4. Revolutionary Reprise of the Blue Rose Princess
ENVOYS from Erdal had arrived at the border checkpoint. The news was immediately relayed to Chief Adviser Nigel Otto, who happened to be in Sheraford on a visit. Nigel excused himself from the inspection he’d been conducting with the princess, heading towards the border to welcome the unexpected visitors.
There, he learned that Riddhe Sutherland had been imprisoned.
After receiving a summary of the news from Nigel, Alicia hurried to the border as well. The Erdalian envoys—Foreign Minister Crowne and his wife Beatrix—stood swiftly to greet her as she burst into the room.
“Lady Beatrix!”
“Your Highness! I’m so glad to see you. It’s a stroke of luck that you’re in Viola.”
“I’m so glad, too. What’s this about Riddhe being imprisoned?”
Alicia took a seat as Chief Adviser Otto and Robert took positions behind her. Foreign Minister Crowne updated the group about the events in Erdal over the past few days. He concluded, with Erdal’s official stance on the matter, that Riddhe Sutherland was suspected of the attempted assassination of the empress.
“Riddhe poisoning Empress Elizabeth? That can’t be true!” Alicia exclaimed.
“Lord Riddhe will be put on trial at noon in two days, and Erdal will decide his fate after that… To be honest, Lord Riddhe is in a truly dire predicament. His Highness Fritz seems entirely convinced that he is the culprit,” Beatrix said.
“That’s impossible… Was it His Highness who ordered the arrest of Riddhe?” Alicia asked.
“He’d rushed to the room where Her Majesty had collapsed and ordered the arrest of Lord Riddhe there. I heard that Chancellor Yggdrasil and some guards were present at the scene as well.”
“Lord Yggdrasil…”
Alicia glanced at Nigel, who returned her gaze with a brief nod and a glint in his eye. He must have come to the same conclusion.
Riddhe had been framed, and the culprit was none other than Erdalian Chancellor Eric Yggdrasil. Riddhe’s letter had hinted that he might be the mastermind who had colluded with Loid. Yggdrasil must have felt threatened by Riddhe’s investigations and taken drastic measures to stop him…
“Please, Your Highness. Come back to Erdal with me,” Lady Crowne pleaded.
“Pardon?”
Alicia’s mind went blank as she stared at Lady Crowne, who looked back at her seriously.
“Prince Fritz plans for our countries to go to war. The truth, justice—he has lost sight of it all. So please, come to Erdal and stop him. You’re the only one who holds Her Majesty’s favor; you’re our last hope.”
“Wait.” Nigel stepped forward, his tone sharp and his expression stern, but after a moment, the chief adviser bowed to Alicia. “My apologies, Your Highness, if I may be allowed to speak?”
“Of course,” Alicia nodded. “I need your advice as Father’s right-hand man.”
“Thank you.”
With Alicia’s permission, Nigel bowed again before adjusting his glasses and turning towards Beatrix with a harsh glare.
“Pardon my bluntness, Lady Crowne, but what you’re suggesting is a risky gamble. Do you really think Heilland will willingly allow you to take someone as important as Her Highness into the heart of danger?”
“I am aware of how reckless the idea is and that it will be difficult for Heilland to accept it. However, I must still say it. Please trust me. I’m willing to give you anything in exchange, along with the promise that I will protect Her Highness,” Lady Crowne vowed.
“It’s out of the question,” Nigel declined. “You are an envoy from Erdal, and that is where your loyalty ultimately lies, not with Heilland.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I am only loyal to one person. That is the great Empress Elizabeth, my lovely Beth.” Lady Crowne’s gaze dropped to her hands. “But there are many others whom I cherish. The day before the incident, I asked Lord Riddhe the real reason he was in Erdal. Then, I swore to him that I would continue to be an ally of Heilland’s… That was why he informed me of what happened that night with the empress.”
“Then why didn’t you tell the truth and stop Crown Prince Fritz?”
“Unfortunately, His Highness will not listen to me. I can’t tell you the real reason, but I’m sure you both already know the answer.”
Nigel pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a deep sigh while Alicia pursed her lips tightly. Lady Crowne was suggesting that Yggdrasil didn’t plan the plot alone. Crown Prince Fritz had been involved as well.
A high, clear sound echoed like the falling twinkle of stars.
Alicia closed her eyes.
Nigel shook his head in displeasure as Beatrix reasoned with him, but none of their words reached Alicia’s ears. Soon, there was no sound, no light, and no sensation. She was alone in a world of darkness.
It was so cold here. Why was she alone? It was because she had chosen to be.
There was no path forward. She couldn’t tell up from down.
There was no exit.
Then, a violet light twinkled in the endless darkness.
“What is important is how you think and act when opportunities arise. At the very least, I understand Your Highness’s true intentions, and I’m glad you are my mistress.”
Alicia gasped as she turned her head to chase the violet light. A green light flickered from the opposite side.
