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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Feb 15, 2011 22:52:44 GMT -5
I hadn't bothered yet to interrogate the Ruskovian Prince, rather I was letting him stew in the dungeons for a time first while I gathered intelligence. Once such piece of information that had come my way was that he had been seeing a certain Aragonian Princess, and that they had recently called it quits, or so the rumors went. What could have come between them ... a murderous plot, perhaps?
I decided to pay a call on the lady, though since she seemed to have friends in higher places, I knew that I would have to tread more delicately, though that was not in my nature.
I rapped on the door and gave my name to the servant, who led me to a sitting room while he went to fetch the Princess.
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Feb 15, 2011 23:23:27 GMT -5
I was still a wreck. What can I say? I was heartbroken. I wasn't sleeping, not until I passed out from exhaustion. I only ate when others insisted, which Leyna's staff had learned to do. So it didn't matter how nice my gowns were when they hung loose on my frame, and I was pale too, with large black circles beneath my eyes. When a maid told me a man was here to see me, I had hoped that it was Landis, but I was disappointed when I entered and it was a man I didn't recognize. "Good morning. I am Princess Mercedes," I said, my normally quiet voice even more subdued than usual.
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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Feb 18, 2011 0:10:42 GMT -5
She was quiet and pale, distressed. By her part in this crime, or by her lover's?
"My lady," I said, though my tone was cold. "I have come to see you regarding your relationship with one Sergei Romanov. Are you aware, my lady, that he has been arrested on suspicion of poisoning the Queen?" I wanted to see what her reaction would be, untainted by prior knowledge of Sergei's arrest.
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Feb 18, 2011 11:50:22 GMT -5
My eyes widened, and the remaining colour drained from my face. "Surely you jest," I stated, for I knew there was no possible way that Sergei would ever do such a thing. But I had a sinking sensation that this man wasn't jesting. There was a set to his jaw, a coldness to his voice... it was as if it had all been decided already. Had the nobles here lost their collective mind? There was a certain type of man who would stoop to such an act, and that man was not Sergei. I supposed that fear of death, of a repeated attack, was to blame for such stupidity.
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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Feb 18, 2011 23:42:47 GMT -5
"Jest?" I said, my eyes narrowing. She certainly seemed innocent, but could she be trusted? "About something like this, no, my lady, not at all." I shook my head for emphasis. "Do you know anything about this, my lady?"
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Feb 27, 2011 18:33:51 GMT -5
I had to be rational about this. I couldn't break down. I had been weak enough already, in my reaction to Sergei ending our courtship. Deep breaths. "No sir, I don't know anything. I was very much saddened by the news of the queen's passing. Are you leading the investigation?" I asked, though I was fairly sure that I already knew the answer. They wouldn't send just anyone to question a foreign princess.
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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Mar 3, 2011 1:40:51 GMT -5
Well, she had more respect than that Ruskovian ruffian, I'd give her that. I relaxed a bit, inclined to believe her, though nothing short of catching the responsible party would truly exonerate anyone.
"I am, as the Commander of Her Majesty's forces." It hurt to say 'her majesty' and remember seeing Sabrina pale and white but I pushed those thoughts away. "As I said, Sergei Romanov is currently the chief suspect, and I was hoping you could shed some light on the man for me."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Mar 4, 2011 12:34:48 GMT -5
"Of course," I said, though I was unsure exactly how to describe the man who had just left me and then got himself arrested. The charges had to be false, they were too ludicrous to be believed. I bought myself a moment to think by offering the commander a seat, settling down myself with my hands demurely in my lap. This was not going to be an easy conversation, the wounds for our fight too fresh.
"His Highness is a good man. Intelligent, conscientious, loyal to his family and friends. He is very direct, he doesn't have much tolerance for, if you'll pardon the expression, bullshit. I can imagine him challenging someone to a duel. You perhaps, if the rumours surrounding Prince Alexei's departure carry any weight." Perhaps it was a foolish thing to say, but thinking about Sergei right now was painful, hampered my judgement. "But poisoning a woman? His Highness would not stoop to that, sir."
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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Mar 6, 2011 1:19:12 GMT -5
I took the seat as offered, leaning back in it and surveying her as she spoke. I'd heard the rumors of their break up, nothing happened to the nobility in this City but that it was all over the court in no time, so I was interested to see the light in which she would paint him. She could very well throw the man under the carriage and tell me what I wanted to hear, but she did not, though it obviously pained her to speak of him.
