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Adelheid 16: Romeo and Juliet
🕑 Added 2022-03-19 13:01:02 +0000 UTC"Please be careful, Your Highness," Sofia said as she placed a furred cape over Adelheid. "Although the Early Earth Month just began, the temperature is lower due to the rain."
The time was five o'clock, an hour before the play started. Adelheid had just gotten off her carriage and arrived at the Midgard Globe. Located in the upper-class district, the tickets for the theater were almost always sold out as soon as they were available. As such, it often took months for anyone to see a play.
Adelheid didn't wear her regular attire but something more presentable for a social gathering. "Thank you, Sofia."
Unlike the last time the trio walked the streets of Midgard, both Sofia and Matilda were in their maid uniform. Like last time, Olga was accompanying them, dressed in her knight uniform but out of armor.
"Welcome, Your Highness. We are pleased to have esteemed personage such as yourself among our guests tonight," an attendant came over and said after giving a bow.
"Oh? I was not aware that I had sent word of my participation," Adelheid said.
The attendant smiled as he placed his right hand over his heart. "It was His Highness, Prince Charles that informed our establishment."
"His Highness, huh," Adelheid lightly said with a smile. "Then please, show us our room."
"As you command, Your Highness." Bowing once more, the attendant led the quartet up the stairs into the theater while the coachmen drove and parked the carriage to await its master's return.
Walking through the grand gates, Adelheid was greeted by a grand hall decorated with floors lined with lavish velvet carpets, grand pillars, and shimmering chandeliers that drowned the entire room into a glittering sea of light. Decadent beyond belief. That was the only description she could attach to the Midgard Globe.
"This way, please," the attendant said as he led the group up one of the two main staircases situated on opposite sides of the grand hall.
The entrance on the first floor led to the main seating which consisted of hundreds of chairs for ninety percent of the audience. The front rows were the best, but the middle and back rows did not give the audience a clear view of the stage, yet each seat was worth its weight in gold.
The second floor was composed of more luxury seating and a clearer view of the stage, fit for the wealthy and aristocratic members of the empire. Unlike the first floor, where the seats were placed right next to each other, the seating on the second floor consisted of individual sofas with a companion table where refreshments would be served.
The second floor was luxurious, but it was the private booths of the third floor where all the attention was focused on. If only about ten percent of the audience were on the second floor, then the number of people able to use the private booths on the third floor was only one percent of the second floor.
Rather than a booth to watch a play, it was closer to a luxury suite than a theater booth with elegant yet comfy sofas, a magic chandelier illuminating the room in warm light, and most importantly, an enchanted glass window that hid the room away from prying eyes yet enlarged the view of the stage. When Adelheid walked in, she could see the charcuterie board filled with assortments of high-end products such as prosciutto, smoked ham, an assortment of cheese, rare fruits, and herbs with a bottle of wine next to it.
A thin and delicate hand uncorked the glass bottle and poured the contents into two wine cups before handing one towards her. "For you, my lady."
It was by all accounts a charming smile that would enthrall any young maidens, but unfortunately for Charles III, Adelheid was not a maiden at heart. Calmly taking the offered wine, Adelheid gave a polite smile. "Thank you for inviting me today. Quite the grand occasion you have prepared."
Unlike Charles's solemn and somewhat pious attire when Adelheid met him at the temple, Charles wore an article of more casual clothing yet with the same elegance and decadence, unlike the elegant yet practical designs of the empire's fashion.
"It is nothing in front of my lady's beauty. ‘Tis a pity, I would have loved to see your blooming beauty in a dress," Charles said as he shook his head with disappointment.
Adelheid only smiled as she sipped her wine. It was sweet, but she could still taste the higher than average alcohol percentage within.
The two sat down at the specially prepared sofas, one on each side of the main table where the charcuterie board was placed. Behind them stood their respective attendants, two butlers for Charles and two maids for Adelheid.
"Grk!" There was a muffled grown escaping from Matilda's lips as she glared at Sofia with a pout, who glared back even harder. The flaxen-haired maid pursed her lips and admitted defeat. Still, her eyes wandered towards the charcuterie board. She gulped and swallowed her saliva, trying to contain her desires.
