Fight For Goodness!

UPON REACHING THE town square, my prediction was correct; a small line had formed outside of the stand they had set up, and multiple guards were stationed, writing down information about the mystery woman.

I overheard some of the people there speaking about how they believe it is their daughters, or friends, who surely must be the one the Prince is in love with. They begged for an audience, coming up with lies on the spot that the guards saw through. Most dismissed them promptly and forced them out of the line.

The good news was, my information wouldn’t be phony like everyone else’s. If I could get them to listen to me, Prince Cassian would find his mystery woman sooner than he had expected.

I thought about what I would say to the guard. Should I mention what Seralind wore? Perhaps the things that she had told me in confidence last night?

I needed irrefutable evidence that surely only they would know.

She didn’t say much, but maybe if I think hard enough…

I could mention what Seralind’s dress looked like. Or specific details of her conversation with Cassian that only she would know. I searched through my memories, thinking about every time Seralind had mentioned her “benefactor”.

I could mention the ruby brooch! I thought to myself.

I was certain now that he was the one who had given it to her, and no one else knew it was him but Seralind. It wasn’t in our possession anymore, but surely the mention of it would prove I knew the mysterious woman.

A person finally leaves after speaking to a guard, leaving him wide open for anyone else to approach.

Now’s my chance!

I walked up to the guard, my hands balled into fists to stop myself from shaking.

“Excuse me!” I said, my voice coming out meeker than I had wanted. The guard at the post yawned. Maybe he didn’t hear me.

“Excuse me!!” I repeated, a little louder.

“Oh! Huh?” he said, finally noticing me. “Hello, there.”

“Hello,” I responded, trying my best not to let my nerves show. “I-I’d like to speak with Dame Ashton, please!”

I wanted to speak with her personally to make sure my information reached the Prince as soon as possible. There was a small tent set up behind him, and I recognized the speckled stallion she had ridden into the square with the Herald, so I assumed she was here, still inside.

“Is that so? Well, I can pass on a message for you, if you’d like.” He says.

“No, it’s important!” I say.

If only I could speak to her personally…!

The guard didn’t seem to believe me because he wore only a bemused smirk.

“I’m just as important as Dame Ashton, you know,” he says, giving a thumbs-up to himself. “Whatever you need to say to her, you can say to me.”

I didn’t believe that, either.

“Please, sir,” I insist, folding my hands in front of my body, “I have information about the-“

“About what, dear?” A silky voice says behind me.

My limbs stiffen, and a cold chill comes over my body. I refused to turn around, but she placed a cruel hand on my shoulder and leaned over me.

Madame Whispet clicks her fan closed, with that sweet yet fake smile on her face.

“Didn’t I tell you not to bother these people? You truly do let your curiosity get the better of you, child.” She purrs. Madame Whispet grabs me by the arm and curtsies to pay respect to the Imperial guard, digging her fingers into my sleeve.

I grimace from the pain, but try to hide it.

“My apologies, sir,” the madame says to the guard. “This girl is known to be quite the troublemaker for her own amusement. I warned her not to get close and disturb you, but it seems she doesn’t listen.”

“Oh, that’s alright, Miss!” The guard says, “You can’t help it with children, can you?”

“No, you cannot,” Madame Whispet laughs.

“She seemed to want to see the Dame for herself,” The guard tells Madame Whispet. “Very persistent, too.”

Don’t tell her that! I begged him.

I could feel Madame Whispet’s simmering anger beneath her skin, but her smile didn’t crack.

“Oh, how embarrassing!” She said in a light tone. “I hope she didn’t bother Dame Ashton?”

“Oh, not at all! She’s quite an intriguing figure, so I don’t blame her.”

“Again, my sincerest apologies on both our behalf. Now, if you’ll excuse us, she has some work to do. Come now, dear, we ought to have a chat about your behavior.”

No!! I screamed in my mind, but it was too late.

The guard had averted his attention elsewhere, and Madame was dragging me along the cobblestone floor with such a quiet rage that it scared me more than if she had simply whacked me with her fan.

