The Bell Tolls for Me

Isabella sat across from Arthur, back in the relative safety of the Royal Palace.

"It's become abundantly obvious to me that I can no longer afford to ignore the matter of the wasting illness, or indeed the wasting poison, that I suffered from in my last life." Isabella placed one hand atop the other as she spoke calmly. "I need you to expend every effort that you can in pursuit of the cause and the cure for the disease that made me waste away."

Arthur looked at her with serious eyes. "Does that mean that we're involving the Archwizard?"

Isabella shook her head firmly. "Absolutely not. Under no circumstances is he even to learn of your investigation. Indeed, I think that he may be the culprit behind the disease."

"What evidence do you have for that?" Arthur said in clear surprise.

"Nothing but circumstance and the knowledge of my past life. The Archwizard disappeared without cause or explanation when last I walked through life. While I have nothing concrete to point to, all that I've seen suggests that he doesn't necessarily wish for my full and speedy recovery. Surely you can't forget the strange and sudden meeting that he demanded having as soon as he even learned of this subject."

Arthur asked for more information and Isabella provided it. While he didn't have enough experience with Randolph to trust his words absolutely, Arthur did come to the same conclusion that she did. Given the fact that this wasting illness had been weaponized against her—and might be again—he accepted her explanation.

"Funding won't be an issue," Isabella assured. "I can route you funds privately through the Velvet Block. Valerio is very adept at transferring money secretly, further."

"And what will you be doing on your end?"

Isabella inhaled. "Putting some unsettled business to rest." She let out a deep sigh—half relief, half something deeper.

***

Once she had relayed the news to Valerio, he had started treating her like a sick person long before any of the symptoms had manifested.

"There's no need to fuss over me," Isabella said. "I told you that I'm fine. Even once I caught it, the illness took several weeks to progress to the point that I was bedbound. And I would have survived long after its manifestation if not for the intervention of my cousin."

Valerio seemed dissatisfied. He slammed his fist upon the table he sat at. "An invisible enemy… maddening." He looked to debate mentioning something, then turned to her certainly. "You should know… most poisons don't affect me. And I say 'most' only because I've yet to test all of them."

Isabella thought that was good to know, but couldn't help but ask, "How does this relate?"

"If there's even the slightest chance it could help… this may sound unideal, but I can't help but think we should head to the Ithilian immediately." Valerio's tension seemed high. He fidgeted a great deal. "The voyage won't be overlong, especially not if I remain on the ship. Persuading the elves may be difficult, yet…"

Isabella blinked in surprise. He meant helping bestow the same power that he had. His concern was touching, and the idea wasn't without merit, yet…

"If I depart now, I surrender all the gains I've made," Isabella reminded him.

"I know. But this isn't just indulging my selfish desire to take you out to sea—this is your life, Isabella," he said urgently.

"I surrender all the gains," she reiterated. "I surrender the regency. I surrender most of the assets that we've painstakingly acquired over the last few months. And without a doubt, the kingdom would fall into civil war." She reached out and put a hand over his. "I trust Arthur's abilities. When we worked together, I had never met anyone more intelligent."

"Perhaps he's the 'one who you trusted most,'" Valerio pointed out bitterly.

Isabella huffed. "I believe that Bernadetta meant to hurt me with her last words, and nothing more." She looked at him. "But we'll… deal with her, won't we?"

"I'll oversee it personally. You can guarantee it." Valerio looked as he did when he wanted to dispose of Cesare. Hungry, for want of a better term.

One of the royal servants walked into the garden where they waited and bowed slightly. "Prince Anselm has arrived early. He's brought some company—a single person, and their guards. Will you see them now?"

Isabella composed herself. "Please, send them in."

As they waited, Valerio leaned in. "What do you know of Anselm? He's gathered a backing, so he can't be entirely incompetent, but do we have another cruel sadist on our hands, or someone a little more normal?"

"Frankly… I don't know," Isabella said. "Anselm died very early in the wars. He was said to be brave but bold. Many people called him the eternal dark horse."

"Hmm." Valerio waited discontentedly.

After a little while, Isabella saw Prince Anselm enter the Royal Gardens. He was accompanied by a woman that Isabella determined to be quite young. She wore a veil, but that still didn't prevent Isabella from realizing the identity of the person after a few moments.

Bernadetta.

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Isabella felt immediate confusion and anxiety as the pair entered the Royal Gardens together. She was still somewhat shaken when the two of them arrived at her table.

"Bella. It's been quite some time." Bernadetta spoke first without fear, lifting her veil.

Valerio rose to his feet. "Last I checked, mongrels, swine, and rats weren't allowed into the royal palace. You've managed to bring a crossbreed of the three, Anselm. Shameful display."

Valerio's rude words, though clearly intended to act in Isabella's defense, served to draw her from her stupor. "Let us not be rude to the prince, Valerio. He may not have known of our prior relationship. Lady Bernadetta may have misled him." She didn't regard Bernadetta, instead staring at Anselm. "May I inquire why you've brought Lady Bernadetta to this informal lunch?"

Prince Anselm looked up at Valerio until his gaze turned to her. Anselm was tall but quite gaunt. He had elegant black hair, but the eyes of their father. In particular… his eyes had an imperious quality. His gaze was arresting, and he had presence somewhat superior of that of both Amaury and Sylvain. Somehow, someway, he had a certain quality to him that could scarce be put into words, but was evident from just looking.