"Lady Adelheid, it might be unbecoming of me to say this, but would you mind allowing our attendants to partake in the snacks? Truth be told, they are my friends more than they are servants. After all, I've known them since I was but a child," Charles asked.
Adelheid didn't reply but instead turned her head towards Matilda. The aspiring knight almost could hold in her saliva from drooling out. Gulping once more, she looked towards her liege. The maid said nothing, but mere words could not convey the pleading from her amber eyes. "What do you think? Do you want to join and partake in the delicacies, Matilda?"
"Um!" Matilda nodded her head so frantically, Adelheid was afraid that her neck would roll off.
It was only then that Adelheid looked towards Charles. "I, too, am not one to treat my closest attendants as mere servants. Naturally, I agree with Lord Charles’s suggestion."
Charles narrowed his eyes as his smile deepened. "I did not see wrongly. Lady Adelheid and I are the same kinds of people."
Adelheid chuckled. "Lord Charles, that remains to be seen."
Sofia felt a bead of sweat form on her head as she sat down on one of the couches placed onto the sides of the room. She had a plate of an assortment of prepared meat, cheese, and fruit, but she just could not work up an appetite.
Charles's two attendants were much the same. They never thought a little girl not yet of age could match their liege. It was as if the two weren't having a peaceful conversation but a war of words like when Charles met a duke or the other princess. The only one oblivious to the tense atmosphere was Matilda, munching down on the components of the charcuterie board while rinsing it down with juice instead of wine.
"Speaking of which, I know that you partnered with Heinrich Auor to create the Ambrosia Firm. I must say that your foresight is impressive, being able to select to work with a talented person. However, his knowledge of honey is a bit too shallow, don't you think?" Charles asked as he brought attention to a tiny exquisite bottle crafted with images of angels.
"Have you ever heard of Madhu Bees?" Charles asked as he offered to pour the honey inside.
Adelheid obliged by handing out her plate. The honey that dripped from the small bottle, no bigger than a man's hand, wasn't clear like regular honey. It had a milky white translucency, almost akin to milk, and the scent was otherworldly. "I am not knowledgeable about this kind of bee. Care to enlighten me?"
"If it is my lady's wish, how can a gentleman like me refuse?" Charles closed one eye and made a flourish with his free hand. "Madhu Bees, also known as Holy Bees, exist only in the north where snow falls eternal. But in the snow-filled land there exists a small oasis where the grass is always green, the water never freezes, and fruits grow abundant all year round. Not only the animals but the plants, too, are filled with mana. A paradise few mortals have ever reached. It is said that it used to be the dwelling of the Holy Seraphina before she returned to the heavens."
"What a wonderful tale. So this honey is obtained from that paradise?" Adelheid asked. She had already tasted the honey, and it was as otherworldly as its scent. The sweetness seemed to permeate her mouth. As a gourmet, this honey was unforgettable and more irresistible than a drug.
"Of course, is what I'd like to say," Charles said. "This honey is not Madhu Bee Honey, but Methu Bee Honey. According to the tale, a wandering man stumbled onto the mystical paradise by chance. The man was thirsty and begged the creatures for a drink of water, but none paid attention except a lone bee. The bee, seeing the poor man's plight, served him some honey."
Charles wetted his throat with some wine before continuing. "However, the bee broke the rules of the hive and was banished from paradise. Feeling responsible for the bee's exile, the man offered to shelter the bee in his home forest. From then on, the man’s family of the Methu Forest has produced this unique honey for generations."
"What a wonderful tale," Adelheid said as she placed some honey-dipped prosciutto into her mouth. It took all her control not to loosen her expression from the superb taste. 'The man spoken of in that tale was quite lucky. He earned quite a lot from sheltering that bee since it earned him a fortune relying on the bee to make money. That is if that story is real.'
"But I'm afraid that you are not telling me such a fantastical tale for no reason, are you?" Adelheid asked after swallowing her food.
"Of course not. Since this Methu Honey is real, then there must be some truth in that tale. Are you interested in witnessing if that legendary land exists?"
