58: Ghost of the old palace

Ghost of the old palace

When Dante finished securing the horse's reins, his eyes still hadn't moved away from his younger brother and the maid, who stood on the other side of the brown horse. With Emily gone, who had already walked ahead of them, Aiden said to Anastasia, 

"It is good to start with a horse because you will learn to balance yourself. I have ridden camels before, and boy, did I fall off the first time."

Dante noticed the maid smile at her brother's words, and his lips twitched. He remarked, 

"Try to help her run away again and she will be punished twice as hard as usual. You wouldn't want to disappoint your sister, who believes that she brings bad luck to her maids."

Anastasia's and Aiden's smiles fell right away. A look of guilt appeared on Aiden's face, and he quickly said, 

"I was just telling her about the camels and h—"

"She's Emily's maid and is supposed to be by her side, not standing here and chatting," Dante's words were cold, and his gaze held a glint of glare directed at the brown-eyed woman. He said, "There's no need to discuss unnecessary things, as when we return, she will be travelling by foot."

Anastasia felt her heart sink upon hearing this. But then again, she was a maid, and she was expected to travel by foot. When Prince Dante walked past them, heading towards the entrance of the old palace, Prince Aiden and Anastasia quickly followed him.

Prince Aiden said in a low voice as they began to walk, "I think I'd better not speak about horses and camels with you, at least not in front of him. I am sorry, Anna," he apologised. "If I didn't escape from the palace with you, he wouldn't be glaring at you now."

Anastasia whispered, her feet moving quickly, "I think it's better than being dead."

"I like your positive approach. Brother Dante hates people who break the rules, and when someone does that, it doesn't take long for him to punish them. It must be because of my sister that he hasn't punished you," Prince Aiden whispered back as they stepped inside the old palace. 

Upon reaching the drawing room, Anastasia caught sight of Lady Sophia hugging her daughter in relief. She turned and noticed Prince Dante continue to walk through the halls, probably to where his mother was resting. 

"Brother Aiden!" The youngest Blackthorn exclaimed upon seeing Prince Aiden, before he ran towards him and hugged him. "I missed you!"

"It is good to see you too, Victor," Prince Aiden smiled and offered a bow to Lady Noor. 

Once the young boy let go of Prince Aiden, Lady Sophia wrapped her arms around her son and sighed, 

"I am so happy to see you both here. I have been worried sick since we moved here that something would happen to you both. The only news I could rely on was Dante's, but he had gone to fight the war. How have you been?" She asked, pulling away from her son. "Are they treating you well?" 

Prince Aiden smiled at his mother and said, "Emily and I have been doing fine. And with Grandmother and Brother Dante back, things are better." 

"Where is Mother Queen?" Lady Noor asked before adding, "Aziel said she would be visiting soon, but we haven't heard a word from her since she left."

Princess Emily replied, "Brother Maxwell has confined Grandmother in the palace until Lady Evin wakes up. It should just be a matter of time before she does, as the spots have disappeared from her body."

"If we were there, this probably wouldn't have happened," Lady Sophia murmured, feeling a bitter taste in her mouth. 

Her husband had married her, and it was his duty to protect her and their children. But he had left them in an uncertain place. Not only did she have to fight for his affection, which he shared with other women, but she also had to fight for her son's right to the throne, which had slipped right through her fingers. 

She said with a smile, "Why don't you children clean yourself up? The maids will set out dinner so that we can have it together." 

At dinner, Anastasia and two other maids who belonged to Lady Sophia and Lady Lucretia helped set the table. Once the royal family members finished eating, she helped clean the table and then assisted in the kitchen, as the old palace was short on staff, which was expected. 

One of the older maids instructed Anastasia, "Bring this to Lady Lucretia's room."

Anastasia noticed the dark liquid in the glass that was handed to her. She asked, 'What is this?'

"This is freshly ground ginger, honey and pepper, which has been boiled. It helps ease the congestion Lady Lucretia suffers from. Go now," the older maid said. 

Taking the glass with her, Anastasia made her way to Lady Lucretia's room at the far end of the ground floor, while Lady Sophia's and Lady Noor's rooms were upstairs. When she reached the room, she heard the woman's voice. 

