Francis, seeing lady Lucreatia famous for her enormous amount of energy, being the complete opposite. As he watched her walk without course made his heart leapt, uneasy. It was odd and out of character.
At a vigorous pace, he reached for her, who didn't seem to acknowledge his presence. Taking her by her waist, which to his relief was free of any wound, and secured her. It worried him to see her in such a state and that she may not yet be free of danger.
After he was sure she was secured in his arms, Francis glanced around to be sure no one that may have caused this was close by. Then he steered lady Lucreatia, careful to not open more wounds, to a secluded place where he could have her seat and gather some information about what had happened to her.
With one of his hands securing her waist and the other on her hand pushing her softly, Francis was able, in slow and careful steps, to bring her to a hidden corner of the garden, where a plain bench of wood stayed, his pure white outer garment drenching in blood with each step. Before they reached it though, he felt Lady Lucreatia halt with forcefulness, craving her nails on his hand with such a strength he was not sure if the blood now on him was from her or not.
He turned to her, to see that those golden eyes bore a familiar recognition, while she breathed with effort.
"I... have... to... escape..." she whispered with a degree of despair unknown to him, pain relegated to a second.
"My Lady, what happened? Who would dare to do this to you?!" asked Francis, with concern as he looked into those eyes that were so much like his and yet so different. She in response shook her head and turned to glance at the ground, her breathing getting harder. The prince again tried to bring her to rest, yet she responded by applying more strength to her grip.
"The perfume... Lady's Beatrice... is poison..." she looked at him and it seemed like the fire had returned to her.
Francis had enough from her to get a vague understanding of the situation, though the motive was still shredded in mystery. For sure Lady Beatrice had pretensions over becoming the lady of the house, however, he couldn't believe she was stupid enough to believe this was the way to accomplish it. The only thing she would get out of this would be her horrible death. Unless... she truly believed this to be the way, which meant she was not thinking straight and someone else was behind this ordeal.
Someone who wouldn't mind having her thrown into chaos. That would be glad for the Duke, the stronghold of the land and buffer between royalty and the Temple, to turn into a rage mode, destroying everything and everyone in his way. Francis had heard the stories, which many believed to be wishful thinking of the Emperor, out of pride for his old friend or to flatter the man itself, but they were actually a warning. A dangerous warning.
No... he had to help Lady Lucreatia, she didn't deserve this and neither did the Empire.
The problem was how... because no matter how much of her holy water he used, it did not work. Since it was almost empty, Francis speculated that she must have used the rest quite recently, rendering the recent dose, not useless but almost.
And yet, that was not the only disturbing thing he found.
Most of her wounds were treated easily with some herbs or medicine. Except for her cheek, it reeked of magic, just like her breath. Magic poisoned her and hurt her. And with holy water losing its effectiveness, it was a danger to leave her like this.
But how could he help?
An answer to that question turned urgent as he heard people calling from him, from afar. There was not much time left, so Francis decided to do what he was asked never to, by the Temple. He decided to bless her, using the holy water to increase his holiness.
Francis didn't know many blessings, but he knew the one that would help Lucreatia, as one day before he thought it would have helped him.
While still securing Lady Lucreatia by the hand, he used the other to reach for the flask in his under pockets. And as he saw her eyes losing her fire again, he quickly drank the liquid that burned his throat, throwing the flask away in a hasty move. Then he hugged Lucreatia, his face reaching closer to hers and settling close to her ear, where he whispered his blessing.
Oh, Great Lady of the Light
That strikes upon the Night
Hear my prayers and tears
Bring back the light
To me and to your daughter
Hear my prayers and tears
and bless us with your light
Oh, Great Goddess
I beg of you
Turn the black night
into a glorious light
May your will be heard!
He then went and kissed the bruised cheek of Lucreatia, his lips humid with the crystalline liquid, leaving an unseen mark on her. It started to glow, and all her wounds, even those made with magic disappeared. Yet her senses, more vivid than before, were far from the result he had expected.
