Chapter 75 Secrets
The royal chambers.
Esteban: Your Majesty, it is necessary to inform you about people who have committed treason. It was necessary to wait until after the meeting. Some of your supporters are guilty.
Olivia tried to appear calm: Very well, who?
Danilo: The king was murdered by Duchess Lieselota with poison. I do not know who administered the poison, but the conspiracy was the work of the duchess. Lady Marisela and I were part of the conspiracy. I think Lord Heinrik and Count Vulfhelm knew something about it. I cannot say who knew what. People only knew what the duchess told them.
Olivia thought for a few moments: Why did these people do this?
Danilo: Marisela discovered something about me. I like men instead of women. I helped her because if she had told the king my secret, he would have killed me in a horrible way.
Olivia: How would the king do it? I need to understand everything before I form an opinion. Monika is teaching me about the court of my great-grandfather. I think his methods will serve me until I understand more.
Esteban: The king preferred a special execution for a man like that. The man was tied to a sturdy table. An executioner completely amputated his genitals and then forced his mouth open. He shoved the genitals into his mouth and down his throat until the man stopped breathing.
Olivia looked like she was about to vomit, but she regained her composure after a few seconds.
Tatiana in a soft tone: My queen, your father was a cruel man to many. Most people were afraid of him.
Olivia: I understand. I have overheard things without people realizing I was listening. And I realized that Monika was lying to me. Please, tell me the truth about others, just the truth that you know. And tell me why you think they did what they did.
The three adults were impressed by the intelligence of the queen. They all looked toward the royal maid and thought that the young woman had received excellent preparation.
Danilo: The duchess never wanted to serve your father, and she pushed her husband to stage a revolt against him when you were young. Aloisio executed the duke in front of her and her son. Marisela is in love with Count Heinrik. Furthermore, her husband died during this war. Leopold was not a warrior, but the king sent him with his soldiers. The knights of Puerto Blanco annihilated his company and killed the count. I think she blames your father for what happened.
Esteban: We believe Heinrik is a man of honor. He is the brother of the Duke and has reasons to hate your father. As for the young man, I do not know if he knows anything or not.
Olivia: Thank you. I would like to speak with Heinrik and Vulfhelm, now if possible.
Monika stood up and walked towards the door. She sent a page to fetch the nobles.
Olivia: High priest, why did my father execute men who had relationships with other men?
Danilo: Because they believe that a man needs to be brave, strong, and have children.
Olivia: A brave and strong man told me the truth, but I do not think it was the whole truth.
Danilo began to speak, but Esteban covered his hand and looked at him with eyes full of sadness and love.
Esteban: My Queen, I like both men and women. Danilo was protecting me from the king.
Olivia: I do not quite understand it. But it does not matter now. Tatiana, what do you think of Herald Guillermo?
Tatiana: He likes power. He told your father that he was a strong man and a good king.
Olivia: I want to talk to him after the others.
The rooms of the royal herald.
Guillermo was sitting in his office writing scrolls for various parts of the kingdom. Each of them announced the coronation of Queen Olivia and issued a call for knights and men-at-arms to travel to the city to demonstrate their loyalty. He also created four small coin pouches for the riders, each with an attached scroll bearing a name. In the pouch for Corsino, he hid two small scrolls between two layers of fabric and sewed them shut. It would be very difficult to detect.
Guillermo thought: If they find out, she will kill me. But sometimes it is necessary to trust in luck.
The note from Octavio contained questions about the location of the soldiers in the tower and the corridors. He wrote notes that were partly true and partly false. It would be better if there were more dead soldiers in the castle when Aurelio arrived. The herald needed to seize opportunities to weaken each side.
Guillermo: Page!
The young man who entered was a stranger: Herald, how can I serve you?
Guillermo, this large bag is for the nest. The small one is for the hand of Count Octavio; deliver that one first.
The rooms of Lady Marisela.
The lady, Patricia, and a woman dressed entirely in black were sitting and watching young Paco. The Sister of the Shadow was taller, had a masculine face, and no one had ever considered her beautiful. But Patricia looked at her as if she were a goddess. The two had met before the sister took her oath. It was tradition that she now had no name. She was a sister, the face of death. The priestesses cared for the dying and the dead in all the castles and cities of the kingdom.
Marisela: Thank you for everything. I know you are taking a risk to help me.
Sister: He is my responsibility, fate gave me to him. The other things are for someone who who was given to me by fate. She knows that her safety is important to me.
Patricia smiled despite the sadness. She took the hand of her secret love and squeezed it gently.
Marisela: Is everything ready?
Patricia: Almost, my Lady. When the sun is low in the west, we can leave. I hope Paco holds out until then. It would be good if his family could see him before he passes.
Sister: The nobles and the soldiers respect us because they know that we could be the last faces they see in their lives. This will help us.