We left the earl’s manor soon afterward.
It was clear Ester had completely misconstrued what I said, but I decided to let it go. It didn’t seem like I could patch this over easily, and she’d promised not to tell others about me, so what did it really matter? The earl also promised to keep his lips sealed, so that should be that.
The earl bowed incessantly and Ester watched us like she was trying to memorize our every detail as Cerulean, Dolly, Kurtis, and I said our farewells and climbed into the earl’s carriage.
We made straight for the castle. Despite all their grumbling about wanting to go eat earlier, Cerulean and Dolly now claimed they were too tired to go out for dinner. Sheesh. They could really learn a thing or two from Zackary and Desmond’s unlimited stamina. I was starving myself, but I had to admit the jesters seemed dead tired. I had never heard of a phobia of sick people before today, but it seemed like it took its toll.
The pair sank back in their seats, eyes closed. A bit hesitant, I spoke up.
“Are you two all right? It’d be bad if you collapsed on the way back to your rooms. Should I walk you back?”
I decided to speak in Lua. It was supposed to be our secret language for emergencies but we never did get to use it, and I felt that was a bit of a waste.
Eyes still closed, the jesters grumbled.
“Whyyy you using Luuuua? Daaayyy’s oooover, isn’t iiit?”
“Yeaaah, and why’d yooou make a fooool of youuurself at the eeeend there? Yooou actuuuually loooked gooood for once toooo.”
I wanted to argue, but their voices were flat and their eyes were shut. I was really starting to worry.
Noticing my silence, they finally opened their eyes and shared a glance.
“Right… Why don’t we take you up on your offer and have you walk us back?” Cerulean said. “It seems we’re more tired than we thought. We might not make it on our own.”
It’s not like him to admit weakness. He must really not be doing well… Almost the moment that thought crossed my mind, the jesters sat up straighter. It seemed like they were scheming, but I was just glad they looked less faint.
With the pair uncharacteristically quiet, and Kurtis his usual quiet self, the carriage fell silent. Before I knew it, I nodded off. By the time I woke up, we’d reached the royal castle.
I walked Cerulean and Dolly back to their rooms, with Kurtis a step behind as though he always followed us like this. Their path eventually took us to an off-limits area.
The jesters apparently enjoyed their own private room inside the royal castle. I mean, that makes sense. They are court jesters, I thought as they led me into a room decorated with gaudy wallpaper. I gawked at the strange chamber. When Dolly grabbed an odd prop sitting on a bookshelf, the whole shelf slid to the side, revealing a hidden door.
“Huh?”
Dolly opened the door, and I followed him into pitch-black darkness.
“Hmmm?”
I was still wondering what exactly this dark space was for when yet another door opened to reveal a more spacious room.
Dolly said, “This is my private bedroom as Duke Alcott. As I hold an important position in the royal castle, I’ve been given a separate room aside from my office.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
It was kind of amusing that the jesters’ room and the duke’s room were connected by secret doors. I turned to find the door we’d entered through was now a closet.
“Ah, so the secret door in the jesters’ room connects to the duke’s closet. That’s why it was so dark inside.”
Normally there would be no way that the jesters’ room and the duke’s private room would neighbor one another, but the king liked his jesters so much, he outfitted them with a really nice room that just so happened to sit next to the duke’s, or so the excuse went.
I was still amusing myself with that fact when Dolly gestured for me to sit on a sofa.
“We’ll be changing out of our jester costumes,” he said. “Do you want to change as well? Cerulean should have some clothes around from when he was about your height.”
It was a very kind offer, but I still hadn’t had dinner, so I refused.
“No, that’s all right. My clothes are clean enough, so I’ll just keep wearing this. And I’ve already seen you two back to your rooms, so I think I’ll just head out. Oh, unless you want me to return the saint costume?” I had almost forgotten, but the costume had come from Dolly, after all. Maybe he wanted it back.
He shook his head. “No need. That costume is yours. You’re free to do with it as you will. More importantly, we missed our chance to eat, so why don’t we do that next? I’ll have some food brought to this room. There’s something I’d love to chat with you about if you’re willing to stay.”
“I’d love to!”
That saves me the effort of making a trip to the dining hall! I thought as I sat on the sofa with Kurtis. Meanwhile, Cerulean and Dolly slipped into the dressing room to change.
I gawked at the room around me while waiting for them, taking in the gorgeous upholstery and expensive furniture. Unlike the jesters’ room, which had been full of strange toys and props, this room contained shelves of difficult-looking books and a stately desk. It was hard to believe the same person lived in both rooms.
Beside me, Kurtis said, “Lady Fi, I hate to be so forward, but could I say one thing?”
“Of course.”
It was unusual for him to raise concerns. I tensed as I waited for him to speak.
Solemnly, he said, “I advise against becoming any more involved with Cerulean and Dolly than you already are. The two of them bear a burden both dark and great. Superficial methods cannot grant their wish, but someone like you could, Lady Fi.”
“Huh?” My eyes shot wide as he blindsided me with this sudden insight.
Kurtis’s serious expression did not flicker. “Please be aware that if you lend them your aid out of sympathy…it will be at the cost of exposing your greatest secret.”
“Whaaaat?!”
Kurtis slid off the sofa, getting on one knee before me. “Lady Fi, please do not forget what is most important here! No matter how much your heart pains you, no matter how much you wish to be of aid, do not forget what must come first! If anything, I advise you to leave now before you feel compelled to help!”
He’d made a similar request in Sutherland, so I kind of understood what he was getting at. The thing of “utmost importance” that he was talking about was probably my own life. My ever-loyal ex-personal knight constantly worried about me.
“Kurtis, thank you for always thinking about my well-being,” I said. “But I’ll be all right. Not even I am silly enough to put myself in danger for no reason.”
I spoke from the heart, trying to reassure him, but he shook his head. “You say that because you don’t know the burden Cerulean and Dolly bear. If you continue to involve yourself with them, it will only be a matter of time before you call forth spirits, I’m certain!”
I couldn’t say a word to refute him. This was so unlike him. It was clear he knew something I didn’t, and that filled me with unease, my heart pounding too hard against my chest.
Perhaps unnerved by my silence, Kurtis continued. “The same goes for Commander Saviz and Cyril! The two of them carry a burden equally dark and grave! Please, I beg you, do not become involved with any of them any further!”
The seriousness of his expression struck me, but I couldn’t bring myself to comply. I could only watch him in mute horror.