Chapter 17:
The Villainess Visits Her Hometown
AFTER CLAUDIA’S WORSHIP at the grand cathedral ended, she returned to her family estate. Raul and Lestea were on their way back to Bari.
The latest talk on everybody’s lips was the Canonization Ceremony at the seat of the Holy See. The saint chosen was a woman with absolutely no connection to any of the cardinals. Following the event, there were lively celebrations in the city that served as the church’s seat of power. Word had reached Harland of this saint, who had saved a young boy by putting herself between him and the bite of a whip.
During her first address, the saint had also brought up the refugee crisis, arguing that those with the means should do everything they could to help those in need. This put the issue in the spotlight, and with the momentum from her support, Harland decided on an official day to accept refugees into the kingdom.
As Claudia’s father had informed her, the Lindsays would be accepting the second-largest group of refugees after the royal family due to their stable, developed region. Aristocrats without their own territories were obligated to offer donations and supplies instead.
Claudia and Virgil had left the capital to return to the duchy, where they would eventually receive the refugees. Winter was coming to an end, and the bitter cold was beginning to wane. The temperatures were still low enough that Claudia was wearing her thickest coat as she rode in a carriage along with Helen. Ordinarily, she would have ridden with Virgil, but they had decided against it because of the prohibition for her purification. Better to keep themselves apart to prevent any accidental contact.
They’d departed from their inn early in the morning. If they continued to make good time, they would arrive at their estate around noon.
“We’ll probably be trapped in meetings for a while,” said Claudia.
The regional administration was waiting for the Lindsay siblings’ arrival with bated breath. Virgil had been sending letters advising the administration on the proper handling of the influx of refugees, but they needed to see conditions for themselves to align their strategy to the situation. During their stops at inns along the way, Claudia and Virgil had sat down to hash out their plans for supporting the refugees. The only time they would have for relaxation was on the road.
“This is your last chance to talk if you have something to say,” Claudia told Helen pointedly, hoping it would nudge her along.
Once they arrived at the Lindsays’ ancestral home, Claudia would be too busy to hear her beloved maid out. She could sense Helen waiting for an opportunity to bring something up. It didn’t seem to be urgent, but Claudia wasn’t sure of the next time she’d be able to address the issue.
Her penetrating stare finally did the trick.
“While you were staying at the grand cathedral, something happened,” Helen began.
She had already told Claudia about Virgil’s gift of a bracelet matching Claudia’s. Both wore them today, the Lindsay Blue sapphires gleaming every time they caught the light. However, there was more to the story Helen had yet to divulge.
After going into the details, she tacked on, “I know it didn’t mean anything deeper, but I can’t stop thinking about what he said all the same.”
Claudia folded her arms over her chest. “My brother is absolutely the one in the wrong here.” Virgil had also told her about the present he’d given Helen, and she’d been deeply moved by it. This was probably the best gift he had ever given her. “I can’t believe he would speak so suggestively to you.”
“Oh, I think he was only trying to convey his sincerity,” Helen said in his defense.
Claudia shook her head. “Regardless, there had to be a better way for him to express himself.” She pressed a hand to her cheek and fell into thought.
It was clear that Helen was special to Virgil, if only because she was special to Claudia. For better or worse, my brother loves me a bit too much. The same could arguably be said of Helen as well. That made it difficult to suss out how either of them really felt about one another.
How should I handle this?
If she wasn’t careful, she might unduly influence them. What she wanted was for them to confront their own feelings.
“I will not get involved in this matter,” Claudia announced.
Helen nodded obediently. “All right.” She understood why Claudia had taken this position.
“However, if there’s ever anything you need to talk about—anything at all—I want you to tell me,” Claudia urged her. “And make sure you put your feelings first.”
She wanted Helen to make these decisions for herself and no one else, so she swore to do everything in her power to help her.
The seat of the Lindsay household was located in the southern part of their duchy, full of rolling fields and far from the mines in the northern mountains. Cultivated farmland stretched on for miles, long past the view afforded by the carriage window.
Syl should be visiting his family’s regions as well. He was going to directly oversee preparations for the reception of the refugees.
The scenery changed as they began passing more buildings. They were rolling along a highway, about to enter a town, when the carriage screeched to a halt.
Helen knocked on the window to speak to the driver, demanding to know what was happening. The window opened directly at the driver’s back and was the primary way to communicate with him.
“Citizens have gathered on the road and are blocking our way,” said the driver.
Helen furrowed her brow. “Are they here to welcome us?”
It was typical for the people to gather and welcome the Lindsays whenever they returned. Judging by the clamoring voices outside, however, this didn’t sound like a welcoming party.
The driver continued to inform them about the situation. “It seems they have questions for the lord and lady.”
Virgil’s carriage was ahead of theirs and had stopped first. Both carriages bore the Lindsays’ crest, which made it obvious who was inside. This wasn’t normally the way their people voiced their concerns.
“The knights appear to be on their guard as well,” the driver called back to the two women.
“Excuse me?” Claudia blurted out.
They had knights accompanying them as a security detail. Large crowds like this one could sometimes act irrationally and recklessly. The vigilance of the Lindsays’ security was no surprise, but there was a thread of worry in the driver’s voice. Whatever the reason for this gathering, it was not a friendly one. This had never happened before.