"… better to stay here than subject yourself to mistrust for me. Oddly, Lady Sophia has been quiet, refraining from her usual remarks. Noor has been helpful, as usual, coming around here to talk with me for a few minutes."

"Sharing the same problem sometimes brings people closer." It was Prince Dante's voice.

Anastasia hesitated to knock on the door, and though she didn't intend to eavesdrop, it happened anyway. She heard Lady Lucretia from the other side of the door, 

"As harsh as the decision was, I can empathise with Maya's choice. Everyone is simply trying to ensure their children are safe and won't be executed after King William's death."

Not wanting the liquid to turn cold, Anastasia knocked on the door and heard Prince Dante, 

"Come in."

Opening the door, Anastasia stepped inside the room and offered a deep bow. She raised her hand, presenting the glass she had brought for the lady. 

"Who is this? I don't think I have seen her before." Lady Lucretia hadn't noticed the maid before because she was sick and trying to keep traces of blood off her lips. 

"She's Emily's maid," Prince Dante answered his mother, who sat on the couch with a blanket spread over her legs. 

"I didn't pay attention to her before. What's your name, girl?" Lady Lucretia asked in a friendly tone with a gentle smile. 

"Anna," Prince Dante replied, and Lady Lucretia turned to her son as if asking whether he was going to answer every question himself, "She cannot speak."

"That's sad," Lady Lucretia murmured before she started to cough, and she brought her dull handkerchief to her mouth.

The cough sounded painful as it filled the room. When Lady Lucretia's body started to shake, Anastasia observed Prince Dante come to his mother's side and hold her until she calmed down. When Anastasia offered the glass by bringing it forward, she heard Prince Dante order her, 

"Take a sip from it."

Anastasia stared back at him, realising how protective he was of his mother. He was making sure it wasn't poisoned. She brought the glass up to her lips and took a sip without touching the glassware. Once he saw her gulp it down, he took it from her before helping his mother drink. 

"Do you need me to get the physician?" Prince Dante asked his mother when she began to cough again, resting against his chest.

"I am fine…" came the frail voice of Lady Lucretia. "I think a little rest should help."

When Prince Dante carried his mother to the bed, laying her down before pulling the blanket up to her chest, Anastasia caught sight of the couch's surface, stained with the lady's blood. Pulling out a cloth and bringing in water, she removed the blood stains. At that time, she caught a glimpse of Lady Lucretia slowly falling asleep while her son sat on the edge of the bed.

Anastasia stepped out of the room, carefully closing the door behind her and leaving the prince with his mother. 

After finishing the rest of her work, she went to the room she would reside in for the rest of her stay in the old palace. Changing into her night dress, she climbed into her bed and quickly fell asleep. 

Her consciousness descended deep into the realm of her dreams as she chased after Marianne. Before she had the opportunity to catch hold of her sister, she woke up to see the dark ceiling of the room. 

She stared at the ceiling for a long time as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room. When she heard a sound coming from outside her room, her eyes moved to look at the closed door. She saw a shadow pass by her room, alerting her. 

Climbing out of bed, she inched closer to the door before opening it and peeking out at the corridor, but there was no sign of anyone there. Then she, yet again, heard the distinct sound of doors opening and closing in the quiet night. 

Anastasia's bare feet padded on the wooden flooring, and she vigilantly moved until she came near one of the rooms, from which a stream of light spilled out. When she reached the entrance, she found Prince Dante rummaging through the cabinets. 

[Music Recommendation: I'm Just George- Kris Bowers]

She cleared her throat to gain his attention, and he turned to look over his shoulder. She asked him, "Was there something you needed, Prince Dante?" 

"I don't suppose you know where the liquor bottles are," Dante stated, closing the cabinet door that he had opened and turning to face her. He looked a little tired, as if he hadn't slept. 

"No…" Anastasia responded.

"Thought not," Dante responded before going through the other cabinets. With a frown marring his forehead, he said, "My grandmother must have finished the bottles when she was here."

