"What do you want in return by selling this information?" Aefia spoke while retracting her hands into a fold and staring at the woman with sharp, dark eyes. "To have courage to say something like this, and not want anything in return, you must have a wish that you want me to fulfil for you. Don't think I am dumb just because I am becoming a psycho."
The woman's eyes turned widened and a smile settled onto her face upon hearing something like this come out from the young girl's mouth. "Well you are smart then." She spoke while taking a step closer to the young girl ever second, until she was leaning against her ears and whispering a few things into her mind.
"I want to become the next Countess." Her voice left with a harshness in them. "After my father is executed, I want to displace my sister and take over the estate. That is the only thing I want and I most definitely know this isn't a hard task for an intelligent Imperial princess like you." With the final words reaching her ears, she stepped back.
"I am fully aware that my younger sister Stephany used to bully you. She used to hurt you in ways that didn't allow for the recovery in your left arm." Her finger lifted to point at the girl's sleeve. "And I also know that she tried to kill you in an unsuccessful attempt."
"That's unless she told you so." Aefia coldly replied with her eyes furrowed, but her face remaining a little expressionless and composed. "You both lived in the same house for the one month that your father was missing and she might have told you that she was about to kill someone at her school she had a grudge against. But that the person is probably related to the Imperial family... Which you successfully found out."
"She wanted to inform you so you could help her find out my real identity and despite your knowing I was... Like you just said... The Imperial Princess... You told your younger sister I was probably a far relative from the father's side of the family. After she finally came to realize just how much you had betrayed her... Her anger rose to an uncontrollable rage which caused her into this reckless move that allowed her to get killed by a bunch of hybrid bears."
"You are precise with everything that you just said. She did tell me about it... And those edelweiss... They were plucked from our garden that morning when she tried to kill you, and I am definitely aware she had you in a mission to stain them red." The woman spoke while keeping her smile stuck to her face, placing a finger at her chin and folding her left arm underneath her right elbow.
"But here is the thing... I was the one who asked her to bring that jasmine flower scented perfume." The woman's words left her mouth almost too perfectly to call it flawless. "And... I was the one who gave her the idea to try and kill you and your friend..."
"Then... Hold on... I don't get it..." Aefia spoke while clenching her fist tightly at her sides with aggression.
"You won't right now if you don't let me explain you know... I let the perfume cap a little lose the night I had told her I would pack her bag for her in a way to reconcile with my younger sister. The entire liquid flowed onto her clothes and it had obviously dried off the second it had spilled. Because the formula I gave her was long-lasting and very dry."
"You betrayed your own sister... To get her killed... In the greed for the role as the next Countess?" She felt her eyes turned narrowed with an a sort of mixed feelings about this situation.
"You seem like a person I would definitely be friends with. But the only thing... How do I trust that you won't fo the same thing to me that you did to kill Stephany." A smile landed on her face as she lifted her right hand and took off the black glove, revealing a hidden pocket knife pressed against her palm.
"As long as I get what I want... I am also willing to help you with the execution. And court affairs. I need to use you just as you need to use me. Killing one another would be fully disadvantageous to either of us." The woman spoke while letting her hands fall to her sides as the breeze caused her long black gown and blonde hair to flatter against it. "And I am practically their enemy too. You know the saying... The enemy of my enemy is-"
"My friend." Aefia spoke while lifting her gaze from her hand. "Fine... I will help you get the seat... But I don't have my means yet. And it might take some time to deduce a proper trap for your sister. And I can't guarantee that she will die... You know..." Her own hair swept off her face, revealing a more clearer version of her now serious expression.
"I don't mind as long as I get the title of the Countess. And if you succeed... I will become a devoted ally of yours. Even if the duchess tries to press a trial against you... I will support your way and help you out of your problems. It's my vow to you... Princess Aefia Seraphina." The woman bowed her head in a respected manner as the young girl stepped forward and offered her a hand.
"If you want to become allies and have our trust against each other... Let's get this simple test figured out." She spoke while holding the pocket knife at her other hand, hidden from view. Without a hesitation, the woman held onto her palm in a handshake while the girl silently lifted the blade to her gut.
Even in a rush, she didn't press it directly into her organs, but rather, it hovered above the skin.
"Do you have your answers now, Princess?" She asked while letting go of her hand. "I don't know... But I can say you have a slight trust in me... And the results are only one-sided." The young girl replied while lifting her head up to look at the woman.
The smile on the woman's face widened when she noticed the strange look at her eyes. "Your eyes are glowing in a deep maroon colour... Do you plan on using your magic on me to take my soul out?"
"Why? Does that make it seem like this to you?"
"... Maybe I should let you judge the situation as it is." The woman spoke while watching the girl shut her eyes and turn to walk away. "Let's say... I was simply thinking about what you just said... And I might need to discuss some things with you privately. I can't do that in the palace otherwise my brothers will catch us... What if I went over to your estate with surprise one day? It could even be tomorrow."
"I am alright... As long as you say you will help me get the title of the next Countess."
