Victoria of Many Faces, Vol. 3, page 8
As I listened to her, I wondered if that hadn’t ever felt stifling.
Princess Delphine smiled at me as if she knew what I was thinking.
“One must be able to withstand an immense amount of pressure to fulfill the role of queen. My mission is to live alongside the people of this kingdom and encourage peace between Eagal and Ashbury.”
“Yes.”
“The world of politics isn’t just run by men, you know. Although they may take center stage, there are places where I can be of use to this kingdom. However, I can’t protect myself like you can. That’s why I need you to lend me your strength.”
“And I am glad to do so.”
“Will you tell me why you agreed to be my body double?”
“I mean no disrespect by this, but the reason I accepted was for my own sake.”
“Oh? You mean you’re risking your life to serve as my decoy for personal reasons?” She stared at me with her clear blue eyes, looking very intrigued.
“I spoke with the woman who was supposed to be your body double. I spent most of my life doing similar work to hers, which gave me the skills required to complete this mission. If I turned down this request to put myself and my family first, but something wound up happening to you, then I would feel like half of me had died. Plus, the woman who was supposed to be your body double would also suffer for the rest of her life.”
“I see. I’d like to hear more, but it’s only the first day. You may tell me the details some other time. I must return to my duties.”
And with that, Delphine rose to her feet. I thought she was going to leave the room, but instead, she spoke to me in Eagalian.
Delphine switched back to Ashburian. “Ha. You’re quite impressive. If someone had told me you were born in Eagal, I would believe it. But just one thing: Whoever taught you Eagalian must have instructed you in the northern dialect. Your vowels have a slight accent. The tone rises a bit. That’s a northern trait.”
“I had no idea. I apologize.”
“No, no. Your Eagalian is nearly perfect. My grandmother was from the north, so that’s the only reason I could tell. Anyone from Ashbury would never notice. You’re very skilled,” she said.
“Thank you.”
“Kate, if you’d like, you can send letters to your family occasionally. I can have Mike’s associate deliver them.”
As much as I wanted to take her up on that offer, I thought it safest not to.
I was putting my family through heartbreak by being gone for two months. Sending those letters could disrupt my work, which I wanted to avoid. Plus, it would take a lot more than two months apart to break the bond my family and I shared.
I told the princess this, and she smiled and said, “That’s a wise decision,” before leaving the room.
“Two months? Mom won’t be back for two whole months?!” Nonna exclaimed.
“That’s right. She has work to do.”
“What kind of work?”
“It’s an assignment from the kingdom, and that’s all I can say,” Jeff said.
“Does it have to do with the organization Mom used to be in?”
“My lips are sealed. She’ll be back in two months. Can you wait that long?”
Nonna sat silently for a moment, thinking as Jeffrey watched her. After a while, she looked up at him.
“I’ll miss Mom, but two months will go by quickly. When we went to Shen, five years seemed like it would be an eternity, but once we got there, it wasn’t so bad.”
“You’re right.”
Nonna toyed with the end of her braid as she stared at Jeffrey.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“You don’t like the idea of Mom working for two months, do you, Dad?”
“It’s not that. I want Anna to make her own decisions.”
“Then why do you look so upset? Even Ash and Berry could tell, and they got scared and ran away!”
That startled Jeffrey, and he hesitated to respond. “Nonna, I’m not upset. I’m just worried about your mother.”
“Mom wanted to do the job, right? So support her. She’ll be fine. Worrying about her won’t make her any safer.”
“That’s true…”
Nonna wavered for a moment, debating whether or not to express the question she had, but Jeffrey could tell she was holding back.
“Say what’s on your mind,” he said.
“Well… I’m not complaining in a roundabout way like nobles do, okay? I really want to know, so that’s why I’m asking.”
“What?”
“Mom was so happy when you told her that she could live freely. But…are you sure you didn’t mean she could only live as freely within the bounds of what you wanted her to do?”
“…”
Once again, Nonna’s question had rendered Jeffrey speechless.
“Because if that’s what you meant, I don’t think that’s how Mom took it. If you really only meant, ‘I’ll give you what normal women think of as freedom,’ then I think that will make her suffer.”
“…”
“I can wait if this is something Mom really wants to do. I’m fine. I’m almost thirteen, and Mom’s always worked so hard for us. And if this is what she wants to do, I want her to do it. She’ll come back, Dad.”
“I know. I’m sorry I made you think I was upset, Nonna. You’ve really grown up right under my nose.”
“Heh-heh.”
Nonna smiled and stood up. “I’m going to go read a book in my room,” she said, excusing herself from the living room.
Once Nonna was in her room, she locked the door and quickly changed into a shirt and pants that were easier for her to move in.
Her cats, Ash and Berry, came in through the cat door and observed her curiously. She tucked her long blond braid into a loose cap. At first glance, she could pass for a slender boy.
She opened the window and swiftly climbed over the window frame. There was a narrow beam beneath her about fifteen centimeters wide.