When he moved closer to the candle stand, Anastasia's eyes widened on seeing a wet patch on his shirt, and she exclaimed, alarmed, "I—Is that blood? You are bleeding…" 

But Dante seemed already aware of it, as evidenced by his unfazed expression. He questioned, "Didn't I tell you not to wander in the middle of the night?" 

Anastasia took a second to look away from his shirt and meet his emotionless eyes. She said, "I had trouble falling back asleep." 

Dante stared at her for a second longer before he said,  "Do you know which is the Mother Queen's room? It is on the upper floor. Check inside the cupboards; there should be at least one bottle that has been saved. Go."

Anastasia nodded and went to the Mother Queen's room, going through the cupboards in the dark as quietly as possible so that she wouldn't wake anyone on the same floor. Once her hand touched the neck of a bottle, she grabbed it and went down to where Dante was.  0

When Anastasia returned to the room Dante was in, she heard him, "Close the door behind you."

Pushing the door closed and hearing it click, Anastasia turned around and approached the table where Dante stood. On the table were things like needles, gauges and other such tools. He stretched his hand forward, and she quickly handed the liquor bottle to him. 

Anastasia watched him pull out the cork before taking three gulps. Filled with uncertainty, she asked, 

"Should I fetch the physician, Prince?" 

Dante placed the bottle on the table with a light thud and he leaned his lower back against the table. He asked, "Do you know where to find one at this hour?" His hands reached for the buttons of his shirt, and he began to unbutton it. 

Anastasia's eyes looked away from his hands, and she shook her head. 

"Don't do things I didn't ask for when you can't even follow what I have told you before." Dante continued to stare at her until he reached the last of the buttons. He flinched when he parted the shirt, and Anastasia's eyes fell on a deep, bloody wound a little above the abdomen. 

He must have received this during the war, Anastasia thought to herself. 

The Knight of Versailles had made people believe that the war he had fought had been easy, as only a few bruises were visible on his face and arms. He walked without flinching, and his composure was so put together that it didn't raise any questions about the hardships he went through. 

Anastasia's mind drifted back to Lady Lucretia leaning against Prince Dante. The weight of her body or the force of her grip must have put pressure on the wound. Yet the prince had patiently sat there next to her, offering his company. 

"If you are here to gawk, you can get out. Or make yourself useful by bringing the light closer," Dante's words broke through Anastasia's thoughts, and she quickly picked up the candle stand and stood next to him. 

Dante poured the liquor into a glass and then dipped some cotton balls into it. He then used them to clean the surrounding area of the wound. Apart from the illumination as he sewed up his wound, he didn't ask for her assistance, and though the pain on his face didn't show as much as it did on Anastasia's, his eyes hardened with every stitch of the needle into his skin. 

Anastasia asked him, "Was the wound not stitched before?" 

"The physician did a lousy job, and the wound opened during the travel back," Dante responded with his eyes focused on his wound as he continued to work on closing it. When his eyes looked up, Anastasia's brown eyes moved to meet his gaze. 

Anastasia quickly looked down at his wound, feeling him stare as if he was waiting to pick on a fault of hers, ready to reprimand her. When he resumed pushing the needle out, she heard him say, 

"Everyone who brings my mother food and drink is supposed to eat and drink a sample before she consumes it."

"I understand," Anastasia nodded. "It never hurts to be careful."

"Mm," Dante hummed. 

To fill the silence, she asked him, "Do you think someone is waiting to hurt Lady Lucretia?" 

"It has been many years since the late king distanced himself away from my mother and took away her privileges and status. But people can be unpredictable, and like you said, it doesn't hurt to be careful," Dante remarked, and he grimaced when he extracted the needle along with the thread. 

Somewhere deep down in his mind, there had been moments where he wished he could catch someone who was the cause of his mother's ill health. Because that would mean there would be hope of her getting better. But there had been no foul play, and her declining health needed to be cared for. 

With the wound closed, Dante buttoned his shirt back up and took another sip of the liquor to dull the pain. Cocking his head, he stared at the maid, who was now cleaning the table by gathering the things that were used so they could be thrown out or washed. 

