NOVEL NEXT Chapter 83: Let’s talk.
Stepping through the main hall of the cathedral, flanked by the pathfinder captain and Sergeant, Béatrice had a mask of confidence and a stride of pride.
Not far behind her was Louise, copying her mother's prideful stride and mask of confidence, though both women were internally reeling with anticipation and anxiety.
For Louise, it was because she understood that her mother was in trouble. Alexander's disappearance strained relations with Charlotte, putting her mother directly in the wake of Charlotte's wrath.
Hinata, the royal pathfinders, and now the expectant grin on Charlotte's face, it all stressed her, and that was on top of her father and sister's death.
Meanwhile, Béatrice fears the outcome of her meeting with Charlotte, she could play her hand well, but in the end, it's the dealer who decides the outcome.
Stepping through the crowd with her royal escorts, Béatrice turned heads, all attendees focusing their eyes on the late Napoleon's wife, head of the most powerful Pathfinder House in the kingdom, and second in power only to the crown itself.
Speaking of the crown, the Queen and Princess moved to meet Béatrice and Louise in the center of the cathedral, its grandeur surrounding them in beautifully decorated walls, marble floors, and glistening chandeliers that hung from the high-standing ceiling.
The soft lights of the chandeliers provideding, a somber and atmospheric touch to an already magnificent moment in time, worthy of being painted and hung in the halls of time.
"Ahh Béatrice, you look stunning." Charlotte said with a warm smile and arms outstretched, "Oh, and Louise, you certainly haven't lost a sliver of your mother's beauty." Charlotte's voice flowed like honey, but it was undoubtedly poisonous.
Béatrice returned the smile along with a curt nod, "Your majesty, your words are generous, and your presence is welcomed in these trying times." Béatrice then gestured to Louise, who stood by her side.
Louise looked to her mother with a brief flicker of doubt, before turning to face Charlotte dipping into a curtsey. "You have my gratitude, Your Majesty," Louise replied softly, her tone respectful and clear.
Charlotte smiled as she turned to Elizabeth, who held an expression of disappointment as she tightened her grip on her mother's dress. "W-where's Alexander?" She asked expectantly, "Is he outside?" She asked directly to Louise.
Louise, though her expression was firm as a stone, stepped back, almost as if the question had struck her physically. "I–"
"Forgive Elizabeth." Charlotte said with a forced chuckle as she placed a hand on her small head, rubbing her hand through Elizabeth's silky hair, "She has been dying to see the boy since their first meeting."
Béatrice responded in kind, "It's not of issue, I understand Alexander was quite the gentleman in their last meeting, I suppose it's only natural she'd feel that way."
Charlotte smiled warmly, "Indeed, but… Elizabeth does bring up a fair point, where is Alexander?" She asked with an innocent laugh, "I'd expect him to be here, with you."
"That was the intention," Béatrice replied with an expression of feigned dissatisfaction, "but unfortunately he fell ill, and despite my best efforts, he remained ill."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow, as Elizabeth immediately perked up. "He's sick?" She asked worriedly, "Mother can get him a really good doctor, we can visit him after the funeral, right?"
Cutting Elizabeth off, Charlotte patted a gentle hand on her head. "Darling, let's remember our manners, I'm sure Lady Béatrice spared no effort in curing Alexander of his ailment," she said while giving a knowing eye to Béatrice, a subtle gesture.
"But, can we still see him?" Elizabeth asked, her voice laced with worry, "I'll be careful not to get sick, I promise!"
Charlotte smiled warmly as she brushed a strand of hair from Elizabeth's face. "Oh Elizabeth, you have such a big heart." Charlotte then rose, turning to look for her husband, eventually spotting him in the far back corner, chatting with a few Pathfinder Veterans.
He was dressed in a crimson red suit, had a thin well-groomed beard, and black hair that was in a topknot. Beside him was Victoria, who looked bored out of her mind. "Darling, do you think you could wait with your father for a moment, there's something I need to discuss with Lady Béatrice before the ceremony."
Elizabeth looked in the direction her mother gestured towards, a look of disappointment crossing her small gentle features. "O-okay." She said softly, before glancing over at Louise. "Are you coming?" She asked, reaching out a hand.
Louise looked slightly irritated at the mere gesture, she was never one to enjoy Elizabeth's company, finding her presence too intense.
However, at this moment she was grateful for the lifeline. "Alright," Louise replied, stepping away from Béatrice's side.
"Captain, do you think you could escort our daughters to my husband?" Charlotte asked, her tone gentle but commanding.
"With pleasure, your majesty." The pathfinder captain said with a fist to his chest, before gesturing to the children to follow him. As he took the lead, both Elizabeth and Louise trailed behind him.
As they walked, Elizabeth attempted to meet Louise's gaze, but Louise refused, keeping her eyes straight ahead.
Once the children were out of earshot, Charlotte turned her attention towards the pathfinder sergeant. "Escort us to the second floor."
The sergeant placed a fist to her chest and bowed, "With pleasure Your Majesty." The sergeant replied, she then made her way around Béatrice and Charlotte, stepping with purpose.
Charlotte then glanced at Béatrice, her earlier appearance as a doting mother now replaced with that of a politician. "We have a lot to discuss, Lady Béatrice." Her words were still kind but carried a second, more serious message.
Béatrice nodded, "indeed we do."
The sergeant led the two women through the main hall, and onto the stairs leading towards the second floor. Tension circulated them constantly, becoming almost palpable.
Upon reaching the second floor, the women were greeted with a less crowded hall guarded by a rail. Beyond that rail was the first floor, a view from above.
"This is far enough Sergeant." Charlotte said as she stepped near the rail, "You can return to your post."
The sergeant saluted with a fist to her chest, before leaving without another word. With the sergeant gone, Charlotte leaned against the rail with her hip.
"You certainly have been busy." Charlotte said as she glanced over the rail, "though I cannot tell if it's simply misfortune or malice." Her words now dropped their honeyed coat, revealing them for the bitter pills they always were. "Care to enlighten me?"
Béatrice confidently stepped forward, crossing her arms as she tilted her head. "Charlotte, have you forgotten what you asked of me?" Béatrice replied, dropping her act as well, "You asked for the boy to be trained, I simply followed through with that."
Charlotte turned her sharp gaze onto Béatrice, her lips pressing into a thin line as she placed a hand on her hip. "I see, I suppose that includes working with those who oppose me, an interesting strategy, but one ill-advised."
Béatrice smiled faintly, "oh, I had no intention of betraying your trust," she replied, "though I suppose neither of us knew how the dice would roll, not when it comes to rouges."
Charlotte grimaced as she turned her head in frustration. "Tch-, to think you'd stoop low enough to deal with a traitor, I suppose you just wanted any advantage you could get over me, right?" Charlotte's tone was laced with venom and irritation. "Were you that threatened by my taunt, that you'd do this?"
"You mean, when you threatened to destroy my House after Napoleon's death?" Béatrice replied, "What was it you said… you simply wanted to know if we could stand on our feet or if you should end a wounded beast?" Béatrice then gestured a finger towards Charlotte with her arms still crossed, "Now I wonder, who is the wounded beast in this situation, hm?"