Empire of Dreams

*15*

Trigger Warning: there are mentions of death in this chapter, discretion is advised.

The house was drowned in chaos as we scattered around. Aunt Catherine and I rushed upstairs to Harlowe's room while Uncle Thomas and the Countess went to awkwardly greet the guests.

I felt my mind go numb. I couldn't feel a thing. What was I doing? Where was I going? Why was I going? 

The moment I opened the room, Catherine slapped a hand on her mouth and then the stench reached me. I would've vomited, but I didn't somehow. I walked in and looking at the body that laid there, I wanted to scream this is not Harlowe.

"What is this?" I shrieked in horror.

"What is this?" Catherine said in barely a whisper.

"Adder's tongue" she whispered again.

"What?" I asked.

"It is Adder's tongue. That is what she ate to.... To kill herself"

"But are you sure she killed herself?" I asked and Sia let a gasp out, acknowledging her presence for the first time.

"What are you trying to say Jane?"

"All I'm saying is look at Harlowe, something is off"

We all stood in horror, taking in the puffed up body that once belonged to the timid Harlowe. After a few minutes, the door opened revealing Countess Gwen. She looked composed but pale and one look at her daughter make her break down crying. She was literally howling and Catherine had hold her mouth to stop raising the pope and his family's suspicion.

"I killed my daughter, it was all because of me" she cried on Aunt Catherine's shoulder.

"No you did not, Countess. I don't know why she did this, but she knew you loved her" Catherine tried to calm her down.

"No! You don't know everything!" She screamed, getting up suddenly, leaving Catherine sitting on the floor.

"What do mean?" I asked

"Harlowe had been wandering in the gardens too much. She had blemishes on her skin for god knows what and I was eager to have them removed. I told her some Adder's tongue would help, but the foolish girl must've taken too much. What will I do now? What about the majestic wedding that was planned?" The Countess began afresh, her condition only getting worse.

There were noises of shouting and fighting from beneath so Aunt Catherine and I rushed downstairs at once. The scene there was horrifying. Uncle Thomas was standing there while King Edward VI was standing directly in front of the Pope who looked like he would burst in anger any minute now.

"Get out of this house and get out of my country" Edward warned the Pope.

"You have destroyed the purity of our religion, foolish boy and you shall pay for it!" The pope warned the king as he left with his men.

"Now what to do with you?" Edward said angrily, turning to Uncle Thomas.

Aunt Catherine had paled considerably and the Countess looked as if she was minutes away from death. Uncle Thomas turned sideways, a look of horror and confusion on his face before coming to Catherine.

"Take care of Mary and Jane. Do not interwene" he whispered, squeezing her hand reassuringly before going to Edward.

"The women can go. They are part of this conspiracy after all. Mother, take sister Jane and Mary. Do not try to interfere. Please" Edward said coldly.

"Don't let the Countess go! It was all her plan after all" complained Uncle Thomas.

"No, this man is lying" the Countess pointed a finger at Uncle and hence began the bickering.

Catherine dragged me out into the garden, breaking into sobs almost immediately.

"Why didn't you say anything? It was Edward! You are like a mother to him! He surely would've listened to you...." I tried to reason with Catherine.

"I saw Henry in him today and with Henry, it was best not to interfere when he was already angry. I don't see England glorious in his hands, Jane. He is his father. Just like Henry, he too will become a nightmare and thus, you must avoid him at all costs" Aunt Catherine advised, the ghost-like look still on her face.

There was screaming and shouting and begging and pleading before Edward emerged in the garden. The sun had set some minutes ago but some light remained. Handing Mary to me, Catherine walked up to him.

"What's the verdict?" She asked.

"They will be beheaded. Both of them"

Catherine dropped to her knees and as if sensing the news, Mary began to cry in my arms.

"Can I ask for mercy?" She asked helplessly.

"I don't think so mother. I think he will have to die" Edward replied.

All the light was lost in the world as the last few rays of light disappeared from the sky. The world was dark just as us as we watched Uncle Thomas being dragged away. Maybe he had committed some mistakes. Surely he had plotted scandalous events, but he was robbed of his own daughter's childhood. Little Mary would grow up without her father and she would always live in the absence and grow used to it.

Elizabeth always hated Uncle Thomas, though I do not know exactly why, Mary seemed to be ok neutral grounds about that but finally came my opinion and he was my brother, father and friend all in one.

From teaching me how to hunt to taking me on long horse rides, he had done everything a father should do for their daughter. I had been there when he was most scared. I had been there when we almost lost Catherine and Mary.

The world was a cruel place, but he had tried his best to make it better for me. That's what hurt about punishments. What he had done was treason and for that he deserved death and a lot more, but he had done so many good things for me, he had loved Catherine with all his heart, he had loved Mary from the day she was born.

Now he would be beheaded and all of these blessings would be taken away from me. We spent a long night crying in the garden, huddled together that day.