Nonna stood on the beam and moved along the wall. There was a large iron ring embedded inconspicuously in the corner of the building. It was for securing a ladder for exterior repairs and maintenance.
She grabbed the ring, hung down from it, and checked the position of the next ring.
“I can do it.”
She let go of the ring and quickly grabbed onto the next one as she descended along the wall.
“That should do it.”
She grinned and swung her body from side to side while she held on to the rings, then she used the momentum to leap down onto the first floor eaves and looked below her.
“Hmm, maybe it would’ve just been faster and easier to sneak out through a first-floor window? Oh well. I’ve always wanted to try that.”
She dropped to the ground and headed for the edge of the garden. She used the irregularities in the stone wall as footholds and lifted herself up, pulling with her fingers and toes. This was a skill she’d practiced since she was six years old.
In no time at all, she hopped over the fence and landed on the other side before running off. She was heading to the estate of Lady Yolana Haynes.
Yolana was shocked to see Nonna arriving alone.
“What’s the matter, Nonna? Why are you wearing that? And did you walk here?”
Nonna didn’t answer; she just addressed her with a desperate look on her face. “Lady Yolana, I have a request.”
“That’s unusual. You’re asking me for something?”
“Before I went to Shen, Susan told me the head of the Haynes family is someone very important. Is he still important?”
Yolana Haynes absolutely adored Nonna and thought of her like her own granddaughter. But even she wasn’t so naive as to be swayed by the girl’s charm. “You mean my son? What could you possibly want from him?”
“I want to work at the palace.”
“No.”
Nonna hung her head at Lady Yolana’s swift reply.
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
“Well, you’re still a child, Nonna! If anyone found out my son employed a child at the palace, he’d get into a lot of trouble! So the answer is no.”
“All right.”
Nonna was a determined girl who was always full of enthusiasm, so seeing her this dejected made Yolana feel a bit of amusement.
“I can’t count on my son in this situation, but the daughter of a lady I play poker with is the head maid. I can inquire about the castle through her.”
“Really?! Thank you so much!” Nonna said.
“However, I have a condition. You must be honest and tell me why you want to do such a thing.”
“Hmm…”
“That’s only fair, don’t you think?”
“Hmm…”
“Nonna, do you remember the saying that starts with the phrase If you try to gain something for free…? What comes next?”
“…The price you pay will only be higher in the end.”
“Very good. That’s the foundation of noble society. I would require something in return even for you, Nonna.”
“Hmm…”
“Is this regarding Victoria? Or Jeffrey? Or perhaps Clark?”
“…”
“I see. It’s about Victoria, isn’t it?”
“How did you know? Oops!”
Yolana chuckled with amusement. “You’ve got a long way to go if your expressions are that easy to read. So tell me what’s happened to Victoria. I’ll see what I can do to help. Don’t tell me someone from another country is pursuing her again?”
“I don’t think it’s that.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Lady Yolana, can I ask you not to tell my father what I’m about to say?”
Yolana didn’t answer right away. She wanted to grant her dear Nonna’s request, but she also had her own responsibilities as an adult.
Perhaps I can keep this from Jeffrey Asher but not his brother. Forgive me for being a little underhanded, Nonna.
“Very well. I won’t tell your father. Why do you want to work at the castle?”
“The kingdom hired my mother to work for two months.”
“Hmm. The kingdom hired her, you say?”
“Yes, and I’m worried about her. I want to know what kind of work she’s taken on.”
“You might only end up burdening Victoria if you go to her,” Yolana said.
“Well, I guess it depends on what she’s doing. I just want to see for myself, and if it seems like she’s safe, I’ll come home right away,” Nonna said.
“And if it doesn’t seem safe?”
“Then I want to stay close to her and protect her.”
“But, dear, I’ve already told you that’s impossible.”
Nonna’s face fell at Yolana’s immediate response.
“The palace isn’t the kind of place where just anyone can come and go, dear. You need to show a permit every time you enter and leave. If you snuck in illegally, your parents could face severe consequences. And it might not even stop there; Lord Edward, Clark, and even Clark’s parents could be implicated. Would you risk causing trouble for all those people solely to check on your mother? You need to drop this idea at once. It’s far too reckless. Besides, there’s no guarantee Victoria is even working at the palace.”
Nonna thought about it for a moment before nodding.
“I suppose when you put it that way, I see your point.”
“Her work might not even be in the capital, let alone the castle. However, it might be possible to find out what she’s been asked to do.”
“Really?”
“I promise I’ll look into it for you. I can’t guarantee I’ll find out for sure, but I will try. So go on home now and wait for word from me.”
“I understand. Thank you, Lady Yolana.”
Nonna bowed deeply, and Yolana sent her home in the Haynes family carriage.
