Eva found Anne alone in her room. She was in bed, fully dressed, reading a book and eating pastries. When she saw Eva walk in, her eyes went wide, and she scrambled out of bed, throwing her arms around Eva’s shoulders.
“Eva!” shouted Anne. “I was so worried about you! I was scared that something bad had happened to you or that you were so mad at me after our fight that you just left forever. I’m really sorry for yelling at you.”
“Please don’t feel sorry,” said Eva, returning Anne’s hug. The embrace felt warm and reassuring. This was the way things were supposed to be. “I’m sorry to have frightened you. I didn’t leave because I was mad at you I just had some… things I needed to think through.”
“But where did you go?” asked Anne, pulling away from the hug and shooting Eva a quizzical look. “Agis had people looking all over the city for you and we couldn’t find any trace of you.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Eva, shaking her head. “What have you been up to in the time since I’ve been gone? Did I miss anything important?”
“Not really.” Anne rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. “You said not to leave the cathedral and I felt bad after our fight and we couldn’t find you so… I’ve just been hanging around.”
Eva smiled, a wider and more genuine smile than her usual. Anne really was lost without her, even now. Just because Anne was becoming a bit more independent didn’t mean Eva wasn’t needed anymore. And if her brief absence had helped Anne remember how important her presence was, then it was all for the best.
“Oh, I’ve had a lot of visitors, though,” said Anne. “And it hasn’t been a completely wasted week. We’ve started setting some plans in motion. Agis helped us send a letter to Prince Elyon and Lady Corvina said—”
“Anne!” snapped Eva. She didn’t want to hear about Lady Corvina.
“Oh, yes?” asked Anne, forgetting her train of thought.
“I have a present for you,” said Eva, smiling. “To say I’m sorry for our fight.”
“You didn’t have to do that…” said Anne.
“I wanted to,” said Eva. Eva pulled out the small jeweled pin and placed it through Anne’s lapel so that the jeweled part was showing.
“Ooh, it’s so pretty,” said Anne.
“I made it myself. Anne.” Eva took Anne’s hands in her own. “I want you to know that I heard you. You lived a really sheltered life back in Longren, and so when we came to the capital I just really wanted to protect you from the danger and corruption that fills the streets here. But I see now that I’ve been acting in a way that comes across as overbearing and controlling. I never meant to make you feel suffocated, and I certainly never meant for you to be frightened of me. You’ve made new friends here, and you have new goals, so of course it makes sense that you’d want to be more independent. And I don’t want to be in the way of your growth.”
Eva placed a hand on Anne’s cheek. “I’m happy to take a step back if that’s what you want,” she continued. “We can both have a little room to… explore how our lives might evolve from here. Not totally separate from each other, just… spread a little further apart. I just hope you’ll keep this token with you. Wear it by your heart every day. That way, even when we’re away from each other, a small part of me can be with you always. That way I think I can feel a little less anxious being away from your side.”
“Oh, Eva…” said Anne, her eyes swimming with emotion.
“Saintess!” Acolyte Betty came running into the room, but stopped in her tracks when she saw Eva. “Oh, Sister! I didn’t realize you were back…”
Eva clicked her tongue in annoyance, but quickly caught herself and fixed her expression to her usual gentle emptiness.
“What is it, Betty?” asked Anne.
“The Emperor… The Emperor has summoned all the nobles in the city to the palace,” said Betty. Her expression looked frightened. “And Bishop Geist has ordered us all to attend as well. Apparently the Bishop and the Emperor are making some sort of announcement… together!”
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Lady Corvina stood off to the side in the foyer outside of the throne room, watching confused and frightened nobles and clerics filing past.
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“None of them have any idea what to make of this,” she remarked to Ulrich, who was by her side.
“Of course they don’t,” said Ulrich. “How could they? The church and the crown haven’t worked together even once since the death of the previous Emperor. The hostility between Bishop Geist and Emperor Richard is well known.”
“You!”
Sister Eva came out of the crowd right towards them, glaring. Ah, she’s back after all, thought Corvina. This expression suits her better than her usual fake smile.
Anne followed closely behind Eva, looking nervous and uncertain. Corvina shot her a reassuring smile and a small wave. Anne waved back.
“How could you not have warned us of this?” asked Eva, accusingly.
“How were we supposed to warn you?” asked Corvina. “We had no idea where you were until just now.”
“You could have warned Anne directly,” said Eva. “Or do you expect me to believe you didn’t know what your father was planning?”
