Tale of Four

”Did you have to go so far?” Mabel asked, getting a questioning look from Elias.

”Forgive me, sister, but I’m pretty sure you were on board the entire time.” Answering, he got a roll of the eyes from Mabel, who let out a deep sigh.

”Before outsiders, we must always show unity. I can advise against minor matters, but I cannot be seen trying to stop you without reason.” Mabel said, although the small chuckle in her voice betrayed her.

”Mabel.” Elias quietly said, looking around as they left the hedge maze, the King’s Guards quietly following behind. The gazes of servants and soldiers all turned toward them, pretending they weren’t looking, but it was clear they were already trying to think of a story about why the two were in the maze. ”When I am king, you will be the only one I can trust with my life.” Elias said, feeling the gazes around him, ”Matthew is our brother, but he is a quiet boy who is better suited to be married away. You alone will be the only one I expect to stop me, as I know you will do it for my interests, not your own.”

Mabel looked to her brother and smiled before her eyes narrowed like a cat, a deep desire to tease her brother in them. Elias saw it, and before Mabel could speak, he sped up and walked off. Not wishing to end the conversation, she caught up with him and didn’t push. ”I understand, brother. But why were you so hard on him at first?”

”It’s easy for a man to say he will be honest, but put him under stress and his true self will slip out.” Elias thought of Tristan and shook his head, ”But he is dangerous.” Remembering the gambit Tristan played, he couldn’t help but realise he had underestimated him. His request was to force Tristan to reveal any cards he had hidden, even if he didn’t expect one. After all, by Tristan’s own words in how he lived, it was likely he didn’t have one that was good enough and was hoping to use it as a chance to cut contact.

”To find an answer that forces us to align with him without giving anything.” Elias narrowed his gaze, ”He is too much like Brandon. Are we sure he wasn’t taught by him?”

”I asked father.” Mabel replied, ”He gave a non-answer.” Elias nodded, grabbing his chin.

”It’s better we keep him close then, but at arm’s length. Train him and offer just enough to keep him happy, but never let him know what is truly happening unless we require him.” Elias words got a nod from Mabel, ”He must have some weakness. If we can find it. Women, gold, friends. No one person exists without ambition.”

Mabel lowered her head, ”I don’t think he cares for women or at least wouldn’t fall for such a trick.”

”He’s a degenerate?” Elias said, disgusted, getting a shake of Mabel’s head.

”No, but I already tested him once to see if it could pull his attention. It wasn’t like a homosexual who would register it and ignore it. He knew what I was doing and didn’t play along.” Mabel grabbed her chin, ”As for gold, perhaps, but we need to be slow trying to test this. Suddenly, having him bribed will rouse his suspicions.” Elias nodded and looked ahead. With his hands behind his back, he squeezed his fists.

”If it’s neither gold nor women, what would he want. I cannot believe mere survival is all he desires. That is hardly living.” Marbel nodded in agreement.

”Power perhaps. Not ambition for the throne but a type of power that helps guide it. After all, it makes sense that he would reveal himself now if that is the case. Father still has many years left of his reign, but you are next to inherit. A man with that awareness of court politics would know that the earlier he makes a move, the more likely he would have a place on your council when you are King.” Telling her own theory, the two fell into thought, trying to understand the reason for everything, unable to be completely certain about anything.

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Making his way through the Palace, Tristan blankly stared ahead, unsure of what to do anymore. Above him, Annabell, jumped from chandelier to chandelier, keeping out of sight. Although he would have much preferred to talk to the bird, he couldn’t be sure how his little stunt with Elias and Mabel would play out in the coming days, and would rather have Annabell in a position where she could watch for danger.

The Palace halls were full of life, but through it, Tristan noticed his black-haired cousin, whom he had met in the library. Looking up, he let out a low whistle and recalled Annabell back. ”See the black-haired one. Follow him.” Annabell looked through the crowd, trying to see who Tristan meant, and nodded, flying up once again, keeping close to Edmund.

Tristan kept a small distance behind, walking around, never keeping a gaze on Edmund just in case he or his summon felt it. He trusted Annabell to be able to watch freely. After all, very few people would suspect being watched from above, even if they were warned they were being watched.

Edmund slowly walked, clutching his book to his chest. Turning into a side room, Annabell circled around, flying out a window and entering another room. Watching, she saw Edmund take a seat and patiently wait, reading his book.

”Tristan.” Coming back to him, she reported what she saw. Tristan fell into thought before giving the okay for her to go on her own. Annabell tapped her chest with her wing and flew off, flying back into the room where Edmund waited, taking her place above a painting as the sunlight hit. Unless one looked closely, she was unnoticeable.

Five minutes turned into ten, and just as she got bored, the side room door opened, an older lady walking, carrying herself with grace and elegance, never leaving an opening for herself to be criticised. She was a woman on the heavier side, having never lost the fat gained during pregnancy, but even with that, no one could deny she was a beautiful woman.

”Mother.” Edmund got up and placed his hand on his chest before the golden-haired lady, Princess Mary Cosmaton. Mary sweetly smiled and placed a hand on her son’s head, ruffling his hair.

”There is no need to be so serious in private, Edmund. You are too much like your father sometimes.” Edmund nodded and let himself relax. ”How did your studies go?” Mary asked, taking a seat, never losing the elegance and grace with which she carried herself, even in private.

”I couldn’t find anything, Mother. I looked into the books, even about the myths, but there was nothing.” Edmund looked down in disappointment, afraid to meet his mother’s gaze, unsure what she felt, not seeing that she didn’t blame him.

”Then it means Lady Death is either a new God or a foreign one.” Mary sighed and looked out the window. Chuckling to herself, she covered her mouth to hide her teeth despite no one being there to judge. ”Brandon and Anton will appreciate this.” Getting up, she walked over to Edmund, ”I will make sure to tell them how you helped my son.”

”Mother.” Edmund looked up at her and smiled before frowning, remembering a detail he forgot to add, ”On one of the nights, one of my cousins saw me studying.” Rubbing his head, he tried to remember which one. Clicking his fingers when he did, he smiled, ”His name is Tristan, I think?”

”Tristan,” Mary said with a soft smile, ”Little Walters’ boy.”

”Is there an issue, mother?” Edmund shyly asked, getting a shake of the head from Mary.

”As long as he didn’t know you were looking into Lady Death.” Her gaze chilled without losing the smile, ”After all, your king and the Chancellor don’t want any more people knowing about this.”

”But the servants and court talk about it all the time.” Edmund countered, unsure how the order could be followed if it was already a topic told by servants.

”Edmund. That is housewife gossip, not the truth. Now that you did what I asked, you will never mention Lady Death again.” Mary rested a hand on her son’s head and sweetly smiled, the chill in her eyes mixing with a mother’s love, ”Am I clear?”