My body feels cold and sweaty... and I can't tell if it's because of the words Catarina just spoke, or the fever Lionel insists I have.

I knew house Listere's children were poisoned from listening to Soleil's backstory, but I never found out who did it. The reason I didn't find out, was because poisoning someone continuously without raising suspicion should be impossible.

House Listere should have changed their entire staff multiple times, and whatever noble house was poisoning them would have had to manage to get through that.

I knew that Gilbert routinely poisons people, and I've already blamed him for the death of the former king of Crinia. If anyone could do it, he would be it. However, I couldn't find a reason. Even if the royal family could do it by using House Salender and perhaps a bit of their authority over House Listere, I cannot see a reason.

The only thing House Listere has that the royal family does not, is light magic... but why would they kill those light mages?

Lionel's reaction to the words is vivid. He's lost all color i, and his eyes are wide with what I can only assume is because he understands the situation, and finds it plausible... and as much as I want to ask, I know that asking him now will only tear at his loyalty to Alstair more. For a lord to break the lord-vassal contract means that Lionel's family could be in danger of being betrayed as well, if they haven't already...

The lord-vassal contract has a few basic demands set down for each party, which usually differs slightly in contract from contract, and can be adjusted slightly.

As a vassal with land you are supposed to serve, and be ready to set a military to use for your lord and serve along with it, and protect your lord's interests. There may be more, but this is the most important one.

The demands for the lord are by far fewer, and should happen less often, but they are extremely important to know, however, the one broken is the clause of justice.

This clause means that the lord must protect his knight against false crime accusations, and ensure that his knight is treated justly. This too means that the lord will treat his knight justly.

If the clause of justice is defiled, then the contract is broken, and the vassal is no longer bound or sworn to loyalty and may justly attack his lord.

I was discussing this clause with Lionel the day before yesterday before Helena arrived with the headband. We are sworn to protect Alstair's interests, and unless the contract is broken, then that is that.

Of course we can break our side of the contract, but since our lord in this case is the king or prince himself, it would be deemed an action of treason. Carrying that title for a noble household is the same as a death blow.

As much as I refuse to marry Alstair, and as much as I dislike that this is a country that would poison an enemy king, I am a loyal subject. In my former life we did not choose our lords. We were moved however they saw fit and that was it. Having a lord you dislike is merely a matter of bad luck. Even then, the people of Ristaze are generally well off. They do not suffer under the rule, and the land... the capital and the Salender territories prosper... no, let's push that matter away for now.

I tighten my grab on Lionel's arm and watch him carefully. She's trying to sway his loyalty, and as much as it annoys me, she has a good point. If the royal family does such a thing to a ducal house, then they won't think twice of doing it to others. She has nothing to lose. If Lionel gives in, then she has a straight path to the capital. Lionel is still thinking, so I decide to try to cut the conversation short to prevent any further nasty revelations coming out of her.

"Another bad word of our Lord and we will have no choice but to challenge you for his honor." I know that Catarina has the status to just ignore it, but the point must be made either way.

"Lionel, we should return. I will not abandon Ristaze and my mind will not be changed."

I look back up to Lionel for his affirmation, but when he looks up he notices Helena. He hesitates. Why in the world does he want Helena to enter this mess of a conversation? Catarina looks pleased with his hesitance...

Helena finally makes it here, and bursts in into the conversation with her utter lack of manners and ability to read people, not noticing any of the complex expressions or the horrified mood as she speaks out in a flustered voice like a panicked bird chirp.

"I'm sorry! I was looking for-" at this point she stops and stares at me with this pallid and shocked expression. The look in her eyes just screams 'you!'. She has no sense of the tense atmosphere, but the first one to break it is Catarina.

"Helena Fox! She's a bit cuter than we drew her but it is quite a well done job for a tutorial and hint guide." This obscure sentence appears to make sense in Helena's head, but I'm relieved that Catarina is distracted. When I look back to Lionel to find out what he intended to do, he's watching the Headal Crown Prince... prince Jacques is watching Helena wide eyed after Catarina burst out her name.

"What?! Wait, what?!" Helena stutters out in what I assume is 'she is reincarnated' sort of shock over the realization of Catarina's identity.

"Miss Helena Fox, you will come with me." Jacques enters the conversation determinedly. Without a hint of hesitation he walks up to her with an intense gleam in his eyes like he's just found something he needed. Catarina gives him a befuddled look, but Lionel pushes away from me and in between Helena and Jackques. Lionel's color somewhat returns.

