His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 80

Raena stepped inside the mansion after Zen and Kara, looking up and down the corridor. They were heading towards the inner staircase when a maid appeared from the stairs, almost bumping into Kara.

“Oh, Head Maid!” she said in surprise. “Thank the Gods you’re back! We didn’t know to do!”

“What happened?” Kara asked in her usual serious tone that she used when talking with the rest of the staff. She often commented on how Raena could switch between personalities so swiftly, but she did the same. She spoke to the maids in one way, to Raena in another, and to anyone higher in the food chain in a completely different way.

“It’s the first wife’s Head Maid. This is the third time she is coming, and she has been waiting in the reception room for the last half an hour. She came to speak with Mistress, but Mistress told us not to bother her and we couldn’t find you anywhere! That woman is refusing to leave, saying it’s urgent!”

“I’ll speak with her” Kara said readily, and the other maid’s face brightened. “Let’s go.”

Kara made them a sign behind her back to go and Raena quickly headed up the stairs with Zen on her heels. They got to her room without meeting anyone else and he opened the door, going in first without saying a word. Raena frowned as she followed, staring after him as he started checking the other rooms and any places big enough for somebody to hide in.

Raena closed the door, starting to undress while he continued with his search. Elene appeared from another one of the doors, heading towards her just as she was struggling to put on the dress that she had left on the bed earlier that day. Zen returned as Elene was buttoning the back of her dress while Raena was discarding her wig and running her fingers through her hair to get it in some semblance of order.

Raena wanted to tell him that his search was unnecessary since Elene had been there the whole time, but she kept her mouth shut. When she was ready, she headed for the door without delay.

jumping as a knock came from it just as she was reaching for the handle. She opened, staring at Kara with raised eyebrows.

“You should go with the Head Maid.” She said with a stiff expression on her face. “Since His Highness is still not back, the first wife requested you went to see her immediately.”

Raena nodded, following Kara outside and making a sign for the others to stay behind. They strode to the first floor where Sarea’s Head Maid was waiting with a grim expression and Raena followed her outside, giving one last look at Kara over her shoulder. The moment they crossed the North Palace’s threshold, the guards fell in formation around Raena. She gave them a surprised look but didn’t protest – after the attack and after promising Kassian to accept his protection, she was in no position to refuse them.

So she let them tag along as they strode to the quiet East Palace.

It didn’t escape her notice that there were more guards than servants in the first wife’s residence, and even as they stepped inside the bright mansion, the tension remained high. The Head Maid continued to keep quiet, walking just as fast and just as purposefully. When they finally reached Sarea’s bedchambers, the older woman stopped in front of her door, hesitating at the handle. She knocked, but let herself in even before she received an answer. Raena followed hesitantly, put off by the darkness and the stuffy air inside.

The smell of tea leaves, medicine, and b***d made Raena shudder, but she forced herself to move further into the room, checking the corners and the deep shadows for any threatening presence as Zen had taught her.

“Your Highness, I’ve brought her.” The Head Maid announced, bowing her head.

The blankets on the bed shifted ever so slightly and Raena focused her gaze on the frail human half-sitting, half-lying underneath them with her back resting in a pile of big, fluffy pillows.

“You can go.” Sarea’s weak, raspy voice filled the room and an icy chill ran down Raena’s spine at how hollow and haunting it sounded. The Head Maid hesitated, but then tiptoed around Raena, leaving the room and closing the door.”

Come closer, it’s not like I can do anything to you in this state.”

Raena strode to the bed, locking eyes with the woman in it. Sarea’s skin was almost gray and her body had lost so much weight, she looked like a skeleton. Her cheekbones were sticking out and the dark circles around her eyes made them look even more sunken. There were traces of b***d on her lips and her nightdress, and her hair was a sad mess sticking to her head.

Raena stopped her gasp from leaving her lips, but she couldn’t do the same with the shudder that shook her body. Sarea gave her a tight-lipped smile as if knowing what was going through her head.

“What? You’re not going to act all cute and innocent now just becausel am dying?” Sarea said with the same tired voice. “You were good, really good. I’ll give you that.”

“When did you find out?” Raena asked, keeping her eyes on her.

