VI. Hunting Grounds

There was a line between danger and seduction. Lord Jake Partridge had fallen within the danger zone. He was a rival. Why would I trust his words?

"If you truly care about me, then I'll have you know that I don't. We will never be anything else, outside the competition, or inside," I snapped at him. My face contorted to a withering scowl.

Lord Jake replied calmly, "Someday, you'll soften up, and realize that I am the man you need."

"You are disgusting. Foul, fool."

We were interrupted with the sound of sussurating grass underfoot. We turned our heads to see Lord Francis make his way toward us with an enthusiastic smile, yet maintained a professional aura around him.

Lord Jake greeted him, as if nothing had happened between us. Then, Lord Francis turned to me, expecting a polite greeting. Fortunately, I didn't act hostile because of the lingering anger toward Lord Jake.

"I sense that there'll be great bond between the three of us. Oh, I must add that Sir Quint will be joining us for assessment," Lord Francis informed, and cued the right-hand to step into view.

"Good morning, candidates. I hope you two have rested well because we have a long day ahead of us," said Sir Quint.

"A whole day of fun, of course. I am rather thrilled to have visitors lurking my forest," Lord Francis smiled, his timbre rumbling through my ears.

Remembering what Rosalie told me, I spoke up. "Do you and your family walk the woods when you have spare time with them?"

He made a sound, which was not of annoyance, but amusement. "Yes. Especially when I'd like to treat my wife, and twins to a humble family picnic. Nothing fancy, just the time with them, which cannot be borrowed, or taken back."

"That sounds sweet. It truly does." I flashed a smile at him. "Family is one reason we keep on living."

"Ain't that the truth?" There was a hint of approval in Lord Francis.

Sensing that I had gained an edge as of the moment, Lord Jake threw himself in, chattering about random topics. Although, Lord Francis sometimes ignored him throughout the woodlands trip.

We neared the fence which bordered the forest, and the wild life. I knew that once I had taken a step past the threshold, I was plunging myself in peril.

Beginning his explanation, Lord Francis pulled out his crossbow. "My vote belongs to one of you, who is going to hunt down a predator lurking these woods. If you bring the head back to me, you will most likely win."

"What exactly is the purpose of this?" I asked.

"To have fun. We are nobles with the wealth, and luxury to afford entertainment. Let's not waste our time with dull initiatives," Lord Jake chimed in. "Time cannot be borrowed, or stolen." I peered through his words, knowing that he was trying to impress Lord Francis.

"A successful hunter has patience, confidence, and keen observation. Same could be said for a monarch." Lord Francis elaborated. "When you rule the kingdom, you will shoulder responsibilities that require confidence. You must wisely observe how you can assess the well-being of the kingdom, as well as be patient with how you act on situations."

"You have a good point there, my Lord," Sir Quint remarked.

"And that is my criteria," Lord Francis completed.

"I agree with you. Because if we're in a rush, we'd pick unwise choices that could lead to downfall," I said.

I could feel the altered emotion in Lord Jake. He gritted his teeth, growing envious.

Then, we went deeper into the woods,  teetering close to danger. When I expected of what was to come, my resolution wavered. Panic, and fear flickered across my eyes in a troubled glint.

"This is our first stop. Everyone, take out your bows, and be ready," Lord Francis cued. He tightly gripped his crossbow, its aim lurching from one direction to another. "The predators lurk these hunting grounds."

"Be careful..." Sir Quint trailed off.

"I can handle this," Lord Jake spat confidently. At this point, he had earned my fury's summit. Everything about him... it irked me.

"How about you, Lady Arabelle? Are you prepared?" Sir Quint questioned, his gaze flitting over to me.

With a hesitant incline of my head, I answered, "I am..."

It came out quieter than it should be. But then again, everything could happen unexpectedly.

This was it. We parted ways, looking for predators to take the life of. It was astounding how one piece of arrow, that once it skewered the vital part of a predator, it could lead a fatal demise. Perhaps there was more needed.

The grass rustled, crushing beneath my feet, and the wind sighed, whispering over the layer of fabric that veiled my skin.