Adelheid was interested, but she was also suspicious of Charles's motivation. "Are you asking me for funds for an expedition?"
'It is not something as boring as stealing funds for reclaiming the Versaillius Kingdom, is it?' Adelheid thought. It was a conceivable ploy, tricking a vast amount of money while the real purpose was something else.
"How could it be? I have some information detailing a land filled with riches in the north. If the expedition succeeds, then the riches in our hand will be innumerable," Charles said without missing a beat.
The two were about to talk some more, but the magic lights in the private booth dimmed, and Charles said, "It seems we will have to postpone our discussion. It seems that play is about to begin."
The lush red curtains of the stage slid apart by themselves as if moved by magic, or maybe it really was magic, to reveal two towers, one black and the other white, on opposite sides of the stage. Sitting on the balcony of each tower were a man and a woman.
The man appeared to be in his mid-twenties and had soft caramel hair and cerulean eyes with features that would fit in amongst the nobility. The woman was equally as beautiful and in the prime of her life with vibrant locks of gold and rose-colored eyes, fitting her name as the Jewel of Midgard, the most beautiful woman of the capital.
Then the stage light dimmed and the spotlight concentrated on the center of the stage where a man wearing fanciful clothes stood. Brandishing grand gestures, the man narrated the setting.
It was a tale of two feuding families, alike in status yet opposed in mutiny. The story followed the heir of the Montague Family, Romeo. He was a hopeless romantic who fell in love with the daughter of the Capulet Family, Juliet.
Adelheid perked up as she recognized the name and plot. She wasn't one for plays, but even she heard of Romeo and Juliet in her past life. She turned towards Charles.
"It is riveting. Is this play famous? This is embarrassing to admit, but this is the first play I have ever witnessed." Adelheid freely admitted her ignorance of the art, but not the name.
"Naturally. Only the best for my lady." Charles smiled, feeling as if the fish had bitten the bait. "Romeo and Juliet is considered one of the greatest plays to have been written. The tickets are always sold when they announce it. Even I had trouble acquiring these tickets."
'Even the name is the same,' Adelheid thought. "Then who is the scriptwriter for this magnificent tale?"
"If I recall correctly, the author's name is... Wanaka? Wakashi? Watoru?" Charles proceeded to list a series of similar-sounding names but just couldn't ascertain the correct name. "Strangely, the author originated from the Ocean Nations over fifty years ago. I heard when he died ten years ago, there were numerous scripts for plays that have not yet been released. Are you interested?"
Adelheid nodded. Her face was passive, but her mind was already in turmoil. 'Is it possible someone else was also reborn in this world?'
After this, she focused back on the play, but her eyes were glossy as if she wasn't looking at the play itself. Charles hid his growing smile behind his hands as he watched Adelheid stare unblinkingly at the ongoing play. There was something he didn't tell Adelheid and that Romeo and Juliet was the most popular play for ladies.
Contrary to Charles's expectation, Adelheid's wasn't occupied by love but questions. 'What connection does the world of Veles have with Earth? I do not think that a play appearing here with the same exact name and plot as the one Earth would be a coincidence. It must mean that I am not the only one who has memories of Earth.'
Her knowledge learned on Earth was a powerful weapon. So far, Adelheid had already established a budding business empire from the common information such as bee farms, something no one else in the world of Veles had accomplished yet. If someone else had the same knowledge, it would no longer be her monopoly and infringe on her interest.
It was fine if the person was an ally, but if they were her enemy… Adelheid's eyes became frosty, causing her steel-gray eyes to resemble drawn steel.
Charles pricked his brows as he felt an uncomfortable feeling. He turned to the side to see Adelheid still watching the play as if enthralled. He turned around to look around but did not discover the source of his uncomfortable feeling. Chalking it up to his imagination, he, too, returned to enjoy the play.
Two hours later, the curtain closed on the corpses of Romeo and Juliet lying atop of each other. They could not be together in life, but they reunited in death. With the death of their two scions, the two feuding families put down their grudges and cooperated to create a peaceful city.
It was truly a bittersweet tragedy.
