The Lady Knight

28 August, Year 30 of King Frederick V of Monrique's reign

Derelia Manor, Anchorvale

Monrique

"What in the world - "

Paying no heed to the two, startled maids trembling on the threshold of Derelia Manor, my team of captains and I barged into the household. Our eyes urgently wandered as we raced towards the other end of the Manor, searching for the third bedchamber to the right of the stairway on the second floor.

Dread filled the pit of my stomach when I spotted it.

"Make haste!" I ordered sharply behind me, leaping two steps at a time up the stairway.

With my heart lodged in my airways, I sprinted as quickly as my legs could carry me along the corridor towards my destination. Slamming my torso against the bedchamber doors, I stumbled into the room, with a yell of warning rising up within my throat.

Only for it to subside.

I closed my eyes briefly, as my grip on the door handle tightened.

We had failed in our mission. We were too late. We were just too late.

"Lord Lucien, drop that dagger this instant."

Lord Lucien Havelock of Derelia, a hale young man in his early twenties, blinked at the bloody weapon in his hands for a long while. His grey eyes were wide with shock and horror, almost disbelieving, before they flickered to the dead, battered body on the floor.

"By God," my captains stumbled into the room just then, gazing at the corpse.

The corpse, which had once been Lord Lucien's older brother, Lord Lucas Havelock, Earl of Derelia.

If only we had put together the pieces sooner. If only.

"Lord Lucien, I will not repeat myself. Surrender that dagger this very moment."

I stared at him coldly, letting my hand rest on the hilt of my sword with slow deliberation. His frightened eyes followed my hand. Almost at once, he released the dagger, and began to ramble in fear.

"Jules - "

I clenched my fists, attempting to remain in control. Lucien Havelock was no friend of mine. No traitor to Monrique could ever be on good terms with me, be it one of my longest childhood friends or anyone else that I cared about.

I glowered. "'Tis Lady Knight to you."

He paled considerably at that. "Lady Knight, Ma'am," the words tumbled out of his lips in a stammering whisper, trembling, "I swear to the Lord, I did not -"

I shot him a look that effectively silenced him. "What are you going to say, my Lord? That you did not murder Lord Lucas?" I finished with contempt, "that you did not murder Lord Francois? Lord Louis? And Lord Pierre before him? You have been caught with the weapon in your hands this time, Sir. The game is up."

If looks could kill, he would have withered there and then.

I turned to nod curtly at my captains, who surrounded Lord Lucien and forced his hands behind his back, pushing him down into a squatting position, despite his blubbering protests and struggles.

"Believe me, I did not murder him!" he begged desperately, his eyes wild, "Ma'am, Sirs, please, why would I kill my own brother - "

"Jules?" a new voice spoke from some distance behind me at that moment, accompanied by the soft shuffle of approaching footsteps.

I groaned internally, as everyone, including Lord Lucien, fell silent at once.

Lady Victoria.

Lord Lucien's eyes widened further in horror, and all fight left his body. "Jules, I will come with you to the dungeons. I will do whatever you say," he whispered hurriedly, "but pray, do not allow Tori to see all of this, I beg of you - "

Too late. I felt her hand on my shoulder even before I heard her voice.

"What is all the fuss here?" she sounded worried, as she attempted to peek inside Lord Lucas's bedchamber around my frame.

Before she could catch sight of the horror within, I swiftly turned to face the heavily pregnant woman behind me, and shut both doors behind me simultaneously, morphing my features into an empty, serene mask.

As much as I despised Lord Lucien at the moment, I was not about to subject his wife to such a rude shock in her present condition. This mess was no fault of hers, or of their unborn child's.

Lady Victoria's pupils dilated in apprehension, as she rested her hand above her swollen belly. "Jules," her voice shook slightly, "what the matter? First, Lucas falls ill and leaves the dining table, then Lucien follows him up to his bedchambers, and then all of you barge in - "

"That is what I would like to know, as well."

An older woman interrupted her as she stormed up the stairway, her footwear clacking loudly against the marble flooring. Her features were twisted into a heavy scowl of disapproval, as she approached us.

"Lady Francesca," I greeted Lord Lucas' wife.

She ignored my greeting. "I demand an explanation for this barbaric invasion of privacy," she thundered, her voice filled with rage, "might I remind you that this is my home - a Countess' home - that you have forced an entry into? You do not have the right to frighten my family thus in my own household!" She placed an arm around the trembling Lady Victoria protectively, before glaring at me.

Her gaze, however disapproving, scorching and scathing, failed to mask an unmistakable fear of me that mirrored her sister-in-law's, and most of her peers in Monrique.

