Chapter 55
***
"Little Ermoli came to me not long ago. She said that Elizabeth only gave her the pearl shortly before she died, and told her to go to me. She said she was in very poor health from the torture she had endured. She was distraught."
"What? How could such a terrible thing happen to the best lady in the empire.....................?"
Theobald swallowed hard and lowered his voice.
"The Emperor has searched far and wide for the pearl. Perhaps the Marquis and Marchioness had the foresight to be one step ahead of him this time."
It's a good interpretation, and one would have been thrilled to tears if it were true.
But it was good news for Caius that Theobald was following the script so well.
Caius nodded deeply in agreement.
"If Prince Leopold doesn't receive the crown until he comes of age, the Pearl may not be the problem. Maybe those old rumors were true."
Theobald laughed out loud.
"You mean the rumor that everyone but the Emperor knows about?"
Caius stretched his lips into a long smile. Heidenberg's golden eyes flashed cruelly.
"They say the dead Empress smuggled him off to Galicia when she was alive, and it won't be long before he's caught."
Theobald squared his shoulders in a confident manner, tipped his glass over and poured a deep tawny whiskey.
"Nas is in the thick of things in Galicia, and I'll make the most of the connections I've made."
Nas bordered the Duchy of Galicia, so that would certainly help.
Caius took the glass Theobald offered. A small but clear clink rang out from the two men as they gripped their respective glasses.
"Thank you, Count."
Theobald's face turned pensive as Caius bowed.
"Don't say that, Your Majesty. The sin of failing to protect you, the sin of serving two emperors under one name. I will endeavor to make amends until the day I die."
"I believe you."
Nas was a geographically necessary land, close to the border. He would end things as peacefully as possible, but it was good to have a backup plan just in case.
By now, the glass was empty.
Caius rose to his feet, satisfied. When he returned to his room, he found Louise asleep.
The hosts had only given her one large guest room, so Caius had no choice but to curl up next to her.
He wondered if Ermoli had outlived her usefulness.
The woman's sleeping form looked even more beautiful than usual.
He had to admit, it was hard to take his eyes off her when he first saw her.
Partly because she resembled Elizabeth, of course, but more than that.................. she's almost pathetically pretty.
Perhaps that's why he felt so compelled to keep her. Even over Ferdinand's vehement objections.
His instincts were right after all, for the clever and wise woman was somehow getting the job done.
Caius pressed his lips gently against Louise's cheek.
Perhaps it was just him, but the scent of her soft flesh soothed him instantly. The woman was unperturbed by their overlapping body temperatures after a long day in the swaying carriage.
Whether it was the long ride, the drink he'd shared with Theobald, or the familiar scent of her body, he didn't know. He soon fell into a deep slumber.
It was a peaceful night.
***
"Why don't we go skating as a couple? You might be surprised, but Lake Nas is still frozen solid."
Louise gave an awkward laugh at Caroline's comment. She'd never even seen skating in her life.
Reading her expression, Caius was about to say no when Caroline added excitedly.
"You haven't tried Louise, have you? I have a spare pair of skates. I'm sure His Excellency knows how to skate."
Caius couldn't help but smile at the question, which was directed at him. Louise’s acquaintance with the Countess of Nas would come in handy in the social circles she would soon be forced to enter.
"Of course. Thank you for your kind offer. I'll teach her, since it will be her first time."
Louise interjected passively.
"I'm not very confident................"
She wasn't particularly athletic, but she didn't want to look like she was about to make a fool of herself in front of a new noble couple.
Caius, however, had already made up his mind.
"It's okay, I'm confident. I'll hold your hand."
"Aww, you're sweet."
Caroline blushed, pleased as punch.
Eventually, they all went outside to Lake Nas to play.
Louise was surprised to see dozens of hired hands following them, but that was common in Nas. The hired hands moved calmly and quickly, with no one standing around.
The large group walked together for some time on the wide trails until they reached the frozen lake.
There was also a lake near Burg, but Louise had never actually been there. It wasn't until she lived in Melk that she dreamed of the romance of seeing an icy lake.
While she breathed in the snow-white beauty, the hired help set up a makeshift refreshment table.
A table was set on the frozen lake and a crimson tablecloth was spread. Louise clucked her tongue inwardly as she watched the neatly arranged tea set.
Perhaps a life of luxury in Burg was a small price to pay in aristocratic society.
"Try them on, you look like you have the same size feet as me."
Caroline held out the skates.
They were beautiful, with boots made of pristine white leather and silver blades that dazzled. If she had been given a pair of skates like these as a girl, tears would have welled up in her eyes.
"Madame, these are brand new..................."
Louise said reluctantly, and Caroline held out her hand.
"No, they've been worn once, don't worry, try them on, okay?"
Pauline crouched at her feet and clumsily helped her put the skates on. Her freckled cheeks flushed with excitement as she watched.
Louise managed to stand up with Pauline's help, but immediately wobbled.
"Aah...............!"
Pauline managed to help her to her feet. As they both breathed a sigh of relief, a large gloved hand was held out in front of them.
"Here, come here."
Caroline's eyes narrowed as she studied the newlyweds.
Louise took his hand, and Caius held out his other.
"Slowly, one step at a time. It's no different than walking."
"No more than a walk." The man was lying now.
Louise rolled her eyes uneasily. Her legs trembled with fear.
Caius spoke through gritted teeth.
"Straighten your back, Louise. I'm not going to trip you up here."
"Ha, but you're wearing skates too, Your Excellency, so you might slip......"
"I've been riding since I was six, it's no different to me than walking."
Louise clasped his hands in reassurance.
"Left foot, right foot."
She moved her feet carefully in time with the man's commands.
"Left foot, right foot."
The commands were slow but clear.
She obeyed, and before she knew it, she was being dragged to the center of the lake.
Sunlight glistened on the frozen lake. In the distance, the dark mountains were capped with white caps.
"I see you've relaxed a bit, haven't you?"
Caius teased, tugging on one of her hands.
Louise quickly lost her balance and slid forward. She bumped her head against his hard chest.
"Oh, sorry......................"
She stammered out an embarrassed apology, but the man's lips settled on her forehead.
"I guess your motor skills are a bit like Stefan's."
Louise's eyes narrowed in confusion at the mention of her father's name. She didn't remember playing with him, so she didn't know about his athleticism.
He noticed her curiosity and spoke up.
"He was terrible for a man, even in my young eyes."
Caius smiled, somehow dazzling as he mocked not only Louise but also her father's athleticism.
She wondered if there was a shred of memory of her parents in his heart, too, a clean, precious sliver untainted by the stain of betrayal.
Just then, the sun poked its head out of the clouds.
Caius stood on a pure silver disk, basking in its glorious rays.
The light streamed over his black hair, into his golden eyes, and across his cherry-white cheeks. To the lord of this land.
***
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