The Princess and The Advisors

Chapter 4 Secrets

Arcadia is rummaging in the King's room. After her discussion with Blaive she decides to check her parents personal belonging in case she might find some clues. Blaive decide to bring this to the Council to discuss it privately. Arcadia is surprised that eventhough her father seem to trust The Council, he didn't really reveal all to them. It made her think that maybe her father keep some other secret or something.

"My Queen, what are you doing?" Gervais has heard reports of the new queen making a mess in the late king chambers so he decides to ask the new queen in case something is not right in her head.

"I'm looking for something," Arcadia is answering while keep rummaging.

"What is it that you are looking for? I will ask the maids to help you."

"No, it's fine, I can find it myself, you are dismissed," Arcadia give orders without looking at Gervais. Maids helps will give more complications later.

"Well, if you said so, My Queen, I'm sorry to interrupt," Gervais leave the room and sighed, maybe this is her way of mourning.

Arcadia sighed at the messy room, she can't find anything. She thinks and scanned the room, looking for some details she missed.

"Arcadia, why didn't you study anymore?" The King suddenly asked her after her brother first anniversary party.

"I just don't feel like it," Arcadia just lazying on her bed, she has refused to be tutored anymore.

"Is it because your brother is born? You don't feel the need to study anymore?"

"No," Arcadia try her best to look expressionless but the King know better.

"This will be a secret between us?" The King smirked. Arcadia look at her father, tempted.

They have a little agreement on this small family. Being the royal family make them didn't have privacy much so this little secret game is something refreshing.

"I was prepared to be queen, the future ruler, before Sverre is born. If I keep doing this, they will use me eventually to get rid of Sverre."

"Why would you think that?"

"I'm not blind, a lot of people is not happy when Sverre is born. Before, they raced to make their sons to be my bethroded, thinking of becoming the future King. And now Sverre is born, their plans are ruined."

"So some of your applicants has back out and you feel sad?"

"Pfft, no," Arcadia tone is mocking,"I didn't even give them a chance in the first place. But I know who have that intention."

"Would you like to elaborate?" Titus put out a journal. Arcadia look at the journal carefully.

"Is this your diary?"

"No, it's my secret journal," Titus smirked.

"Secret journal?"

"Not even your mother know about this."

"So, why are you showing this to me?"

"Let's make a game, if you can find this journal, it's yours, my secret is your secret."

"And how would I know where you hide it?"

"I just give the hint to you,"Titus smirked,"So, honey, please tell me about this nobles name that have an ill intention cause I need to write it here."

Arcadia give the names to his father and she never see the journal ever again. It's like the journal never existed. Arcadia thinks if it's just his father teasing her, but now this situation make her reminiscing about the journal. Is the journal even really exist?

She look around again disappointed,"Arggh, dammit," Arcadia screamed in frustation, she can't find anything.

"Not a very appropriate word for a queen," Oudinet appear from the door and look at the mess.

"Sorry about this, Oudinet," Arcadia bite her lips, realizing that Oudinet will have to clean the mess.

"Anything for my Queen, though I'm pretty sure it's quite late for lunch and I was informed you are not present today."

"Ah yes," Arcadia now realize she's hungry.

"Would you like to have your late lunch here?"

"No, I'm actually done here," Arcadia stretch her back.

"The dining hall it is then," Oudinet then left to prepare the food. Arcadia look at the room for last time and decide to leave cause nothing can be done here.

She walks when she heard some explosion sound from one of the room. Curious, she goes to the room and open, smokes come out which make her cough a bit. There, she found Mazon sit on the floor, his hair and white coat in a mess.

Mazon is a genius inventor though eccentric. He comes from a noble family though he immediately left them cause he can't keep up with the noble custom. He join the Council for three years, makes him the youngest member of the Council. He occupied himself more in his lab than showing up on the Council meeting or social gatherings.

"Mazon, are you okay?" Arcadia asked while coughing once in a while.

"My Queen," Mazon stand up,"You shouldn't be here, please wait outside, it's dirty and dangerous," Mazon hand gesture her to stay outside. Mazon then pat some dirt and join Arcadia in the outside room. Arcadia see the broken window and think that Mazon would be having an earful again from Oudinet.

"What are you doing?" Arcadia curious.

"Ah, I'm trying to make some smoke bomb for Vonlir. Vonlir is the other mysterious advisor, he acts more like a spy, so he rarely seen in the palace, even Arcadia only seen him for a few times all her life.

"He's here?" Arcadia haven't interact with Vonlir at all.

"He's here until yesterday, he already left this morning."

"Oh," Arcadia is thinking how her father used to interact with Vonlir in the past. They are always shady business she's sure of that, maybe he knows about her father journal."If you meet him again can you tell him that I want to talk to him?"