“l am ashamed to say that I didn’t. I was totally fooled by your act.” Sarea chuckled. “But I might not be the best judge of character, I am a very good judge of rumors. And if you slip once, word gets out. The Raena l saw would never dare punch Lara in the face, let alone ask Kassian to have her arms broken. Nice one, though. Too bad you chickened out.”

“Is this why you called me here?” Raena asked, frowning. Sarea scoffed, pushing herself up with effort until she was siting more comfortably.

Her hands were so thin and frail, Raena was afraid they would snap if she applied even the tiniest of pressure on them.

“I don’t have enough breaths left to waste them on social calls,” Sarea said, lifting her hand and pointing at the edge of the bed. ” just thought you looked too tense, so I tried to lighten the mood. It seems I never mastered this thing called humor.”

Sarea’s hand fell next to her body as if she had grown tired of keeping it up, but she continued to wait so Raena stepped towards the bed and sat on its edge. The first wife leaned back in her pillows, looking her up and down.

“When I first saw you, I thought that you have no place here and that it would be pretty easy to get rid of you. After all, you were supposed to be a simpleminded girl that is used to being taken care of and to have everything come easy to her,” Sarea said, her eyes fluttering as if she was getting tired of keeping them open. “But I stand corrected. In just a few months, you successfully did what I couldn’t for almost a decade. You weeded out most of the spies from your household; you won over the concubines; you put Lara in her place and isolated her, and the biggest miracle of all – you made our husband fall in love with you. In a way, I wish I had succeeded in chasing you out. You make me look like a little girl that couldn’t do anything but throw tantrums all this time.”

“Yeah,” Raena murmured, leaning on her hand. “Sending me just three servants and leaving me in that dump was quite petty.” Sarea gave her a weird look, then her face smoothed.

“Those three servants I sent you were actually my kindness to you in case you decided to stay” Sarea said and it was Raena’s turn to give her a confused look. “Karik has served my family for over forty years and he is fiercely loyal. Portha was my wet nurse when I was a baby and cared for my sisters later on until she was too old for the task.

And Nola… she is someone l saved from the streets a few years ago. She is pretty clumsy and awkward, but she is an obedient child and she is loyal to me.”

Sarea stopped, staring at her as if waiting for Raena to connect the dots. “I sent people I can trust to you so that I was sure you won’t end up poisoned or with a knife in your back. They might not have been much, but at least they would never try to kill you.”

“You expect me to believe that?” Raena asked.

“What’s the point of me lying now? I’m already dying.” Sarea scoffed. “Have you noticed that the attempts on your life started after you brought in new servants and guards? In this life, it’s hard to find people you trust. And those three, they did spy on you, I am not going to lie, but it was just so that I can keep track of your movements and prevent you from getting hurt or doing something stupid. Your death was only going to bring trouble to this household and I am responsible for the safety of the people in it”

Raena continued to stare at her, not sure what to say. Sarea kept quiet for a while, her eyes half-closed, almost like she was napping.

“Have you figured what and who poisoned you?” Raena asked, and the first wife’s eyes opened again. She didn’t reply, though. “It’s that bitter tea you like so much. Apparently, it’s a slow-acting poison. It kills your reproductive system first, there goes for the rest of your organs until they are irreversibly damaged. Once you reach the b***d coughing stage, it’s already too late.”

“Well, that could have been useful information some time ago. I had always been a healthy person, even as a child. It all started a few years after marrying Kassian. I even brought my own staff, people who l trusted wholeheartedly.”

Sarea smiled. “I figured I was being poisoned, but my tasters were fine when tasting my food and drinks, so I couldn’t figure how I got the poison into my system. I changed my makeup, my clothes, my perfumes, everything. I never figured it was the tea itself.”

“Who gave you that tea?” Raena asked, tensing in her seat. Sarea’s eyes moved away from her and locked on the door just the sound of steps walking away in a hurry reached the two of them.

“My Head Maid brought it one day and told me a medicine woman recommended it, saying it helped with fertility. Both partners needed to drink it, though. It’s ironic, isn’t it?” Sarea leaned her head back, covering her face with her eyes. “I wonder what they have on her. It was probably the Empress she sure tried her best to prevent both Kassian and Yulien from siring children. Yulien’s first wife died while pregnant, did you know?”

