Twelve years had passed since Elizabeth set foot in Danelaw as the daughter-in-law of Lord Martin Clyde, Duke of Danelaw then. But even then, she could not get used to its nature. The moist, salty air from the western sea still made her yearn for her native land, Northrob. She still remembered the cool, dry weather of the north, cloudless, soft sunny days, and starry nights. She would remember knitting wool on winter afternoons watching the snow fall on the kirk's porch at Lamb’s Bridge Castle. Even then, Lord Dulsen Godslamb's eye-blazing and luxurious banquets and tourneys, where the best knights of all Normania would attend, were afloat in her memory. The banner of the House Godslamb, on which the holy black sheep would hover on the walls of the castle just below the silvery banner with the crowned yellow and black regal fox of the Royal House. Behind its head was the celestial wheel; it carried a flag with the Holy Cross of the Trinitarian faith. This banner of green and white proclaimed the holy rule of House Godslamb, the representation of God.

Elizabeth would recall those golden memories. Knights in colorful, polished, shiny armors would rush towards each other on horseback on those tourneys. The champions would crown her the queen of love and beauty. They were fascinated by her long red hair. They would fight hard to win for her. And the valor of the knights- their shapely bodies, their handsome faces, and their moving postures on horseback- would take Elizabeth to the realm of fantasy. Her teenage heart would flutter at the sound of their horses. At the end of the tourney, when everyone gathered in the great hall of their castle for the night feast, she would appear at the high table, enlightening the entire hall with her grace. And the knights of Normandy would welcome her by raising their cups.

She wanted to be a queen. She wanted to be the wife of the handsome, silver-haired Crown Prince Conrad. Lying in her bedchamber at Lambsbridge Castle, imagining Conrad in silvery armor riding a sleek white horse, Elizabeth would feel wetness under her underwear in the lonely nights. Her body would shiver to receive Conrad's imaginary caresses. But she was not to become Queen; she became the Duchess of Danelaw, Lord Robert's wife. Her house had not enough blue blood in its veins to make her a queen. Although they were the rulers of the Duchy of Northrob, it had only been three hundred years since their family passed into the aristocratic ruling class. Gordon, the founder of their house, was an ambitious bellman of trinitarian kirk, who became a priest during the conquest of King Steaven Titon I. As a reward for infusing the rule of the foreign conqueror, House Titon, with the new religion, he received a barony on the northern border of Normania. Leaving the priesthood, he founded his own lineage, House Godslamb. Then each time the Norman lords rebelled against House Titon, their house benefited most each time. They became barons to earls, then earls to dukes. They got ownership of the port of Brunich. In exchange for the pearls and conch that their fishermen extracted from the North Sea, they received countless gold coins from the merchants of Emiriya and Tarumanagara. They became one of the richest houses in Normania. But noble blood was not something that could be obtained by royal favor, piety or gold, at least not as much as it was needed to be the bride of a crown prince. So, even though she was the greatest beauty on the Seleonian continent, she couldn’t be the bride of prince Conrad. She couldn’t help but be satisfied with being the duchess of damp, forest-covered, and gaudy Danelaw.

On that day, Elizabeth was reminiscing about those colorful memories as she bathed in milk in the bathtub in the thousand-year-old bathroom of the queens of Old Castle. The maid servants spread rosebuds in her tub. The rose buds succumbed to the bloodiness of her lips and wanted to sink into the milk of the bathtub in shame. The attendants ointed her body with turmeric powder brought by the merchants of Tarumanagara. They spread musk brought from Mashriqi Sultanate on her long, red hair, which extended up to her feet. After the bath, she stood up. The attendants put a transparent silk corset on her shapely breasts. Then they put her on a black long gown. Her milky figure bloomed even more in the wide-necked gown. They dressed her in expensive silk socks. Then she put on soft leather shoes imported from the Zengvi Sultanate. After the bath, the wear and tear of the last two days' travel was gone. She opened the door and stepped graciously outside on the balcony above the inner ward of Old Castle.

The sun was just rising. Robert was still asleep in his chamber. He may have had too much to drink last night. Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. Excessive drinking was one of the many reasons she disliked him. Robert's other two brothers, Harris and Wilhelm, also drank wine. But they had their limits. Even Prince Conrad drank a great deal of wine during the feast after the great tournament at Lamb's Bridge, but it was nothing compared to Robert. The prince used to drink for the sake of pleasure. When the level of his drinking exceeded the limit, he would enliven the hall with laughter and jokes. And Robert drank in selfish solitude, shunning the festivities and tumult. Not for pleasure, but drinking was to him like a knightly vow, like a prayer. And he did not lose control, even after drinking so much. Rather, he would remain sober until he fell asleep. Which Elizabeth disliked even more.

The guards of the second watch of the night were sleeping in their tents. The rest of the knights and warriors were tending to their horses and armor. In the morning sunlight, this abandoned prehistoric castle looked like the skeleton of a mythical monster. Elizabeth walked from one end of the long balcony to the other. She saw Evran in a corner of the courtyard. He was supervising the attendants, wearing a thin cotton tunic. The sign of nobility was evident in his tender face. Elizabeth scrutinized him. Though he was the son of an ordinary kennel master, he looked like the son of a noble lord. She found a resemblance between Evran and her first love, Prince Conrad.

