The Courtesan

Chapter 45

“Elayne, what are you doing?”

“Taking a break.”

“Who said you could take breaks?!”

“My back is killing me, Geraldine! Seriously, I might die!”

“You’re exaggerating. Get up, we still have a few more hours before we round up.”

“I’m going to die. I’m seriously going to die.”

I should’ve let someone else train me. No, I should’ve just let King Mival kill me when he was killing the rest of my family because nothing, and I mean nothing, could be worse than Geraldine’s special training. After cheerfully informing me that I could call her Geraldine since we have equal social status, well at this point, she proceeded to beat me into pulp everyday until she was satisfied. 

She also had a diet regiment, an exercise table and posture guidance. I never knew learning how to use a weapon included learning how to stand right. It wasn’t like I was going to fence in a ballroom. 

When I was done with her, Lady Miriam offered generously to teach me about political and financial matters. My days shuffled between helping Lady Miriam with her duties and training with Geraldine. On the rare occasion that I got a breather, I went to see Prince Miyon who was doing better, in the presence of an ever grumpy Doctor Rivers. 

I don’t think she’s going to approve anytime soon. 

“Elayne, fighting is less about the fancy moves you see in fencing and more about achieving victory in every swing.”

“Does that justify how much you abuse my body?”

“I’m holding back, you know. There’s hardly a swordsman in the west that can defeat me.”

“Why can’t you just teach me how to use a rifle? Surely that would be easier.”

“Actually, you’d need to build your body too for it to be able to sustain the recoil from firing one shot and defending yourself as you refill for another shot. Guns are not used regularly in war because of how slow they are. If at all they are used, we can just counteract with bombs, but that takes a special training regimen as well. We’re still down to our good ol’ swords.”

“You use bombs?”

“No, not really. We haven’t been in a situation to use them but I hear they use them in the far east. There has been a large importation of bombs nowadays disguised in the spice trade that has gone undiscovered because of the king’s endorsement.”

“And you know of this, how?”

“We import them too. The military needs them in case of an attack from anywhere, especially Uramuth. They aren’t exactly innocent and have been relentlessly pressing on our borders, especially during the time of political instability. Minor skirmishes used to erupt every time at the border but they haven’t in the last five years and that’s why I have been able to come here and take care of Lady Miriam. In fact, their presence at the border has reduced to almost zero. It was weird and my father spent his time investigating this.”

“It certainly is weird. It must be another plot of King Mival.”

“I hardly think that’s the case. There’s barely any evidence pointing to his involvement. In fact, we have theorized it might originate from the late king.”

“My father? He wasn’t really involved with the kingdom of Uramuth.”

“I’m so sure you will be able to confirm that in a real sense. I’m not even sure you know the sphere of influence of your father as a king. In a sense, he’s even more cunning than King Mival.”

I’m not sure a word I would use to describe my father is cunning. Efficient, yes, but not so cunning. 

“Well, enough of that. Get up, let’s continue.”

“Gods, do you never get tired?”

As it turns out, she rarely did. I finally, with great relief, finished my training for the day, rested, took lunch and went to join Lady Miriam in the study. She was neck deep in her work, a pair of spectacles on the bridge of her nose and documents in piles in front of her. She was dipping her feather pen into the inkwell when she finally noticed me. She dropped it and gestured for me to come closer. 

{Aren’t you too tired?}

“My joints ache but I’ll live. What do you need help with today?”

{If you insist, you can help me sort through that pile of letters.}

“I can do that.”

 {Thank you.}

I took a seat and started sorting through the letters. I arranged them into piles of relative importance, making that how I quickly sorted them to the end. There was one letter to which I was hung on. It was from an aristocratic house I was all too familiar with. 

“Lady Miriam, you have a marriage proposal here.”

She stopped writing and collected the letter. She ripped through it and read the letter. When she was done, she gave a despondent sigh and dropped it. 

{It’s not for me.}

“Then…”

{It’s for my sister. Read it.}

I read the now open letter and sure enough, it was directed at her sister, the one I knew too well, Maribel. I assumed the rest of her family was dead when I didn’t see her but the truth is, I don’t know what happened. From the ball, I could see that most of the noble house heads and generals in my father’s time still existed and were still alive and well. 

“Where is Maribel?”

{She fell ill when she heard of the death of your brother. She began to descend into madness and we searched everywhere for a doctor. Eventually, we settled on Dr. Rivers and she’s the reason Maribel is even still alive. She is locked in one of her rooms and monitored so she wouldn’t hurt herself.}

I thought the death of my family affected only me. I didn’t know it would drive someone mad too. Especially Maribel, who was popular as the sworn nemesis of Carrion. I never knew she loved him that much. 

“I’m sorry…”

{It’s not your fault. She has always had problems with her head, your brother’s death was just the deal breaker.}

“Do the other nobles know about this?”

{Yes. We asked all the noble houses for help.}

“Then why?”

{They aren’t influential enough to marry me. My sister is past marriageable head and easily controlled. If by chance I am killed, she is next in line and she inherits the duchy. They know by marrying her, they can control the whole duchy.}

“That's…”

{Despite knowing this, I cannot leave my sister unmarried. Why should her happiness carry the weight of the duchy? Even if I’m destined to die alone, she shouldn’t have to suffer the same fate.}

Geraldine told me she was king but she was too kind. A duchy isn’t something given out to someone who will willingly take advantage of a sick woman. I stood up and threw the letter into the fireplace. She watched with wide eyes as I walked back to my seat. I ignored this, picking the last letter. However, this one was more problematic than the last. 

It was a letter of summons from the palace for her.