The Wicked House of Caroline

Twenty years of some of the most intense education in the world, and Beks could not figure out how to react when she was accused of being a mistress. She froze in place, her eyes wide as her mouth was left agape.

Did she correct the woman? Did she deny it? Obviously, she was not having a sordid affair with Gerard. Not that he was terrible, but she had standards; one of them being not being interested in people already in relationships.

Before she could produce a suitable answer, Gerard grasped the woman’s arm and shook his head.

“Sandra, it’s not what you think!”

I don’t think you’re starting well. Beks pursed her lips as she watched the horrified man try to calm the red-faced woman. Jonas had mentioned his sister by name a few times - Sandra, and since his sister was Gerard’s wife, that angry woman must’ve been Gerard’s wife.

Beks squinted. She did resemble Jonas quite a bit.

“It’s not what I think?” Sandra’s disgusted voice spat out. “Are you not half naked with some woman?”

“I am her bodyguard!” Gerard gasped.

Sandra pulled her shoulders away and scowled. “Is that what you’re calling it now? ‘Bodyguarding’?”

“No! Those men were attempting to break into her room!”

“You mean yourroom?”

“We weren’t sharing a room!”

“Do you expect me to believe that?” Sandra asked, unable to help stomping her foot on the ground in frustration. She continued to point at Beks. “You were standing right next to her!” She narrowed her eyes and looked Beks up and down. She seemed to want to criticize Beks, but when she opened her mouth, she let out a small, choked cry instead. “Is that the type of woman you want?”

Beks closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She didn’t like where this was going.

Gerard looked confused as he looked from his wife to Beks and back. “No! Of course not!”

“Don’t lie to me! Look at her!”

“I won’t!” Gerard paled. He took a step closer to Sandra and lowered his voice. “She is the Commander’s fiancée!”

Sandra opened her mouth to argue further, but the fury and bitterness on her face faded into a dumbfounded expression.

“Commander?” she whispered. She squinted and lowered her voice further. “As in...BattalionCommander?”

Gerard bit his lips and nodded, still keeping his voice low. “I am on a mission to escort her.”

Sandra looked at her husband and then went back to Beks.

Beks stared back at them.

“I’ve not been trained for this sort of conflict.” She took a deep breath, rubbed her forehead, and turned around, making a lazy hand motion at the pile of men on the floor. “Finish this up and then talk to your wife. I’m going to sleep.” Beks slipped back into her room, closing the door behind her. She then pushed the bed back against the door and went to sleep, ignoring the arrival of night patrols and chattering of the innkeeper in the hall.

The next morning, Beks carefully selected clothes and hid away anything that could be seen as expensive and eyed by thieves in her room. The dress she wore on the island was tattered from being worn day in and day out, and from traipsing through the jungle and ruins, so she had opted to leave it behind and wear the dress Lucian had tried his best to make her.

It was more an apron with a long skirt and sleeves that went over a somewhat oversized cotton shirt Jonas had brought back for her. Both pieces were average with no embellishment; suitable for any average commoner to wear daily. The stitching on the dress portion left much to be desired, suggesting she had to make it herself or could only afford a terrible seamstress.

She didn’t tell Lucian that for fear it would hurt his feelings after he’d worked so hard.

Satisfied that she looked like an ordinary commoner, she left her room to eat breakfast at the inn’s downstairs restaurant, and wait for Gerard and his wife to come down.

She didn’t have to wait at all, as soon as she opened the door, Gerard and his wife straightened up from where they were leaning against the wall beside the door.

Beks’ looked them up and down. Gerard was fully clothed and appeared nervous while his wife wore a regular olive dress with a dark brown apron with flower embroidery. Though standing rigid as soon as the door opened, they seemed to have been waiting for some time.

She raised a brow. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Miss.”

“Good morning, my lady-I mean, Miss.” Gerard gave Sandra a gentle tug on her sleeve to watch her words and she corrected herself. She lowered her head. “Miss, I am very sorry for what happened last night.”

“There is no need. You are not at fault for those men attempting to break into my room,” Beks replied. She closed the door behind her and locked it, jiggling the handle to make sure it was locked. “If you were waiting here, why did you not knock?”

“We wouldn’t dream of it, Miss!” Sandra kept her head down and grasped the sides of her dress with discomfort. “And I apologize for my unfounded accusations last night. I was half asleep and did not see the situation for what it was!”

Beks let out a hum and walked past them, neither accepting the apology nor declining it. “Have you eaten yet?”

“No, Miss.” Gerard replied as he followed her. The couple seemed to tense as they trailed behind with Sandra still looking down.

“Thank you for waiting for me,” Beks told them. They reached the end of the hall and walked down the narrow steps against the wall. The first floor of the building was the restaurant, but it also functioned as a lobby for guests.

