The Road To Peace

Arc 2 Chapter 5: Selfish Desires

"Kidnapped?"

"Mhm. I couldn't help but worry about Clara. Even after severing ties, I still felt this overwhelming need to watch over her. So I sent a few others to watch her, at least until she got home safely, at which point I would completely stop contact." 
 
"Then how did she...?"
 
"Of course I sent others to watch her in secrecy, only one of them came back. Clearly, their survival was a taunt to me personally. They most likely knew of our peculiar relationship and used that to their advantage to threaten me."
 
Amaryllis began clutching her dress as an unsettling, near-crazed smile appeared on her face.
 
"That bastard..." She mumbled.
 
It was no doubt Alifus's order to have Clara taken.
 
"If only I had sent her home as soon as we arrived..."
 
Amaryllis couldn't hold back anymore. Although her smile never faltered, tears tickled down her cheeks, plopping against the pale skin of her hands. Her hold on her dress now threatened to tear at the gentle fabric.
 
"I think it was better to hold her for a few days."
 
Clearly shocked at my cruel assessment, Amaryllis looked over at me, barely holding back her words of distaste.
After a small moment of baffled silence, Amaryllis asked me to explain.
 
"If she were to make it home and meet with her family, given that even your own men but one weren't spared, do you think they'd treat her family any differently?" Surely they would've been an unfortunate pawn in getting Clara to cooperate. I'd rather Clara not have met them at all than be forced to watch her family's demise.

After hearing my explanation, Amaryllis calmed down. Her crazed smile now settles into a frown. "That's true," she conceded. "You're right... I wouldn't wish that on her."

I can't say that I don't feel anything myself. Although I'm trying so hard to be realistic and grounded, I can't just accept this.

"I want to save her..." I whispered my desire.

Knock, knock, knock!!

A loud banging interrupted our meeting.

"Lady Amaryllis!" A muffled voice frantically called. "I have something to report! It's urgent!"

Without so much as a signal from Amaryllis, the doors of the room burst open as a slightly disheveled butler marched in. Taking a glance at us, he stepped back, straightening his stature in a more presentable fashion.

"Lady Amaryllis..." 

"David?" 

"It's your son, Alice."

Almost instantly, her face lit up, but almost as if it were some higher power's mission to cause us mental anguish, David laid on his harrowing news.

"Alice's platoon has been overwhelmed by Royalist forces and was subsequently defeated in battle. Alice has been taken prisoner."

"What?" Amaryllis breathed in near disbelief.
After having to accept the fact that she couldn't protect Clara, even her son was taken from her. The anguish and shame she felt boiled over as she slowly fell to her knees. She hardly made a sound—a sad sorrow—as she shook, and her breathing became raspy and uneven.
 
"Ha..hahaha." A soft, pitiful laugh filled the room.
 
David became nervous, clearly taken aback by his master's mental vulnerability. In his shaking hand was a crumpled note that he was hesitant to show her. He steadied his breathing silently handing the note to me, too ashamed to speak of its contents himself. I sighed, accepting that I was a sacrifice for whatever Amaryllis' reaction might be.
 
I de-crumpled the letter, smoothing out the wrinkles that had been carved into the page by David, before reading it.
 
'Your son was quite a sight, Amaryllis. Despite my utter hatred for you, I must admit, your bloodline has produced quite a body. Don't worry; I won't kill your son.

I think.

If he cooperates, then everything should be fine.

I mean, what more could this possibly be than fate?!