Impaler

Madness

Vlad, Ioana, and Alexandrei walked toward Minah's quarters with guards in tow. The day began severely due to Radu's visit, but Vlad didn't expect it to worsen. His wife was planning the festivities, but he didn't know if everything was complete. If it didn't, he would be his kingdom's laughing stock. As they approached their destination, Ioana cleared her throat, "Voivode, there is something else you should know; Angelina tried her best to soothe Lady Minah after the child's birth. According to Angelina, Lady Minah tried to kill her, but Sorina had to step in and stop her."

The Voivode stopped in his trail; his anger was imminent. "Why was I not told of this?"

Alexandrei wanted to chuckle in amusement; he despised Angelina when he first saw her. He couldn't help but feel that Angelina was slowly influencing Vlad. That was something Alexandrei didn't want to happen. "If I may, Voivode, why do you care what happens to a mere servant? You did not want that child to live but dared to speak in your presence. Lady Minah would have done a favor."

Ioana dare not look at Vlad and Alexandrei. The older woman grew to care for Angelina and knew she was slowly winning Vlad's favor. She believed Angelina was the only hope of swaying Vlad away from Alexandrei's influence. 

"You seem to have a dislike toward the servant, Alexandrei. I doubt it is because you suspect that she is a spy." Vlad slowly turned and walked toward his second-in-command. "Are you angry because she spoke against you? What is because your pride was hit?" The Voivode chuckled. "Yet, I wonder who I should truly trust. You were the one who suggested that I marry Minah, and look what happened: she gave birth to a monstrosity. She has become mad." Vlad walked closer and closer to Alexandrei, who walked back on the wall; he couldn't walk another way. He felt Vlad's warm breath on his skin. "I wonder if you should even be trusted, one mistake after another."

"V-Voivode, all I want is the greater good of Wallachia. It is just misfortunes. Lady Minah suffers the sadness of not giving you a healthy heir. She is distraught, that is all."

"Go and help with the plans for the festivities; it will be upon us soon and I don't wish to suffer even more mochery." Vlad and Ioana walked forward, leaving Alexandrei alone.

He watched as the two walked away and punched the wall, making him squint in pain. "Curse it! Everything is falling into shambles! I would have hoped that Radu would have made at least an impact, but Vlad doesn't trust his brother! I am losing less influence over him by the moment and I cannot let that happen!" Alexandrei's thoughts trailed onto Angelina; he couldn't help but believe that she and Vlad were somehow seeing one another. He would always know about Vlad's affairs since Minah couldn't always satisfy him. "The Voivode will not get rid of her so something is amiss."

At the corner of his eyes, he noticed a female servant cleaning some paintings in the hallway. The more Alexandrei looked, the more when he recognized the female servant. "She was one of Vlad's mistresses until he cast her away." An idea came to him. "Hmm, I might as well you use her to get my answers."

Meanwhile, Vlad and Ioana finally arrived at Minah's quarters, but the ladies-in-waiting and other female servants stood outside the room. Minah's yells and thrashing echoed inside. "What is with the madness!?" asked Vlad.

Everyone bowed, and Sorina said, "F-Forgive us, V-Voivode. When we arrived to ready Lady Minah for the day, her room was in total disarray. After yesterday's events, the guards informed us that Lady Minah was difficult to detain. According to the guards, Lady Minah tried to break the door down and yelled until exhaustion. She acted out again when we arrived and some of us were hit or scratched as we tried to leave."

Vlad looked at everyone, but Angelina wasn't seen. "Where is Angelina?"

Ioana stepped forward with her head bowed. "Voivode, I thought it best for Angelina to help other servants with other duties. Last night, she was attacked by Lady Minah. I didn't want anger to overcome Lady Minah."

"Yet, what angers me was that I was not immediately informed of this!"

Everyone flinched with fear; no one dared to make a sound. "I am to blame, Voivode. I didn't want you to have more to deal with. Angelina may not have said a thing due to her worry about your reaction to Lady Minah."

"I am disappointed in you, Ioana. I deserve to know everything that is happening in my own home. May this be the first and last time that this happens again." Vlad walked forward and forced the door open. The sight was appalling; the room was in havoc. The cabinets and clothes were on the floor. The mattress was taken off the bedframe and was ripped in shreds. Glass from the mirror and windows were shattered. Vlad's eyes widened when he noticed his wife stabbing the bed mattress with a glass shard. "MINAH!"

Minah stopped and slowly turned to see her husband. Her hair was in disarray; her hands were filled with cuts and blood. "Husband..." The noblewoman slowly stood with the glass shard in hand. "You are here. I-I have disappointed you again." She slowly walked toward Vlad, who stood still, but everyone became nervous due to her appearance and holding a glass shard. "I-I can still be worthy to you. I can still give you another son. A son who you can be proud of to take your place." Minah walked closer and dropped the glass as she held onto her husband's clothing, staining it with her blood. Vlad only looked at her but didn't look concerned. "It was the devil who made that boy a monster! The devil had sent that woman to destroy me!"

Ioana entered the room but stood behind the Voivode. Minah was in a terrible condition; she looked unrecognizable from the beauty she once held. "Lady Minah, you need rest..."

Minah glared at Ioana. "Where did you take that monster!? Where did you take him!? Why is he alive!? Why must that thing live and remind me of my failures!? Tell me where it is so I can dispose of that thing! I-!"

"ENOUGH!" The noblewoman flinched violently and noticed her husband's rage. "You have gone completely mad, Minah. I knew it was a mistake to marry you the first time I met you. You were always weak-minded. It was because of you that the child has come out to be a monstrosity."

"V-Voivode, please, that is too cruel!"

"Husband, please do not whisk me away! I can still be useful! I can still birth sons!" Minah geld onto Vlad's clothes, but he pushed her so hard that it made her land on the floor. 

"Take her to another room where she cannot be seen. I will decide her fate." Vlad and Ioana walked out of the room. Minah screamed as Minah locked the door from the outside. "One disaster after another. "Ioana, you know what I want done tonight, and I do not want to speak more about Minah; my order is final. 

Ioana and everyone watched Vlad walk away. "Ioana, what will happen to Lady Minah?" asked Sorina.

"I don't know, young one. I fear that our Voivode is slowly descending into madness."