When she got back home, Bertha exclaimed, “When did you sneak out?” and promptly reported the incident to Jeffrey. When her father asked where she went, Nonna lied, said she’d gone into town alone to play, and was thoroughly scolded. Despite the lecture, Nonna didn’t regret her escapade one bit.
Meanwhile, Yolana immediately penned two letters: one to her poker companion of thirty years, and another to Edward Asher.
Edward Asher received the note after returning home. He wasn’t expecting a letter from Yolana Haynes, and he froze for a moment after reading it.
“That was a close one. That girl certainly has the skills of a spy… I’m grateful Lady Yolana warned me. Perhaps I underestimated the bond between Victoria and Nonna.”
Edward pondered the issue.
He was already dealing with the man calling himself Gunther Bahr, the attempted poisoning of the crown princess, monitoring the antiroyalist faction, and tracking the increasingly active Subartuan military after Ashbury’s discovery of the gold mine. With no shortage of work to be done, he couldn’t afford to have Nonna interfering now.
After he finished the letter, he called for his beloved wife, Blythe.
“Yes, darling? What is it?”
“Blythe, I need to ask a favor of you.”
“Oh my! How unusual. Whatever could it be?”
“I’m going to discuss this with Jeffrey, too, but I think we should take in Nonna for two months. Victoria is rather busy, and I don’t think Jeffrey can handle a girl of Nonna’s age alone.”
This was the very first time in their entire marriage Edward had made such a request from Blythe, so she knew it must be something very important and asked no questions.
She was well aware of how deeply Victoria loved Nonna. So if Victoria had entrusted Jeffrey with Nonna’s care for two months, it must be for something very significant indeed. Whatever it was, Edward would have explained it if he could. Since he didn’t share any details, that meant that he wasn’t in the position to disclose.
“Darling, rest easy and leave it to me. I’m looking forward to being with Nonna.”
“I’m sorry for the trouble. I really appreciate it.”
The next day, Jeffrey was summoned to his brother’s house and was surprised by what he heard.
“What do you mean, you’ll take in Nonna?”
“It appears she’s tried to go work at the palace. Is Victoria away? Nonna seems to think she’s staying there.”
“Nonna was trying to get a job at the palace?” This shocked Jeffrey. He hadn’t expected Nonna to consider such a thing, but he supposed it wasn’t entirely surprising considering the strength of her and her mother’s bond. He bit his lip, inwardly scolding himself for his lack of foresight. He wondered how best to explain the situation to his brother.
“I won’t interfere with you and your wife’s decision. Victoria will return once her task is done, won’t she? But if Nonna does something reckless in the meantime, you’ll be the one held responsible. Let Blythe take care of her, and then you can rest assured.”
“But I intended to look after Nonna myself,” Jeffrey said.
“I know. However, a girl her age can be difficult to handle. And who knows what she might do if left unsupervised? Please, Jeff. Let Blythe handle it.”
“Can I at least talk to Nonna about this first?”
“Of course.”
With that, Jeffrey rushed home.
Nonna was in her room reading Dell Dolgarr: Messenger from Hell, an adventure novel she’d gone through countless times before. Jeffrey knocked on her door.
“Nonna? I need to talk to you about something important.”
“What is it, Dad?”
Nonna was shocked by what Jeffrey told her. “Why are you sending me to Lord Edward’s house? Is it because I went out without telling anyone?”
“My brother is worried about you.”
“But what about Ash and Berry?”
“You can bring them along. My brother and my sister-in-law like cats, and so does my mother. Also, it would help if you could keep my mother company. Blythe handles all her care on her own. Even if it’s just for two months, having you there would make things easier on her.”
Nonna remembered what Victoria had once told her: “Jeffrey’s mother went through something very painful in her past. She couldn’t bear the sorrow, and her heart broke. So when you meet her, please be kind to her.”
I probably can’t do much for Mom, but I can help Aunt Blythe and Grandmother. Waiting around and feeling frustrated for two months doesn’t sound very fun anyway.
That morning, she had received a disappointing letter from Lady Yolana saying, I got a reply from my contact at the castle, but they have no information about Victoria.
“All right, but only if I can take Ash and Berry with me.”
“Good. Will you be all right going there tomorrow?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
And so, Nonna and her cats went to stay at Edward Asher’s estate for two months. This would lead to some unexpected consequences, but that’s a story for another time.
Edward let out a sigh of relief when he received Jeffrey’s approval. Up until now, he’d hidden Victoria’s background from everyone except Mike. There was a reason he’d asked Victoria to act as a body double.
“The attempted poisoning of the crown princess’s food was a catastrophic failure on our part. The enemy’s reach has extended dangerously close to the royal family. It’s clear the prime minister can no longer manage the situation.”
Edward had noticed the prime minister’s health had been declining for some time.
The prime minister handled domestic affairs, while Edward took care of foreign matters. But it was now evident the prime minister was no longer up to the task. Although Edward had refrained from intervening out of respect, he could no longer do so; waiting until something happened to the royal family was out of the question.