Though it wasn’t too early, there were already a few people seated scattered throughout the lobby. Beks looked for the most secluded private table to sit at and headed directly over. Gerard and Sandra followed, but instead of taking two of the seats across from Beks, they remained standing.

She raised her eyes at them and then motioned for them to take a seat.

“Good morning, guests!” A cheerful middle-aged woman reached their table and recited what was available for breakfast. She placed a glass carafe of juice on the table. Beks went with eggs and some bread then looked towards the couple to order.

“I’ll have the same!” Sandra said.

Gerard furrowed his brows and thought. “Eggs, bread, ham and bacon, cheese, and mead.”

His wife looked at him, slack jawed. As soon as the waitress confirmed their orders and left, Sandra grabbed his arm. “What are you doing? Will the Battal-your boss be all right with you spending so much?”

Gerard lifted a hand and scratched the back of his head. “I think so?”

“It’s fine,” Beks said as she poured herself some juice. “He will need to consume more than us and we have allocated enough for that.”

Sandra nodded and seemed to study her. “Miss, did you sleep well?”

“I did,” Beks said. “I had some things to consider, but we’ve been traveling, so I am quite tired.”

The woman drew her lips inward and bit them. “I didn’t know who you were. I’m sorry for insulting you.”

Beks took a sip of her juice and waved her hand dismissively. “As long as the misunderstanding has been cleared. What happened to the three would-be intruders?”

Gerard sat up straight. “The night patrol came and dragged them out. I followed them to the town jail to make sure all the records were straight and waited until they awoke. They were students learning accounting from a local lord’s treasurer.”

Beks mulled over his answer. “Then, the old man’s son and those other two were friends.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“What is the punishment?”

“Since they were caught before they could do anything, the punishment is rather light. They will spend a few days in jail.” There was disappointment in Gerard’s voice and, though she was unharmed after the incident, Beks was also disappointed.

“Has the old man been notified?” If so, she’d have to prepare for a possible confrontation. It was clear that the old man loved his grandson and if he found out that the fool was arrested because he tried to break into her room, he could try to seek mercy through her.

She was not in the mood to be merciful.

“Yes, Miss. I made sure that their families and places of study were informed.”

The corners of Beks lipped curled up. “Good.” She took another sip of her juice. “A local lord’s treasurer should be hesitant to continue to teach thieves.”

Gerard and Sandra both nodded, but after a moment, Sandra furrowed her brows. “Thieves?”

Beks nodded. “Yes. Why else would they target my room out of all the others?”

She almost didn’t notice Gerard stiffen in his seat. Sandra’s eyes crinkled up. “You...you think they targeted you because of money?”

“That and I am a woman, so they may have estimated that it would be easiest to rob me,” Beks replied. She frowned and put her cup down on the table. Her voice lowered. “Though, I don’t know how they knew I had money. Gerard had paid the old man, and I was very cautious when we were at the bank. I even asked to exchange for coins in a private room so as to avoid being seen with too much money on hand.” Her frown deepened. “Was the very act of doing so suspicious?”

If so, she’d have to be more careful with her actions. She’d have to separate her coins and only take out a certain amount per day. If she was accosted and Gerard wasn’t near, then she’d sacrifice a few coins to save the rest.

That was what Mrs. Holdings told her when she was young and visiting Nexus with the late Queen. Thieves would stop after they got what they wanted, and a few coins wasn’t worth her life.

Beks shook her head, disappointed at her own naivety. She was so confident about going on a journey on her own, too. She didn’t want to admit that the twins were right to send Gerard with her. She’d never left Kadmium after she arrived, of course there were things in the world she didn’t understand.

When she was observing, she must’ve looked distracted, which would make her an easy target. Perhaps that’s what drew those men’s attention.

“Is that why you think they came after you?” Sandra asked in a tight voice laced with disbelief.

Beks looked back at her and gave a solemn nod. “What other reason could there be? They are not professional thieves from the look of it, so logic would dictate that they would try for an easy target. The old man’s grandson had been studying me intensely since we met the day before. He must’ve been estimating his chances of success then.”

Sandra and Gerard both seemed to swallow hard.

“Out of curiosity, Miss...do you...do you consider yourself...er...beautiful?” Sandra asked.

Beks nodded her head. She didn’t see anything wrong with admitting it. Beauty was all around her. “Yes, everyone in my family is very attractive. It would be strange if I differed.” She said it so casually, as if she were describing the weather.

“Miss grew up surrounded by very beau, I mean...in a privileged home,” Gerard said, trying to measure his words. “She may have a different standard.”

Beks tilted her head to the side. “Standard of what?”

