My Wonderful Second Life

Chapter 30- A way to escape

Jennifer paced around her room, thinking of how stupid they all had been. She clutched her navy blue laces that stood on her pale dress as she heard Fanny tell what she had found out from the other maids. Marriage! This was an outrage that enraged Jennifer more by each minute.

By the time Lord Fridh had arrived at her room, she was a pile of a nervous wreck. She had overestimated the fools that dared to soil her house. They were still fools, but were fools with resources. The worst kind. Jennifer tried to maintain her sweet persona in front of Lord Fridh, though it was getting harder, as she was in haste to find prince Francis. He had to help gather the troops of the palace or call their aunt. And fast.

Out of the room and through their vast hallways, she walked in wide steps inches from Lord Fridh's and behind the Templar that watched over them. Fanny, shaken, walked right behind her, sniffing through her rough and beige handkerchief.

As they reached the marble stairs that lead to the main entrance of the manor, Jennifer could hear the voice of his royal highness, clear and echoing through the room.

"Archbishop Ferabiniche, I am surprised to see you here."

That name made Jennifer stop in dismay. She had heard that name before, even if she had never met the man who used it. His reputation was infamous as the archbishop responsible for the capital from the East side of the Empire, Claraluz. It was there that the Great Duke Lucious Caramel, his biggest supporter, lived. From a hard line of the Temple, everyone knew him for his ruthlessness against anyone who didn't follow what he believed to be the true path to light. Translating meant to be under his feet, and obeying every word he professed. He was bad news and most likely the reason Templars gathered at the manor.

She walked to the edge of the stairs and with a hand on the tall handrail, Jennifer peered below. There, she found not only Francis and the archbishop with some Templars by their side, but Lord Joshua as well, cornered behind the men of faith.

"It has been a long time since I saw you, Archbishop." prince Francis's head moved to the side to peer into Lord Joshua's eyes. "And you too my lord. What brings you both at the Mountnero's house?"

Jennifer's hand grew colder and whiter, but the comforting hand of Fanny that rested on her stiff and bare shoulders, helped her regain some composure. On the corner of her eyes, she saw Lord Fridh, descend the stairs, his steps, silent under the red rug over the stone.

"Your highness, what a question!" started the archbishop with a vigorous chuckle. "Of course, Lord Joshua has come to see his fiance, Lady Lucreatia. It is quite normal for fiancees to meet at the home of the lady." his rusty voice, disgusted Jennifer, whose features turned sharp.

Deciding this was enough and time was the essence, she started her descend as well, with Fanny in tow. Though contrary to lord Fridh, she made sure to be heard. It was her house and these bugs crawled all over it... At the sound of her footsteps and the shackles of her golden bracelets, those at the ground looked her way. In her dignifying countenance, Jennifer saw the archbishop smirk as she approached.

"I am afraid you have not answered his highness, your eminence." She told, reaching the end of the stairs, where Lord Fridh stood and helped her to steady. "And what have you come to do here, archbishop?" her hands were now on the royal aide's. His warm touch, an unexpected comfort to her interior tempest.

"I have come to perform my duties, my lady. Today is an auspicious day..." he said, with his mocking eyes stuck on her blue ones. She wanted to cut them, rip them slowly from his sockets. But she just gave him nothing, not even her sweet and tender smile, which she was known for. There would be time for payback, and she would make sure of it... "My lady, you seem to be indisposed, maybe the company of his highness would help soothe your heart."