I screamed as we ran over to her.

"What in the roofie heck!?" I called out as I checked Harriette's pulse.

Aldous sniffed the bottle. "This...isn't alcohol." He determined. I slammed my fist onto the table. "Hm? Amice?"

I went to leave, pulling my knife out from my skirt. "I have a ghost to confront."

Aldous ran around and caught me by my hair. He used magic to slam the door shut. "And what do you mean by that?" He growled darkly while casting another spell.

I turned slightly to side eye him. "You cast a truth spell."

Aldous pulled me back and stood in between me and the door. "Answer the question." He commanded. "Or else I turn you into a stain on the floor."

"Now, if you kill me, I can't answer." I sneered.

"You can if I call my mother back, don't make me get her involved." He snarled back. My face went pale. "That's what I thought, now talk! What secret have you been keeping?" He pried, taking a step closer as he did.

"I-I. I didn't know it happened like this." I stammered. I put my hand on the table; I refused to look at him while I contemplated. I then stared him in the eyes when I made my decision. "You must promise me, pinky promise me, that you will respond rationally and you won't go on a rampage." I set my conditions.

"Fine." Aldous extended his pinky, we shook on it. "Now speak!" He barked.

"King Gotthilf. King Gotthilf was the one to give Harriette the drink. I had thought they had both blacked out and made a mistake. I didn't know he..." I couldn't hold back my tears. "I would have bloody killed him myself if I had known he did this!" I motioned to Harriette.

"No..." Aldous stared at the floor. "That means, no not necessarily..." He muttered some of his thoughts out loud.

"I do believe so. I believe Esmee is the reincarnation of Princess Freya and Biff is the reincarnation of Prince Ronald." I stated as I cried.

Aldous was silent. His head bowed, through my blurry sight I'm pretty sure that he was crying too. "...no..." He uttered. "After everything..." He shook his head.

"M-my liege?" I piped up, choking on my tears. "What are you going to do?"

He was quiet. "Silence you." He said coldly. "Keeping this from me is treason!" He boomed. "Not only did you keep this from me, but you also kept it from her!" He pointed to Harriette. "I am going to make sure you never tell her. Ignatius!"

I braced for a fight as Ignatius teleported in. His face filled with evil joy when he saw me. "Yes, my liege?" He chirped.

"Right after the siege do you remember how we bound Harriette, well do that to Amice and throw her in the dungeon!" Aldous commanded.

"Gladly." Ignatius grinned as he slowly began to approach.

I stabbed Ignatius right in the weak point the moment he got within my arms’ reach. As he hunched over, I took the opportunity to run. Aldous summoned his sword, with my momentum, my head was nearly cut in two when he blocked my path. Ignatius yanked my knife out of my hand, throwing it into the side of a bookcase. He grabbed my arms, forcing them behind my back. Ignatius and Aldous worked together to summon and place the chains. I did my best to resist, but it was pointless without any MP of my own.

Ignatius took the lead chain. "Come along now, you know you can't win." He turned to Aldous. "So, what did she do to deserve this, my liege?" He asked playfully.

"It's none of your concern!" Aldous snapped.

"Uh, my apologies my liege. I shall take her to the dungeon immediately." He pulled me along as he swiftly exited the room. When we made it to the dungeon, he took me into a cell and took the mask off me. "What is going on?" He questioned quietly.

"It's best if you don't know. The less that you know, the safer you are." I refused to explain.

"You just stabbed me; you don't care about my safety. What did you do, and what happened to Lady Harriette?" He continued to pry.

"Please, You're fine. Aldous will seal you if I tell you.” I warned him. “I've already ruined enough lives today. Leave."

Ignatius scowled. “Are you trying to tell me what to do?”

I sighed. “Save yourself, stop talking to me, you don’t want to make him even madder. The truth will be revealed in time.”

“Just tell me!” Ignatius screamed. “I can’t help you if you won’t tell me!” He then covered his mouth, as if trying to bring the words back inside.

“There is no helping me.” I told him mournfully.

“You sound like Camillus.” He snarled.

“Speaking of Camillus, take good care of him, please, your grace. Furthermore, if I am to remain here indefinitely, or am to be executed, go to my room, there is a stone at the head of the bed, remove it from the wall, inside there will be books and maps I have penned. Give them to the kids.” I then stared at the floor, I knew if I kept talking, I’d only make the situation worse.

“Amice! Ugh!” Ignatius turned around in frustration. He shoved the mask at one of the guards, “Put that on her.”

I was left alone after I had been re-muzzled. I wasn’t in the cell that had the secret passage, even if I was, I wouldn’t be able to escape. I can’t move well enough. I’m trapped, waiting for Aldous to announce my fate. I don’t care about my own safety; I broke a promise. I couldn’t protect Esmee and Biff, with Harriette out cold, they are at the mercy of Aldous. I shouldn’t have told him; I should have let him kill me. By the time Cloelia returned to summon my ghost, the twins could have escaped with Harriette. Maybe we can’t escape fate, today will determine that. Was Aldous the evil tyrant from the games, or the benevolent ruler that I have seen everyday for the last few months. I was helpless to change what he will do, but I’m not completely immobile. I stood up and scuffled over to the door of the cell. “Guard!” I yelled as best I could through the mask.

The boar monster guard side eyed me, then he moseyed over. “What?” He growled.

“If you would be so kind,” I called out so he could hear me at a normal level, “could you give me updates on Harriette’s children, if you hear any news, please.” I begged him.

“Oh, that’s all. Right, you’re Amice. Sure.” He then walked away. “I’m not really supposed to be talking to you.”

“Haha!” I recognized that voice laughing, I wish I didn’t. “Karma prevails!” Trockalon yelled. “You’re back in here, looks like you shouldn’t have stabbed me, I could have spared you from this fate.”

I want to kill him. I wish I killed him. If I am to be executed, I hope it’s not with this moron. I tuned out Trockalon’s ramblings. One of the guards came over and hit the bars to tell him to shut up. He eventually did. After a few hours, the hunger set in. There was no longer any light coming in through the miniscule, barred window. I stared out, hoping to see any glimpse of the world outside, but not even a star could be seen. I sat down in a corner. I adjusted my body several times until a found a position that was somewhat comfortable. I longed for my bed back in my old life, it was so comfy, so warm, and safe. I fell into a dreamless asleep in the cold cell.

The next day was boring, all I could do was shamble around my cell. Over and over again, waiting, slowly loosing my sanity. Eventually, the guard that I had spoke to yesterday came over. "Hey!" He waved me over. "So, Lady Harriette and her children are doing good, they are worried about you and wondering why you are locked up. No one can give them answer, everyone in the castle is so tense. Is there a message you want me to Lady Harriette?" He asked kindly.

I shook my head. "No, it's best if she is left in the dark."

"Well, nothing has been announced yet, but..." His voice trailed off.

"I see, well, if I am to be executed, tell Harriette and the twins; that this has been a wonderful life, that I love them and I will do everything I can to protect them in the next life if I'm able. Tell them that I hope to meet them again if I am reborn." I began to choke on my words.

"I'll do that, if it comes to that." He nodded, he walked away before we were caught talking.

Evening came, I was fed some bread and given some water. Then came the news, I was to be hung tomorrow afternoon.