15 1.15

The arrival of dawn signaled the start of the planning and preparations of Papa's funeral to begin. Clusters of servants were walking to and fro. Some were hanging black and white drapes from the columns and walls; others were huddled in corners and over pieces of parchment. The planning already seemed to be in full swing, and I was twitchy about the fact that Mama had only let me decide who would be the pallbearers. I wanted to do more—not necessarily out of filial piety, but because I didn't know what to do with my hands. I felt oddly left out amongst all the activity—if you know what I mean.

Breakfast was rushed and no one seemed to be in much of a mood to gossip or chat. Preparations continued all the way into the early afternoon, where the courtiers and servants broke off for lunch. Strangely—or not strangely—enough, all anyone could talk about was the funeral, and where what should be and who should arrange what. As for me… I had nothing to say, because my involvement in the main preparations was totally nil. Zilch. As a result, I was pretty much sulking at my plate the whole time, until I spotted someone familiar walk through the banquet doors. I immediately cheered up and hurriedly pulled a seat out for the newcomer.

"Galina! I wasn't expecting you," I exclaimed, "Eat with me?"

She gave a wee smile and nodded, which sent my poor heart into little convulsions. Galina was dressed again in her armor with her curls tied into a neat bun at the base of her neck. She had returned her nightdress earlier in the day, washed and dried—and it smelt strongly of jasmine flowers.

Galina took her sword belt off and placed it on her lap. "A good day to you, Tsesarevna—" she took my hand and touched it to her forehead before kissing it once— "I heard things are busy in the palace?"

I pouted at her. "Aye—busy for everyone except me. I'm practically doing nothing other than looking for pallbearers."

Galina raised an eyebrow at me as she reached for a bunch of grapes. "Y'know, Tsesarevna—looking for pallbearers for His Royal Majesty is going to be much harder than you think. It's better to start as quickly as possible rather than rushing to look for 5 other—no—11 other pallbearers on the day of the funeral itself," she plopped 4 grapes into her mouth and continued, "Besides, you'll have to decide the path the pallbearers are supposed to take as they walk through the palace… unless Her Royal Majesty has already done that?"

I squinted at her. "I-I think so?"

Galina suppressed a sigh and plopped another 2 grapes into her mouth. "Check with her just in case, but otherwise, I'm willing to be one of the pallbearers."

I blinked at her in reply. "You-you are?"

She shrugged daintily. "His Royal Majesty wasn't exactly the best towards the Regnistals, but he's dead and I believe in paying due respect to the dead, Tsesarevna," she replied firmly. I caught Mama nodding out of the corner of my eye.

"The commander is a wise woman, Tsesarevna. It would do you well to listen to her now and then," Mama remarked as she raised a finger in the air, before picking up her wine glass. Galina dropped her grapes on her plate and dipped her head as she placed her hand on her heart.

"Thank you, Your Royal Majesty. I am undeserving of such high praise from you—"

Mama chuckled in reply. "If I thought you were undeserving of it, I would not have praised you in the first place, Commander Skeylanovich." Mama put her wine glass down and leaned forward. "This is the first time that I've seen you eat in the banquet hall, despite my numerous invites. What's changed?"

Galina and I glanced at each other and looked back at Mama who promptly arched a brow as she slowly reached for a bowl of caviar. Finally, Galina shrugged. "I find Tsesarevna Yulia pleasant to be around. She's easy to talk to, unlike some other pompous nobles or royals I've met, really." She gave an awkward cough and continued, "She's different."

Mama peered at her bowl of caviar. "Sounds like you've taken quite a liking to my daughter, Commander. I won't stop you from talking to Tsesarevna Yulia—just don't neglect your duties, yes?"

Galina blushed and dipped her head. "I will not, Your Royal Majesty." Mama nodded in satisfaction and returned to her caviar.

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As lunch was about to come to an end, Galina touched my elbow lightly. "Tsesarevna, there's someone you need to see. Could you follow me to the barracks after?"

I raised both my brows at her, hurriedly emptied my plate, and stood up. I kissed Mama's hand goodbye before hurrying towards the barracks, Galina following on my heels. When I reached the gates of the barracks, I paused and turned to glance at Galina. "Who am I supposed to be seeing?"

There was an unreadable expression on her face as she gestured for the guards to open the gates. I stepped through warily and glanced around, wondering where this person was. Just then, Galina reached a hand out towards my elbow, waiting for me to accept—or decline—her hand. I smiled faintly and tentatively took her hand softly in mine instead. I watched her eyes widen in surprise before she swallowed and led me to a room on the 3rd floor of the barracks.

The room wasn't well-lit, but I could make out a figure knelt on the floor, and 4 Regnistals behind him. Galina gestured at one of the Regnistals, who promptly turned to light 3 torches. When all the torches were lit, I gasped.

"Pytor?"

"Oh, good Yulia—thank you for coming—they've been holding me without reason, you see, and—"

"Tsarevich. Why don't you tell Her Royal Highness what you did before I tell her myself?" Galina cut him off. I squinted at her in reply, and she gestured at Pytor as if to say 'The answer you want is with him'.

I sighed and placed my hands on my hips. "What is it now, Pytor?"

"Yulia, you need to get me out of here! They kidnapped me out of the blue, Yul, and just dragged me here—where's this place, even?"

I puffed out my cheeks. "This is the palace barracks, Pytor. They kidnapped you, you say? Who's the 'they'?" Pytor jerked his head back in reply.

I pointed at them to confirm what he was saying. "These Regnistals kidnapped you?" He nodded fervently, and Galina crossed her arms in annoyance.

I took a step forward. "What were you doing outside in the first place, Pytor?" That question caught him off guard.

"I-I.. I just wanted some fresh air—" Pytor stammered and I chuckled wryly.

"Pytor, you've been my brother for over a decade. Stop lying to me."

His shoulders slumped in defeat. "I was outside looking for spices, Yul. Is that wrong?"

I stared at him for a long while and watched him shift uneasily under my gaze. Finally, I said, "No, it's not, but you've been gone for quite a while, Pytor."

"I know, Yulia, but the spices I want to find aren't common around here." He mumbled and stared at the floor.

I heaved a sigh. He seemed believable but… but nothing. I helped Pytor up and whispered in his ear as he fumbled to his feet, "Don't wander out of the palace like that again, alright? You might get hurt without bodyguards around." He nodded and hurried out of the room, and out of the barracks, into the Winter Garden. I stared after him thoughtfully.

"Galina, if he ever goes out of the palace, have someone tail him, but not to interfere. Get them to report straight to you and me." Galina nodded firmly as I made to leave the room.

I paused as if I forgot something, and turned around slowly. I asked casually, "Oh, by the way, where did you—" I made air quotes with my fingers— " 'kidnap' him?"

One of the Regnistals stepped forward and bowed deeply. Speaking in a deep and gravelly voice, he answered, "Your Royal Highness, we arrested him near the state borders between Stanthern and Gwythyn. He was coming out of an unmarked inn, your Highness."

I groaned inwardly. Unmarked inns were the worst places ever. "Was anyone with him, Mister?" The Regnistal soldier shook his head and dipped his head in apology.

I nodded thoughtfully. Pytor's behavior was rather off indeed. I had no idea what he was doing, but I hoped with all my heart that it was nothing nefarious, because I did not want to do anything that I would regret later. With a heavy heart, I gave Galina a gentle hug and hurried out of the barracks towards the Winter Gardens.