I was all by myself.

Across the land, among the tall grass, there was a lingering figure. It moved menacingly, acting as if it had owned the place. I made sure that I crawled around quietly, not a shrill escaping my lips when I discovered that it was a lone lion.

Its lustrous mane gleamed in emphasis from the amber daylight. Its eyes roved everywhere, soaking in the green caricatures around it.

The lion moved toward me.

My heart pounded in my ears. My blood went cold. I was stricken with complete fear that it threatened to root me in place. It was not long until my body was paralyzed from what was to unfold.

The lion's tail went rigid. Its predator eyes drilled a hole through mine. Slowly, I leveled my crossbow. It was aching to hear the lion growl a warning.

I backed away, but it kept inching forward. I halted.

"What the hell did I put myself into...?" I muttered under my breath. Hot tears stung my eyes, though I never allowed them to roll down my cheeks.

Why did I run for the throne? What was the purpose of all of this? Why me?

I was about to submit, when an arrow streaked through the head of the lion, effectively killing it. The life made its way out of the lion's form as it fell to the ground, crumpled. "W-what..."

My eyes raced to find the source of the arrow, then it landed upon a detested figure.

"Arabelle?" He rushed over in concern, enveloping me in his arms. It happened quick and I was left in a daze. "I could have lost you if I hadn't shot that arrow..."

"Lord Jake–" I pushed him away from me. "Drop that act of yours. I know you've taken advantage of my fear, for your... v–" I couldn't muster the word. I loathed the fact. It was not supposed to be a fact.

"Lady Arabelle, I am not lying when I tell you that I care about you." He gripped my jaw, in a gentle manner. "Are you hurt?" His eyes searched apace, scanning for wounds, or bruises that I had not noticed.

"I can handle myself," I told him, and severed myself from his touch. "See?"

"The situation said otherwise," Lord Jake pressed the truth.

Indeed, it was, but I could not bare to relent to the fact that he won. He killed a lion; he was a champion of Lord Francis's vote.

Sir Quint, and Lord Francis arrived. "Oh, it appears that there is a cadaver near the both of you, but I cannot assume which hunted," said Sir Quint.

"Which one of you killed the lion?" Lord Francis questioned.

Lord Jake stepped forward with a grin. "I did. In order to rescue Lady Arabelle from distress." He twisted around, staring into my eyes.

In my head, I responded to him. Fuck you, Lord Jake.

* * *

After the hunt, we retreated to the Dupont Estate where a lavish luncheon feast had been rolled out on the table.

Two children burst out of one hall, and advanced on one of the meals on the table, until they were cut off by their mother, Lady Lavinia Dupont. "Where are your manners, Lauren, and Louise?"

Lauren, and Louise exchanged a glance at each other, then sent a look of apology to their mother. "We are sorry, mother..." They said in unison.

Lavinia melted into the apology as quickly as she had stiffened with controlled disappointment. "How about I cook you both a special dinner later? How does that sound?"

The two perked up with a smile. "Lovely!"

Then, Lavinia ushered her children back to their bedchambers, and returned with a sheepish smile. "Pardon them for their lack of decorum. They become excited with food."

"It's alright. They're still children, with an energy," I chuckled.

Lavinia emanated warmth, and welcome from a grin. "Please, feel at home. You may explore if you want to."

Without an ounce of doubt, I decided to bring myself around the Dupont Estate, sipping in the rustic interior, and the walls lined with fragments of the past. The estate was truly avoiding disarray.

"Are you enjoying so far?" I jumped, and darted my gaze at the voice behind me. It was Sir Quint.

"Oh, why, yes."

His gaze went from me, to a portrait on the wall. "That is one big family."

"It is. A happy one." I maintained my gaze upon him even when he returned a piercing stare. "How about you? Do you live with a happy family?"

Sir Quint brushed aside the question for awhile, seemingly evading it, until he gave in. "I had a brother, but he died. I still have my parents. One leads the Opera House, and the other is a bladesmith."

