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When Callisto returned to his Palace, it was in a dark mood, something surprising from the man who had been practically giddy and dreamy over the last few weeks. And especially at the mere mention of the Lady Penelope, the very Lady he had just gone to see.
Cedric immediately sent for the Baroness and ushered her into the Prince’s office. Locking the door and standing in front of their Prince.
“Your Highness, what’s the matter?” The Baroness asked, her tone soft and worried at his black mood.
“Tell me, is love so important in a marriage?” He asked as he finally looked up. “If you propose marriage to a woman, is it not enough to assure them that they will have status and all the material comforts in the world?”
That… was that what the Prince was leading up to? Did he propose and get rejected by Lady Penelope?
“Your Highness, you didn’t?” Cedric gasped. “Did you propose to the Lady?”
“Oh, I didn’t just propose. I got rejected brutally.”
The Baroness spoke up next, her hand pausing from where it had been reaching out, no doubt to try to give him a comforting pat on the head as she’d probably done when the Prince was young and the Empress was alive. “Did you propose a marriage of convenience?”
“I did.” He said curtly. “And had my words thrown back at me immediately before she called this world hell.”
Given what Cedric knew of the Lady’s life in the Duchy, he could understand why she would say that. But also… he felt his sympathy for the Prince die at how obviously dense he was. The fact that he had proposed was one thing, the fact that he had proposed a marriage of convenience, and as he listened to him speak, he realized that the Crown Prince had also derided love and told her there would be none in their marriage… he wanted to scream, tear out his hair, and shake his employer at how unbelievably stupid he was when it came to women.
“You said that she wanted to escape this hell…” The Baroness began. “What did she mean by that?”
“What?” The Crown Prince asked in confusion.
The Baroness shook her head. “No, it’s nothing but the musings of an old woman.”
The Crown Prince nodded but the Baroness looked deeply troubled the whole time.
Callisto understood the Baroness’ question about the Princess wanting to escape when she collapsed in front of his eyes, poisoned blood flowing from her mouth.
He understood now why he felt so gutted by her rejection. ‘So this is love.’ He thought, pain lacing him with every raspy breath she took. He held her tight and begged her not to leave him. Not to abandon him to this hell he knew as life.
But with every breath she drew, it became shallower, her eyes fluttered and laced with pain until it finally closed despite his pleas.
It was all too late by the time the Marquis was able to give the antidote. His Princess was gone and he realized that he had lost her forever.
When Cedric had heard about what had happened in the Lady’s coming of age ceremony, of how she died in the Prince’s arms, he wondered if this was enough to set him on edge.
The Prince was like a hollow shell as he ordered a full investigation into her death and it was revealed that the Princess had purchased poison, just not the one she drank.
The poison was one that would put her to sleep and steal her breath while she dreamt. A painless death. The poison was found as well as letters addressed to the Prince, the Duke, and her Maid.
The Maid had testified that the Lady had asked her to buy the potion as a precaution and that when she had finished getting ready, the Lady had thanked her and asked her for a glass of honeyed milk, a favourite of the Lady’s when she found it hard to sleep.
Further questioning revealed that the poison was bought on the day she had rejected the Prince.
That news and whatever had been written on the letter had led to the Prince spiralling deeper into despair until the day he broke and killed everyone who had ever defied him or tormented the Lady.
Cedric was still alive when time rewound itself. And he found himself back on the frontlines during the final day of the Prince’s war. Breathe heavy at the realization.
Time, yes, he had some time before the Princess’ death. He wondered briefly if he should just prevent the two from meeting but decided against it. He had never seen the Crown Prince as alive and happy as he was after he had met Lady Penelope and that was incentive enough for him.