"Good morning, Evran!" Elizabeth called him with a sweet smile.

Evran looked back at him and lowered his head in shyness. “Good morning, my lady!” He said it in a shy voice, his face reddened.

"How do I look?" she asked him, turning left to right and showing herself.

"Ah, you… you look wonderful, my lady." Evran said it with a trembling voice. He might be embarrassed to talk to his lord's lady wife like that. Elizabeth giggled like a naughty girl at his embarrassment.

"Dear Eliza, it is not fitting for a duchess to tease such a gentle boy." Wilhelm's smiling voice was heard from the back.

She turned back. Wilhelm wore a red satin shirt with a snakeskin belt around his waist. A heavy golden clock with the lion of House Clyde embroidered on it was draped over the shirt. He was wearing blue denim breeches and leather boots on the lower body. A bejeweled binocular hung from his hand. Wilhelm looked amazing with his golden hair and short, thick beard. Where Robert was solemn as a monsoon cloud, Wilhelm was like a colorful spring morning. She could never get along with the older, humorless Robert. It was hard to match the scarred-faced giant Robert to the knights of her fantasy. On the other hand, Wilhelm was always cheerful. He was not a knight, but like the knights of her imagination, he was handsome, chivalrous, and capable of winning the hearts of women. Robert always did his duty to her as a husband. But it was Willy who valued her feelings.

"What else can a lady do when her brave husband is sleeping drunk? And her beloved, handsome, good brother may be following someone else!" Elizabeth said it with a frown in her eyes. Then she grimaced her face and said in a feigned emotional voice, "I see that I must take the company of a squire or a bard to relieve my grief."

"Who else can I turn to but the most beautiful woman in the whole world? Tell me, oh goddess of love and beauty, what can I do to make you smile?" Said Wilhelm in a dramatic way. Then, kneeling, he kissed her hand.

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"Just get me out of here for the time being. I'm suffocating in this haunted castle.”

"I don't think we can leave before noon. And after noon, we may have to return to your beloved Lord husband’s castle.”

"What! Tell me what happened without riddling." Elizabeth frowned at Wilhelm's words.

"My friends sent some secret news from the capital during the night. My dear brother Bob himself may have known it a little differently. But today there will be someone who will change our course.” said Wilhelm with a mysterious smile. He suddenly pretended to notice her dress and said, “Ah! You are wearing a black gown. It looks great, my lady. Very timely outfit.” Then he said to Evran, “Dear Evran, go and fetch some flowers from the garden for our beautiful duchess. Then tell the maids to make her a crown of flowers.”

Evran left. Elizabeth bit her lip. She tried to understand Wilhelm's riddle. Wilhelm walked towards the wall, whistling.

Elizabeth came down to the yard. She started walking restlessly. Suddenly, the sound of hooves came from a distance. Someone was riding towards the castle. She saw the guards on the wall and the gatehouse standing alert in a busy manner. Tom was standing at the main gate. Beside him stood a man holding a trumpet. As Tom pointed, the trumpeter blew it. Elizabeth heard the sound of hooves stop a short distance from the gate.

"Hail King Henry III of House Titon and Duke Robert of House Clyde! Who are you, strangers? Introduce yourself before entering the castle.” Tom called out to the approaching riders.

"Seeing the armor of the royal guard, don't you understand who has come, bloody fool?" Someone shouted from the other side. The stranger said in a tone of command, "Open the gate quickly!"

Tom became silent after being bullied in front of his subordinate guards. He ordered the guards to lift up the portcullis. The old, rusty portcullis was lifted with a heavy rattling sound. Elizabeth saw two knights in armor of the royal guard enter, accompanied by four squires. The silvery plate armor of the two knights glittered in the morning sunlight. They had the emblem of the royal house engraved on their breastplate. From their shoulders was hanging a silvery cloak. Their monstrous destriers were heavily armored. On the right side of each horse hung a shield with a six-pointed star, the sigil of the Royal Guard. First among the knights, the tall man dismounted. He took off his helmet and came toward her. He was almost as tall as Robert. His golden hair crossed his neck, touching his shoulders. The solemnity of Robert was somewhat noticeable on his long face. As his face was cleanly shaved, two light scars were visible on it. Nevertheless, his knightly valor was emerging better with it. The knight knelt down and kissed her hand. “Good morning, my lady. You have become more beautiful since the last time we met.”

Elizabeth smiled and touched his cheek gently with her hand. "Ah! Harry, how long has it been since you come last time? You remembered us at last!”

"The scent of Danelaw’s blooming rose spread all over Normania before crossing the border. How can I not come?" Sir Harris jested.

Elizabeth smiled softly at that. Then she proceeded to greet the other knight of the Royal Guard. A lady's grace and nobility were her courtesy. Even in the presence of dear Sir Harris, she did not forget to honor another honorable knight. Bowing, she said, "Welcome to Danelaw, good sir. Will you honor us by introducing yourself?”