Raena barely heard her. She had gotten to her feet, looking at the door where the Head Maid had disappeared earlier.

“Sit down, she already heard us and left,” Sarea said and Raena quickly looked at her. “She can’t go far. Kassian will find her once you tell him. If the Empress doesn’t eliminate her first, that is.”

Raena hesitated, then slowly lowered herself back onto the bed. “My condition is not why I called you here, either. It’s about our husband, sister-wife. Raena ternsed, swallowing with difficulty. ” don’t fancy myself a stupid woman, you see, but somehow I believed that I can make Kassian love me if I gave him what he needed. And I thought what he needed was a strong woman to back him up and an uncomplicated relationship, so he didn’t have to waste extra energy on it. I still think he needs those. But Kassian had always gone for the damsel in distress type. He couldn’t save his mother, so he has this idea in his head that he has to save everyone. Especially beautiful, helpless women like his mother. I assume you figured out that most of his harem is made of such women?

But unfortunately, once the woman is safe and sound, he loses interest. That is why Lara held his interest for so long – she kept playing the weak, needy woman that has to be saved from something. But this is not healthy and it will not make him happy, because, in the end, it just reminds him that he could save others, but couldn’t save his mother.”

“What’s your point?”

“You’re both, Raena.” Sarea sighed heavily.

“You look weak and defenseless and sometimes, you need him to save you. But you also have a strength within you that is a true match for his. You can be his support and his refuge from the craziness of this place.” Sarea let her head fall back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling. “You can, but you don’t have to. It’s a difficult life full of danger that often ends with death. I know I wouldn’t blame you if you choose to leave. But if you choose to stand by him and support him, to help him out of his vicious cycle, I am positive he’ll return your love and kindness tenfold.”

Raena stared at her for a long time, not sure what to say to that. Sarea, on the other hand, didn’t look like she was expecting an answer. She suddenly raised her hand, pointing at the small cabinet by the bed.

“Open it.” She whispered. Raena frowned, but the first wife gave her a sign to hurry up. “Inside you’ll find the mistress of the house’s seal as well as a notebook with everything I have gathered about the nobles in our society – their affiliation, secrets, and weaknesses. Use it… at your own conscience. I hope… you never need… it.”

Raena got up from the bed, crouching by the cabinet and opening its lid. She reached through the linen inside, searching until her fingers caught on a small, metal box. She fished it out, setting it in her lap, almost expecting it to be locked, but the top opened easily, revealing a big golden seal and a leather-bound notebook. Raena stared at them for a second before looking back at Sarea.

“What exactly do you want me to.” She started when her eyes landed on the first wife’s face. Sarea’s eyes were half-closed again, head resting on one of the fluffy pillows. Her sour expression from before was gone, giving place to a peaceful calm. “Sarea?” The first wife didn’t react, her eyes remaining closed. “Sarea!”

Raena dropped the box in her feet, reaching out for the first wife’s hand that was resting on the bed next to her. Even before touching the thin, bony hand, Raena felt a chill run down her spine as if an ice cube had slipped down her back. She pressed her fingers to the first wife’s wrist, holding her breath as she searched for a pulse.

Seconds dragged. One, two, five, ten, thirty,… but not a single heartbeat followed.

Raena pulled away, getting to her feet while her body trembled with fear and panic. Her stomach twisted in a knot as she realized that she had just witness yet another person die in front of her.

This didn’t feel like a book anymore. It didn’t feel like a funny story where she got to do what she wanted without worrying about the consequences. This didn’t feel like a fake world. If she wanted to survive and keep the people that had found their way into her heart safe, it was time to part with the idea of going back to the ‘real world Because this was the real world now, no matter what the future held.

Raena crouched down by the box, taking he seal and the book with trembling hands. She rose up, glancing at Sarea one more time, trying to keep her breathing under control.

“Rest well. You’ve earned it.” She whispered, looking at the pitiful form lying among the expensive sheets. “I’m make them pay for you.”

Raena turned her back on her, heading towards the door she had come from. As she stepped outside the bedroom, she looked around, but the Head Maid was nowhere in sight. Raena gritted her teeth, making her way back the way she had come from, the silence of the place pressing against her ears while the two objects in her hands turned heavier and heavier with each step.