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1358 Words
My palms become slick with sweat as I casually ask, "Do you have any idea on who could have helped her?"
Florentine smiles, "I have a few ideas. I'm sure that you do too. Perhaps we could trade notes?"
I don't want to accuse someone if I'm not sure. Throughout the murders, I was suspicious of both Victor, the investigator, and William, the Advisor. However, my suspicions also spread to Augustine, Antonin, random servants, and even Grace. How can I be sure who to mention, when I suspected nearly everyone in the castle?
Florentine shrugs when she sees my hesitance, "Don't worry about, Admira. I'm pretty sure I can figure out who you suspect without you actually saying it. Perhaps...William? I know that you and he never really got along. He was very detached from you and your sisters as you grew up. I'm sure he was rather bitter that he had to live with the four people who would eventually steal his power from him. And what about Victor? He certainly didn't help a lot with the investigation. He just seemed to accuse person after person, even when he had nearly no evidence behind them. Perhaps he was just trying to get the attention away from the true killer?"
"I'm not certain about either of them. They had times when they seemed to help us, and others were they definitely seemed guilty. I wouldn't be comfortable accusing them."
Florentine says, "You aren't accusing them, I am. Besides, it doesn't mean anything right now. We merely want to know who we should be careful around. We need to know who we should trust and who we should hide from when we get you back into the castle."
I nod, "Yes, when you get me back into the castle. Are you ready to tell me more information about that yet?"
"No, I'm sorry, I told you everything you are prepared for yesterday. We are waiting for the guard to return our message."
I bow my head, "Yes, of course. Would you mind me changing the subject back to what we were first discussing? I was wondering if you knew where the midwives were today."
Florentine takes a shaky breath, "I can tell you where the remaining midwives are. Only two of them remain. One died from old age. The remaining four were killed by angry townspeople. They hated the midwives for 'killing the queen' and keeping the birth order a secret. Many people thought that the midwives wouldn't reveal the firstborn out of spite or for power, when the castle had actually forbidden them from telling anyone. The castle gave them large sums of money to keep their mouths shut and they disappeared."
"If they disappeared, how did the people find them to hurt them?"
"Some of them were better at disappearing than others. One of the remaining two lives in a busy city, blending in among the other citizens. The other lives in the country, peacefully living off the castle's money."
"Would I be able to visit either of them? I have so many questions and-"
"Absolutely not," Florentine snaps. "Guards watch their homes, making sure that they don't talk to anyone besides immediate family and close friends. If you were to go to visit them, you would surely attract attention. The guards would find out your true identity and that would be the end of it. Besides, the midwife would suffer greatly because of it too. It's much too risky and will certainly cause much more trouble than good."
Florentine leans closer to me, as if telling me a secret, "Besides, you wouldn't honestly want to visit them anyway. From what I hear, they are all tremendously cranky. They had everything they could want when they were midwives. Fame, money, beautiful clothes, and homes. Now, they are shut in their homes all day, forced to keep a secret that doesn't even belong to them. They have to carry the royal burden. Most of them are bitter, old ladies."
"Have you met them?"
"I'm afraid not. I'm not sure whether I am even disappointed to say so either."
"But there's so much that they could tell you-"
"No. There isn't anything they could tell you or me. Guards watch their every move. You won't be able to see them. Ever. It's best if you realize this is nothing you will ever experience. Set your eyes on something that you can actually attain, and something that will help you. Focus on your studies with Augustine as we wait for the guard to return our message. Then, we will begin prepping you for your entrance into the castle. Okay?"
I nod, although I'm not sure whether I actually mean it, "Of course. Now that I know more about them, I understand that searching after the midwives will hurt me and them. It would be foolish to even think of them anymore."
Florentine nods, "I'm glad you understand. It's foolish to chase after the things we can't catch."
"It's foolish to believe that we can't catch something if we don't at least try to chase it."
Florentine smiles tightly, "But you understand that working hard for this will do absolutely nothing except cause pain and disappointment. If you go after those midwives, the guards will eventually discover you. Surely you won't waste your future to visit something of the past?"
"No, of course not. It was merely a quote of something Augustine and I were studying," I lie.
"I'm glad. You scared me when you said that. I thought perhaps you hadn't understood what I said." Beneath her light words, I sense another threat.
I stand to leave, "Thank you so much for everything you've told me. It's helped."
Florentine nods, "Of course. If you have any more questions, please just come and ask me instead of letting them consume you."
I nod, and begin to leave.
Grace steps forward, "Excuse me, Florentine, for my nosiness, but I have to ask. Is that Isandtler on your shelf?"
Florentine frowns, "I'm sorry?"
Grace leans against Florentine's desk to point to a book on the shelf. "Isandtler? Is that who the author is?"
Florentine stands and walks to the bookshelf to peer at the book. "No, that's Macinde. I'm afraid I haven't heard of Isandtler. Is he any good?"
Grace backs away from the desk, "Very good. I would recommend him. I apologize, I love his works."
Florentine nods, "That's understandable. You are dismissed then."
Grace smiles and follows me out of the room.
Once we are far enough away from Florentine's office, I whisper, "Well? Do you think we should keep pursuing the midwives?"
Grace shakes her head, "No, didn't you hear anything that Florentine said? It's incredibly dangerous. Both us and the midwives would be at incredibly risks if we went to see them."
"But..."
"But, nothing." Grace says firmly. "It's too much risk. Please, you need to find something to distract you from this. Florentine said that you should focus on your studies and I think you should do the same. Learn as much as you can while you're still with Augustine. Maybe he can tell you some things that Florentine wouldn't tell you. He must know something about her plan for getting you back into the castle. Ask him."
"Speaking of studies, who is Isandtler? You've never mentioned him before. You recommend every single book that you read to me. If you thought he was good enough to mention him to Florentine, why didn't you ever tell me about him?"
Grace grins, "Because as far as I know, he didn't exist. It was just an excuse to get Florentine to turn her back to us."
"Why?"
"I saw a letter on her desk and I wanted to get a closer look at it."
I raise an eyebrow, "I thought you were above looking though other people's things. I thought you didn't approve of that kind of behavior."
"I saw Antonin's name on it. I had to look at it."
"What did it say?"
"I don't know. I haven't read it yet."
Grace holds up a letter in her hand.
- Writer
