The Golden Throne

Chapter 37: Tell me the truth

"There! Perfect," Hilda smiled satisfyingly to herself. Paintbrush in hand, she wiped the sweat off her brow. For the past few days, she has been working on a painting in secret: a portrait of Hilbert flying his Zekrom like a gallant knight. She was making it as a surprise for him, a show of her affection. This was by far, her most beautiful work, and after endless, grueling hours of pouring her attention into every detail, she was almost done with it.

It was 10 in the morning, and everyone had a refreshing sleep after last night's barbeque. Everyone except for Hilbert. Even in the small storeroom where Hilda did her work in secret, she could hear Hilbert's perturbed footsteps coming from upstairs. She remembered waking up to the sounds of Hilbert scrambling together pieces of paper where he drew mind maps for Arceus-knows-what. He's been edgy the whole morning, and the worst part is, he wouldn't tell her why.

Hilda closed her eyes and shook her head. His tendency to easily stress himself out was making her worried. Just you wait, Hilda mumbled, knowing for sure that her surprise for him would make him forget about whatever it was that's bothering him.

Hilda could hear the sounds of Hilbert's footsteps going down the stairs. "Hilda, I'll be out for a while," Hilbert rushed through his words.

"Okay! Where are you-" Hilda walked into the living room, "-going?" and saw that he was no longer in the house. She walked out the front door and saw him disappearing into the streets outside their house.

***

Hilbert's heart was beating nervously. His hands wouldn't stop trembling, so he put them in his pockets. "Tell Lady Ripley I'm here to see her," Hilbert told a guard. He was in the palace lobby.

"Of course, Sir Hilbert. Please, have a seat while I send someone to fetch her," the guard bowed his head respectfully.

"Tell her I'll be on the west balcony," Hilbert said. If he was going to confront Ripley, he was going to do it somewhere private. He left the lobby and headed to the aforementioned balcony. Questions were racing through his mind as he did so. A part of him didn't know what he was doing here in the first place, telling him that he was just being over-imaginative, while another part of him was telling him to go ahead with it and demand the truth from her.

Hilbert walked to the edge of the balcony and held onto the railing. He looked at the view of the sea before him. It was so... peaceful, almost soothing. Hilbert closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Hilbert?" Ripley's lovely voice called out from behind him.

Hilbert opened his eyes. He turned to her.

"I was told that you were looking for me. What's up?" she asked.

"We need to talk,"

"Umm... alright," she nodded, not sure as to where he was getting at. "Why don't we sit down first?" she led him to a sitting area nearby. They sat down and were separated by a small round table.

A maid came walking by, "good morning my lady, good morning Sir Hilbert, can I get something for the both of you to eat and drink?" she asked.

"I'm fine," Hilbert muttered.

Ripley raised her eyebrow. "If he's not having something, then I guess I'm not too," she told the maid. The maid bowed and left. "Well, somebody's lost their voracious appetite," Ripley teased. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

Hilbert gulped and opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. He took in a stifled breath and looked to the ground.

"Hilbert?" Ripley looked at him with worried eyes. "You're scaring me. What's troubling you? I'm here for you, and you know that."