"Now, Prince Jacques, I cannot let you kidnap our residents just because your fiancé has been making your time difficult, please use proper behavior." Lionel still looks pale, but as usual he bounces back quickly... but... is he making a gamble? No, wait, how does he know Jesmaine had been creating problems for Jacques?

He gives a brief glare to Helena to keep her silent, and Helena gives him a venomous one in return just for a moment before turning her full attention to the prince. All she needed to hear was his name and Jesmaine and she forgot all about Catarina. I have but one small fear about this. The knowledge of the future. However, I do suppose that Jacques wouldn't need Helena for that if he is already allied with Catarina and has Jesmaine as his fiancé, if Jesmaine is reincarnated of course...

Catarina shows no understanding of the situation at all. She looks confused, but also sullen. I guess Jacques is taking her spotlight. She did say earlier that all reincarnated people with their memories were now people that would die in the purge. She may not know about Helena... though, how could she miss her? Did Lady Pelenet not inform her of the tax proposal? Or did she just brush it off?

Jacques crosses his arms in annoyance with Catarina's words, and his violet eyes narrow dangerously. He looks behind Lionel to Helena as if to judge Helena's worth to him, and then finally looks back to Lionel.

"What do you want in return, Tepet?"

At this point I'm surprised he actually wants Helena enough to enter a negotiation, but Lionel shows a hint of relief as his shoulders sink a bit.

"Augustus will remain a man for the people of Headal. You will keep the truth about Lily a secret." Lionel makes an extremely bold claim, and sets the price unreasonably high for a single commoner. There is no way Jacques is going to accept something that would ruin a great deal of the morale for Ristaze, and at the same time get me in trouble and off the battlefield. At least not if he is only going for cheering Jesmaine up, considering that he did have her forcefully brought back to Headal... though he did do that to keep her safe.

"...very well," Jacques agrees without hesitance as though it was a small price to pay.

... I don't know what to say at this point. Catarina is clearly thinking the same. Lionel moves aside and nods to Helena. Then looks to Jacques again... though... Lionel's color has yet to return to his face... I cannot tell if Lionel just sold out Helena because he dislikes her... but considering her nagging and her bright expression, I don't think she minds... also, with the situation being as it is, then it may be safer for her in Headal. Catarina finally speaks up again.

"Look, all we want is for someone else than Alstair or someone from House Salender to take the throne. We are tired of having ambassadors and other important people murdered for no apparent reason other than Ristaze propaganda. We are just asking for a good natured neighbor. You can keep all the military and your lands, we just want the flow of poison to cease, which is in your interest as well as honorable people, and changing out the royal family would bring peace between your northern marquesses as well."

She goes right back to the main subject in a heartbeat, and fills her words with what is likely just empty promises and more words that may be falsehoods. I have had enough. Even though the main parts of profit belongs to the areas of the royal family and House Salender, there is no reason for king to want his people to suffer, or to hold them down by hurting them. Even if there was, at this point her goal is clearly to shake the loyalty of the biggest military in Ristaze.

"We consider the meeting closed. Neither house Tepet nor House Celeste has had their contracts broken, and will not act against his Majesty, and neither will any commoner in this country. In the eyes of Ristaze, there is no better king than Alstair. Empty words cannot sway loyalty," Lionel finally cuts off her words with a hostile sneer, bows and then walks away with a final cautious glance to Jacques. Jacques seems calm and unsurprised, but Catarina grimaces and visibly clenches her fists. Why? Had she expected him to give in? No, holding the role of princess she should know the consequences of treason.

In an instant her expression changes to a bright light of realization and a cruel grin plays on her lips. I quickly say my goodbyes as well and walk off, catching a glimpse of another flow of anger as she probably realizes I haven't reconsidered either.

The last words I hear in the background is Catarina sneering at Jacques to use 'ghost field' and Jacques replying the faint words of:

'The price would be too high. I do not intend to risk the life of Jesmaine's friend."

Lionel must have heard too, because he moves closer and watches our surroundings closely with something near paranoia.

"We need to talk when we return, you need to clarify what in the world just happened," he speaks almost hoarsely. I think that, for the first time, I see Lionel's expression being merely a mask of cracking composure. Looking up I catch the curious gazes of the front line of the Tepet army. If Lionel loses composure it will affect them.