“Beauty,” Sandra said. “Miss is very beautiful and that attracts a lot of attention.”

She wasn’t an idiot. She could put two and two together to understand what Sandra was saying. Beks drew her head back and frowned once more. “They tried to break into my room not because of my money, but to get to me?”

Sandra nodded, but Gerard flushed and shook his head. “Never mind what happened last night, Miss. It must’ve disturbed you greatly-”

“That is preposterous!” Beks narrowed her eyes. “I am only a little better looking than average, at best.” Their eyes told her they thought otherwise without a word, but she continued on. “I have seen breathtaking beauty, and I am far behind. Hardly worth mentioning, let alone breaking the law and common decency for.”

“As an example?” Sandra asked in a weak voice.

“My mother, for example. She is tall and stately, she commands attention when she enters the room,” Beks replied. “Daddy has written poetry of her beauty and strength.”

Sandra leaned closer to her husband. “Have you ever seen her mother?” she whispered.

“No....”

Beks sighed and rolled her eyes. “Then, what about the twins? Their luxurious hair, their beautiful eyes, the smooth, even muscle tone of their bodies. I particularly like looking at their forearms and necks.”

Sandra furrowed her brows with some confusion. “The twins?” She looked at her husband, only to find him nodding in agreement.

“Yes, he does have many admirers. And he’s charismatic,” Gerard added.

Beks nodded as Sandra looked from one to the other. “Who are you talking about?”

“The Boss,” Gerard replied. Sandra’s eyes slowly crinkled up.

“Ah...Miss,” she said, looking back at Beks. “What about my brother? Hector Jonas.”

“Sandra, what are you asking?” Gerard gasped, almost horrified. “She is already engaged!”

“I’m not asking if she is interested in my brother. I am asking if she thinks my brother is handsome.”

“Is that not the same thing?”

“No.”

“Jonas is not ugly.”

The waitress place wooden plates with their food in front of them and the table went silent. Beks thanked the waitress, not noticing the dull look on Sandra’s face. Gerard immediately picked up his fork to start eating.

“Hector was considered the best-looking boy in our village,” Sandra muttered as she lowered her eyes to her plate of eggs. “So many people wanted to marry him, even begging him not to leave....”

Beks bit into her toast and thought for a moment. “Was your village small? If so, the sample size may not be enough.”

Sandra almost fell back, as if given a blow. “It was not too small!” She looked almost defeated as she slumped forward and picked up her fork. “I just never heard anyone say my brother wasn’t handsome.”

“But compared to the Boss....” Gerard trailed off. Sandra slumped down even further, having seen Laz in person before, and agreed in silence. “You know, Miss. The Boss was the one who introduced me to my wife.” Gerard smiled from ear to ear, his eyes sparkling at the memory.

Beks smiled a bit. “Is that so? Was it through your work?”

Gerard nodded and looked at his wife with a fond expression. “We were stopping where Sandra worked. He kept assigning me work that would allow me to cross paths with her.”

Thinking of the memory, Sandra seemed to smile as well. “Hector was upset and asked why he couldn’t be sent, as he was my brother and due to the nature of his work, he didn’t see his family often.”

Gerard let out a sheepish laugh. “If it weren’t for the Boss, I would never have gotten to know you.”

“And if he didn’t step in, Hector would still be against our marriage,” Sandra said with a sigh. She looked at Beks. “Miss, are you excited to be engaged?”

“It hasn’t been finalized yet, actually,” Beks replied. Sandra looked at her and then at her husband. Beks wasn’t sure what Gerard told her last night. “I have to discuss with additional family, as well.”

“Yes, familial approval is important.” Sandra agreed as she ate her eggs. “But do you like your...prospective husband?”

Beks nodded. “Yes, they're quite impressive. It’s difficult to decide between the two as I care about both of them very much.”

Sandra almost choked on her eggs. She reached for the juice at the side and downed half the glass before she managed to catch her breath. She looked at Beks as she wiped the juice from her lips.

“Did you say you were deciding between two?” She whirled to her husband. “Did you know about this?”

“The...er...Third Master is a good man, but as his subordinate, I must side with the Second Master, the Boss,” Gerard said. It seemed he had already taken a stance.

“It is a bit of a complicated matter,” Beks told Sandra, who appeared to be in disbelief. “We are all aware of the situation. It is all right, Mrs. Gerard.”

“Sandra is fine, Miss....” the woman said, distracted.

“For now, I am just an orphaned woman going to meet my future husband,” Beks said, stressing a few words. Sandra nodded. Gerard should’ve told her their backstory already. “Sandra, how did you end up in this town? Jonas told me that you were working at a fortress in the center of Kadmus.”