"Sure, I will tell him, My Queen," Mazon give Arcadia an assuring smile.

"Have you eaten yet?" Arcadia asked Mazon.

"Em, I think last time I eat is yesterday night, I got caught up with this bomb thing," Mazon grinned.

"Join me for late lunch then," Arcadia walks. Mazon seem confused and look at his dirty and messy clothes.

"Don't worry about it, just join me," Arcadia called while walking. Mazon just give a shrug and follow Arcadia to the dining room. Mazon is seated across Arcadia.

"So, did you read Doctor Doran notes on my parents death?" Mazon seem taken aback.

"Well," Mazon is chewing his food,"I do."

"What do you think?"

"Well, I think there's a lot of error in it," Mazon answer is alarming Arcadia.

"What do you mean?" Arcadia furrowed her eyebrow.

"Well, I do an examine too on the bodies, I mean the King, the Queen and Rask."

"And?" Silence. Arcadia just look at Mazon and Mazon just look at her while still chewing his food.

"Mazon?" Arcadia is running out of patience.

"I'm not supposed to talk about it," Mazon nonchalantly answer.

"Why?"

"I examine it secretly."

"What? Who told you to do that?"

"Can't tell."

"I am your Queen," There's a commanding tone in Arcadia voice.

"It's a secret for the Queen's sake."

"Mazon!" Oudinet came into the dining room, fuming. Arcadia can see Oudinet is getting angrier seeing Mazon clothes."How dare you eat with the Queen with such filthy clothes!"

"Oudinet, it's fine, I told him to," Arcadia try to break the tension.

"Protocols need to be followed, Your Majesty," Oudinet is daggering Mazon again now,"This is the third window this month! How many times do I have to tell you to do the experiment outside!"

"I didn't know it will blow up," Mazon grinned,"Should I know I will be doing it outside."

Oudinet just press his forehead unable to say anything back."It will be cut from your lab budget." Oudinet then rush out, he know it's futile to reason with Mazon.

"Whattt??? I still need to buy things for my experiment," Mazon now stand up following Oudinet.

"Mazon!" Arcadia called, realizing their conversation is interrupted. Mazon look back, seem hesitating but he finally speak.

"Well, I haven't got the permission to share this with you, so I don't know if you can know about it or not. You should ask Tristan about this," Mazon then run out to persuade Oudinet.

***

Arcadia walks fuming, she goes to the door and open it without warning,"How dare you!"

Tristan and Alester is talking in Tristan work chamber and they both stunned. Arcadia breath is heavy, both her hand is on her waist, it's easy to realize that she's angry, her vision falls to Tristan which make Alester stand up and decide to give both of them space.

"Well, I will take my leave, My Queen," Alester walks pass without Arcadia replying or changing her stance.

"My Queen, is something wrong?" Tristan is really confused.

"Don't you dare act like a fool!" Arcadia rise her voice. She's disappointed, she thought Tristan is on her side, yet he hides everything from her.

"I really don't understand," Tristan is standing up try to ease her temper, but being taller than Arcadia, it provoked her. A slap on his left cheek shocked Tristan.

"I'm just a stupid little girl for you, aren't I? The one that you can smooth talk and put in the shadow?" Arcadia gritted her teeth. Tristan just stared at Arcadia, he can see anger and disappointment in her eyes.

"My Queen, would you please elaborate w-.....,"

"Why did you ask Mazon to secretly examine my parents and Rask body?"

Arcadia watch Tristan expression, nothing, it's his poker face again.

"Mazon told you this?"

"When you asked about my opinion, you already know something is not right, you manipulate me," Arcadia is calming for a bit, seems slapping Tristan ease her anger a bit.

"I guess I do deserve that slap," Tristan proceed to take a chair and gesture Arcadia to sit. Arcadia sit with a pouting mouth and refuse to look at Tristan.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this. I have my reasons," Tristan start with a calming voice.

"Explain," Arcadia is still looking at the other side.

"It's for your safety," Arcadia makes a mocking expression.

"Even when you don't know about this, you are sneaking around. They can't know that you know," Tristan sighed.

"They?" Arcadia finally looking at Tristan.

"The ones responsible for this, I don't know who they are yet," Tristan feeling a bit relieved now, at least Arcadia is looking at him now, though still mad.

"Then why didn't you just tell me?! You didn't trust me?" There's sadness in Arcadia eyes. She thought she got The Council approval as a Queen.

"I was gonna tell you, eventually."

"Right, apparently The Council never approved of me," Arcadia stand up, she can't hear this anymore.

"My Queen," Tristan stand up try to prevent Arcadia to leave.

"I can't hear this anymore," Arcadia just rush out of the room. She feels betrayed.