30 First Tes (2/2)

”I have said nothing—”

At the Captain's subtle nod, the soldier nearest the man on the ground punched the speaker's mouth bloody. And shut. The Captain then drew his sword from its scabbard in one swift and fluid motion. Gislin, who'd been moaning on the ground while clutching his mouth, stilled and stared wide-eyed at the gleaming blade.

But the Captain took that bared sword and walked matter-of-factly to where Hilde and Lord Alfwin stood. He dropped to one knee before them and, holding his sword perpendicularly in both hands, offered it up with his head bowed.

”I defer the rest of their punishment to you,” he said into the tense silence that no wind nor breath interrupted this time around. It should be said that though the Captain knelt equally in front of her and the Lord General, she – along with everyone else – thought he addressed the older man. Then he looked up and met the younger woman's eyes. ”Princess Hilde, permit me to recommend death by scourging.”

She felt the focus of all who were present shift as one towards her. Before then, she had been meticulous in showing no emotion except what her cold expression would imply. Although she did not flinch, her eyes narrowed as she looked down stonily at the kneeling Captain.

Hilde did not hesitate. Somehow, despite all the rage that boiled and seethed inside her, she recognized what the right choice was in this situation.

”You are all of the military, Captain. Even Gislin, son of Clotilde.” She looked up as she named the man in order to meet his eyes.

His insults should not have been uttered in public – truly, that was his only mistake. The insult against her, she'd concede she deserved. She herself had been calling and treating a foreign prince as if he were a brat, but if she were to be honest, the Hilde of a few days ago had not been that much better than how she saw Leal.

The insult to the Queen, on the other hand…

It didn't escape her notice how few people had expressed indignation at hearing that. Was it the shock that made them unable to react? Or was it because they all thought this to be true and could therefore not offer any denials?

The gaze Gislin returned to her was mocking and defiant despite his bloodied state. He, at least, believed his words and actions to be justified.

”And as you might know, Captain,” she continued, addressing the man before her but not taking her eyes off the other man, ”I am underage. It is not yet my place to meddle in these affairs.” Again, without breaking eye contact with Gislin, who was sneering as she met her challenge, she then addressed the man beside her. ”Lord General, I defer these soldiers' judgment and punishments to you.”

This got a bit more reaction than the insults hurled earlier. There were feet shuffling on the grass, low voices were buzzing.

Hilde worried – of course she did. Would witnesses see in this decision fear or weakness? Possible. Indeed, highly probable.

But she had just been accused of only wanting to ”play” at being general. Taking this easy opportunity to punish the accuser when she wasn't the most appropriate person around to do it – it seemed to her that that would only add weight to Gislin's words. It almost felt like she was a child being told she could smack an adult all she wanted because his teasing had made her cry.

Whether by accident or design, that was the lovely trap that the Captain of Prince Dieter's Guard had sprung on her. She saw that his expression was carefully neutral when she finally withdrew her stare from the ex-Guard and swept a glance at him.

Hilde then brought her attention to the Lord General and found that the crinkling around his drooping eyes was more pronounced.

He said, ”For this occasion, Princess, I shall defend your honor on your behalf.”

”And of the Queen,” she replied evenly.

The twinkle in the man's eyes dimmed. Hilde moistened her suddenly dry throat.

”That is of course a given,” the Lord answered. Strange how she didn't hear much conviction from that.

'Sh*t…'

Hiding her panic, she smiled sparely and said, ”Thank you, Lord.” Hilde swept a last look over everyone; all of them were looking straight back at her. She tried to note what expression they each wore. Using skills from another life, she committed them to memory. ”I shall now excuse myself.”

If only she could run, she thought as she retreated from the clearing at a dignified pace. Upon reaching the trees, she passed Theodar, who was mercifully bowing so low that his face was hidden.

Back in the royal residence, her brief, frantic search for her sister led her outside the door of the Queen's private study. On her clenched fist, she unleashed all that she'd been holding in and knocked.