Sandra seemed to shake herself out of her stupor and then lowered her eyes. “I came to find them.” She seemed to pause for a bit, as if unsure how to answer. She looked at Gerard, who gave her a nod. She lowered her voice. “The Wild Dogs had scattered. Rumors had it that they went to find someone in the Forbidden Valley and were lost. I couldn't believe it at first, but weeks passed without hearing from my husband or my brother.” She shook her head. “This...this hasn’t happened before. They would send me a note at least once a month.”

Beks felt her chest tighten. She could understand Sandra’s feelings; the sense of anxiousness and urgency, and the fear of the unknown, as well as the desperate hope that everyone was safe. She thought of when she didn’t know where the twins were and how she tried to convince herself that they weren’t dead.

“The Boss approved for us to send her a message,” Gerard said. He frowned and looked at his wife with some disapproval. “But I didn’t expect to see her here.”

“I tracked where the message had been sent from and came to this town,” Sandra said. “I asked at the store and they said a bald man and a man with long brown hair had come by twice.”

“So, you waited, knowing that they’d likely pass through again,” Beks said. Sandra nodded. “Now that you’ve found your husband, what do you plan to do?”

“Go back-”

“Follow you.”

The couple across from her locked eyes and Beks watched as she brought some eggs into her mouth.

“I take it you didn’t discuss this last night,” Beks replied. She reached for her juice.

“Sandra, you can’t come with us. I have to escort the Miss,” Gerard said, lowering his utensils.

“I’ve already left my position at the fortress. I can’t go back,” Sandra replied, determined.

“Then return to the village.”

“No. I want to come with you.”

“Coming with us is dangerous,” Gerard said in a low voice. “Look at what happened last night.”

“It is precisely because of what happened last night that I should go with you,” Sandra replied in a domineering voice. She ate the last of her bread and looked at her husband. “It is clear that the Miss is unaware of her effect on others. This ignorance is a danger.”

Beks narrowed her eyes. “I am sitting in front of you.”

“That is why you shouldn’t come,” Gerard told his wife. “The Miss already attracts danger, so those around her will also be in danger. It is safer for you to go back to the village.”

“You can’t take care of her all the time. She needs a woman with her. I can serve her while you guard her.”

“That is unnecessary. The Miss will learn as she travels.”

“She doesn’t know to hide her face when she’s out in public, Leon. Every man and woman on the road will look at her if given the chance. What if she’s recognized then?”

Beks quietly lifted her hand to her face. Was the cloak hood not enough? Did she need to wear a mask?

“Then, we’ll get her a mask.”

“A mask? Are you trying to make her stand out more?” Sandra sounded exasperated at her husband. “She should weigh something not so eye-catching.”

“Such as?”

“This is why I should go with you,” Sandra insisted. She looked at Beks, who was still touching her soft, plump cheeks. “What do you think, Miss?”

Beks raised her head to look at them. She looked towards Gerard, who seemed to be giving her a silent plea to tell his wife no.

Beks took a deep breath. She didn’t want to get in between a married couple’s argument. She could only address the ‘business’ portion of this. “As for being a partial ‘employer’, we would need to consider the expenses incurred with an additional travel companion.”

“That is not a problem, Miss!” Sandra lifted her hand to her chest and tapped it, proud. “I have money.”

“Did Gerard tell you how long our trip will be?” Beks asked with a raised brow.

“Two months! That is not a problem, as long as I am frugal,” Sandra replied.

Beks nodded. Last night showed her that perhaps she needed to be escorted by experienced people after all. She already managed to contact Nexus and her urapearl worked now that they were on the mainland, so there was no urgent need for her to return to Kadmium.

As such, she didn’t need to find a way to escape Gerard’s watchful eye. “Then, since the financial portion is addressed, I am not against having another person come with us.”

“Thank you!

“Miss!” Gerard protested at the same time his wife clapped her hands with satisfaction. Beks lifted her hand to silence both of them.

“However, I will not make the final decision. This needs to be discussed and agreed upon by the two of you. All I am saying is that there is no reason for me to decline her request,” Beks told them. She reached for the rough, cloth napkin the restaurant had provided and picked it up, bringing it to her lips to dab. “I made a call and need to stay here for two more days. In those two days, you two must come to an agreement. I will not be involved further.” She wasn’t foolish enough to get herself involved with a couple’s disagreement.

She put her napkin down and pushed her seat back. “Miss....” Gerard seemed to want to convince her, but Beks shook her head.

“I am going to my room. I still have much to read.”

╔═════════════════ ∘◦ ♔ ◦∘ ═════════════════╗

The abnormal amount of bihar surrounding the island was likely the reason her urapearl did not work as it was supposed to when she was on the island. That brought up the concern of how she would use the urapearl from the island when she returned, as it would be their base for their reclamation of Kadmus and she would need to remain in contact with Nexus.