Adelheid clapped to show her appreciation for the fine work of art, but the crowd below exploded into uproarious praise and approval, drowning her and Charles's applause. Even Sofia had to wipe a tear from her eyes. The only one who didn't was Matilda, who looked wistfully at the empty charcuterie board.
"Lord Charles, I have considered your offer, but I must apologize. I cannot, in good faith, invest in a fool's errand. Until I have more concrete proof of the mythical paradise's existence, I cannot invest in your expedition." Adelheid rejected Charles's pleas for funds.
Charles III Karlings didn't show any shock at Adelheid's rejection. In all honesty, he didn't think anyone in their right mind, even a child, would agree to his proposition. However, his tale was only an icebreaker to set the bar high and negotiate. "I see. It is understandable. My apologies if I seem to be pushing too far."
"No need to apologize. Your tale deeply fascinated me. If there is any chance of the mythical land being real, I would love to invest in your expedition. Provided of course, you show physical proof," Adelheid said.
"Still, it is a pity." Charles dramatically sighed, revealing his disappointment. "Let's talk about the minor matter then."
"I cannot search for the land from myths, but I do have a route to the Methu Honey that you tasted. Is your Ambrosia Firm interested in selling this particular good?" Charles asked as he looked at Adelheid, the chief criminal in devouring the Methu Honey.
"Oh, are you really willing to part with it?" Adelheid asked, showing confusion. "Even if you sell only a few bottles a year, it should net you quite a bit of gold."
"I'm afraid it is not so simple." Charles sighed with regret. "The route to the Methu Forest passes through the Versaillius Kingdom. Every time I wanted Methu Honey, I had to have my subordinate secretly bring it. If the secret route were to be discovered, then all would be lost."
'So you have some spies inside the Libre Republic.' Adelheid grasped her chin and held it, pretending to be deep in thought. "Then what does Lord Charles need? If you are in need of manpower, I can supply some."
"Haha, how can I ask for the emperor's citizens to risk their lives in another country?" Charles jokingly rejected Adelheid's request. "We are in need of some initial investments, though. After the initial investment, I can give the Ambrosia Firm the sole right to sell Methu Honey."
There was no need to question that some of the investment would be used to expand their spy network. Still, Adelheid saw no harm in the investment. Even if people suspected an alliance, she was still at the age where she could claim ignorance.
After all, Charles was extremely guarded against her. Or perhaps, he was guarded against every Vuldarian he made an alliance with. He didn't want all his hard work to be for the benefit of others. He wanted to revive the Versaillius Kingdom, not gift it to the Vuldar Empire.
The two ironed out the general details of the business deal. For more delicate matters such as the price, Charles would sell the Methu Honey to the Ambrosia Firm; it would still require their subordinates and Heinrich to discuss. Both Adelheid and Charles were leaders. They did not need to quibble over such minor matters.
Line break
After bidding farewell to the seventh princess, Charles boarded his carriage with his attendant and returned to his estate in the noble district. The estate belonged to a former ducal family that had long fallen out of nobility over fifty years ago. It was located in the middle area, not too far away from the upper-class district or the imperial palace, but the surrounding estates were empty as if isolating the Karlings Royal Family.
Inside, Charles was greeted by the brightly lit halls of the mansion. The carpet was royal blue edged in gold, the colors of the Karlings Royal Family's heraldry. Standing atop the carpet was his father's butler. "Welcome back, Prince. His Highness is awaiting your report."
Charles nodded. He had already expected this, so after he dismissed his attendants, he followed the butler to the study on the third floor. The study was lit by a single candle from the table, where his father, Louise IX Karlings, sat hunched over. The dim light only reached the edge of the surrounding chairs, causing the rest of the room to seem cloaked in endless darkness.
The door closed behind Charles, trapping him in this unending darkness. Even though he knew that this was only his imagination, Charles still couldn't help but shiver every time he entered this room, afraid that he would be stranded forever. Using the sole light as his guide, Charles arrived in front of his father.
He did not take a seat.
"Father," Charles said.
After a moment of silence, Louise looked up, allowing his ghoulish face to be illuminated by the candlelight. His eyes were like those of a dead man's. "Sit."
Charles complied.