With that, the two departed their ways and walked back to where they had come from, Stephany's grave. They were both aware they had just made the most vulnerable relationship between each other. Once one betrayed the other, it's either the head or a part of their limb. But they also had the most powerful ally for each other, because if they both could get the other what they wanted, it would mean its been a successful deal.
***
"I don't seem to understand one thing about you." Lewis spoke when she returned with a smile on her face, which dropped as soon as she heard his voice. "One minute you seem miserable and the other you are smiling in a way which could creep anyone's skin off there body." He dropped his voice to a low whisper which was enough for her to catch.
"Why? I can't get the feeling of joy after visiting my relative's grave after so long? There is a limit to protecting your younger siblings... In case you don't know." She replied while glancing at the departing crowd of people. While everyone was leaving, Aefia stood still with Lewis observing her until the last of the crowd was gone. That is when she laid her step forward with a single blood-stained edelweiss at her fingers and a smile which seemed peaceful and sinister at the same time, and her hat still covering half her face in shadow.
Crouching down, she lay the flower onto the herds of flowers that lay beside Stephany's tombstone, and traced her index finger against the engraved writing on the stone. "I wish I were the one who killed you... But looks like there has been an interesting turn of events." She muttered softly as if speaking to the person herself. "If you don't know just yet... Your sister and I are going to send another member of your family to where you are right now. Your sister who planned your murder... And me... Who you tried to kill."
Her voice was too soft for Lewis to hear, so he just heard unclear whispers from far as he watched the way she ran her fingertips against the carvings. "Dear Stephany... I always wanted to say this to you ever since I have come to know the truth about the duchess and her use of me as a 'pawn'. I am grateful that you died... And you stayed dead. Thank you for trying to kill me that day... Thank you for dying for me... And thank you for the truth... Because your death lead me to find this out."
Her smile widened as her finger reached the end of the 'y' and flicked off the end, releasing dust from the stone as she stood up and walked towards the graveyard's gates. But just as she was about to leave, Lewis placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her from moving. "Why did you just do that? What were you saying? What were you doing just now?" He questioned her with a stern look at his face.
Instead of continuously answering his questions, she turned to face him, with her smile still plastered to her face. "I was surviving. Thank you for asking." Slapping off his hand from her shoulder, she continued her walk towards the gates without a glance back. Her face dropped its expressions for a still and serious one as her steps exited the threshold of the graveyard. George seemed to be waiting for a long time for the two siblings to come out, but didn't question them.
***
Pushing open the door to the guest hall, the woman walked in with pure anticipation.
"Aah! So you really were just getting ready." Aefia spoke while sitting cross-legged at the glass table, with multiple snacks placed in front of her. "I was starting to worry you were going to ghost me. Because if you did, I would have made it a factor to end you. Luckily you didn't cross the time limit. Am I greedy for saying this?" She smiled with her narrowed eyes as her head rested on her hand which was supported by her elbow.
"How did you manage to convince your brothers and the duchess?" She strodded up to the table while fixing the small creases on her green gown. "Also... You look like you took an approach to a different look today. It's interesting how you learned to change your style." She smiled while taking a better look at the Aefia's long dress, the puffed up navy blue skirt and ruffled white shirt with a waist length, black lapel coat for sleeves.
"I can't seem too professional when I am visiting a grieving 'friend's' house." The young girl replied while picking up the cup in front of her. "It honestly suits you, princess. Especially your hair put up in a bun with a strand of braid going around it, matches the look of your face." The woman replied while picking up her own tea cup.
"Now I didn't come for compliments... Lady Elanor." Placing her cup down, she leaned against her chair while folding her arms. "I came for a discussion if you remember it properly." The sun rays bounched of her accessories and reflected onto the ground beside her, almost mirroring her shadow on the marble laid floor. The woman noticed how she had gone for a simple necklace, long needle and thread-like earrings, and a butterfly accessory on the head that had dangling chains and gems at its ends.
"Well it looks like we are having an elegant ladies' discussion then." Elanor spoke while placing her tea cup down. "First... What would you like to know about your family... Princess Seraphina? You look like you have come here to plot a revenge with me. I am happy to help with that, but I need to know about your desire of knowledge on the specific topic first."
"Then I want to know how you managed to get those informations about the duchess and her schemes?" She answered with her face still holding the smile. "Plus... Did you just call me by my middle name out of sheer willingness? Or did you choose it for a reason?"
"Why? Well it's a beautiful name that not much people know you by. Isn't that why you changed your entire appearance for? To avoid the attention of people from knowing you are the fourth sibling from the Imperial family? Entering their enemy's estate?" The woman answered with the same mocking grin on the young girl's face.
"That's true... And I am glad I have a friend who acknowledges that. But what concerns me now is how we want our relationship to portray to the public." She spoke while picking up the teacup. "If you know, somethings need to be put into the shadow of hate too. Especially if I invite you over to the palace next. To keep the suspicion to the low."
"What are you going to do?" Lady Elanor leaned forwards.
"First... We need to answer each other's questions in a swift moment... Then pulling a visible war up front to stop people from seeing us as allies... Especially if you want your sister to not know about this." Her cold voice echoed as Aefia slammed the tea cup to the side with a loud crash.