However, there were records of urapearls in the texts she’d memorized, meaning that at one point, urapearls could be used on the island. What she didn’t know is if they only worked when it was a peninsula.

Beks let out a heavy breath and fell back on the bed.

Two days spent reading and she still hadn’t found anything on manipulating the bihar on the island. Aside from the urapearl and communication with the outside world, what concerned her was the bihar that controlled the currents around the island. It would make it difficult for ships to get through and that is what they would bring Laurence back on.

There had to be a secret, as she somehow arrived at the island on a piece of floating wood. It had all happened by chance, as she didn’t have any sails nor anything to paddle, let alone steer.

She draped her arm over her eyes. Perhaps she’s just been reading too much so things weren’t registering as they were supposed to. When she found her brother and father, she’d ask them.

Beks lowered her arm and glanced out the window across the room. After she moved her bed the first night, she hadn’t moved it back. At most, it was pulled forward a bit to allow her some space to get in and out of the room.

Nexus confirmed that a contact would come soon to take her part way. Nexus was an information network with many people who traveled. It wasn’t all that difficult to arrange for her, Gerard, and Sandra, if they finally agreed, to join merchants and delivery people.

Since Beks no longer had her exile marking, she could come and go through the kingdom without a problem. She’d planned her route around cutting through the eastern corridor of the kingdom. The region was east of the mountains and less settled than the western side, so there would be less people, fewer large towns, and thus the chance of being recognized was lower.

It also wasn’t so barren of a place where they’d need to stop by fortresses for safety for the night. Fortresses were of course staffed by military and government employees, which meant that even if she weren’t recognized immediately, word of someone fitting her description or overhearing a conversation could reach unwanted ears.

She crinkled up her eyes. While she couldn’t tell Gerard and his wife about Nexus, she had to explain how she got the carriage and the driver. Gerard knew about her from Laz. In fact, he and Jonas knew more about her than she thought and it turned out that Laz spoke about her often, or rather, often referred to someone he called ‘Egg Tart Monster’.

It was enough that his aides and bodyguards knew that Beks spent most of her life in Kadmium and hadn’t left the palace out of security concerns, meaning that she was very sheltered.

If that were the case, how would she be able to arrange for a carriage and a driver?

“The Carolines?” Sandra’s eyebrows shot up, but she kept her voice quiet as she put the tray of food on Bek’s desk.

In order to minimize attention and get some reading done, Beks had settled into her room, only coming out for some meals, and sending Gerard on errands to buy things for their trip.

The door was closed and Sandra took a seat on the foot of Beks’ bed. Since Gerard was busy, Sandra took the opportunity to keep Beks company, even if it meant just sitting in the room with her while Beks ‘read’, and working on her crocheting in silence.

“My urapearl a was given to me by my family before I left Sagittate. I can still contact them there. They are isolating themselves from Kadmus in protest of our exile.” That was the nicest way to say that they refused to accept the blame placed upon her and her family, so they cut off contact by collapsing the isthmus that connected them to the mainland.

Sandra’s large brown eyes looked impressed. “The Duchy families really are strong. Their reach extends even here.”

Thank goodness, she bought it. Beks nodded.

“How will we know who they are?”

“They’ll come to the inn to ask for Miss Snowy.” She watched Sandra’s lips tighten into an awkward smile.

“Are you sure you still want to go by that name?”

“Yes, I’ve selected it in honor of Snowflake.” She missed Snowflake. It was strange not having the massive serpent following her around. In fact, she’d walked much more since she left the island than when she was on it, as Snowflake usually carried her. Have I been spoiled?

Sandra let out a tired sigh. “If that is what my lady wishes....”

Beks squinted. She was starting to wonder if she didn’t understand how the common people thought as much as she originally thought she did. This was an uncomfortable feeling and she resolved to do more observations when traveling.

Another knock came from the door at the time and Beks looked over at the door. Sandra stood up to open it and found Gerard outside, looking a bit confused.

“Miss, there is someone downstairs looking for you, or rather, Miss Snowy.”

Beks’ face lit up. She jumped off her bed and smiled. “Get your things ready. Our transportation has arrived!”

Their transportation was a trio of two wagons and a carriage going north delivering large pieces of harvested hardwood to a workshop. The items being transported weren’t worth much as they were; large pieces of a tree trunk, but once they were properly carved, the furniture created from the wood would be rather expensive.

Beks recognized the wood as similar to some of the wood used for furniture back at the Gilded Palace. As such, four men escorted the small caravan. The merchant with them had been asked to pick her and her two escorts up to be taken north.

Beks introduced herself and the old man heading the caravan greeted her respectfully.