"I am sorry for your loss..." I furrowed my eyebrows.

"No matter. Time is limited after all. I just wish that I had spent more time with him," said Sir Quint, his timbre weighed down by a cresting gloom. He nodded at the hall. "Let us return to the dining room. We wouldn't want to stray too far from the center of attention." Afterward, he walked off, disappearing from sight.

There was no where else to explore. I took myself back to the dining room with the others, having faced a lunch break oscillating between the comfort of the Duponts, and the irritating Lord Jake Partridge.

"You have wonderful children. I am contemplating on having a family myself," Lord Jake spoke, voice laced with a tender emotion, hoping to appeal to Lord Francis. He smirked, his eyes ogling the length of me in his gaze. "So to speak. I have a knack of courting beautiful women with intellect."

Lord Francis noticed Lord Jake's suggestive glance at me. "Surely the woman you are after must be pleased thoroughly." He smiled at his wife, and held her hand. "Communication, respect, trust, and true affection lays the foundation of every relationship. When I met my wife, Lavinia, I had to get to know her first."

Lavinia's eyes welled up with tears, glossy. She titled her head, adoring the way her husband talked about them.

"There were ups, and downs, but I think that made our bond stronger. I knew that Lavinia, and I were made for each other because we accepted each other's flaws. We grew more intimate, knowing every inch of one another," said Lord Francis in a tone that I could describe was heartwarming.

"Francis, I chose you for the man that you are. You gave me your all. You fought to earn my trust. You showed me that you truly love me." With a single tear streaming down one cheek of hers, she said. "I love you, Francis."

"I love you too, Lavinia," Lord Francis replied.

Competition aside, the moment they shared together lifted the suspenseful modo of earlier. Seeing the two of them, somehow, I was envious. They had each other. They had children. Those children had a childhood around people needed in one's lifetime. Parents.

I wanted to know how it felt to say Father to someone. But, I surmised that day could never arrive. "You two are an inspiration to others out there." I smiled. But, the frown on my face betrayed the facade. They were inspirational. Don't get me wrong.

"Is there something of bother to you, Lady Arabelle?" Lavinia creased her forehead, her eyebrows furrowed in concern.

I realized that I had exposed myself. "No. No. Of course not. Your hospitality has truly been exquisite. I appreciate you both for doing what you are doing."

"Well, if there is something you need. Anything you need. You can tell us," Lord Francis offered. "We'd be remiss not to check on our guests from time to time."

"I genuinely appreciate that," I strained a smile.

After completing a delectable luncheon, I led myself down a corridor, and thought of what to do next. When my heart pounded in my chest, I suddenly worried about the vote.

I underperformed, and I failed. How would I tell Rosalie, and Aunt Genevieve?

There was a distant mention of my name that grasped my attention. I whirled my head at the voice. "Lord Francis."

"Lady Arabelle, I would like to apologize for what happened earlier. There may have been discomfort due to our negligence of care," said Lord Francis. He breathed in and out deeply.

"Nothing is wrong, my Lord, I assure you." Then, I couldn't hide it. What was the point? "It's just that, I frown upon something I didn't expect. I thought I was prepared for the hunt, but the fear, it took over. It overwhelmed me, and I could not resist succumbing."

He blew out a sigh. "Lady Arabelle, we can expect, but we shall always expect the unexpected as well. Life is not a fixed journey. There are moments that throw us off balance because of unforeseen events." He looked into my eyes, a look of approval on his face. "For someone quite like you who has never been much into social events, I respect your bravery for trying something new."

"Thank you, Lord Francis..." I trailed off, deep in thought. "Rosalie encouraged me to go out of my comfort zone. I always expect the worst of situations."

"Life is designed to challenge you, to bring out the best in you. To push you to your limits. Every situation has a silver lining. I'm sure you'll find one about what occurred earlier," Lord Francis stated.

"That is an interesting perspective," I remarked.

"Best of luck in swaying the votes of others, Lady Arabelle, you'll need it."

