“Why did you do that?”
Erna asked, she had been silent for most of the carriage ride home and only spoke once the palace came into view.
“Why did you attack Pavel like that?”
Her hair, tangled as it was, was covered in grass and her complexion was pale. She was a sharp contrast to the beautiful woman that had stepped out of her room that morning. What would normally have upset her about her appearance, seemed insignificant now.
Erna slowly turned her head and looked at Bjorn, who sat next to her. He had closed his eyes, completely emotionless and looking as if he was asleep.
“Bjorn?”
“Be quiet, Erna,” Bjorn sighed. “Don’t say anything more.”
He opened his eyes and looked at Erna, his cold, grey eyes contained a spark of anger that sent shivers down Erna’s spine. She was left speechless and could only move her lips, unable to fune words. Bjorn closed his eyes again.
A trophy won through a bet.
The cruel words swam through Erna’s head and cut through her heart. She felt the pain in her chest as a physical force. She knew that deep down that what she shared with Bjorn was not love, but she believed that there was, at least, some sincerity in their relationship. Even if it was only out of sympathy for a poor woman who had ended up in a terrible situation.
To him, she couldn’t even be an object of pity. As Erna realised it, a profound sadness settled in her heart, overshadowing the growing anger.
She had believed in Bjorn.
Despite what anyone might say, he was the only person who had protected her in this cruel world she found herself in. For that, she loved him.
Ironically, Erna realised that she had already fallen in love with Bjorn and it came at the moment her heart broke.
The night their eyes had met, under the umbrella that shielded them from the cold rain. When the beautiful fireworks lit up the night sky with wonderful colour. The party on Harbour Street. No, perhaps in the dimply lit exhibition room of the art museum, when the Prince had expectantly kissed the back of her hand. She had already felt her heart flutter just at his smile.
Erna felt a growing sense of sadness and self pity as she reflected on the past. A trophy from a winning bet. She had been nothing more than that to him. She had given him his heart, falling for his ploy to win her over. The thought of her own foolishness stung.
Her heart sunk further. He had been her salvation, but she was simply his pawn. She tried her best to hold back her tears, but the tears were already clouding her vision. She longed to shout and argue, unable to bear the pain that only deepened her sorrow.
No matter how bad his reputation had been, he had been next in line for the throne. He was a man who could have married any one he wanted, had he desired it. So when she thought about how she was just a trophy to him, their marriage looked even more absurd and she could no longer place the blame solely on Bjorn.
The weight of the responsibility he had taken on; protecting the Baden Mansion, paying off the debts of the Hardy family, rectifying the wrongs of her father, which were said to be still a problem. It all pressed down on Erna. How could she even dare resent the man who did all that for her? He had done all of that and asked for nothing in return.
If the only reason Bjorn married her was to keep a trophy and to keep away any trouble, then shouldn’t she endure it? It was the least she could do, but the shame and the sorrow. Even if she was to tally it all, it still wouldn’t come close to balancing out everything he had done.
Erna felt fear grip her when the realisation dawned on her that Bjorn might indeed view her as nothing more than a deficit wife.
He was always meticulous in his calculations and as such, a man more ruthless than most. He would not tolerate a trophy wife who he deemed to be worthless, or a liability.
One year at most, people said.
As the memories of the hurtful taunts she didn’t want to remember came to the surface, the carriage pulled up to the Grand Duke’s bridge. It was then that Erna’s tears began to flow uncontrollably. She recalled the anticipation she felt when she stood on that bridge, waiting for him.
I gave you my favourite flower
As the tears marred her vision, she thought she could see the token of promise she had given him that day. She couldn’t help but feel grateful that Bjorn had accepted it with such ease. As she imagined the prince wearing it proudly on his collar, it felt as if a flower had bloomed in her heart.
How funny that must have been to him. Erna’s wails of sadness drowned out the sound of the carriage rattling along the cobblestones.
“Don’t cry Erna,” Bjorn said without opening his eyes, the sound of his irritation was palpable. “Why are you crying anyway? I’m the one being an asshole here.”
His words were so pitiful coming out of his mouth that he chuckled at them.
He knew.
Bjorn realised that she had done nothing wrong. It was him who had become irrational over such a trivial matter and caused everything to fall apart and the worst thing about it was that he couldn’t seem to control himself, a fact that held true both then and now.
Terrified, Erna swallowed her tears. The carriage stopped just as the back of the seat begun to irritate the sensitive nerves of her back.
“The attending doctor will arrive soon,” Mrs Fitz said as a footman opened the carriage door.
Bjorn replied with a simple nod.
“Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting for you.”
“Now?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Even in the intimidating presence of Bjorn, Mrs Fits was unyielding.
“I have orders to ensure you head straight for the Summer Palace upon your return.”
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
The atmosphere in the study grew heavier as the final wolf came into the room. With calloused hands, the Police Chief brought the tea cup up to his lips, doing his best to hide the fear, they say that wolves could smell fear and being surrounded by them, in their den, he couldn’t help but feel like a lamb.