The fringes of her hair partially obscured her eyes, which were fixed on the table. There was a softness to her appearance, letting him know that even though she had gone through a harsh life as a maid, she had been untouched by the ugliness of the palace. 

"I thought you would be revolted at the sight of the blood. Many can't handle it," Dante remarked, and Anastasia turned to look at him. 

"I am not particularly fond of it," Anastasia softly murmured before adding, "I see my sister every night. The same way I found her. Covered in blood." She paused for a moment and then asked, "Does it get better?" 

She could only imagine the gore that had surrounded him after fighting so many wars. His lips twisted as he stared into her brown eyes and said, "Depends on what kind of person you are—whether you choose to sink to become one with it, or choose to sink within it and succumb to death."

Anastasia was tempted to ask which kind of person he was, but she feared that she already knew the answer. 

Their gazes broke away from one another when they heard footsteps echoing outside in the corridor. 

"Who is awake in there?" Minister Aziel had woken up to relieve himself when he noticed light beneath the door of one of the rooms. 

"Why is he awake at this hour?" Dante muttered with a scowl. He grabbed Anastasia's hand and, in the other, took hold of the burning candle stand before pulling her down to duck below the table and behind the chairs. 

"W—Why are we hiding?" Anastasia asked him, confused. 

Her eyes met Dante's calm ones, and he turned to the candles before blowing them out to bring darkness into the room. She heard him say, "Stay quiet, lest you want to assume the role of a courtesan."

His grandmother only needed a speck of hope to make things difficult for him, Dante thought in his mind. Not to mention, it wasn't something this woman wanted either. 

Anastasia realised the precarious position she had put herself in by staying next to the prince in the middle of the night again, which could blow out of proportion like it did last time. 

She heard the door to the room open, and she peeked through the gap of the chair, seeing Minister Aziel holding a candle in his hand and looking around from the front of the room with a sleepy look on his face before he shut the door closed. 

"I will take the first-aid box. You can go back to your room," Dante said, which had Anastasia turn towards him. 

But when Dante stretched his hand out, he felt a pull on the wound that he had just stitched, making him wince slightly from the pain, and at the same time, his hand accidentally brushed against the palm of her free hand. Self-conscious about her calloused hands, Anastasia was startled, and she hastily moved to stand up, only to hit the underside of the table. 

"What do you think you are doing?!" Dante scowled. 

"My apologies!" Anastasia pushed the first-aid box to him before getting up, bowing, and bolting out of the room.

Unaware of what had happened just now, Dante stared at the open door through which the maid had run out. 

When morning arrived, Anastasia helped Princess Emily get ready before she joined the kitchen staff to serve breakfast to the royal family members in the dining room. Right now, she was carrying a basket of bread in one hand, and in the other, she carried a platter of peeled and cut fruits. 

"I thought I saw a ghost in the corridor last night, milady," Minister Aziel spoke with a deep frown. "I was walking back to my room when it whooshed by and scared the living daylights out of me!" 

"It must be the Mother Queen's beloved cat," Lady Sophia said seriously as Anastasia quietly poured water into everyone's glasses while feeling the murderous gaze of Prince Dante. "There are no ghosts in here, and even if you find one, don't tell us." She muttered, "The last thing any of us need is the company of the dead."

"I don't think I have heard any ghost stories about this place," Princess Emily murmured. 

"Because there are none," Lady Sophia stated as she ate. 

But Minister Aziel was sure it wasn't a cat; unless it could transform into a giant creature, he thought to himself. 

"I would like some water," Prince Aiden raised his glass and smiled at Anastasia. 

Anastasia wished the third prince wouldn't give more reasons for his brother to glare at her. But then, at the same time, he was only asking for water, and she was a maid serving the food. 

"Mother," Princess Emily began and said, "I will be going to the riverbank today. It has been so long since I last visited it, and the maids are going there to clean the clothes."

"Take the guards with you," Lady Sophia said in a strict voice, and Princess Emily beamed excitedly. 

Prince Aiden began, "That's great! I will be coming wit—" 

"You will be coming with me. We are going to the nearby town to meet a few ministers," Dante remarked, killing his younger brother's budding excitement.

pqdm.com