The blonde trailed down back to the dungeon steps, the Ashen Whisper by her side. She passed by the cell where the professor had offed himself in silence.
Her brows knitted, descending further down. The prisoners that remained were all too tired to hackle or harass, barely able to spare a passing glance after heavy interrogations.
She followed into the previous chamber as the countess glanced up from the floor, with a cald, greeting smile; only to be responded with an arm-crossed glare from her visitor.
Arabella instructed the guard in the room to leave, tapping the blonde on the shoulder before leaving herself; the door shut...
Jotou turned; the only light being from the sconces on the walls giving off a dull yellow glow. The countess stood up and walked to the edge of her cell, "Hello."
"Why do you want to talk to ?" the glare nor her crossed arms softened.
"Hm." The countess replied in silence, though both remained patient... Her eyes scanned over, "Sweat-ridden and reddened on the skin; how are you? Are these symptoms of whatever that incident was?"
"I’m so touched that you care; why did you want here?"
"Only a question I was curious about," she waved her hand around.
"No, I was sparring under the Sun." ’I didn’t even realize the heat much. Must’ve been lost in the fighting and the ti acclimatization.’ "Happy? Answer my question."
"Alright, alright, no need to scowl so sincerely. I heard that professor took his own life?"
"Is that all you called for?"
"Not exactly."
"Fine. Yes, he did."
"Do you know why?"
Jotou pouted to the side, "I still don’t understand it, no. He could’ve done it sooner, why now."
"Because he was mad," the countess tilted her head, "And you and I, are not."
"Thanks, but I think neither of us are exactly ’sane’."
The countess chuckled, "Perhaps you are right." Sothing seed off... Her words carried no anger—calm and collected she was. It was hard to tell; were her faded blue eyes soft or glaring?
"However, trying to discern what was going on in his mind is only going to make you descend down the sa madness. The reports were, that he never spoke of Trailon nor would aid us with his creations, correct?
A blind devotion; a belief that there is one true force and that is the Regi he was born in and sworn allegiance to. So much so, that even when said forces banish him, he will be devoted all the sa.
Now, anyone like that is, in my book, mad. Coupled with the fact he was already insane to begin with. Why now? Why not back when?
A simple reason really; that he has no reason. Trying to uncover soone who’s insane is not worth your ti, especially since he has nothing more to offer."
The countess sneered, "Good riddance, I do not want him responsible for any technology Cravolta develops. No mind other than to serve, like sheep. Going back to the things which hard him out of a dog-like loyalty-"
"Like a zombie," Jotou muttered.
The countess cocked her head, "One way to put it, yes."
The blonde shook her head, "Why are you acting like you didn’t try to poison us before? Like we’re old friends catching up? If you wanted to act this nice, it’s a bit too late. Go talk to soone else," she turned.
The countess rolled her eyes, "Do you really believe to be that daft?"
Jotou halted, "I’ve only known you for barely two days, who could say?"
The countess scoffed, "Do you really think, I would be moronic enough to try to poison the princess, you and the rest, whilst the entire council was present?
You ask why for that man’s death when he could’ve done it sooner, and yet not why I would do sothing ’too late’? While the Thundering Blade and the council were present? When I could have done it months prior?"
Jotou fluttered her lashes... Her brows knitted before she turned back to face her, "Then why did you do it? If you knew it was stupid, if you knew it wasn’t gonna... work..."
"It’s making more sense than before now, is it not?" the countess smiled. Those glaring eyes... "How would you feel if your goddaughter died and cos back as a walking corpse with soone else in it?
My dear childhood friend’s daughter dead with soone else controlling it, using her voice. I despised her, hated her ever since my eyes beheld her again...
My hatred was born from sorrow and I couldn’t bear to see her any longer. My anger got the better of and I prodded her to a point where she detested as well, including her royal advisor.
Even the admiral has grown to loathe despite knowing years prior; I even congratulated her when the king promoted her to be the admiral of the Royal Guard...
It was the past, and by the ti I moved on and accepted this fate, that little Riya had passed, it was... too late for my apologies and it was certain none of them would ever trust my advice again.
I helped where I could. You could even say I kept this palace running until Feyan got a hold of things. At the end of the day, perhaps I have a dog-like loyalty as well... I could never dare, harm a hair on my dear princess’s head."
Jotou stared... "Why should I trust you about this? Any of this?"
"Well. Without the princess’s little truth detection, you rely have your insight—to believe , or not."
Jotou kept staring, pondering a decision in her mind.
