Crazy Duke and Fallen Queen

After telling me his most dark secrets, Alexander's behaviour changes quite a bit.

First of all, he becomes happier. Seeing that I won't run away just because of his supposed first tragic life, he relaxes.

He has always smiled a lot to me. Yet, these last few days, his every grimace has been more sincere.

There isn't any need to hide anything since it can't be worse than what I've already heard and accepted.

Thank goodness, I'm believing in it as well.

My weird dreams have intensified as if I unlocked a secret door after hearing my husband's story. They're not as sweet as at the beginning, unfortunately.

I've relived the banquet from Alexander's perspective. That night, I woke up shaking and crying.

Alexander just hugged me, worrying. I didn't tell him about my dreams: it would have been odd to explain.

But then again, were they worse than his beliefs?

Now that I know who the man in my dreams is, I see many small details that I overlooked before. How couldn't I notice it earlier?

I also saw the little prince's first steps and words. We named him Elias after my father.

What a pity that I won't be able to decide the name this time. In Ethiro, it's Alexander's right to choose the children's names.

After settling in this new reality, where actually nothing changed, we receive a visit.

It's a cold morning. Winter hasn't let go of Kyre yet. I'm still waiting for the Ambassador's reply, and the wait is starting to bother me.

Has anything gone wrong with the engagement procedure?

Well, I'll think about it after finding out what the High Priestess is doing here.

She just appeared in front of Stoneyard with a golden carriage and a hundred guards. She came from the capital, supposedly, to check how our marriage is progressing.

Her appearance is so coincidental. Alexander confessed a few days ago, and now she arrived to convince me to believe him.

Too bad that my husband's wary and surprised expression is enough to make me understand he didn't call for her.

«Please, have a seat with us, your Eminence,» I greet her while Alexander starts pondering about whether it's a good or a bad sign.

«I came here to meet an awoken soul,» she says, answering a question no one dares to ask. «The Moon Goddess sent me here to help you accept this change.»

«What change?» I mutter in surprise. What in the world is she speaking about?

«I'm talking about Duke Kyre,» she points out, passing her eyes on me for a moment only. «Your soul is a rare occurrence, Duke. But it has been turbulent these days. Are you having dreams about foreign events or something similar? Do you remember things that hadn't happened yet?»

«No, I don't,» Alexander replies plainly.

He returns the Priestess's gaze without worry, and I start to realise that he's just so proficient at lying.

Oh, well, the dreams indeed are mine. Alexander's words aren't a lie, after all. Just a little imprecise.

«I ought to talk with Duke Kyre in private,» the High Priestess announces.

Oh, I'm so curious about what she wants to talk about. I can just ask Alexander later.

He will tell me, won't he?

The maids walk out in silence after a gesture of my husband. I prepare to get up when his hand squeezes mine.

There's no need to comfort me: he isn't the one who asked to stay alone. I won't pout or throw a tantrum.

«I don't have anything to hide,» he says.

Oh, you dummy! She has! She doesn't want me to hear what this is all about.

«Are you sure?» she inquires, narrowing her eyes.

«Yes, I am.»

«Even if we talk about the flames that surrounded your heart during your last breath?»

Is it supposed to be a prophecy? A riddle? Something only Alexander can understand?

Oh, the last breath. It was so damn fast. Thank goodness, or I could have died of pain during that dream.

Flames all over, a sword approaching, and then it was all done.

«I don't know what you're talking about, your Eminence,» Alexander replies.

«You will, sooner or later. When you came to this world, your soul wasn't as new as everyone else's. You have a mission to absolve, and it will become clearer when images from the future start crowding your mind.»

She leans back, sure I will now be sent away in fear. Too bad that she was slower than me.

Ah, it was so hard to convince Alexander to talk. But it was totally worth it. Now I can observe this scene from outside without curiosity.

It would have become challenging to deal with me if that wasn't the case.

Right now, I'm very calm and composed. I'm wearing my best poker face, so the Priestess isn't paying much attention to me. She maybe thinks that I'm dumb and uninteresting.

Judging from Alexander's behaviour, he didn't say a word to this girl. And he's convinced that his sister didn't either.

This Priestess must have some divine power.

«Why is your Eminence convinced that I will have... Dreams?» Alexander inquires while I'm still considering what she wants from my husband.

«It wouldn't be the first time that the Lord of Kyre has dreams of the future,» she explains as if it makes everything clear.

«Oh, that's how he knew how the barbarians were going to attack at night!» I whisper, remembering one of the books I've recently read.

The first Lord of Kyre was deemed a great strategist, but his predictions were too accurate. I thought he had a net of spies, but it turns out he cheated.

He still was a great strategist, and he managed to use the information he had at his best. And his predictions finished after a couple of years, so he couldn't use them much.

I guess it will be the same as with Alexander. He can't know what happened after his death, so he won't be able to make any prediction after... Hmm? Ten years from now? Seven?

He wasn't very precise, but I guess it's less than a decade.

While I consider this new piece of information, a couple of black eyes land on me with an expression that resembles curiosity. He should pay attention to the High Priestess, not to me!

«How are you feeling?» he asks, tilting his head and pondering whether to stop the meeting.

«I'm fine,» I say, smiling.

Seeing our exchange, the High Priestess widens her eyes. She stares the same way she did the first time, in the throne hall. It's uncomfortable, as if she was looking at me naked.

«There is a link connecting you two,» she exclaims. «Something that time can't break, nor distance for that matter... You already know about the Duke's dreams, don't you?»

«I do,» I sigh.

There's no point in hiding it. And it will last shorter if the Priestess simply collects the pieces of information she came for and leaves soon after.

«You saw something too, but the Gods won't let me understand what...» she continues. «Are you a witch, perhaps?»

«I'm not. I'm just the Lady of Kyre.»

«I can help you,» she proposes. «I can let you see all of it. The Duke seems to already know everything: his mind is open and his heart at rest. Yet you're burning inside. You want to know more but don't dare to ask.»

«I'm not sure I understand, your Eminence. I feel fine. I don't need to know just everything.»

Don't press him, now! It's already a miracle that Alexander told me so much. I can't expect everything at once.

Also, I already have my dreams, so I don't really need a source of information anymore. I suspect it's because of my Duke's proximity, or maybe his mood.

I have dreamt about our moments of lust for months, never had a nightmare unless unsettling events happened.

I guess that my dreams have never been mine.

«The Gods allowed you to see as well,» she understands.

Alexander frowns, confused, but I don't blink.

I don't know if it's a good idea, but I'm really tempted to accept whatever the Priestess is offering.

«After all, the Duke did so much to find you. You should at least understand his pain before judging him.»

Oh, damn it. I do understand Alexander's pain!

I relived that bloody banquet, then I saw myself dying.

I felt his desperation, his firm will to destroy everything after my departure.

I felt it in my chest as if I was the one living that life.

But understanding Alexander has been so hard before, indeed. Should I really give it a try?

«What does your Eminence's help imply?» I inquire.

I have to pay attention to my body. I can't do anything extreme nor drink any potion.

«It won't be dangerous for your child,» she chuckles.

The Priestess isn't that older than me. Yet, she treats me like a spoiled child.

«Your heart might hurt if the images you see are turbulent, but I guess you already saw some of them.»

All right. Let's do it.