* * *

Fortunately, I left House Dupont without the clinging trail of Lord Jake. Lord Francis said that every situation had a silver lining. What exactly was it? Perhaps, it was to prepare me of the future. Anything could happen.

Deciding that I had enough of the competition for the day, I headed off to the library to unwind.

Later, I was encompassed by towering bookshelves filled with varying collections ranging from historical literature, to poems, to fiction.

I was interested in topics about the Royals, knowing well that I could be one, if I won this competition. I navigated further into the library, and found myself lurking around a section. There were several books to read from. When I found a book to feast my eyes on, I went over to one of the couches to perch.

The opening came with a written monologue.

To Helmburn, it is an honor to pen this Royal companion. Each page tells a tale about our monarchs, and the wonderful things they have done, as well as historical marks of the kingdom.

There were many positive discussions about them. They were branded as heroic, and essential. But, I reached a page that was a stark contrast to the tone of the preceded. The topic was mainly about regicide.

In Helmburn, regicide was a grave crime. No one, not even a monarch, could be saved from this heinous act. An example of this was Queen Victoria. As I read on, I discovered information that paralleled what was written on Queen Amice's diary.

The late Queen Amice spoke about what her mother had done behind the lavish exteriors of the castle. She was strict. She was cruel. She was everything the people detested. Queen Amice said that her mother killed her father, but Queen Victoria refused to accept. At the scene, Princess Salome was not present as she had been thrusted to India, and stay there for sometime.

Before her execution, Queen Victoria cried out. Lies that snake around these walls will be the downfall of this kingdom. Even when her death was imminent, she denied acting upon regicide.

Her head was taken away from her body with the help of the nefarious guillotine. The author described the reaction of the crowd. They were mixed. A part erupted with cheers, and the other showed dissent.

The crime scene was defined, and the highlight was the pierce-like trace on King Demetri's corpse. This also correlated with what Queen Amice wrote in one of her diary entries. There was an autopsy that poison lanced throughout the late King's veins.

The alchemist, Hugo Woods, was fired from his position with allegations of supplying the Queen with poison. But, he was later called in to identify the poison, which was confirmed to be atropa belladonna. Nightshade.

I thought back to when Charlie confirmed the poison to be nightshade. Somehow, I grew suspicious of him. God forbid he poisoned the Queen to avenge his father being laid off from the kingdom.

I shut the book in my hands, creating a loud resounding thud that echoed through the room, which resulted in hisses of hush.

"Pardon me..." I mumbled.

"Ivy?" A voice called out to me.

I looked up, and saw... "Charlie?"

"It's nice to see a familiar face around these parts. The library must be heaven to you, huh? Since you know, you love books." He smiled at me, his eyes peering through his glasses.

"It's nice to see you too. Actually, I'm glad you appeared because... I need someone to talk to about what happened awhile ago."

Charlie carried a chair over, and sat down leaning forward. "I am all ears."

My heart fluttered at his gesture. He had been my friend, and I was surprised that he remembered my love for literacy.

"Well, to begin with, I could have died earlier..." My voice faded. I shuddered at the thought of dying, and the savior who rescued me from an untimely demise. I looked to Charlie, who had become seriously worried. "Lord Jake, my rival in this crown competition, he saved me. The situation is two birds, and one stone for him. Winning over Lord Francis's vote, and possibly... trying to court me."

"That is horrible," Charlie commented. "Is he making unwanted advances toward you?"

I squeezed my eyes shut, and bobbed my head. "He is. I am utterly disgusted of that man."

"He should not be doing that, especially when he knows that you are not liking it." Charlie scowled. "I wish I can give him a piece of my mind."

I giggled. Charlie had my back. "It's alright. I think I can fend for myself in this world of politics." I placed my hands on my lap, and slouched. "What did I put myself into?"

"A pit. An arena." Charlie replied.

"I can't help but think that Lord Jake might sabotage my chances of winning. Well, I think I'll fail anyways," I said in defeat, despite still being in the early stages of the competition.

"Hey," He reached out, extending an arm so that his hand clutched my shoulder. "Don't say that. I believe in you. And even if you don't win the crown, you are a Queen in my... books."

