Chapter 4: A Bond with the Princess

The days that followed were marked by a growing sense of familiarity between Isabella and Princess Matilda. Though the formalities of their relationship were never entirely absent, there was an unspoken understanding that they shared something more than just the roles they had been assigned. The two young women found themselves drawn together by their common experiences and the unique pressures that life at court imposed on them.

Isabella had always been careful to maintain a respectful distance, but Matilda was persistent in breaking down those barriers. It began with small gestures—a shared joke, a casual comment about the court's latest gossip—but over time, the bond between them deepened. They often spent their evenings together, talking late into the night about everything from their childhoods to their dreams for the future.

One evening, as they sat by the fire in Matilda's private sitting room, the conversation turned to more personal matters. The room was warm and inviting, the firelight casting a soft glow on the walls adorned with intricate tapestries. A tray of tea and biscuits sat untouched on the table between them, forgotten in the comfort of their conversation.

Matilda sighed softly, leaning back in her chair and staring into the flickering flames. "You know, Isabella, I don't think I've ever had a friend like you before."

Isabella looked up from the embroidery she had been absentmindedly working on, surprised by the Princess's admission. "A friend? I'm honored you think of me that way, Your Highness."

Matilda smiled, a touch of sadness in her eyes. "Please, call me Matilda when we're alone. And yes, a friend. It's rare to find someone at court who isn't constantly scheming or looking for an advantage. But with you, I feel like I can be myself."

Isabella set her embroidery aside, focusing entirely on Matilda. "I'm glad you feel that way. I've always admired your strength, Matilda. You carry so much on your shoulders, and yet you do it with such grace."

Matilda's smile faltered, and she looked away, her gaze distant. "Grace? I don't know about that. Sometimes it feels like I'm just pretending, like everyone else here."

Isabella's heart ached at the vulnerability in Matilda's voice. She wanted to offer some comfort, but she knew how guarded Matilda was about her feelings. Instead, she decided to steer the conversation toward something that had been on her mind for days.

"Matilda," she began hesitantly, "you mentioned your brother's illness before. I've noticed that you seem very concerned about him. Is it… is it worse than what we've been told?"

Matilda's expression grew even more somber, and she nodded slowly. "Yes, it is. Gabriel's illness is far more serious than most people know. The physicians have been trying to keep it quiet, but I can see the worry in their eyes. They're not sure what's causing it, and that terrifies me."

Isabella felt a chill run down her spine. She had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed was another matter entirely. "What are his symptoms? Maybe I can help, or at least understand better."

Matilda took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. "It started with fatigue. Gabriel would tire easily, even after just a short walk. Then came the headaches, so severe that he would have to lie down in a dark room for hours. Lately, there have been fevers—high ones that come and go without warning. And sometimes… sometimes he's delirious."

Isabella's mind raced as she processed the information. These symptoms could be indicative of so many different conditions, some of which were serious and others that were less so. But the fact that the royal physicians were at a loss worried her greatly.

"I'm so sorry, Matilda," Isabella said softly. "I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you. For both of you."

Matilda's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she quickly blinked them away. "Gabriel means everything to me. He's not just my brother; he's my closest confidant, the one person I can always rely on. Seeing him like this… it's breaking my heart."

Without thinking, Isabella reached out and took Matilda's hand in hers, offering what little comfort she could. "You're not alone in this, Matilda. I'm here for you, whatever you need."

The Princess squeezed Isabella's hand gratefully, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, Isabella. That means more to me than you know."

For a long moment, they sat in silence, the only sound the crackling of the fire. Isabella could feel the weight of Matilda's pain, and it made her even more determined to find a way to help. She knew that the court was full of secrets and that those secrets could often be deadly. If Gabriel's illness was as serious as Matilda feared, then they would need to act quickly.

"Has anyone tried to find a cause for his illness?" Isabella asked, breaking the silence.

Matilda nodded, her expression grim. "The physicians have tried everything they know, but they can't seem to pinpoint what's wrong. They've ruled out most of the common ailments, but that only makes it more frustrating. They're considering bringing in a specialist from another kingdom, but that could take weeks."

Isabella bit her lip, deep in thought. "Have you noticed any patterns? Does anything seem to trigger his symptoms?"

Matilda shook her head. "No, that's the maddening part. It seems completely random. One day he'll be fine, and the next, he's bedridden. There's no rhyme or reason to it."

