Aftermath

A few hours later, Raquel sat on her bed, fuming over what had occurred earlier. Baroness Anthea was pacing across the room, scolding Raquel as Nicole knelt down next to washing the blood off Raquel’s right hand.

Raquel knew she should have been listening to Anthea but she couldn’t hear any words. She couldn’t hear anything. Her vision went blurry as she tried to understand what had happened.

Why did it happen? What had gone wrong? Everything was perfect until…

No.

It never was.

She was always ruining everything and now their plans had gone to bust. Raquel thought she could handle it but got ahead of herself. She had forgotten about the monster inside of her. And now another innocent was dead because of her.

Suddenly, a sharp pain hit Raquel making her hiss. She looked down to see Nicole pressing on her wound, purposely trying to bring her to reality.

“What happened wasn’t your fault.” Nicole murmured softly as she started wrapping Raquel’s hand with bandages. “No one could have predicted that…”

Anthea, seeming to have calmed down, stopped in front of them. “Nicole is right. Just focus on resting. Your wedding is tomorrow after all.”

Raquel remained silent. She didn’t deserve their kindness and warmth. She didn’t deserve to even be in their presence. No, she didn’t deserve to-

Slap!

Raquel felt a dull ache across her cheek before she knew what had happened. The next she knew, Nicole was standing before, eyes blazing in rage.

“Nicole! How could you-” Her mother started yelling.

“I know I don’t show much emotion around you but you’re the most important thing to me.” Nicole cried out, tears forming in her eyes. “I know it’s wrong for me to say this but you’re like a sister to me. We’ve been together our whole lives and I’ll support you no matter how much people say you’re a monster. B-But if I even see that look in your eyes again…”

Raquel wasn’t sure how to feel. Nicole wasn’t one for being emotional and was always wincing at her to be more proper and act like a crown princess. So, for her to break out of character like this…

Raquel hung her head. “I’m sorry…”

“You should be.” Nicole growled before shaking her hand. “Adath sake, I think I broke my hand.”

“You two are going to be the death of me.” Anthea sighed, shaking her head. “How could you slap, her highness, Nicole?”

“It’s fine.” Raquel said before Nicole could answer. “I needed it. Also you should put some ice on that hand before it swells up. You’re the only one who can help me tomorrow.”

“Of course, your highness.” Nicole smiled. “Where would you be without me?”

“Hale’s embrace.” Raquel murmured.

Nicole frowned. “Don’t hate yourself over what happened. If anyone is to blame, it’s that witch.”

Raquel chuckled. Nicole was right. Who would have thought Lady Diana had mages working for her. It was a huge miscalculation on their side.

Still…

“Alright. I won’t.” Raquel sighed, falling back onto her soft bed. “I think I’m going to rest.”

“Yes, your highness.” Anthea said in understanding. “Sleep well. Come Nicole, let’s get some ice on that.”

Raquel closed her eyes, hearing some shuffling before her door closed. She heard some voices, Anthea probbly yelling at Nicole about slapping her.

But Raquel knew she needed it.

Nicole had always been her anchor, keeping her steady when she lost control. When she became a monster like today. She kept Raquel human.

***

Ryker paced through his room, emotions raging through him. He couldn’t believe what had happened. They were meant to get information about the real culprits.

But now everyone was dead.

After Raquel had discovered the assassin, the palace was in complete chaos. The emperor had been keeping the embezzlement investigation on the down low but with minor nobles being assassinated and the killer caught…

Everything blew up.

The emperor immediately called for a trial, needing to appease the empire’s nobles. He also needed to keep the fact an assassin had entered the palace a secret.

There were too many guests that it would become a diplomatic problem.

The mother and daughter who had survived become witnesses and the assassin was tortured but refused to answer.

In the end, the mother, assassin and two ministers were sentenced to death. Their noble titles were stripped and families imprisoned. They were to be executed after the wedding. It wasn’t exactly what Ryker had hoped but at least two ministers were gone.

Still, they had discovered Lady Diana’s influence was bigger than expected. And when the assassin managed to escape, they realized just how big.

Ryker could still replay the moments in his mind like they were captured by a memory crystal. The assassin escaped, grabbing a guard’s sword and running over to the young girl.

Raquel instantly jumped into action, trying to protect the girl but it was too late. She had been fatally stabbed in the gut by the assassin. He then moved to take his own life, but Raquel grabbed the sword with her right hand.

It was a bloody mess after that.

After some time, three guards managed to remove Raquel from the dead assassin and drag the raging princess out the courtroom. It was then that they discovered the mage marks on the assassin’s body.

Most believed it to be a mage pact to keep the assassin from talking but Ryker knew it was more than that. Those were divine marks, meaning the assassin was a mage from the temple.

Specifically, Hale’s Temple.

It wouldn’t mean much but Hale’s Temple had a small group of mages skilled to be assassins. They were meant to carry out divine punishment in Hale’s name. Ryker remembered growing up and hearing stories from his mother about how they helped stop Lady Diana.

So, for them to be sending assassins to stop minor nobles from talking…

Either Hale’s Temple had become corrupt and Lady Diana was influencing them or they had purposely sided with Lady Diana for divine reasons.

Ryker prayed it was the former. Because if it was the latter…

He believed the end of their society was upon them then.