Unfortunately, I'm an Evil Villainess

Chapter 118 - Nemesis (III)

- - -

Night had fallen. An ordinary carriage rattled towards the outskirts of the capital, containing no ordinary figure.

Elizabeth peeked out of the window of the car, careful that her hood hid most of her face. Though the houses had grown sparse and the bright lights of the city were fading into the horizon, her 'informant' had asked for the utmost secrecy, and knowing what was at stake, she understood the necessity.

"Are you sure about this, my lady?" her knight asked again. The young woman had grown up on the streets, mastered them, in fact, but seemed more nervous than she was.

"Yes," Elizabeth clenched her fists in her lap. "This is the key. It has to be."

The only good thing to have come out of her birthday. That simple note, disguised as another tasteless birthday card, yet promising the answer to her life's quest, was what had carried her through that disgusting party and Valentina's taunts. She had been suspicious, certainly, but she still believed in righteousness, and that it was finally time for justice to be served. Besides, it didn't make sense otherwise.

The carriage rolled to a stop. "You're here, Miss!" the driver hollered.

Clouds filled the sky. A thin layer of frost covered the fields around them, barely visible by the lantern of the carriage and the distant glow of the capital. Elizabeth's breath fogged in the cold air, and she wrapped her cloak around herself tighter. There were no other buildings in sight, except for the small white chapel they stood in front of.

Her knight gave the driver a large handful of coins, whose begrudging bearing immediately became undying patience for their return. The two women stepped towards the house of prayer.

Its aged brick walls were covered in dead vines, but humble efforts of maintenance were visible here and there. With her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Elizabeth could see the dim, gentle light peeking from behind the shuttered windows. The door creaked when she opened it and closed ominously behind them.

"Ah, Your Highness."

The interior was old, as expected, but not unclean. Two candles burned on the altar, illuminating the hall warmly. An elderly woman swept the floor next to it. The pews were empty, except for a young man who had sat in the front, who now stood and turned to greet her, a prayer book in hand. Despite initiating this rendezvous, his olive complexion was ashen, and his hazel eyes desolate.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow and walked down the aisle to meet the man, her knight closely behind. It was him, all right. She had only seen him a handful of times, but she remembered every one of Valentina's lapdogs.

"Well, High Priest Seaton?"

- - -

Nathaniel took a deep breath. Every part of him felt sick and screamed that he mustn't do this, betray the lady that had given him everything. Yet deep inside there was a cold peace, solace that he was doing the right thing, and comfort that he had come too far to back out now.

"I'm sorry that this meeting is so unorthodox, but I had to make sure it was completely safe. I know of her ways, and..."

He trailed off, but he met the princess's eyes and knew that she understood the precautions and potential consequences, if Her Ladyship was to catch any wind of this.

"What of her?" the princess nodded towards the elderly woman.

Nathaniel smiled sadly. "She is an invalid. Her daughter, Layla, used to be my servant at House Avington. She was let go for helping me sneak out, and Her Ladyship made sure no place would hire her. She and her children are now with God. Miraculously, her mother survived the ordeal. I found her after I became a High Priest and moved her here so that she could not be used against me." Nathaniel gazed towards the ceiling, once more repenting for how his actions had harmed so many innocents. "If that is somehow not enough to convince you that she would not betray us, Your Highness, she is also mute and illiterate."