Price of a Secret

Like life, I have seen many things. The collapse of many kingdoms and the dawn of many wars.

I am the historian currently of Ophela.

Not many people know this but in war, often the only ones spared of the historians. I do not know loyalty to anyone unless it has a price.

And one of the many secrets I saw was that of Queen Evania's.

"You can wait!" Leading with my anger as I hang my herbs.

"Is that really the way you talk to your Queen?" The woman ask as I stop, leaving the bunch of rosemary on the table and make my way to the door as she walks through the doorframe.

"No! But that is the way I talk to my Princess" I reply as I still remember her face as she smiles to me.

"As of a week ago I am now acting Queen. So....no bow?" She ask me as I lead her to my kitchen table.

"What is it you want?" I ask her as her smile dies and her eyes grow more serious, "I know you are not here for the company" I remind her as she strokes the ring on her finger.

"I don't associate myself with the company of liars" she says as she notices my eyes on her ring. "I hear whispers that you proclaim King Titus death was not a true war killing. How dare you disgrace my father?" She ask me as she holds her hand under the table.

"The truth is not disgraceful, it is the truth!" I say as I rise from my chair turning my back on her to fill two cups of water. "No amount of lies can ever cover that up" I say, turning back to her and setting the cup beside her as I sit back.

"Then, how much?" She ask me, her eyes still, "I think this is enough to cover a distasteful truth, don't you?" She compromises, laying on the table as sack of coins.

"Perhaps" I say as she pushes the bag to me and I open it, admiring the gold coins.

"What you saw....what you think you saw is no more. My father died in the infiltration of the castle six year ago, that is the truth." She says as she stand up.

"Is this what your father would want?" I ask her as she freezes. Her eyes finally showing a inkling of emotion.

"He would want to protect me" she says with tears collecting in her eyes, "and now I want to protect him" I hear the honesty in her voice. "And now I must depart" she sadly recedes as she starts walking and I stop her.

"What about your future husband? What should I tell him?" I ask her as she smiles at my words, holding the doorframe.

"Marriage is off the table for some time now" she says, her words stinging as she leaves. And the sachet of gold is still in my hands.

******************

Mariette Lavour, a simple historian. How would she know the truth behind Evania's father?

"Mariette Lavour?" I ask a man as he points ahead on the left. Leaving me gaping at the house in front of me.

This house was something I would expect for a nobleman, but never a historian.

Crossing and standing on the doorstep I hesitate. This was a secret, and the one thing I knew about secrets is that they are hidden for a reason.

Raising my fist as I knock on the door and hear scuffles from the inside.

"Hello?" The elderly woman says as she opens the door, her dress emerald green.

"I am here to acquire some background on a event about nine years ago" I tell her as her smile grows.

"Come in!" She urges me as she opens the door and I walk in as she smiles leading me to the fireplace as I sit in a chair, staring at her. "What is it you want to know?" She ask me

"The infiltration of Ophelia's royal castle" I confess as I notice she starts to shake.

"Let me make some tea, this will take some time" she tells me as she marches off to the kitchen, leaving me alone as I stand from the chair.

Getting closer to the fire as I feel it's embers, looking at the medals hung above the fire, Serving Historian of Ophela Royal Castle

"You wish to know about the Infiltration" she says, entering the room with a tray as she makes my tea for me as I nod my head in agreement.

"Yes" I say, turning to her, "I do." I sitting down again

"Well then you must know that it is referred to as the Great Warriors Battle" she tells me as I sip my tea. "It happened nine years ago, Ophela was a fierce kingdom. Narvyia took that as a challenge, disguising there best men and sneaking them into the castle. They thought if they took the castle the people would fall quickly behind, they were wrong" she says taking a sip of her tea as I place mine aside.

"How long did you work as a historian for the royal castle?" I ask her as brings her tea down to her lips.

"I have worked for many royal castle's, you must be more specific" she reminds me as I smirk at her passive nature.

"Ophela's? I was told you were in the castle when the infiltration happened." I ask her as she takes a deep breath and brings her tea back down.

"I will not speak of that!" She speaks, standing up from her chair, "Now, leave!" Her weak commands almost saddening.

"Is this enough to get you speak your truth?" I propose, placing the cloth bag of coins in front of her.

"Who are you?" She scarcely ask me

"I am the new King" I admit to her, "and I wish to know more about my wife's past" she just stands there, finally letting her legs cave in as she takes the bag of coins and lays them by her foot.

"What do you wish to know?" She ask me as I smirk at her cooperation

"Everything" I confess as she sighs.