A Dark Truth

The Princess and Teresia were seated in the same carriage again. The Princess was confused about everything. After having a jolly conversation with Heinrich, she hadn't expected to see that side of him. 

"Can I ask you something?" The Princess asked slowly. 

Teresia lifelessly looked up at her, "Do not." She shook her head. "He is right, I need medication before I spew utter nonsense." 

"Medication? For what?" The Princess continued. 

"The Great Father is very kindhearted for putting up with someone like me," Teresia said softly. "I cannot think straight. I always make mistakes." She added. "Medicines are necessary." 

The Princess was still confused but after hearing Teresia blaming herself, she wondered if Heinrich wasn't a bad husband after all. 

In the other carriage, Killian continued to stare Heinrich down regardless of his status in front of him. 

Heinrich wasn't bothered by Killian's long stares anymore nor did he comment. 

Days passed but the unsettling air around Heinrich didn't subside. They reached the mansion at last. Aldrich was standing outside the gate to receive them. He quickly escorted Heinrich to his room. Teresia left for her room with Aldrich's wife, Karoline. The Princess and Killian slowly walked up to their room by themselves when they met Kaspar on the stairs. 

"Welcome back." Kaspar said, "And good job." 

The Princess and Killian awkwardly nodded. 

"By the way, visit me in the morning for your first-ever paychecks." Kaspar said, "And now you two can also leave the mansion at will. Just remember to follow the curfew." 

The Princess and Killian turned to look at each other in surprise. They weren't servants if they went out at will. 

"Can other servants-" 

"Yes," Kaspar said before the Princess could finish. "Everyone here is free to go out whenever they want." He explained. "Lady Odila only meant to provoke you two. There are no harsh rules from a Master as kind as the Great Father." 

This only led them to more confusion. Everyone had different opinions about Heinrich. The Princess nodded slowly to Kaspar before walking past him, looking back at Killian and gesturing to him to follow her. Killian quickly followed her to their room where she calmly sat down to discuss the current situation. 

"I talked to him," The Princess started with a hopeful voice. "He admitted that he could travel through time." She added. "But he also said that traveling takes a long time and he is unsure when will be the next time we get to travel." 

Killian looked at her with an unimpressed expression. His hatred for Heinrich was clear, even in the Princess's eyes. But the Princess had already decided how to proceed. 

"He promised me to send us back if he can." The Princess said, "I could not understand everything but one thing is for sure. He does not time travel at will." 

"My lady," Killian called her in a sarcastic tone, "Have you ever heard of the word 'dishonesty'? Do you not know what it means?" 

The Princess frowned, "I do not want to hear your childish incentive in this situation, Killian." 

Killian was easily 8 years older than the Princess. Hearing her call him childish was a rather common sight. 

Killian was upset but there was nothing he could say in front of the Princess. Ever since they had left Miraculum, he had been forgetting his status in front of the Princess. Maybe Heinrich was right about him. Killian's status held him back. Being the son of the General didn't put him above the Princess, or Heinrich. 

"Did you talk about anything else?" Killian brushed his anger off for a moment and asked a rational question. 

The Princess nodded, "I asked him why everyone calls him the Great Father." 

"What did he say?" Killian asked. 

"He said he is older than everyone else…" 

"See, my lady? This is called dishonesty. Does he look older than everybody who goes around calling him the Great Father?" 

"I agree with you on this one." The Princess said, "He seemed to be making fun of my question at that time too. I think it was a joke." 

It was beyond Killian how the Princess was so calm about their situation. Killian was still not over the fact that the Princess could've lost herself to the Holy Roman Crown Emperor. Meanwhile, the Princess was busy contemplating whether or not Heinrich had made a joke. 

"What else?" Killian brushed his anger off once again and asked politely; as per his status. 

"I asked him about his status." The Princess said, "And he did not mention it directly. He just told me that he stands above everyone." 

"Everyone?" 

"Yes." 

"The Holy Roman Empire?" 

"Yes." 

"The Habsburgs?" 

"Yes, Killian. Everyone." 

—

The next morning, the door of their room knocked. They had just woken up. Upon opening the door, Killian was surprised to see Karoline, Heinrich's wives' direct servant. 

"How may I help you?" Killian asked. 

"I am here to see Sofia," Karoline said softly. 

Killian looked behind at the Princess with a questionable expression. She stood up and walked towards the door to see Karoline standing with a covered rack. Seeing the princess, Karoline walked inside while pulling the rack with her. She removed the white cover from the rack to reveal a beautiful and luxurious silk gown. 

"Miss Teresia has sent you appropriate clothes as the Great Father's mistress," Karoline explained. She glanced at Killian and exhaled, "You must also change your room. As the Great Father's mistress, it is inappropriate to stay in one room with another man. I will send someone to help you pack your belongings and escort you to your new room. Till then, please change into appropriate clothes." 

Karoline gave her a light bow and then turned around to leave. The gown was left behind for the Princess to wear along with ornaments and jewelry. Killian looked at the Princess with a questioning expression. 

"I do not know…" The Princess came clean as if she had committed a crime. 

"Is this the truth now?" Killian asked frustratingly. "He is trying to trap you here, my lady." 

"What do you expect me to do?" The Princess asked with a frown. 

"Do not follow a dark truth because it is a lie." Killian said, "You are not his mistress." 

The Princess exhaled in frustration, reaching out for the gown. She pulled her hand out to feel the intricate texture of pure silk. It was much more refined than the ones they had in Miraculum. 

Killian tried looking away from her direction before his eyes naturally fell to her wrist, right where the thread was supposed to be. He exhaled sharply and she quickly felt she needed to cover her wrist.