Before long, a knock sounded, and the person who entered the guest chamber was Samuel.
She was a little surprised, but then recalled that he had said he was related to Fran. He had also mentioned arriving the previous day, so he might have been staying here all along.
“Alicia, how are you feeling?”
He handed her a glass of fruit water. The light sweetness passed easily down her throat, easing her discomfort somewhat.
“Thank you.”
“Are you feeling calmer now?”
“Yes. I’m sorry… for how long have I been asleep?”
“Only two or three hours.”
Alicia’s mood grew heavy.
“Is there anything you’d like? Shall I have them bring some light food?”
“Thank you. Lord Samuel… Fran and Lord Patrick are safe, aren’t they?”
At her question, Samuel lowered his gaze.
“They are alive, yes. But Lord Patrick…”
“He is gravely injured, then.”
Her heart sank.
“Do you happen to know that woman?”
“Do you mean Lady Charlotte, who graduated this year? I know of her. Lady Fran was troubled over her.”
Alicia had assumed Fran would prevent that woman from entering the ceremony beforehand.
Yet Fran either had not done so, or could not.
She had not even explained what Charlotte would do if she forced her way into the wedding.
(I never imagined it would become something so terrible. What was Fran thinking?)
A shiver ran through Alicia’s body.
“I had no idea you and Fran were close enough for her to invite you to her wedding. Did she tell you anything? Or were you acquainted with Charlotte?”
Was he suspecting her of something?
(Is this an interrogation?)
Whatever Alicia said here would surely reach Joshua’s ears.
“I have never spoken with Lady Charlotte. My connection to Lady Fran was the magic mirror. Lord Samuel, are you familiar with the magic mirror in the clock tower?”
Samuel let out an involuntary snort of laughter.
“What brought that on all of a sudden? I know of it. That old ghost story about the mirror on the fourth floor of the clock tower, isn’t it?”
“I believed it was nothing more than a rumor as well. What I am about to say… will you keep it a secret between just the two of us?”
For some reason, Alicia felt the urge to test him. Perhaps this was what people meant by acting on a sudden impulse.
“That sounds rather ominous.”
Samuel chuckled softly. There was something undeniably flippant about him.
“Please swear it, on Lady Fran’s honor and my own.”
“I swear.”
He answered with disarming ease.
Even so, Alicia had no intention of telling him everything.
“Then please listen. This happened when I was still in the general course. I found it difficult to go to the cafeteria where His Highness and his friends gathered.”
“Because of Lady Mariabelle?”
Alicia nodded honestly.
“You may think of it as jealousy if you like. I began eating in the dormitory dining hall instead. I was timid, and I ran away. Lady Fran noticed this and took an interest in me. That was how we came to speak.”
She wanted to believe that she had not lied, at least not outright.
“I see. So Fran can be kind as well.”
Samuel tilted his head, looking genuinely surprised.
“What do you mean by that?”
“She’s dependable and strong-willed. I thought she might lack that sort of tenderness.”
“Aren’t you relatives? That’s a rather harsh assessment.”
“It’s not an insult. I admire strong women. It’s a praise, truly. So, what happened next?”
He smiled cheerfully, urging her on.
“Lady Fran confided in me that she suspected Lord Patrick of infidelity.”
“Oh? That’s sudden. Did you grow close so quickly?”
Samuel looked almost amused.
“I’m simply abbreviating the story. When I fell ill with a high fever in the dormitory, Lady Fran helped me. I felt indebted to her. And unlike other noble ladies, she never looked down on me.”
“All right. I won’t interrupt anymore.”
Even that assurance sounded light.
“Lady Fran said she believed I would understand her. She told me that rumors about me had spread throughout the academy.”
“I see… rumors about Joshua and Lady Mariabelle.”
Alicia did not nod at his words and continued speaking.
She did not want to agree at an inopportune moment and have her words used against her.
“And then Lady Fran invited me to look into the magic mirror.”
“What? Don’t tell me you went to the clock tower in the middle of the night? Just the two of you?”
“That is why I asked you to keep it secret. We broke the rules.”
“Oh, that’s all? How daring of you. Weren’t you frightened?”
He grinned at her.
“Lady Fran prepared a lantern and led the way.”
“Very brave. A midnight adventure, then.”
His teasing tone irritated her slightly.
“Are you truly listening?”
“I’ve sworn to it. Go on.”
“At two in the morning, Lady Fran looked into the mirror in the clock tower. She was delighted, saying she could see a future in which she was married to Lord Patrick.”
“Hm. Since she couldn’t prevent Charlotte’s intrusion, I suppose she didn’t see today’s tragedy. A rather useless mirror.”
Perhaps he thought her story dubious, or an outright fabrication.
Fran had seen a future in which Charlotte entered the ceremony, but Alicia chose not to speak of that.
For Fran’s honor.
“And what did you see?” Samuel asked, his curiosity plain.
Alicia already knew how she would answer.
.