Love and Other Crimes

The Meeting

It was the talk of the capital that King Henry and Queen Brigitte had madly fallen in love at first sight. They took long walks around the city, so the queen could explore her new capital. They held hands tenderly and stared at each other's eyes. The people of the capital couldn't take their eyes off their so beautiful and love-struck royal couple.

Life looked peaceful and cheerful in the palace of Malgravia. That was the general impression. Why not, with a newly-married couple in it? Those who had served their entire life in the palace however could perceive a clandestine agitation.

As promised, Edward and Edith had behaved appropriately during the weddings. But they had absolutely not forgotten about their mistrust and disdain for their sister's-in-law family. They were beyond doubt certain that Brigitte was committed to undertaking her father's evil plans. She seemed a good-hearted and honest girl. But this wasn't enough to fool them.

For the first time in their life, Edith and Edward did something they could never imagine they would. They secretly summoned the longer-serving members of the council - including Maxwell of course - to discuss the situation.

They all agreed. The wise King Henry, bewitched by his wife and the love that had overflowed his heart for her, had suddenly forgotten about his suspicions on Sigmund's devious plans. Henry had always been protecting his people. So, now he needed their help, they had to protect him.

They were all trying to come up with plans on how to unveil the queen's plans. Maxwell carefully listened to all of them. The more he listened, the more his face was glooming. After they all spoke, they asked for his opinion.

"Does anyone realize we are actually conspiring behind our king's back right now?"

The rest of the companion didn't like his words. Edith and Edward became furious.

"Conspiring? We're not setting him up! It's our brother we're trying to protect!"

"What do you suggest then? Leaving that woman destroy our brother?"

Maxwell sighed; and he looked like expecting what he heard. He walked a little closer to the two siblings.

"Has either of you tried to verify whether that woman wants to destroy Henry? Before you answer, let me ask you something more. What is your greatest concern: her intentions or maybe the fact that you're no longer monopolizing your brother's love and attention?"

The conversation didn't end well. The two siblings fiercely denied Maxwell's argument. The rest of the company though was scared by Maxwell's words. "Conspiring!"

Maxwell couldn't recall the last time he felt so worried and unsure of what to do. This was a reaction he expected from Edward and Edith. But it was unexpected and unacceptable from the council members.

He had never experienced anything like this before; council members secretly meeting without the king. An uneasy voice echoed alarmingly inside his head. The king's judgment was under question. His people had within declared him unable of watching his own back. They had a say in Malgravia's tradition: "it is through sincere intentions you end up in hell".

The truth is the very name of Sigmund was enough to alarm their people. Maxwell himself was certain of his unclear intentions the moment he met him. But the girl... she was another story. There was an honest and pure sparkle in the young queen's eyes every time she saw her husband. He wanted to assure himself of that first. But apparently a lot of others had already decided the queen was a devious wife. "Or they want her to be one, so they get rid of her."

Things were getting weird. And Maxwell had to do something about that.