"Me?" I shook my head at that. "I know what the rumors say, my lady, but the Queen and I were friends, since childhood." Oh, Sabrina, what happened to that sunny child to bring this to pass? "Regardless, I do believe that poison would not be his chosen weapon, from what I've seen of him. However, would he not perhaps allow his brother to make short work of the Queen. Would he step aside, and allow such a thing to occur? Family loyalties can be very powerful."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Mar 6, 2011 19:22:33 GMT -5
His question raised a niggling of doubt in me. Not poison certainly, but would Sergei stand idle if his family required it of him? Not to poison a woman - that went against the grain of every Romanov I had met. But a knife in the dark? That I wasn't so sure of.
"I do not believe him or any member of the Romanov family capable of poison sir. Ruskovians are straightforward people. A duel yes. Perhaps even a sly blade in the night. But I cannot imagine his family using poison, or that he would allow such a thing."
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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Mar 6, 2011 20:27:03 GMT -5
It was interesting to me that she did not dismiss the possibility of his involvement out of hand, and that made me listen more than I otherwise might have. I would take her words to heart, then, that perhaps there was more to this than a scorned Prince.
"Thank you for your honesty," I said, idly looking her over and noticing that she was rather attractive. I'd noticed on my arrival, but now that the immediate business was winding down I could appreciate it a bit more. I could almost hear Cygnus' voice in my head yelling at me that flirting with her was a bad idea, and I tried to keep that in mind. "I appreciate your time. I'm sure you understand that the Crown wishes to resolve this matter as soon as possible."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Mar 7, 2011 0:24:04 GMT -5
"Of course sir," I said demurely. If he had been someone else I might have offered him a drink, but that would only prolong his stay. No, I did not want the commander of the D'Angeline army in the sitting room longer than was polite. He raised too many thoughts about Sergei, and now doubts. I had to go see him, speak with him. Make sure that these doubts were just the imaginings of the lead investigator, not really true. "May I ask where Prince Sergei is being held?"
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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Mar 7, 2011 0:28:53 GMT -5
"The palace dungeons, where ruffians belong," I said gruffly, rising. "I would not reccommend letting yourself be too closely aligned with him, my lady, as a word of advice ... if he is proven to be guilty, anyone associated with him will be under scrutiny. I should hate to see you in that position." I gave her a low bow, fit for her station, and then a light smile that did not reach my eyes. "Hopefully the next time we meet will be under better circumstances."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Mar 7, 2011 2:26:28 GMT -5
He... threatened me. It was under the guise of advice, but I was no dullard. Not only that, but Sergei was in the dungeons? "I'm sorry, I must have misheard you sir," I said, my voice no longer holding any warmth, no longer demure. "For no responsible man would throw his country towards war with Ruskovia when there is such instability surrounding the crown. Surely you meant to say house arrest, especially since you just admitted that Prince Sergei has yet to be proven guilty."
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Post by James de Valois-Burgundy on Mar 10, 2011 1:15:01 GMT -5
So, this was the way of it, then? A prickly lot, these foreigners, but I did not bow down to anyone not named Courcel and I surely was not going to start now.
"You heard aright. Monsieur Romanov attacked me, and for that he cools his heels until it is decided what is to be done with him. Whether or not he is guilty of poisoning the Queen is a separate matter, but rest assured, it is one that will be addressed." I gave her one last searching look before I continued, "And now, if you will excuse me, I have an investigation to conduct." I did not wait for her to give me leave, I wanted her to know that her foreign titles had little meaning when it came to murder.
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Mar 14, 2011 21:34:42 GMT -5
I couldn't believe this. If Sergei had truly 'attacked' this politically-obtuse cretin, he wouldn't be standing in front of me with all limbs attached. Though I wouldn't blame him if he threw a punch or two, I knew how strong Sergei's pride was underneath that easygoing exterior. But arresting a Ruskovian prince, threatening an Aragonian princess... This man had to be put in his place.
And I knew who to go to in order to accomplish such a thing. "Then, as they say in theatre, do break a leg sir," I replied, rising and breezing past him. I loudly called for my mare to be readied, and pulled on my riding gloves. The staff sprung into action, as it had been the first thing I had requested since the breakup. "Oh, and sir," I added, looking back into the sitting room where I had left him. "If you have any more questions, I will not receive you again unless you schedule an appointment, and address me as 'your highness'. This nation is supposedly the most civilized on the planet, and as such, I expect common courtesy. Good afternoon." Turning on my heel, I left for the stables. My mare could not be ready soon enough.
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