Madame Whispet takes me to a small corner in the alleyway between two stores, out of sight of the guard. She doesn’t release my arm, but only tightens her grip as she glares at me with fire-hot hatred.

“You snotty little brat!” She hisses at me. “What do you think you’re doing?!”

“I-I was just-!” I mumble. I couldn’t think of an excuse on the spot because my brain had frozen from fear.

“Skipping out on chores to go meddle, are we? Thalina said you were at the square on an errand, but you know better than to leave the house without doing your chores first. A patron had walked in on a completely unpresentable guest room!”

She shakes me about angrily.

“S-Sorry!!” I apologize, hoping she’d stop so I don’t get dizzy.

“And to think it was only an excuse. What else have you been doing behind my back, huh? Do I need to lock you up to make sure you’re doing as you’re told?!”

Her nails were digging into my flesh, and I cried out from the pain.

“I just wanted to see the guards!” I protested, hoping my lie would satisfy her. Madame Whispet huffed, finally letting go of me.

My legs felt like jelly, but I was able to stand on my feet. I rubbed the sore spot on my arm, my head bowed.

“I thought I made it clear that you aren’t to speak to the guards,” she reminded me. “I don’t need you or anyone else ruining this perfect opportunity!"

“Opportunity?” I repeated, against my better judgment. She only laughs at me, clicking her fan to cover her devious smirk.

“Do you realize how miraculous this situation is for me? The Prince is looking for a young woman who has attended the ball, the same one that most of my girls had gone to every night! Just the implication that one of them can be his mystery sweetheart can line my pockets for months!”

I blink at her, consuming the new information.

“B-But what if they aren’t?” I ask.

“Who cares? Even just selling one of the girls to someone like him can make me more than all of the ladies who work for me combined in a week. If he’s desperate enough, I can name my price!”

I could practically see the currency signs flashing behind her eyes.

So that was why so many women were sent off to the palace. Because the Madame had been using the prince’s infatuation with Seralind for her own profit!

“But that’s lying to the Prince!” I protest to her. Madame Whispet groans, rolling her eyes.

“I know Seralind likes to keep your head in the dirt, but in the real world, you have to tell a few lies to get what you want.” She says to me.

It’s not just a few lies! You are just wicked and selfish! I think angrily to myself.

Madame Whispet closes her fan and points it accusingly at me.

“If I catch you near those guards again, I’ll beat you over the head with this fan so hard you’ll be dizzy for days! Got it?”

At her threat, I nod quickly. I instinctively cover my head with my hands, as if imagining the pain. She scoffs at the action, cruelly amused by my fear.

“Now, get back to where you belong. Forget about the wine; Thalina can get used to what we have. It was unpopular anyway.” She commands me. I comply immediately, dashing around her and out of the alleyway.

Even though I had agreed to her terms, in my heart I was more defiant than ever.

I wasn’t going to let this woman rob my sister of her dreams, subjecting her to stress and cruelty for her own personal gain. Madame Whispet didn’t have any love in her heart, but that didn’t mean Seralind had to pay for it.

Maybe if I stop the Madame from spinning the prince in circles looking for Seralind, could things be different for us? I could find a way to get the prince to find Seralind as soon as possible, and their love could blossom into something different than the events that occurred in our past life.

Seralind could have the life of luxury and parties and bows she’s always wanted, what she had deserved.

And things were changing. The prince was clearly interested in Seralind, despite not knowing who she was. Enough so that he had made this huge declaration searching for her, and is willing to hear out hundreds of women just for the chance it could be her.

Plus, from Seralind’s own account, he seemed to be good at heart. All I want is goodness for Seralind too.

Be brave, Esmeline. I coax myself, taking a deep breath. Even if I failed, I had to try.

Every day he searched for the wrong woman was another day Seralind remained trapped here. The risk of being discovered and punished by the Madame was one I was willing to take.

So, I thought of the worst possible punishment that Madame Whispet could think of, and prepared myself for it as I devised a plan that I could put into action.