“Just jump in! Isn’t that what you do best?”
Alicia wrapped her arms around herself and shook her head in fear. She didn’t want to destroy anything; didn’t want to lose anyone. But the most precious things were always the most fragile, slipping away through the gaps in her fingers.
Now, a red light jumped before her eyes.
“Just relax and watch as your loyal subject, Riddhe Sutherland, works his magic. Besides, Your Highness is surrounded by many other talented and loyal subjects.”
“Is it really all right?” she asked the red light as it quivered. “Everyone believes in me and trusts me with the future, but I’m really no one special. I’ve once lost everything and am terrified of making the same mistake. I’m just a small and weak human.”
The red light bounced and flew away, and the violet light blinked into existence once again. Slowly, it grew larger, gently pushing back the darkness and bathing everything in shades of amethyst.
Drawn towards it, she reached out a hand, fearful and hesitant but yearning to touch. Finally, her slender fingers brushed against it.
Numerous rays burst forth from the light’s center, bringing visions of different people. There was the Privy Council, united once again for Heilland’s future. A reliable merchant and a noble achieving brilliant success. A young man surpassing his mentor and walking down his own path. A knight swearing to use his sword to protect, not to hurt.
And that one person closest and most precious to her.
“I am still your adviser. Please don’t take that from me.”
Yes. A warmth welled up in Alicia’s chest.
The past was nothing to be feared, and she still knew her way. She should focus on herself and all those who walked with her and trust them with all her heart.
Nobles, merchants, friends. Everyone had their own problems, made their own decisions, and chose their own paths. The result was the present, and the progress she’d made with everyone would lead her into the future.
That was Princess Alicia’s reprise.
It was everyone’s reprise.
“I apologize, but I cannot accept,” Nigel repeated. “I’m sure His Majesty would feel the same way as well.”
“But your being here must be destiny,” Beatrix countered. “Please, we don’t have time. If we don’t hurry, we’ll—”
“Wait.”
Alicia raised a hand, and Nigel and Beatrix ceased their argument. Lord Crowne and Robert also turned their gazes to her.
Once she had their attention, Alicia slowly lowered her hand. Then she gazed at everyone with clear eyes. “I will go to Erdal. Nigel, return to the capital and tell Father everything. Foreign Minister Crowne, Lady Beatrix, please escort me to Kingsley right away.”
“Your Highness…!” Nigel cried out.
“I know what I’m doing; please don’t worry.”
The chief adviser seemed about to protest again, but a smile from Alicia made him swallow his words. The unpleasant tension that had plagued the princess for the past few days was suddenly gone, and he sensed a quiet but dignified fighting spirit within her in its place.
“War will break out if we do nothing, and we’ll lose Riddhe and many of our citizens,” she said. “That’s why I have to take the gamble, for the people of Heilland, and for myself.”
“But—”
“In any case, I’ll have to face this enemy sooner or later, and it just so happens that things are occurring sooner than expected. If I don’t go to Erdal, what else can we do, Nigel?”
The princess tilted her head, and the mannerisms resembled the king so much that Nigel could only massage his temple in frustration. But Alicia was right. If they didn’t take action, Riddhe would be found guilty in a few days, and the Erdalian crown prince and chancellor would leverage that to start a war.
If Alicia went to Erdal, several other possibilities would arise. Since she requested for Riddhe to be stationed in Erdal, it wasn’t strange that she would now travel there to give her testimony in the trial. Besides, she and the empress were working together as allies. If she could get in touch with the empress and reveal the true enemy, they had a good chance of avoiding the war altogether.
That said, Crown Prince Fritz seemed to be as deeply involved in this as the chancellor. That could potentially sour the alliance between the empress and Alicia. And if Riddhe were to be found guilty after all, Alicia might also be taken as Erdal’s prisoner.
“Two days,” the adviser finally answered. “Your Highness will stay in Kingsley for two days. After that, please return to Heilland, no matter what the outcome of the trial may be.”
“That’s…not a lot of time at all.”
“As Your Highness said, this is a gamble. Will investing more time make a difference in our chances of winning?”
Alicia thought, then nodded in understanding. Time wasn’t on their side. They only had limited cards to play with, and how the game would end was up to luck.
“Thank you for understanding. Well, as for the exchange of allowing Her Highness to go to Erdal…?”
“I’ll stay in Heilland,” Foreign Minister Crowne offered. “It is true that my wife makes a more valuable political hostage, but it will be better if she accompanies Her Highness. Besides, I am still bound by duty to carry the news to King James,” he paused for a moment before continuing in a low voice. “I am against war. Unless Her Majesty Empress Elizabeth orders it, I want to help prevent it in any way I can.”
“I agree that you aren’t the ideal political hostage, but we have no other choice,” Nigel sighed. “You will stay with us until Her Highness’s safe return.”
With that decided, the group dispersed and hurried to their respective destinations.