Those eyes... they were not glaring at all. They were reinforced with assurance. And within those faded blue eyes was a softness tucked under the irises.
"Fine," Jotou breathed out, "The matter still remains; you tried to poison us, including her."
"Tried," the countess repeated. "I made sure that little mouse could see the illusion; I believe dear Feyan called her detective. It made sense. Even so, I had the poison’s cure I would have snuck in before dessert."
"So all those guards and staff who were in on this, they’re innocent?"
The countess shook her head, "No. I gathered them for months for this plan."
"What do you gain from doing this?"
"The certainty of Cravolta I suppose. You have your enemy within the council—.
And anyone who now dares to even speak out of turn in her direction, will only be seen as soone with a potential to commit treason; by the council and by the public.
I have helped you weed out any would-be betrayers from the staff and Royal Guard, I am certain there is no one else."
"This is all, to help Daiyu then."
"I know her intentions well," the countess smirked, "And I now know yours when you spoke upon that balcony."
Jotou batted an eye, "Eavesdropping huh? How, much did you hear...?"
"Bad habit of mine," she shrugged. "Do not worry, I don’t intend to blabber what I heard. I truly believed she hired you for publicity at first. I thought it to be a foolish decision, but I know now that you are truly her friend.
I tried to defend her against the council as best as I could. They can get quite, out of hand and it seems I found a voice other than myself to quell and control it."
Jotou walked forward, arms to her sides, "Why are you telling all of this?" she knitted her brows.
"Because I trust your mind. You speak with clarity and you speak it with reason. So you know the purpose of a good lie. The reign of the Tamara bloodline is over only by na.
You said you cannot force a mont; I believe I’ve proven you wrong. This is an opportune mont to get a handle on the situation.
In the chaos everything and everyone gets muddled and those with clarity can see a thod in all of it. Help your friend like you promised, bring Cravolta to victory and this war to an end.
We all know it has gone on for far too long," the countess chuckled, "with too many gone," followed by a bittersweet smile.
"...Well played, you proved wrong," Jotou sighed.
The countess gazed up for a second... Before she laughed, "Was that your takeaway from that? My, my, you sure can change the subject~"
The blonde’s lips tightened in a pout, "If that was really your plan all along, shouldn’t I key Daiyu in on this? It’s all for her sake you’re doing this, aren’t you?"
The countess held one of the bars and looked Jotou in the eye, "No, please, do not," it was no demand, it was a plea. "She sees a bright future for Cravolta.
And I believe with your presence here and your advice in her ear alongside Feyan will make that future plausible. However, the princess is brash, reckless and too keen on keeping her morals in her thods and actions.
She believes in the right thing to do, regardless of the law. She has good intentions I do not deny that, but doing so without doing questionable things?
I believe you and I both know that this sort of power does not co without deception and corruption... The princess would never do so, more over would never listen to and neither will Feyan.
If she knows the truth of what I have done, she would try to free , regardless of her position and even if she keeps it secret, you lose your advantage and people will co questioning and my husband’s release.
That would only complicate things more, only this ti, not in our favour. So, if your friend will not take an ’immoral’ deal because she cannot justify a reason for it, you will.
Use that cunning of yours, use whatever ans necessary to make sure the princess secures her position; and with it, the bright future for Cravolta... Please... I beg of you... Do not, let her know of this."
Jotou’s eyes softened, tilting her head as she saw the loose tears that ran down the countess’s cheek which she could not hide away with her illusions. The truth lied before her; and with it a choice.
"You know, I can just tell her anyway. It’s bold of you to assu I wouldn’t."
The countess could not reply. A re breath released as a chuckle, "I suppose you can. Is this just to spite ? The choice is yours now; I have done what I have done."
Jotou glanced to the floor... "What about your husband? Did he hate Daiyu too?"
The countess turned away, "No, he accepted that fate much faster than I... The king—a father, a husband, my... dearest friend. His daughter remains, one way or another; and so to my goddaughter.
I made my choice to do this... And my beloved," she smiled, unable to control the tears dripping down to her chin, "He would not leave my hand."
Silence led the room, while Jotou gathered her thoughts and the countess collected herself... The blonde looked up, "Is there anything else you require of ?" she put on an accent with a smile.
The corners of the countess’s lips rose; with slanted eyes she said, "No. Do as you will."
"Then I’ll do my best, even though you tried to poison us," Jotou raised a brow.
"My apologies for the incident then," the countess stood upright, more perked up.
"They won’t treat you well. They don’t know you’re a martyr."
"Be it my life or my ruin—I’m aware. Now go. Do not visit again," she let out a little titter.
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