Blindfolded!

After the Prince Regent and his men were gone, Alexa asked,

"Wasn't that your Father, Prince Gutard?" she could tell by Klaus's thoughtful expression that he was also trying to understand what he had seen. But he answered her dryly,

"This is not your business. And if any rumor about tonight transpires in the future, I'm sure you were the source."

Coming from the one who had been hugging her just now, this was a drastic change in attitude, although she could understand the political aspect of the situation.

"As you wish, Your Highness. Keep your promise and take me back to the castle," she answered as coldly as him, thinking it would not hurt to have a map of Kielstadt to try to know where the Regent Prince had been. 'What's the problem with having information you could trade for your security later?' she thought.

While Klaus fetched the horses she still looked at the horizon, but all she saw were the rugged peaks of the coastal rocks, the lighthouse, and the southeast, the Prince's new residence.

They returned in silence, and as they neared the city gates, he stopped both horses, to Alexa's surprise.

"Alexa," he called her by her first name, and his voice was deep and very serious. The Byzantine maiden looked at him expectantly, realizing that he had something important to say.

"Yes?"

"If you're not who you say you are, it's not a problem. You don't have to leave. I can arrange things for you for a comfortable and quiet life here. But if you're really engaged to a Blackrose, tell me right away. I'll find a way for you to get out of here as soon as possible."

'But… what the hell was that about? Did he want to protect me or just wanted to make me his lover?' Alexa could not define, by the expression of the Saxon Prince, his real intentions.

"As little as I understand Western customs, my dear Prince, your concern for me might be misunderstood if the wrong ears hear your words. I told you I wish Lady Cordelia's happiness…"

"Ah, you have a fixed idea about that, don't you? Don't you realize, Lady? That she can't be happy here? By my side?" he laughed in a strangled, bitter way. " The morning steals upon the night, melting the darkness.* Don't waste our time, my lady. And what do you want? Go to England? You will depart on the next ship, I'll make sure. But make up your mind," the demanding tone he used left no doubt now on his words.

"It is a fact, 'Klaus', she used his birth name with some disdain,' that I am engaged to John Blackrose and it can be proven. So I will pretend that we didn't talk, for as always your view of me is derogatory, which matches my view of you, from now on."

The Saxon Prince sighed heavily at her words, looked up at the sky, and said,

"Very well. It's better this way. That way I won't have to falsely comfort you when my wife dies."

"Ahhh! What a morbid thought! Or is it your plans ?! Can't you just…?"

"Just what, noble lady? Make up affection for the woman who bought her title? I am for sale for the benefit of the kingdom, but do I have to smile while I lie with her? Is it required? Don't demand too much of me. To pretend to appreciate someone I don't want in my bed. Don't you think this profession has a name?" he glanced at her, with a sarcastic expression. "It doesn't seem like you have much left to offer but the innocence of your body and your beautiful face, so you're no better than me. Don't waste your time offending me when in fact yourself was also sold. It's you who sighs for Alexander and Konrad sweet looks, but you're going to marry this Blackrose instead."

"I don't sigh for…"

"Just shut up and stop annoying me about this whole 'Cordelia' affair. Tear off a piece of your petticoats, you'll need it soon."

"You boar!" she grunted, obeying his request. She didn't need to listen the obvious, she knew exactly how many coins she'd been redeemed for, but of course, a person like Prince Klaus would do his best to offend her, even if despising himself in the process. "You are the one to shut up! Who has the right to complain is the poor toothless whore who sells her body for a handful of beans, to feed her children; you cost several ships and will only be sold once… By the way, if not for the title, what would you have to offer? A mean mean person…" she murmured.

"Lady Saskia, have you ceased your babbling already? Give me the rag," his tone couldn't be more imperious and cold. The maiden disdainfully handed him the rag, but did not expect him to use the fabric of her petticoats to carefully blindfold her.

Alexa figured they would use some secret entrance to the city and the castle, and of course, the Prince would not show it to a foreigner newcomer to the city.

"You're not going to throw me in the pit, are you?"

"No, enough of funerals and wakes for a while. And be warned that if you take off this blindfold, it's good for you to know how to sing, because you're going to be a blind singer from the moment on."

"Oh, yes, yes, enough of threats, I get it," she said loudly, clutching her saddle as Klaus guided her horse by the reins. She wouldn't do that as long as he had a chance to notice, of course. He had been in a bad mood ever since... Well, she had thought it was since he had seen his father riding at dark hours around the kingdom, but in fact, the damsel remembered that Klaus had been grumpy before. It had only gotten worse with the accidental discovery.

Again the maiden had to trust the person she least wanted to trust if she wanted to enter the castle with him.

The sensations of having her vision impeded only exacerbated her other senses. Every sound, smell, and texture seemed to fight for recognition. She was trying to grab information from everything, but her instinct just wanted to take the blindfold off. At some point, when she realized they had passed some buildings, he helped her off the horse and reminded her as he obviously tied the horses somewhere,

"If you take off that blindfold I'll keep my promise… But I can tie your hands with your own bandages if you don't trust yourself."

"I trust myself, but you know the one I can't trust is you."

He grabbed her forearm and led her, replying,

"It's good for you to know that, Lady Saskia. But for now, I'm all you have."