Isabella's mind churned with possibilities. It could be something environmental, something in the palace that was affecting Gabriel's health. Or it could be something more sinister—a thought she didn't want to entertain but couldn't ignore.

"Matilda, would you let me see Gabriel?" Isabella asked cautiously. "I'm not suggesting I can do anything that the physicians haven't already tried, but maybe a fresh perspective could help. At the very least, I could offer him some comfort."

Matilda looked at Isabella with a mixture of hope and fear. "You would do that? I mean, it's not your responsibility…"

"Of course I would," Isabella interrupted gently. "I care about you, and by extension, I care about Gabriel. If there's anything I can do, I want to try."

Matilda nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You really are a friend, aren't you?"

Isabella returned the smile, though her heart was heavy with worry. "I try to be. And right now, I think you need all the friends you can get."

***

Later that evening, Isabella found herself standing outside the door to Crown Prince Gabriel's chambers. The hallway was dimly lit, with only a few torches casting long shadows on the stone walls. Two guards stood at attention by the door, their faces expressionless as they acknowledged Isabella with a curt nod.

Taking a deep breath, Isabella knocked softly on the door. A moment later, it was opened by one of Gabriel's attendants, a young man with a somber expression.

"Miss von Artenberg," the attendant greeted her with a bow. "The Prince has been expecting you. Please, come in."

Isabella stepped inside, her heart pounding in her chest. The room was spacious but sparsely furnished, with heavy curtains drawn over the windows to block out the fading light. A large bed dominated the room, and lying in it was Crown Prince Gabriel, his once-strong features now pale and gaunt.

Isabella's breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. She had seen Gabriel from a distance before, during her first introduction to the royal family, but this was the first time she had been so close to him. The change in his appearance was startling; he looked like a shadow of the man he once was.

"Your Highness," Isabella said softly as she approached the bed, unsure of how to begin.

Gabriel's eyes flickered open at the sound of her voice, and for a moment, he simply stared at her, as if trying to place her face. Then, recognition dawned in his eyes, and he managed a faint smile.

"Isabella, isn't it?" he asked, his voice hoarse and weak.

"Yes, Your Highness," Isabella replied, sitting down in the chair beside his bed. "I'm here to see how you're feeling."

Gabriel chuckled weakly, though the sound quickly turned into a cough. "I'm sure you can see that I'm not exactly at my best."

Isabella felt a pang of sympathy for the Prince. Despite his obvious illness, there was still a spark of humor in his eyes, a determination not to let his condition define him.

"I'm sorry you're going through this," Isabella said sincerely. "But I want you to know that Matilda is very worried about you. She cares about you so much."

Gabriel's expression softened at the mention of his sister. "She's always been the strong one. I hate that she has to worry about me like this."

"She's not alone in worrying," Isabella added gently. "We're all hoping you'll recover soon. And I'm here to help in any way I can."

Gabriel's gaze lingered on Isabella, and for a moment, she saw something in his eyes—curiosity, perhaps, or maybe even gratitude. "Thank you, Isabella. It means a lot to me that you're here."

As they continued to talk, Isabella asked him more about his symptoms, trying to gather as much information as she could. Gabriel was candid about his condition, describing the pain and confusion he often felt. But what struck Isabella the most was his underlying sense of resignation, as if he had already accepted that his fate was out of his hands.

"Don't give up hope, Your Highness," Isabella said, her voice firm. "There's always a way, even when things seem darkest. You just have to hold on."

Gabriel looked at her with a mixture of surprise and something else—something she couldn't quite name. "You're different from the others, Isabella. Most people just offer empty platitudes, but you… you actually mean it."

"I do," Isabella replied, her tone unwavering. "I believe that there's always a way forward, even if it's not immediately clear. We just have to find it."

For a long moment, they sat in silence, the only sound the crackling of the fire in the hearth. Isabella could see the weariness in Gabriel's eyes, but she also saw a glimmer of something else—hope, perhaps, or at least the willingness to fight a little longer.

"Thank you, Isabella," Gabriel said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "For being here. For giving me something to hold on to."

Isabella squeezed his hand gently. "You're not alone, Gabriel. We're all in this together."

As she left his chambers that night, Isabella couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong—not just with Gabriel's health, but with the entire situation. The court was a place of secrets, and she was determined to uncover the truth, no matter what it took. For Matilda's sake, for Gabriel's, and for her own.