The second knight took off his helmet. Then he kissed Elizabeth's hand and said, "I am Sir Robin Copper, servant of the Titon royal family."

Elizabeth took a good look at him. She had never seen this knight before. She had never heard of a house called House Copper before. This knight was also young. He had just entered youth. That’s why she had not seen him before in any tournament. To become one of the six knights of the Royal Guard, one had to show outstanding capability. She did not understand how this young knight had earned a place in the Royal Guard by showing such merit. It was Harris who revealed his identity: “Sir Robin Copper was the squire of Lord Cutwell, the duke of Midsteave. His family are vassal house of House Cutwell. He was recently knighted by Prince Conrad. And Prince Gabriel made him one of the six members of the Royal Guard.

"Sir Robin will go on a further journey. He and our squires must be rested."

Elizabeth called the servants and sent Sir Robin and the other companions to rest. Sir Robin was observing her beauty with an intent stare. Elizabeth winked at him. She wanted to let him know that the gaze of the Royal Guard did not escape her notice. As they left, she took Harris to the Great Keep. She gently touched his shoulder. "Then, tell me, dear Harry, how can I serve you?" Should I take off your armor with my own hands?”

"I have brought some very important news. I have to leave for the capital again today.” Harris said tiredly, ignoring Elizabeth's erotic voice. "Where's Bob? I need to meet him first."

Noticing the look of disgust on Elizabeth's face, he sighed. "So, Robert hasn't woken up yet." Then call Willy. Let me discuss the matter with you and Willy first. Let’s go inside the Great Hall.” Saying that, he took Elizabeth's hand and went upstairs.

In the small cabinet chamber adjoining the vast Great Hall of Old Castle, Elizabeth once observed the expressions on Harris's face and once that of Wilhelm. Wilhelm was as calm and smiling as ever. Harris was tired and worried from the long journey. Elizabeth saw a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead. Wilhelm broke the silence by clearing his throat. "So, what is so serious that not a messenger bird from the royal court but a royal guard has arrived?"

"The news is very confidential." Harris lowered his voice. "Prince Conrad has been killed in the crusade in Emiriya. His mummified body was brought to the royal keep only five days ago.”

A muffled sound came out of Elizabeth's mouth. She thought she might be hearing wrong. The image of the crown prince galloping on horseback with a lance floated before her eyes. Who could defeat such a skilled knight? she thought. Her eyes filled with tears. Wilhelm grasped her hand tightly, understanding her state of mind.

"Even worse news than the prince’s death is that His Majesty Henry III has died, unable to bear the prince’s death. Until now, Prince Gabriel has kept this news inside the palace. Each royal guard was tasked with secretly conveying orders to all the powerful lords to go to the capital immediately. He did not even risk sending a messenger hawk.

"Prince Gabriel's intention is incomprehensible. Maybe he wants to impose a successor on the throne secretly with the great lords. But it won’t be long before the secret is revealed. There will be bloodshed over claims to the throne.”

"The deaths of the Prince and King Henry at the same time are very sad," said Wilhelm. But there was no sign of grief on his face. Instead, his eyes lit up like a hunting cat. He knuckled the ten fingers of his hands together. Then he lowered his voice and said, "The death of a monarch without a son means chaos. The time of rise and fall of the noble houses. If we can strike the iron while it is hot, we will have the power to decide the fate of Normania in our hands."

"Do you think Robert can make the right decision?" Elizabeth asked in a worried voice. She was suppressing the grief over the crown prince’s death by forcing it on her mind.

"I don't think so. That’s why I am discussing it with you first.” Harris shook his head. "Meanwhile, Lord Mellis Cutwell, the Duke of Midsteave, is eager to rekindle the old feud with Robert. He is sitting in the capital, bargaining for support with all possible claimants to the throne.”

"Duke Cutwell, Duke Godslamb, Earl Godfrey, so-and-so Duke and so-and-so Earl will all take part on this coming gamble, Harry." Said Wilhelm, climbing up on the cabinet's oval table and swinging his legs. “We have to be only a game piece in this great gamble if we rely on Bob. We have to do whatever is needed. You arrange to keep the captains of the royal army in your hand in the capital. So that they may take up arms for whom we support in due time.”

"Tell your spies to be alert too, Willy. Tell them to watch over Prince Gabriel and the rest of the royal family, even the lords present in the capital. Now I go and see if our beloved elder brother is up,” said Sir Harris, getting up from his chair to leave the chamber.

"My dear brother, you may not know that a spymaster's wit is swifter than a knight's lance." said Wilhelm with his usual mysterious smile. “Even before you came, I got all the news. My friends in the capital are ready.”

They came out of the cabinet chamber to the balcony. By then Robert had woken up. Elizabeth saw Harris walking towards the god’s wood with Robert. Evran was standing outside, having made a flower crown, as Wilhelm had said. Wilhelm took it from Evran's hand and put it on Elizabeth's head. Then, as he was about to leave, whistling, he came back and touched her chin and said, “I know you are saddened by Conrad's death. But now is not the time to mourn, Eliza. Send a messenger hawk to your lord father to prepare his army. He's getting a chance to repay the debt to some of the blue-blooded members of the royal family."