“Of course I knew,” said Corvina. “And I did warn Anne.”
Eva turned to look at Anne, who was fidgeting with the hem of her suit jacket. Corvina thought the gesture was unbearably cute. “Oh yeah, she told me to expect a summons from the palace soon. And not to worry about it too much.”
“That doesn’t count as a warning!” said Eva. “You have to tell us what this is actually about, you—”
Eva reached out towards Corvina, possibly intending to grab her collar, but Ulrich’s arm shot out and grabbed Eva’s wrist in a strong grip before she could touch his niece.
Corvina didn’t even flinch.
Ulrich and Eva glared at each other for a moment and some sort of understanding seemed to pass between them.
Ulrich let go of Eva’s wrist and Eva took a deep breath, visibly calming down. “I apologize for losing my temper,” said Eva. “I’m trying to be better about that. Do you think you could please tell us what all of this is about? In detail?”
“There’s no time,” said Corvina. “The Emperor and the Bishop will be making their announcement very soon. And besides, people are staring. This isn’t exactly a discreet venue for this kind of conversation.”
It was true. When it was only Corvina and Ulrich they had been able to hide in the shadows at the edges of the foyer, but now with Eva shouting and with the controversial Saintess right there, their little group was getting a lot of attention from the people still making their way into the throne room. Various groups kept staring, pointing, and whispering amongst themselves.
Eva didn’t seem to have a comeback for that.
“Besides,” said Corvina, placing a hand on Eva’s shoulder. “Anne trusts me. Even without knowing the details. Right, Anne?”
“Of course!” answered Anne, without a moment of hesitation.
Corvina did her best not to look too smug at that.
“You should trust me too,” said Corvina, in a low tone of voice. “After all, we both have Anne’s best interest in mind. And what’s about to happen is in Anne’s best interest.”
Eva’s hands had curled into fists, but she made no other motion. Corvina thought Eva probably had enough self control not to outright assault an aristocrat out in the open, especially in front of Anne. And even if she didn’t, Ulrich’s presence usually managed to dissuade casual outburst of violence in most people. Even in full butler regalia his facial scar was pretty intimidating. And he had a very strong grip. No one wanted him to grab their wrist more than once.
“Come on, Anne,” said Corvina, walking past Eva and reaching out to take Anne’s hand. “It’s better if you’re not in the main room for this. But I know of a secret alcove we can watch from.”
“Okay!” said Anne.
Corvina had admittedly been a little annoyed to see that Eva had reappeared, but she wasn’t surprised by it. Corvina had her suspicions about Eva, but it was nothing she could prove… yet. Anne and Eva were close childhood friends. As much as Anne claimed to trust Corvina, how could Corvina hope to compete in a game of ‘she said, she said’ against someone Anne had known and trusted most of her life? No, Corvina would make sure that she had proof before she told Anne any of her suspicions. It was the safest way.
Besides, it was true that Corvina and Eva seemed to have the same basic goals, at least for now. It was better all around for them to remain allies… at least for now.
Plus… when Corvina had called out to Anne and reached out for her hand, Anne had happily come with her right away. And now they were walking through the palace halls hand-in-hand. And Corvina knew exactly what was about to happen. After all, she had helped her father plan the occasion. Eva could only see a few of the gears and springs, but Corvina could see how all the pieces spun together to make the clock turn.
Yes, Eva was a problem that could wait.
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As Corvina led Anne away, Eva took a step forward to follow them, but was stopped by Ulrich placing a hand on her shoulder. “We’d better head inside soon,” he said, with a smile. “Or we won’t be able to get a good view.”
Eva clicked her tongue as she watched Corvina and Anne disappear somewhere she couldn’t follow.
No matter.
Eva turned her attention to the upper right corner of her vision, where she could see a small but distinct view of Anne and Corvina walking through a palace hallway. Anne looked slightly nervous, but more or less happy. Corvina looked smug.
It was clear that Corvina thought she had everything under her control, and Eva found it annoying. But it didn’t really matter. The whole point of the jeweled pin was that it would allow Eva a constant view of Anne and anything that was happening around her. Eva could also listen in to whatever Anne could hear, if she just concentrated on the magic in the right way. Corvina couldn’t truly shut Eva out, no matter how hard she tried.
Yes, Corvina was a problem that could wait.
Right now it was more important to find out what that goddess damned Bishop was up to with the Emperor.