"You requested a lunch meeting with myself and my most ardent supporter. I've delivered precisely what you asked," Anselm said, his voice rich and deep, sounding wise beyond its years.

Isabella still didn't yet address Bernadetta. "By ardent, I was hoping you might measure not by the depth of their devotion but the means that they possess. I wished to meet the one who would be most relevant for the proceedings of the Interregnum," she clarified. "Fortunately, you came early. Might you have time to retrieve that person, and leave my cousin behind?"

"My choice wouldn't change. Bernadetta is my most formidable ally, ahead of even Duke Bernard. Of all of them, I chose to bring her alone here. Your prior relationship… was not a factor," he said with conviction.

Isabella knew Duke Bernard. While not a force on the magnitude of Duke Albert, he wasn't someone that could be taken lightly. To put Bernadetta before him… it had to be a farce.

"I have a great deal of difficulty believing that." Isabella looked at him levelly. "I'm aware that I said this would be an informal meeting, but I'd have to request that you come back when you're ready to respect my wishes."

Bernadetta looked over at Prince Anselm. "Give us a few minutes, if you would."

To Isabella's surprise, the prince quickly nodded and walked away, leaving Isabella alone with Bernadetta and Valerio.

"I have nothing to say to you." Isabella refused to even look in Bernadetta's direction.

"Some messages can be sent without words. For instance, your fiancé consulted assassins about how troublesome it would be to dispatch me," Bernadetta said. "That message was clear."

Isabella finally looked at Bernadetta, and then at Valerio, who looked somewhat guilty. She hadn't been aware that he had already reached out to assassins, but… she had implied he might need to.

"Don't worry. He didn't actually commission them," Bernadetta assured. "He merely laid the groundwork to do so. In so doing, he caught my attention. As I have a vested interest in staying alive, I decided to seek out the root of the problem and inquire how we might remedy this difference of opinion between us."

Isabella met Bernadetta's—this stranger's—gaze. This certainly wasn't the friend that had spent much of her childhood alongside. This was someone that she didn't truly know. She had fair skin, black hair, and purple eyes. Once, those eyes had seemed kind and loving, but now there was an unnerving calm to them.

"I told you in your auction house that I've been collecting information for a very long while," Bernadetta reminded her.

Isabella looked into those calm eyes for a long while before she spoke. "Do you mean to imply that the prince meant what he said?"

Bernadetta nodded. "Without me, Prince Anselm would be dead. His current relationship with Duke Bernard is one that I helped established. Many say he has cursed blood, but I recognize in him some of the qualities your father had." Bernadetta pursed her lips. "But perhaps I'm wasting my breath. Given the fact that you trust Archduke Felix enough to go to his estate, alone and disguised, I presume that you've already settled upon Prince Sylvain as your claimant of choice."

Isabella couldn't come up with a rational answer as to how Bernadetta knew that. Was she going to reveal herself as yet another person with mysterious powers? Had Bernadetta pacted with a devil? It sounded absurd even as Isabella thought of it.

"Why don't you get to the point," Valerio insisted.

"The first point would be to encourage you not to waste your money hiring assassins. I'm going to be spending much more time with Prince Anselm, and he's arranged for highly skilled guards to accompany me at all times." Bernadetta spoke to Valerio directly, and then shifted her gaze to Isabella. "The second point is for you, Isabella. I don't think that you would be amenable to an alliance of any kind. However, I do see an opportunity for us to remove a mutual rival."

"Is that not an alliance?

Bernadetta shrugged. "Words are rather nebulous in this court—you know that. After Cesare's arrival, I believe you were positioning yourself to remove Duke Albert from the running. You abandoned that goal—prudently so, in my opinion." Bernadetta stepped forward slightly. "But I have the means to see that goal to fruition. It would benefit the both of us to do so. For full disclosure, it would isolate Prince Roland, allowing Anselm to absorb the remnants of the faction supporting him. Once Albert falls, we're well-positioned to benefit from the fallout."

Isabella scoffed. "And you believe I'm interested in benefiting you in any way?"

"I believe you hate Duke Albert. Perhaps you have some idea of what he intended—indeed, still intends—for you." Bernadetta placed an elegant hand by her heart. "But I know the 'why' of it. And I will help you break him, if it so pleases. You know my stake in this."

"Claude made the mistake of collaborating with Pius, despite knowing his nature," Isabella said firmly. "I shan't make his mistakes."

"His obsession pertains to your mother… Camilla," Bernadetta said. Isabella's breath caught. "You never knew that, did you?" She stared for a few moments. "You may succeed against him alone… but I'm positive the two of us together can see him laid low."

Isabella rationalized things. She had never seen this sign of Bernadetta before. She had spent most of her time avoiding confronting this traumatic severance with her. This true Bernadetta seemingly knew things that were impossible to know.

Rationally speaking, if Isabella got close and worked with her, she would gain some insight into what it was that Bernadetta did to achieve this present position.

"I don't know how someone like you comes to be. How you could, for so long…" Isabella stared, but Bernadetta's face showed no signs of remorse. Seeing that sobered her. "Recall Prince Anselm," Isabella said decisively.

Bernadetta didn't so much as smile—she merely dipped her head and then went to retrieve him.

"Are you sure?" Valerio asked.

"She's only human," Isabella said certainly. "Just like me. So long as we're vigilant, I see no reason this cannot function."