Chapter 20 (1/2)

In order not to let go of the dress pile in her bosom, she turned her body over. After the impact of her body falling on to the ground, she regained her senses and saw the earth floor before her eyes. But it was silent around her.

When she raised her head she was confronted with gazes of awe struck  Zich and Michael and the pale looking Tasel.

Kasia staggered up from the floor without saying any word. She went to the large table in the tent and gently put the dress pile on it as she assembled the scattered bones.

Michael asked with a barely squeezed out vice. “.…. Dame Kasia, what is that? It’s not right? No way, that…. It’s not Her majesty right?”

Kasia without giving an answer just concentrated on assembling the bones.

“Say that it’s not true! Kasia! You! Its not , right!”

Michael rushed towards the silent Kasia and pulled her around by grabbing her shoulder. He roared with reddish eyes. Though he sounded angry, in truth it was a cry.

Kasia lowered her head as if she did something wrong. The mission was a failure.

“You…. it’s not. You got wrong. There was an information meanwhile that the quarters of Her Majesty was changed. So you must have mistaken.”

Michael only then barely came out of the state of denying the reality.

“.…… I heard it from Tula of Pien. And I was also able to infiltrate into the top of the East tower she mentioned, but…… In the corner of the locked room at the top floor of the tower , there was only a skeleton laid there.”

Michael still held onto Kasia’s shoulder with both his hands , but his breath became rough. Though her shoulder held by Michael hurts, she endured without making any noise.

“Michael, Let go off Dame Kasia.” (Remove your hands from Dame Kasia)

Tasel opened his mouth. Though he sounded resonant like always, it was weak as if he lost his soul.

Tasel slowly walked towards the table step by step.

“.… This is my mother’s dress. There was… only a few dresses, so I know all of my mother’s…. dresses.”

After saying that he tightly closed his lips and approached the body. He lightly ran his fingers over the water stained dress.

The interior of the tent was sunk in silence.

Tasel who was silently looking at the skeleton over the table, gently patted that dress which became the only keep sake of his beloved mother. The appearance of his mother, wearing this same dress seeing him off when he set off for the battle was still fresh in his memory.

Though she was not glamorous, she was as lovely as Myosotis (Forget-me-not). If she was just a daughter of an ordinary aristocrat , she would have been able to enjoy the love of her husband. How can there be any moment of happiness or joy in the life of a daughter born in royalty.

Tasel eyes stuck onto the hole in the upper part of the dress and the bloodstain trailing down from there.

Zich and Michael who stood beside him were also the same. Tears had already begun to flow out from Michael’s eyes.

Kasia thoroughly observed the skeleton she hugged in her bosom. The woman’s height was not much and looking at the bones, she seems rather skinny too.

‘A suicide or a murder.’

Looking at the size of the tear(hole) in the dress, it must be a knife as narrow as a dagger. It can be that someone hid a knife in his bosom and stabbed her when they were left alone, or it can be also that she stabbed herself. Even if she stabbed herself, the possibility of forcing her to die also can’t be omitted.

At that moment she realized that a part of the neckline is strangely inclined. As soon as Kasia put her hand on that part, Zich roared at her saying “What are you doing!” but Tasel stopped him by raising his hands.

“Here.. it’s a bit strange.”

Tasel came close to Kasia and touched the part pointed by Kasia.

“There is something inside the stitches/cloth.”

Kasia took out a small knife and handed it to Tasel. Tasel slowly and carefully cut the stitches of the dress. Inside there was a small piece of paper scribbled with something.

“T…..This….”

Without minding the stuttering Zich, with a rustle Tasel unfolded the paper. Something held inside the paper fell into the floor. That was a small ring.

“.…. This looks like my mother’s will.”

Tasel carefully put down the paper after scrutinizing the paper for a while. Kasia who stood beside him was able to see the content of the paper.

Tasel, I am not even sure whether you will get this letter, if you was able to find this letter then please forgive this mother for going ahead. I was able to endure all those tortures and humiliations, but I can’t put up with a life where I became a bait to endanger my child’s life. I pray that the new of my death can reach you as soon as possible so that you can have a life. I love, Tasel. You was the only light in my life.

The paper piece was too small for her to write much. At the end of the letter , a small signature was there. Seeing Tasel not speaking a word, he seems to understand the cause of her death. And the ring tightly held in Tasel’s hand is the keepsake of his mother.