“Miss Snowy, we will leave in the morning, after my people rest. I’ll also be staying at this inn, so we will meet here in the lobby after breakfast,” he told her. Beks nodded her head.

“Understood. Thank you, Mr. Falker.”

“Tomorrow morning....” Sandra rubbed her chin and frowned. “I should’ve prepared earlier.”

Beks looked over at her and smirked. “Have you decided?”

Gerard, who was standing behind his wife, let out a heavy, tired sigh. “I fear that if we leave her behind, she will try to follow.”

“I would,” Sandra said with a nod. “No one can stop me.”

Beks nodded her head in return. “I can respect that,” she said. “Then, since we leave in the morning, we should pack the things we’ve purchased. I don’t want to put unnecessary hardship on Mr. Falker during our journey.”

Gerard gave her a small bow of his head. “Yes, Miss.”

Beks turned around and prepared to return to her room, but Sandra darted in front of her, her eyes sparkling with determination. Beks tilted her head to the side. “Is there something you need?”

“Rather than me, there is something you need,” Sandra replied. She looked at Beks' clothes up and down and wrinkled her nose. “While your clothes will make you appear as a commoner, you lack a commoner’s bearing.”

Beks squinted. “A commoner’s bearing?”

“Your stance, your posture, the way you walk and move.” Sandra leaned closer and whispered, as if speaking of a conspiracy. “You cannot lose your noble movements so easily, my lady.”

Beks stiffened in place. The late Queen was very strict about all things in her upbringing, including posture. She was taught to sit up straight at all times and to walk a particular way, so as not to let her head bounce. She spent an entire year just going through the motions of gracefully eating and drinking.

So ingrained were these small habits, that she did them without a second thought.

Beks frowned. “These aren’t habits I can change so easily.” She’d need to constantly fight against her training and if she weren’t careful, she’d revert directly back to her usual movements.

Sandra nodded. “Exactly, but as long as you don’t move around too much, it’ll be difficult to notice at a glance.” Beks let out a small breath of relief. “Our main concern should be your face.”

She jerked her head back and furrowed her brows. “I’ll have my cloak on when we travel.”

“You can’t wear a cloak everywhere,” Sandra told her. “If you wear the hood up indoors, during the day, it will seem out of place. Out of place attracts attention. Attention isn’t always positive. Think about those men who tried to break into your room.”

“I recall you saying that masks would also do the same,” Beks said with a knowing nod. “Should I change my appearance further?” She touched the hair that habitually fell over her shoulders. “Cut my hair short, perhaps?”

“That may work....” Sandra trailed off. She studied Beks’ face almost too closely. “Come with me!”

Gerard tried to stop his wife, but it was too late. Sandra dragged Beks to her room. Her room was a bit smaller than Beks’, but also had a small, narrow bed. On the table against the window was a cloth bag that seemed to be bulging with items

However, Beks’ eyes landed on the unmade bed and some discarded clothes around it.

“Perhaps I should wait in my room.”

“Don’t worry, my lady, I don’t mind,” Sandra said with an excited voice. “Please, take a seat.”

There was only a stool with some things piled on top of it in the corner of the room, and the unmade bed. “That’s quite all right. I can stand.”

“Sandra!” Gerard came through the door. His eyes focused on the bed, the wrinkled sheets, and then Beks, who had decided to stand in the corner furthest away from the bed. The man’s face turned red as he rushed across the room and quickly tried to cover the bed with a thin blanket.

“Leon, what are you doing?” his wife asked with a disapproving voice.

“Why did you bring her ladyship here?” Gerard whispered in desperation as he scrambled to his wife and pulled her aside. He lowered his voice, but the room was only so big.

“I wanted to use make-up to try to change her features. Make her less...recognizable.”

“It’s already difficult to recognize her! The Third Prince has changed her hair and eye color!” Gerard sounded as if he were complaining.

“But she’s still beautiful! Look at her face!” Sandra hissed. “Do you know how dangerous that face is?”

They’ve forgotten I’m standing right here and can hear them, haven’t they? Beks pursed her lips. “There is nothing wrong with my face.”

“Of course, there is nothing wrong with your face, my lady!” Sandra almost threw her arms in the air. “That is the problem! Beauty attracts unsavory individuals! There is only Gerard and I with you; what if we’re outnumbered and can’t protect you?”

Gerard gave his wife a dull look. “Why are you speaking as if you’re a bodyguard as well?”

Sandra ignored her husband and walked to Beks. “My lady, you may not realize this, but what some people covet more than wealth is beauty. It would be best to hide yours so as to avoid attention and trouble.”