“Would you mind explaining it to Bjorn, now that he is here,” said the Crown Prince Leonid.
A sense of desperation washed over the Chief as the Crown Prince spoke flatly. With a heavy sigh, he put down his tea cup. He became suddenly aware of the sweat forming on his brown and palms, even though it was a cool evening.
“Well,” the Crown Prince said, impatiently.
The tension was thick and his dry lips trembled as the Chief looked for the right words. Though facing the King and Crown Prince was no easy task, it was nothing when coming face to face with the cold, stone faced Grand Duke.
The news was sure to ruin whatever good mood might be left inside the man and the scowl he wore suggested that he might have heard the news already, or something equally bad. The dishevelled appearance of the Grand Duke, the clear spots of dried blood on his collar and the bruising on his knuckles, he looked like he already came from beating a man.
“Tell me,” Bjorn said, nonchalantly.
The Grand Duke regarded the Police Chief with a calm stare and urged him on in a polite manner. It wasn’t hard for the Chief to detect the fatigue lurking behind the irritation.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” the Police Chief finally spoke. “Had I been aware of this sooner, I would have done everything to stop it, but he had stopped at the newspapers before coming to the police station, leaving me with no means to stop it. Either way, I believe it imperative that you are all informed of the situation.”
“Get to the point,” Bjorn said, more out of boredom than anything else.
“Of course, Your Highness,” the Police Chief clears his throat. “This afternoon, a man by the name of Hans Webber, who runs a trading company, paid a visit to the Schuber Police Station. He submitted a statement alleging that he was scammed by a member of the royal family, and he threatened to report the individual responsible.” The Police Chief spoke in a flat and professional manner, his dedication to his job out weighed the fear of being eaten by wolves.
“Prior to his arrival at the station, as I mentioned earlier, he had already gone to the papers with his story. It will be published in this evenings paper,” he looked at his pocket watch. “In a matter of minutes. It is something that is now beyond our abilities to prevent.”
His report given, the Police Chief pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He had a vague idea of what was to come next and the Grand Duke stared at him with his cool grey eyes.
“I’m sorry,” the Police Chief offered and bowed deeply. He was mostly trying to escape the Grand Duke’s stare. “The complaint filed by Hans Webber is accusing Her Highness, the Grand Duchess and I am sorry to say that a full investigation will need to be conducted.”
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
At a loss for words, Leonid simply growled in frustration. He had no idea what to say to console Bjorn. If it wasn’t bad enough for Erna having to put up with all the rumours and bad attitude, now she was going to get embroiled into this scandal. It might have been different if it were anyone else.
“Are you laughing?” Leonid asked Bjorn.
Bjorn turned toward him with a massive grin on his face, as they walked down the hallway. Leonid was more than a little surprised. Since hearing the news, Bjorn had remained stoic. Maybe he didn’t understand it properly.
By the time the seriousness of the situation sank in for the others, Bjorn had left the brief, walking from the study without so much as a noise of acknowledgement or grief.
“Bjorn, can you please take this seriously? Even if the Grand Duchess is innocent, it concerns the reputation of the Royal Family. No doubt her father has something to do with it,” Leonid said.
Despite Leonid’s earnest appeal, Bjorn’s mood remained unchanged. He gazed out the window as they walked past, then back to Leonid, still with that stupid grin on his face. He might have been stoic in front of their father, but I front of Leonid, Bjorn showed his true self.
“Nothing is too intricately woven that it can not be unpicked. If an investigation is needed, then we shall be investigated, nothing will be found, of that I am certain. The real culprits will be found out and penalised. Its as simple as that.” Bjorn said.
“Really? And if it comes to it, will you truly incarcerate Walter Hardy?”
“Well, maybe not me, after all, the authorities of Lechen are more than capable of that,” Bjorn said. “I suggest you move, though.”
“Bjorn?”
“Leo, I have had a very long day and I suggest that if you don’t want to get caught in the cross fire and feel the impact of my fists, I suggest you get out of here.”
Though Bjorn still wore a smile, Leonid got the definitive feeling that Bjorn was not joking. Despite the urge to resist and stand with his brother, Leonid backed away. Bjorn cast a fleeting glance at Leonid and strode out of the Summer Palace as if going on a leisurely stroll.
As Bjorn pulled himself into the waiting carriage, he let out a deep sigh and shut his eyes. Lost in the contemplation of how to end a human life, he was abruptly jolted awake as the carriage pulled outside the Grand Dukes abode.
Bjorn spotted Mrs Fitz standing at the ready with a grace of servants waiting for him. He climbed out of the carriage, weary from his brief nap.
“Where’s Erna?” is all he said, in a weary whisper.
“Her Highness is in the bedroom, with Doctor Erickson.”
Bjorn frowned at the unexpected guest. The examination should already have been concluded, under ordinary circumstances.
“Congratulations Your Highness,” Mrs Fitz added. “You are to be a father.”
Bjorn’s mind fogged, like ink being dropped in water. He just stared at Mrs Fitz as her expression became that of uncontainable excitement and joy.
It really has been an excruciatingly long day.