An unsettling silence soon followed, but the landless prince didn't show a trace of awkwardness as he patiently waited for his father to speak. "How did it go?”
The black-haired teen mentally prepared himself as he recounted the deal he settled with the imperial princess and then immediately shifted his body away as an object whizzed past him and broke upon hitting the wall.
"Useless! The seventh princess is only a little brat. How can you not charm her? No matter how smart the rumors make her be, she is only a girl, yet you can't even do that? How do you expect to revive the Versaillius Kingdom?"
Charles only lowered his head. "I will do better."
His father, Louise, demanded the best of him, and when he only partially succeeded, punishment would always follow. "Hold out your hand."
Charles tried not to grimace as he held out his hands, revealing the calluses on their palms. Louise held a stick that he always placed near the desk and began to hit Charle's hands.
"Remember, you are the only hope of the Karlings Family! All your uncles and cousins are long dead!"
"The Vuldar Family is just an upstart. How can they compare to our glory?"
"How dare they vaunt their status in front of us? Nothing more than a nouveau family that got lucky!"
"And that princess, how can she not throw herself into your arms? These Vuldarian women should be begging to become your women!"
Sweat began to drip down Charles's cheek as the sensation of pain filled his thoughts.
"Just this little bit of punishment, and you are already sweating? How can a weakling like you ever hope to revive the Versaillius Kingdom?” Louise said through ragged breaths. He huffed and chucked the stick onto the ground and shouted, "Leave!"
Charles obeyed and left the room. Outside, he saw his father's butler waiting with medicine and bandages waiting. "It's been hard on you."
"It's nothing. Father is right. I bear the hopes of the entire Versaillius Kingdom. It is my duty to overthrow those bastards from their false thrones, no matter the means!"
-line break-
"Really, that cute cousin of mine sure knows how to pick her partner." Inside a luxurious office, Antonia von Vuldar, Fourth Princess of the Vuldar Empire, leaned back against the back of her chair as she read the latest report her informants have given her. "Seriously, I do not understand what that fake prince is thinking. Addie may be a bit more mature than children her age, but has he not considered that she is just a pawn in Uncle's schemes?"
"M-maybe, Cousin Adelheid really is smart? I mean, Cousin William is also outstanding." Sitting on the couch in her study slouched over was her brother, Fifth Prince Alexander.
"My dear brother, no matter how outstanding Addie is, how outstanding can a ten-year-old be?" Antonia asked while wagging her finger. "I'm more concerned about Heinrich and whether he will fight with Dietrich over control of the Gold Firm."
Count Auor had a total of four sons. Heinrich was the youngest and fourth son of the count and had more and more supporters in the Gold Firm thanks to the rise of the Ambrosia Firm. Dietrich was the second son and had a close relationship with the fourth princess and fifth prince.
"Should we do something against them?" Alexander asked weakly.
"Alex, you are the son of Friedrich von Vuldar. No matter what, you must not show such an unsightly appearance, especially in front of others," Antonia lectured with impatience in her eyes. "Understand?"
"Y-yes, I do," Alexander said and quickly averted his eyes, causing his sister to sigh.
"What can we do? Addie is just a little pawn in Uncle's schemes. If we take action against her, it's the same as taking action against Uncle. I do not want to ruffle his feathers while we're not strong enough to fight against him," Antonia said.
"What about the great nobles?" Alexander suggested.
"Them? We are not in an equal relationship. They support me because I can preserve their power, but once they have to face Uncle, they scurry faster than a pack of rats. In front of imperial power, they are weak. Unless they are pushed to the brink, they will not easily take action," Antonia rejected without much thought.
"Then..." Alexander hesitated for a second before saying his third choice of allies, "What about the Masked Troupe?"
"Them?" The air in the study seemed to lower when Antonia spoke.
The Masked Troupe was a mysterious organization hidden in the dark of the Vuldar Empire with nefarious goals. The total number of organization members was unknown, but it was known that seven executives headed seven branches. Each executive wore a strange mask, and the head of the Masked Troupe was known as the Ringmaster.
