Hiding In Plain Sight

Another Countess

It was just another rainy day in Gloire courtesy of Eden Van Tassel. The kingdom was silent, not a woman or man insight due to the treacherous rains that eroded the soils turning the kingdom into a muddy lake. Eden sat around her dining table making small talk with her new butler Knoxroy Petrova who was quite the catch by the way. He always knew just when and how to cheer her up but Eden had a rule about getting involved with her servants and she would be breaking it if she ever got with him so she kept it strictly platonic.

"You know you're not gonna always be able to keep this strictly platonic, right?" he said which didn't her because he always knew what she was thinking even when they weren't in the same place but she never ceased asking how he did it to which he would reply "I just know."

"Well quit it, it's weird." she complained but she secretly loved it. They continued talking for a while till they heard a knock on the front door. They both went to the door to see a strange looking knight, he was adorned in black unlike the others who wore silver or a crimson armour. "May I help you sir?"

"Yes Countess and Sir Van Tassel-"

"No he's not my husband he's actually my butler." Eden corrected with completely flushed face and Knoxroy smirked.

"Oh? Then why is your butler wearing such fancy clothes?" The guard asked, which was good question. Knoxroy always wore the fanciest clothes as if he was from a noble family or was royalty but Eden never asked cause she loved a man who always likes to look his best despite the occasion, the question was how he was able to afford them.

"Well that is none of your concern now please do tell why you're at my door." Eden bitched earning a weird look from Knoxroy telling her to be more polite so she put on a fake smile.

"Sorry but you are being summoned to the palace to meet the newest member of the select men, Countess Elizabeth Bathory."

"Another Countess huh? I'll be there don't worry. Knox fetch my cloak please." Eden ordered. "If you think for a second that I will allow you to walk in that rain by yourself then I think you're drunk again." Knoxroy said with that sexy tone Eden loved and practically moaned at the sound but regained her composure before answering the smirking butler. "You don't own me Mr. Petrova." but God did she wish he did. The two stood there in silence till Knoxroy decided to accompany her to the palace which she agreed to.

The two seemed to enjoy walking through rain together. They began talking about family and how many kids they wanted, Eden 3 and Knoxroy 2. They continued onto more arousing topics like sex which Knoxroy was quite educated in from the way he put Eden in a trance. They arrived the castle and the guard led them to The King study where they were greeted by a wet Magistrate, a wet Father David, a dry King Carlyle and an odd lady dressed in the most flamboyant clothes she has ever laid eyes on.

"So you must be the new Countess, pleased to meet you, I am Countess Van Tassel." Eden stretched out her hand for the odd woman to shake.

"Please to meet you too, I'm Countess Elizabeth Bathory but I have this feeling that we've met before." she stretched out hand to meets Eden's and when they connected Eden instantly knew who this wretch was and scowled at their physical contact to which Elizabeth smile sadistically.

"Well now that we've met. Is there anything more that you'll like to address cause I'm needed at home?" Eden asked eager to get back to her chat with Knoxroy.

"Yes. I would be glad to inform you all that the witch hunt will resume starting tomorrow." Elizabeth said a little too happily earning a strange look from Knox, he looked like he had met her before while Eden on the other hand was livid.

"No!" she shouted. "The only witch out there is Evelyn and she is long gone, so why continue the madness." Eden reasoned.

"Then what happened the night the beast attacked?" King Carlyle asked. Eden had completely forgotten about the mysterious witch that killed Zanique.

"I don't know." Eden got quiet. "I think what my mistress is trying say is that you should really make sure that there is still a witch out there before you start causing panic among the people and wouldn't it be better to search for the witch in secret, it would give you the element of surprise." Knox advised getting strange stares from everyone but none stranger than Countess number two who looked like she knew him too.

"Who are you?" The King asked and Knox answered giving his full name. "How would you like to fill Count Von Brunt's seat?" The King asked and he leapt at the offer which saddened Eden and the rain outside fell harder. She hated the fact that they were replacing her cousin and she also hated that Knox took the offer and now he'll probably quit being her butler. "Well it looks like our table is full once more. You are all dismissed." The King declared and everybody went their separate ways.

Eden and Knox walked in the rain in deafening silence as they thought things over. Eden was puzzled as to why he took the offer and how it would affect their "friendship" while Knox wondered why Eden was so quiet all of sudden, he also was trying to figure out what was so familiar about Countess number two but the Eden situation was far more important to him than some strange woman in the strangest clothes he has ever seen but they still looked good on her.

"Eden? What's bothering you?" Knox spoke up.

"It doesn't matter now that you're resigning." Eden bitched.

"Hey! Who said I was resigning? I love your company a little too much to leave." he grinned causing Eden to blush so bright he thought it would blind him.

"Then why did you take my cousin's seat at the table."

"Well I saw a chance to make Gloire a better place and this way I can be with you everywhere you go."

"Wow. Do you use that on all your other girls, cause it's working." Eden joked.

"There are no other girls, just you." he smiled and for a brief moment forgot about her cousin, dead love and her bastard husband and was happy, causing the rain to cease and the sun to smile on Gloire, but for how long?