Tea Time Part 1

Searching through her memories, she wrote down the locations where those people were said to live. After writing for a while, she circled a single name, James Ashford. He had been the captain of the guard in her previous life and was known to be very loyal. He would be the one who she would find first.

Just then, there was a quiet knock on the door.

"Come in."

Clarimond turned around and breathed a sigh of relief as it turned out to Louise. However this turned to frustration when Louise remarked that she would need to go meet Arabella soon. She did not want to meet the person who dangled her life in front of her and laughed at her in the face of death. However, she could not delay this meeting. She would slowly take away everything from Arabella and those who had worked for her.

Clarimond nodded and washed her hands to get ready.

"Are you all right?", Louise asked, noticing Clarimond's shaky hands.

"I'm fine, Louise stop investigating what happened to my parents."

"Why? Did the Emperor say something to you about stopping?"

When Clarimond heard those words all love and respect for the Emperor and his family disappeared. She had already had a feeling they were involved in her parent's death but now it was confirmed.

"I already know what happened, Louise. Just, let's not talk about this anymore all right."

Louise nodded and did not press on anymore although it was clear she wanted to say more. With this unsettling end to their conversation, they walked down the long hallway to the garden where they would have tea. As they walked past the numerous servants, Clarimond could feel the hostile atmosphere from them and the fact that they did not have any respect for her. This again was likely Arabella's doing.

Louise left her as she walked into the imperial garden, no outsiders were allowed without royal invitation. She breathed in deeply and emerged into where Arabella sat in a dark red dress covered in embroidered flowers.

She bowed, "Duchess Clarimond Harridan of Selemont greets your majesty, Princess Arabella of Selemont."

Arabella laughed, "No need for formalities, my dear sister, sit down and let us talk about what is happening."

"My dear sister", those words were horrible to hear again. Would you kill someone you hold dearly and tell them how helpful their death would be? No. She was anything but dear to Arabella. What was dear to Arabella was her money, power, and position, not her.

However Clarimond simply sat down and turned eagerly to Arabella. Starting from now, she would have a facade as well. This game of tea was merely a warmup.