"They are an element that is too dangerous. It's better to destroy the Masked Troupe than work with them," Antonia decisively said, pride emanating from her very bones. "I would rather lose the chance to become emperor than partner with those curs."
"But, will Uncle really let us go?" Alexander asked. "I heard that the emperor killed all his siblings and cousins to secure his throne. Will not Uncle do the same to us once he becomes emperor?"
"Hmpf, if you are scared, then leave," Antonia said with a sneer. "Uncle does not view us as a threat at all. Otherwise, do you think that he will allow us to grow up? Once we bare our fangs, our days will not be so leisurely."
"T-then, then, what should we do?" Alexander frantically asked.
"I would rather die than not avenge Father. If you are scared, do as I said and leave. Uncle will not care about you as long as you do not show any resistance. You can live like a coward for the rest of your days."
"I-I-" Alexander stuttered, not knowing what to say.
"You still have time to think about it. Until then, make sure you choose the correct path. Either live in obscurity or aid me in the fight for the throne. Although you are not suitable to be emperor, you still have some value as a way of an alliance." Just like that, Antonia decided her brother's fate.
Alexander's face became a little ugly, but he didn't dare to refute his twin sister's words and could only lower his head. After a while, he opened his mouth again. "So what should we do about Adelheid and Charles?"
"Charles is not that much of a problem. He has no real power, a rootless tree. Still, the problem lies with Addie." Antonia took out her folding fan and began unfolding it before folding it again, repeating the process repeatedly. "Uncle wants to raise Cousin Addie's fame for some future schemes of his. But what if Addie is not an obedient pawn? Pawns are only useful if they follow orders."
A triumphant smile appeared on Antonia's lips. "Tell me, Dearest Brother, are there any plays that little girls like Addie would like?"
Antonia has repeatedly tried to meet with Adelheid, but it was always rejected for the same reason. Through this, the fourth princess developed a misunderstanding that Albrecht was directly influencing the seventh princess's decisions. However, since Adelheid accepted Charles's invitation, it would be too rude to reject Antonia's. If the news were to be spread, then it would damage the seventh princess's reputation among the upper society.
"Ah?" Alexander snapped his head up and looked at Antonia in surprise. "Why are you asking me?"
Antonia glared at Alexander. "Do not think you can fool me. I know you own some theater houses in order to play around with those courtesans."
In the fourth princess's eyes, actors were the same as prostitutes. Of course, vulgar words like prostitute or whore would never be heard from her lips.
Alexander revealed an expression precisely like that of a deer caught in headlights. Antonia sighed at Alexander's weak mind. "Do not worry, who does not like to play around? But I'm warning you, I will severely punish you if word leaks of your activities."
Alexander quickly nodded, his cheeks flushing red. Whether it was out of shame or anger remained unknown. Quickly excusing himself to prepare for the appropriate plays popular with noble girls, Alexander left.
Antonia resumed her work. That conversation with Alexander was only her brief respite. As an outcast imperial princess, she could not overtly dip her hands into governmental affairs or be too open about her relations with powerful nobles. If her uncle attained concrete proof, he could nip her growing ambitions in the bud. So Antonia reached into the business side of the empire.
Line break
Alexander returned to his room in the mansion. Once he closed the door, his shameful and frightened expression disappeared as if it was a lie. Now, his face was impassive and even faintly cold, like an unfeeling specter. He surveyed his room to make sure that no one had tampered with anything.
Once he ascertained that no one had come snooping around, he grabbed a book on one of his bookshelf. The book was only a mechanism, and the bookshelf slid away to reveal a secret passage. The fifth prince entered the passage into his secret chamber, and inside the chamber was a desk with numerous bookshelves and weird instruments.
At the side of the room was a wooden puppet the same height as Alexander. Sitting on the desk, the fifth prince slid on the ring, and the wooden puppet suddenly changed into an exact replica of him. The puppet adopted the same weak expression Alexander usually wore and left the secret chamber.
Now alone, Alexander crossed his arms, deep in thought. After a while, he pulled out a drawer to reveal a white mask with a frowning expression and a teardrop under one eye. "Foolish sister, do you really believe that you can become emperor by gathering those foolish nobles?"