Beks furrowed her brows and lowered her eyes, contemplating her words. She supposed Sandra made a point. Beks grew up surrounded by beauty and splendor, so she was not often impressed by it. However, for those who didn’t grow up in such an environment, it could be jarring. They could become envious and greedy.

She couldn’t underestimate greed.

She also couldn’t put Sandra and Gerard in any more danger.

“Can your makeup give me a different appearance? One not so eye-catching?” Beks asked.

Sandra’s face lit up and nodded. “Yes, my lady!”

Despite her attempts to move to her room, Beks found herself seated on the edge of the bed. Sandra pushed her things off the stool and brought it over, then laid out various tins, jars, and brushes on the bed next to Beks.

She closed her eyes and let Sandra begin. While Sandra was painting her face, Beks began to go through the tablet titles in her head to find one that could give information on the stele that changed the currents around the island. She’d made it through part of a book when Sandra let out a heavy breath.

“Is it done?” Beks asked. No one answered her at first. Beks tilted her head to the side. “Is something wrong?” She opened her eyes and looked at the woman seated across from her.

There was a helpless and somewhat frustrated expression on Sandra’s face while behind her, Gerard was making an awkward face, first looking at Beks and then at his wife in disbelief.

“It’s...good,” Sandra said, swallowing a lump in her throat.

Beks wasn’t sure how to take that. She looked around the room, but like hers, there was no mirror. “Do you have a mirror?”

Sandra hesitated. “My lady, perhaps I should try again.”

Beks frowned. “I’m sure it isn’t terrible. Let me see for myself.”

Sandra whimpered a bit and turned around. She rummaged through a bag next to her and took out a small bundle wrapped in leather. She held it in one hand and unwrapped it to reveal a round mirror the size of her palm.

She prepared to hand it to Beks, but paused. “My lady, perhaps we should try something else.”

Beks held out her hand in silence. Sandra placed the mirror in her palm and Beks lifted it up, expecting to see a botched attempt at a disguise.

Instead, the reflection in her hand showed defined features, symmetrical and outstanding, drawing one’s gaze at eyes with thick lashes then to full lips, and finally flushed, healthy cheeks. Beks turned her head from side to side.

She expected to see many things, but not this.

“...have you...put on makeup on others before?”

Sandra’s head lowered and she nodded. “I had an interest and would often put it on other ladies at work.”

“I see,” Beks said in a measured voice. “And...do they like your work?”

Sandra took in a sharp breath. “Yes...I’ve even been paid to do someone’s makeup for their wedding.” Gerard covered his face with his hand and ran it down.

Beks took in a low deep breath. “The maids at the palace have not managed to make me look like as beautiful as you have.”

“Sandra,” Gerard said in a tired voice. “I thought you were going to try to make her ladyship look more average. Downplay her beauty.”

“I tried!” Sandra threw her arms in the air. “I tried! How can I help my god given talents, Leon?” She lifted her hands and shook them, disgusted. “Curse my gifted hands that can only bring beauty!”

Beks shut her eyes and resisted the urge to rub her forehead. “Gerard, please go and fetch a wash basin.”

The large man bowed his head and exited the room. His wife slumped forward. “I’ve failed you, my lady.”

“In retrospect, if we had gone with this method, then you would be required to paint my face every day. This isn’t efficient and in some cases, would be difficult if we were in a rush,” Beks told her. “I can cover my face some other way.”

Sandra lifted her head. “How so?”

“I am an orphan, aren’t I?” Beks asked as she took Sandra’s hand and gently placed the mirror back into it. “So, I am mourning my parents. Why do I not simply wear a veil?”

It was so obvious, Beks almost despised how much time she wasted thinking of other options. All throughout the late Queen’s death rituals, she’d worn a veil. Any simple piece of cloth, as long as it was thin enough or had enough holes through the lace, would suffice to obscure her face and allow her to see.

They were easy to put on and take off, they could be pinned to prevent movement, so a gust of wind wouldn’t remove it. They were also cheap and she could get multiple in case one was lost or damaged.

In addition, she had the perfect excuse to wear one.

Sandra furrowed her brows and nodded. “Yes...yes, a veil will work! Let’s go and buy one right now before we leave!”

“We can send Gerard-”

“It may be awkward for him. We should go,” Sandra said, already standing. She looked at Beks and let out a sigh. “Although, you should remove the makeup from your face. I’m afraid I’ve done too good of a job.”

Beks’ lips pulled into a line.

Gerard arrived soon, and she washed her face. She then tugged the hood over her head.

“My lady, perhaps you should tie your hair up.”

Beks nodded and pulled her hood down. Sandra gave her a ribbon and Beks pulled her hair up into a high ponytail. After she tied it in place, she looked at the couple.

Sandra whimpered once more and Gerard let out a low hiss, as if he’d miscalculated.