Something else happened, unforeseen and unusual. A warmth began to emanate from Lucreatia's wrist. The golden bracelet she always carried around, was warm and fluttered with brutality, and when one of the cinereous beads cracked, lady Lucretia's eyes again returned to her former glory for a brief moment, even if in a very confused state.
Francis, however, was happy to see that all her wounds had disappeared. His first blessing had worked. Though an accomplishment meant for celebration, now was not the place and the hour. He had to know what was happening and a way to escape, the problem was that someone had already found them.
"Your highness..." it was Lady Beatrice, looking at them with an air of pure disgust. In her hands, a suspicious stick settled.
The stick had a purple aura and a pungent smell. It made him dizzy, and he knew that she had spiked it with poison. She wanted to kill lady Lucreatia, it could only be. And though he had restored her health in some way, it wouldn't be enough to protect her from the poison again, now in contact with her flesh.
It would give him instead, time to bring reinforcements and destroy this ploy, as he felt Lady Beatrice wouldn't hear reason no matter what. Not with the backing of the Templars.
Facing the tutor, his hand was occupied with Lady Lucreatia's, sensing the grip tighten and rage at seeing the perpetrator sorry state. With a lack of options, Francis quickly hugged Lucreatia and on the hear he had recited his prayer, he now recited his promise.
"I promise, as the son of our Sun and glory of our future, to help you. As the true son of the Goddess." he whispered words and she held her breath.
And though not as clear, her eyes provided the answer he needed. She understood his promise.
"Your highness, the lack of manners! To hug an unmarried lady... what outrage..." the shock on the tutor's face was expected by him. His mother would be possessed if she find out. But she was not and a sharp glance ended her comments... not her craziness, unfortunately. "I am afraid, your highness, that I cannot accommodate you anymore... We have urgent business to attend." she had regained her cordial facade, pushing forward, closer to Lady Lucreatia. Her walk, showing the two Templars that would be tasked with showing him out.
"I request that Lady Lucreatia comes with me.." Francis blocked the tutor's view of the girl, intending on have her back off. Even with his promise, the prince was unsure how well he would found Lady Lucreatia after he returned.
"Your highness the Empress calls you to see her." Said one of the Templars, surprising him.
His mother wouldn't dare... Francis wanted to believe it to be untrue... but he knew, that it rang way more truthful than any word uttered by the adults in this place.
With an evil glint in her eyes, Lady Beatrice smiled and again approached the young lady.
"Lady Lucreatia, I have been looking you for everywhere. " said the tutor with a poisoned voice, as she tried to pet Lucreatia's grey hair. However, lady Lucreatia wouldn't have her way and stopped her hand, her eyes closed. When she opened them, she discarded the hand, with a dismissive shove. Then, she looked at him. A serious expression and she lingered there, seconds that stopped time. Golden against golden. Her eyes crushing his heart.
After a silent tempo, she left, passing through an angry and surprised Lady Beatrice, walking fast the way back to the manor. Never once did she look back. She had believed in his promise.
And he meant to fulfil it, the reason why he rushed back to the entrance with Templars, leaving the dark, crazy tutor, who he swore was turning more beastly than human, in the garden. Francis walked almost at the same pace as the Templar in front of him, leaving the one behind to quicken his pace, the clunky sound of his bouts on the grass, making a symphony of rushed desperation.
Francis needed to leave quickly to fetch Cedric and his entourage, he needed his royal knights. They needed to raid the Mountnero house. For her safety, for his honour and for the Empire.
Unfortunately, someone guessed he would do just that... the archbishop.
We have our first bless and our first (innocent kiss) XD
I suspect no one guessed it was coming! XD
Hope you like it! Next chapters we leave Francis and go to other characters, you can make your guesses who is appearing!
By the way sorry for the delay in this chapter, but Sunday I was travelling back from vacation, and my tiredness didn't allow me to edit and update this chapter. Hope you can understand!
And don't worry the schedule is kept! Friday I see you all again with chapter 30!!
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