"Thanks, Charlie. You're a really good friend," I told him.

His smile stretched wider. "That is what friends are for." He added, "Whenever you need an escape from life as a noble, you can always retreat to my cottage. We could try experimenting." Then, his cheeks flushed with color. "Oh, I-I didn't mean to sound... uh–" He was flustered as of the moment.

My shoulders jumped up and down as I laughed. Then, I leaned closer, and placed a hand on his cheek. "Not to worry, we can experiment."

Charlie did not respond. I was certain I broke him.

"Charlie...?"

"Y-yeah, experimenting. Sounds delightful."

The slight suspicions that threatened to shatter our friendship melted away, carried by the wind.

* * *

"Luckily you were saved." Rosalie exhaled a sigh of relief, sinking backwards in her chair.

"But... that means that I'll lose Lord Francis's vote..." I said.

"Ara, Lord Francis is merely one person. We still have Lady Adelaide Norbury, Lord Adrian Hemington, Lord Erika Ivanov..." She mentioned names, each finger standing up to one.

"I can still sway them, I believe."

"It seems that Governor Philipps has taken a liking to you," Rosalie abruptly touched on another subject.

"I... how?"

"Well, when you left the table, I stayed behind. Governor Philipps told me that you captured his interest." Rosalie informed.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Nothing. Just so that you could be informed." Rosalie folded her arms over her chest. She lifted an eyebrow.

"Anyways, I'll be off to my bed. I am exhausted."

"Sleep well, Ara!"

Later that evening, I paced back and forth in my room, piecing together the puzzle with the clues I had.

The suspect I had in mind was Arnold, but suspicion upon Governor Philipps seemed to squeeze in.

In Queen Amice's diary, there were entries about the execution of her mother, and the poisoning of her father, while her sister was away.

The poison used to assassinate her Majesty was nightshade, which was also used in murdering King Demetri.

Arnold, the butler, was in charge of preparing the wine. Instead of flavor enhancement, it was a dose of deadly nightshade. The butler appeared to truly care for his wife, and the family they created, especially the unborn child. He was the prime suspect because of the wine, and the address paper that was found by Lord Adrian.

Governor Philipps had no wife, but had a locket with initials, A.N. For now, I thought that person to be Lady Adelaide Norbury, considering that her initials were the same. There were talks about his bill proposal, and that was confirmed true in my eyes when I witnessed the drafts.

I noticed how Lord Jake frequently talked positive about Governor Philipps. He seduced me, which could possibly be part of a bigger plan?

Lady Deanne had not elucidated regarding her sudden absences, and I had discovered her rummaging through the glass cabinet of Governor Philipps after the sepulture.

Princess Salome was last seen with someone wearing a jaguar mask. The jaguar costume from the Opera House was missing because of a break-in. A theatre actress mentioned that Lord Erika was fond of the costumes.

The fragments were aching puzzle pieces. "I don't understand..." I grunted in frustration.

I pushed myself more despite being exhausted. The last place was the bed. I had to sleep.

* * *

It was another day to go through.

"Today, we are swaying the vote of House Norbury. I am certain you have it in you to appeal to Lady Adelaide?" Rosalie said.

"What do you know about her?"

"She is controversial at times. But in order to impress her, you must always agree with her statements. It fuels her ego. You may find yourself experiencing disagreement from other parties, but Lady Adelaide's vote could boost your standing in the competition."

"I think I can handle that..."

"Surely you will. And oh, I'll be joining you," said Rosalie.

"Glad to hear that. I could use the company."

"Now, this event is crucial as it is not like Lord Francis and his reticent keepings. No. This is a chance to impress other nobles as well," Rosalie spoke.

I began to tremble. "Exactly, how many nobles are we aiming to sway?"

"At least a majority of those in attendance."

"What am I going to do?"

"Lady Adelaide Norbury always has surprises up her sleeve. So, I am not sure what this event holds."

When she said those words, my heart sunk. Lady Adelaide could be planning anything. I had to brace myself for the worst.