I tilted my head, slightly curious. Although I was aware that most Monriquans harboured a certain degree of apprehension towards me, I could never truly understand why.

Raising an eyebrow now, I levelled her with a look. "And you do not have the right to prevent a Commander General from doing her duty, Countess," I answered quietly, "I would like to see you try, certainly. The question remains whether you would remain to see the results."

My simple words were enough to momentarily pale and silence her.

I continued, holding their gazes. "I am here, with my captains, on official state business for our beloved sovereign, His Majesty King Frederick V of Monrique, regarding your husbands Lords Lucas and Lucien Havelock of Derelia. The urgent nature of our mission was such that we had to enter your household the way we did."

"What was it that was so urgent, my Lady?" Lady Francesca queried suspiciously, trying to sound polite.

I felt annoyance rise within me. The poor woman was about to find out about her husband's murder, committed by her own brother-in-law. In view of that fact, I was aware that I needed to be as understanding and kind to her as possible.

But by God, she was wasting my time.

I took a deep breath. "Ladies, you have my word that I will explain the whole situation to you in a few moments," I promised, "but in the meanwhile, can you please return to the receiving chamber while we complete what we came here to do?" My impatience was ill-disguised.

Lady Victoria, who seemed to be becoming more and more anxious with every word I uttered, intervened before Lady Francesca could answer me. "My sincere apologies, Jules," she took a deep breath, determined, "but I have to know now."

With that, she gently pushed me to one side and flung the door open before I could even blink. Lady Francesca followed suit, flashing me a nasty glare. Their eyes grew eerily huge as they took in the scene before their eyes.

The captains holding the frightened Lord Lucien down on his knees by force.

A dead, brutally stabbed Lord Lucas on the ground, with fresh, thick blood pooling all around him like a crimson blanket.

Lord Lucien's bloodied, incriminating appearance.

It did not require a genius to form a conclusion based on these observations.

With great caution and hesitation, I placed a hand on Lady Francesca's shoulder, who was starting to tremble rather violently. Her eyes were already reddening and glistening with tears, as a vein on her temple throbbed.

"My Lady - "

A cry ripped out of her throat. "Nay!"

Her anguished scream reverberated throughout the deadly silent bedchamber, as it gave way to gasping, halting sobs that wretched out of her from deep within. "Nay, nay, nay!" she continued to yell, her eyes blazing with rage as they settled on Lord Lucien, "you complete wretch, Lucien, how dare you - "

I caught her and held her back before she flew at him.

"Lady Victoria, take her away to her rooms," I commanded, handing the hysterical woman over to Lady Victoria, who merely stared at her husband in disbelief, as she took her absent-mindedly into her grasp.

"Release me this instant, Tori!" Lady Francesca raged, struggling, "allow me to teach him a lesson he will never forget. How could he do this to my Lucas - "

"Go, my Lady," I urged Lady Victoria, "take her away! Go!"

Still, she continued to stand rooted to the floor, frozen with shock, but her grip on her sister-in-law remained relatively strong - despite the latter's violent attempts to struggle out of her hold.

Only when Lady Francesca nearly swung out at her stomach did she snap out of her trance.

"Hush, and stay still for God's sake, Frannie!" Lady Victoria snapped, shaking the grieving woman by the shoulders, "would you rather kill my child, and have him go the same way as his uncle?"

Lady Francesca's howls quietened to small sobs at once at seeing the fury that swirled within the pregnant woman's eyes. "How...how could Lucien kill him?" she sniffled, "how could he? What did my husband ever do to yours to deserve such a fate?"

Lady Victoria's expression hardened, as her eyes fell on Lord Lucien again. She stared at him for a long while, her intense gaze filled with a mixture of betrayal and despair, before they were wiped clean of all emotions.

"He is no husband of mine," she answered quietly, turning away from him to face me, "take him away from Derelia, Jules. I shall take care of Frannie. I never want to see that man again in my lifetime." With that, she dragged Lady Francesca away.

Lord Lucien's countenance crumpled upon hearing that, and for that one moment, he looked utterly vulnerable and alone. For a moment, I almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

However, he deserved it. He deserved it all. Four women, including Lady Francesca, were widowed because of him. Four families were shattered because of him. The country had lost four revered noblemen because of him.

"You heard her, Captains," I nodded at them, "bring him along. We are leaving for Bordeux this instant."

Lord Lucien's face suddenly closed up. All emotions were swiped clean from his face, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

Like a door shut for the very last time, never to be opened again.