Sandra looked at Beks with pity. “Now you just look like a handsome young man.”

“All right, that’s enough of this.” Beks tugged off the hair tie. She pulled her hood back on. “Let’s just go.”

Gerard led them to a nearby fabric store. Sandra led Beks to a wall with sheer fabric and immediately began touching them and comparing. As she was trying to help Beks decide, Beks could feel gazes on her. She glanced around and noticed several women in the store had stopped to look at her.

She’d taken her hood down when she entered out of habit and regretted it. Since Sandra brought it up, she’d realized that every time she went out into the village the previous days, people cast her second glances. Some outrightly stared.

She didn’t think it was just her face, either.

There was also her height to take into consideration. Beks was taller than the average woman and so she stood out in a crowd because of it.

This may be something I’ll have to get used to, she told herself with some disappointment.

“Ask her,” she heard someone whisper behind her.

Beks turned around at the sound and three young women gasped and shrank back as they realized she heard them. Beks gave them a slight nod and returned to shopping.

She thought they’d pretend nothing happened, but someone spoke out. “Excuse me.” Beks looked over her shoulder and then turned around. She gave the young woman a nod to acknowledge her.

“Yes?”

“Are you...are you the noblewoman who put the apprentices of Master Landon in jail?”

“Who is Master Landon?” Beks asked. “And I’m not a noble woman.” That is partially true since I’ve been exiled and stripped of my title.

The young woman exchanged looks, but seemed emboldened. “Master Landon is Lord Rowling’s treasurer.”

“The apprentices, especially Godwin Holmes, were especially valued by Master Landon,” another young woman told her. “He is angry that his apprentices were wrongly arrested.”

“Wrongly?” Beks nearly spat this out. “With so many witnesses, they claim they were wrongly arrested?” She wasn’t asking the young woman, but more asking out loud. Still, the young woman grimaced.

“Miss, do you not know? Master Landon is looking for you to clear their names.”

Beks resisted the urge to sneer. “There is no need to clear the names of a guilty party.”

The door to the fabric shop suddenly flew open. Gerard quickly stepped in front of Beks and Sandra, blocking them from view of the door as a thin woman pointed towards them.

“She’s in here, Master! I saw her!”

“Where is she?” A tall, slender man with graying hair and a long beard walked in, scowling. “Where is the woman who falsely accused my apprentices?”

The young ladies who were surrounding Beks nearly jumped to the side to put as much distance between her and them. Beks didn’t take this seriously and remained in place. Gerard didn’t move and Sandra had wedged herself in front of Beks to add another layer of protection.

However, the man she assumed was Master Landon caught sight of her arm and rounded a table in the center of the shop to see her. His eyes widened and a glare filled his face.

“Is it you?”

Beks kept a neutral expression on her face. “May I help you with something, sir?” she asked, in an equally neutral tone.

The old treasurer bristled and gritted his teeth. “Are you the woman who falsely accused my apprentices and sent them to jail?”

Beks raised a brow and looked at the man up and down without a hint of fear. “I sent three men trying to break into my room to jail.” At that, the old treasurer wanted to throw another accusation at her, but she cut him off. “We have eyewitness accounts, the proper records have been filed, and there is evidence collected of their attempted intrusion. So, tell me, sir,why do you claim they were falsely accused?”

“I know my apprentices well! They would never do such a thing!”

“And yet, they did,” Beks replied. She glanced at Sandra. “Buy two pairs of that cloth in your hand. That’s enough for now.”

Sandra drew her head back and blinked, as if stunned at how calm Beks was. She opened her mouth, but Gerard nodded.

“Yes, Miss.” He turned and handed his wife some coins to pay for the veils clutched in Sandra’s hand. The woman didn’t know what else to do but to pay for them.

Beks looked at the treasurer. “Your judgment of the character of the arrested does not give you any legal standing to apprehend me, sir. Please move aside. We have things to do.”

Perhaps the old treasurer had spent too long in a lofty position. He looked affronted at Beks’ words and almost choked as he spoke up. “How dare you speak to me that way-”

“Gerard, move him out of the way.”

“Yes, Miss.” A large hand reached out, grabbed hold of the man’s left arm, and dragged him to the side despite his attempt to stay in place. Before he could yell for Gerard to let him go, he was released.

He stumbled back, aghast at his rough treatment. “Do you know who I am? Who my lord is? How dare you lay a hand on me-”

“I dare to do many things, sir,” Beks said as she walked past him, reminded of those arrogant old nobles in the chamber who dared do what they wanted and used their status to control others. What was worse than those people were their underlings who used their superior’s names like a weapon. She did not fear them then and she did not fear them now. She sent the old treasurer a withering look. “Do you dare to see what else?”