Alex locked the door to the balcony and drew all the blinds. He knew Helena was standing outside the bedroom door eavesdropping, but he didn't care.
As long as they spoke in hushed tones she wouldn't be able to hear a thing.
Felicia was sweating buckets, her fingers repeatedly clenching and unclenching the bedsheets. Her expression was both painful and angry.
Liam and Constantine were deeply concerned. Both by Felicia's state and Alex's weird behavior.
Hildegarde pulled the blanket off and began wiping down her lady's face, neck, chest and arms with a cloth soaked in cold water.
Liam spoke up. "Alex, what was that just now? That symbol, it's...it's the same one engraved on the hilt of Goddess Kartara's sword. It was an infinity." He glanced back at Felicia's strained expression, wishing he could somehow ease her pain. "And what's wrong with your sister?"
" She is not merely sick, is she?" Constantine inquired.
Alex was impressed by Liam's sharp mind and extensive knowledge. The infinity had appeared for but a brief second.
Taking a seat, he propped his elbow on the armrest. It was time to tell them the truth. He knew he could trust these two with his life and he desperately needed allies to help him protect Felicia.
Seeing as how they were both smitten with his sister, he could utilize that to his advantage.
"I will tell you everything, but we have to speak in whispers because Helena is standing outside listening."
Constantine felt confused. "Why isn't she in here too? She loves her sister dearly, Alex. Helena informed me in her letter that you refused let her in to see Lady Felicia. She was greatly upset by this. It appears you've changed towards her completely. What went wrong?"
"I do not trust Helena anymore. She harbors no good will towards my real sister," Alex replied in a spiteful tone. "She is very jealous and hateful towards Felicia. Helena wishes to be the only daughter of House Del Montague. She does not wish to share that position with Felicia. Since she is a Del Montague by blood, standing next to her makes Helena feel inferior. As a result, she is always competitive. She's always trying to get Felicia in trouble with our father."
Constantine brows shot up. "Truly?"
Liam nodded once. "I have witnessed Lady Helena's jealousy towards her sister firsthand."
Constantine looked at Liam, about to offer up a rebuttal when Alex cut him off.
"Never mind that. That is not what we are here to discuss." Alex glanced at the door. "I can't tell the brat to outright not show her face to me ever again as it would get me in trouble with the Duke, so at best I can ignore and exclude her. Mainly, just ensure she can't be alone with Felicia."
"You were so fond of her before, Alex." Constantine felt troubled. He loved Helena and to see Alex talk about her so disdainfully did not sit right with him.
"I was deceived by her and so was the Duke. Unfortunately, he is yet to fully recognize her sly manner."
Hildegarde chirped in. "Indeed, your royal highness. I still remember how Lady Helena treated Lady Felicia when she first came to this manor. She acted as though she wished to get along with her new sister, but her neatly concealed jealousy was clear for me to see. The other servants were deceived by her innocent looks and soft voice. The Duke and even the Young Master were deceived. But I knew that she despised Lady Felicia and wanted her gone so could hog all the attention."
Constantine frowned. The image they painted of Helena was conflicting with the Helena he knew. The kind and innocent minded lady whom he had grown so fond of. "Helena told me that Felicia is the one who bullies her constantly because she does not wish to accept her as a sister."
Alex chuckled. "Felicia has better things to be doing than bullying that false Saintess who lacks common sense."
Both Constantine and Liam looked at Alex in shock.
"False Saintess? What does that mean?"
"Exactly what I said. Helena is a complete fraud. She acquired her power from a demonic entity and is merely mimicking the effects of holy magic."
All three were shocked into silence.
Hildegarde knew Helena was rotten, but she had not anticipated something this bad.
So the spoiled wench has resorted to demonic magic in order to further usurp Lady Felicia's place? How shameful!
It took a solid minute for Constantine to response. "Alex, how did you even think of something like that!? How could Helena even--that is a heavy accusation!"
"Keep your voice down," Alex hissed.
"What exactly did you see her do?" Liam asked, completely disconcerted by what he'd just heard.
"I have not seen her practicing demonic magic, if that is what you are asking, but I know that the power she carries within her is not holy. It comes from somewhere else."
"Somewhere else? And you've just assumed this somewhere else is from a demonic entity?" Constantine's tone was both doubtful and a bit reprimanding. He felt the need to defend Helena's character. Saying she was spiteful was one thing; calling her a witch was something else entirely.
Liam folded his arms and leaned back.
Alex carried on. "Helena is not a real Saintess because that position is already occupied by Felicia. She is the one Goddess Kartara has blessed. Hence the infinity symbol appearing above her. It is one of the Goddess's markers. A clear sign that she is the chosen one."
"Felicia possesses very strong healing magic. She saved my life when we got attacked four days ago. An arrow tore through my stomach and nearly killed me. She's unconscious right now because she drew upon a great deal of holy power to heal me. She pushed herself too far without prior training and fainted."
Constantine and Liam both searched Alex's expression without blinking. They cast a lingering stare at the sleeping beauty.
Lady Felicia was a Saintes and Helena wasn't?
"I thought the attack was a means to extort money from the Duke?" Liam asked.
"That was a lie I propagated because I didn't want to deal with any unnecessary gossip being spread. You know how quick people are to make things up. Scandals breed with very little sex," Alex promptly answered.
Both men coughed out a laugh at the analogy. Alex chuckled when he realized what he had just said.
"Then what was the cause?" Liam inquired, serious once more.
"We were attacked by the church. The current leader, Pope Matthew sent assassins to kill myself, Felicia and Nanny Hildegarde too since she would have been a witness and thus a liability."
"What?!" Constantine cried out.
Liam's eyes widened.
Alex looked at the door. "Keep it down."
-------
Outside, Helena grew frustrated over not being able to hear anything. For a brief moment she had heard their voices clearly. Then it immediately grew muffled.
She heard her name mentioned by Alex in a spiteful tone.
She heard that stupid nanny spout some nonsense.
Her eyes filled with angry tears. She could not stand being accused or insulted. It hurt her heart so much! She would have barged in if only the door was unlocked.
Are they badmouthing me in front of Prince Constantine and Young Marquis Liam?!
How dare they?!
Are they simpering over Felicia?!
She's pretending to be asleep! It's not real! She doesn't deserve their care! This is so unfair! That bitch is taking everyone for herself! How selfish can she be!? How can she have four people hovering around her and I get nobody!?
Yanking at her hair in frustration, Helena stomped away.
Just you wait, bitch! You want to pretend to be hurt? I will make sure you don't wake up!