by Nikki Gaspar
“We need you to tell us what happened that night.”
“I don’t know what happened. I just poured the fresh milk from the pitcher that Mr. Kai keeps in the refrigerator. I did not put sugar or anything else.”
The farm had some milking cows. Mr. Kai prefers to use their milk in his cooking, which was why there are pitchers of them in the kitchen.
“Maybe the whole pitcher was poisoned,” Vincent suggested.
“I don’t think so, sir. I drank a glass from that pitcher myself before I slept.”
“Then something must have happened differently that night,” Major Krisham said with a slight frown.
He’s right. Something happened differently that night, I remember now. Mari comes every night at exactly the same time to give me my glass of milk, but that night, she was late. I don’t even know what time she knocked on the door because I was already asleep. I turned to look at Mari to ask her about this, and I noticed that she has the same expression as Vincent the night he told me his suspicions about Uncle Ant.
“Major Krisham is right, Mari; something happened differently that night. I was already asleep when you came to my room. Why were you late?”
Mari’s whole body was trembling even harder now and small beads of sweat formed on her face.
“You need to tell us the truth, Mari, please trust us. I don’t care if you suspect anyone in the palace, even the members of the royal family. You need to tell us.” Ysabel was not subtle at all, but hopefully, it worked to give Mari the courage to speak.
“You’re right. Something happened differently that night,” Mari said and then darted a glance at Ysabel and Sofia.
“It’s okay, Mari. Just tell us the truth. No one in the palace knows that we are here, and we will not tell anyone whatever information you will give us until we have proof.”
With her eyes closed tight, Mari started to speak. “I prepare the milk after I help the kitchen staff with chores every night.”
I leaned closer because she was speaking softly, and everyone did the same.
“That night, I was left alone in the kitchen. I poured the milk into a glass and was about to take it upstairs when someone came into the kitchen.”
Ysabel opened her mouth to speak, but I gave her a sharp look. I’m afraid that one interruption from the sisters would cause Mari to lose her nerve to tell the truth.
“He told me to go to Jazaael. He said that Jazaael would give me a package and that I should come back to the kitchen because he would be waiting there. And that is what I did. I left him in the kitchen with the glass of milk.” Mari’s chin trembled, and she started to sob again.
“I didn’t notice anything different when I came back. The glass of milk is still in the kitchen where I left it. He just took the package from me and left. And then I brought the milk to you, Princess.”
“Who is that person, Mari?” I asked because she still refused to give us a name.
“I don’t want to be imprisoned forever.”
“Then you must tell us who that person is. Please trust us; no one in the palace knows that we are here. We already have a suspicion; we just need you to confirm it to us,” Ysabel said.
“I can’t. I need to get out of this prison, my mother will worry.”
Ysabel was very impatient now, “Is it the king? Is it my father?”
The grief in Mari’s eyes said everything that her mouth couldn’t, and that was confirmation enough for us.
“Don’t worry, Mari, we will do everything to search for proof that he was the one who poisoned Claire’s milk.”
“Thank you, Princess Sofia,” Mari said when she was able to compose herself.
“Don’t tell anyone else about what you just told us, okay? Don’t trust anyone but us. We will find proof and bring them to the royal court so that we can clear your name.”
“Thank you, Princess Claire, Princess Sofia, Princess Ysabel.” She looked at the two men, “thank you, Major Krisham, Sir Vincent.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Major Krisham reiterated to the prison guards that our visit was to be kept quiet. We were not assured that they would follow this, but if ever they don’t…we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
“I can’t see anyone. That’s probably a good sign, right?” Sofia said as we walked back towards the house.
“Yeah, I was afraid that we would arrive with them ransacking the place,” I said.
As soon as we entered the house, I proceeded to peek in the living room curtains and sighed in relief when I saw the guards lounging on the benches in front, absolutely clueless. We were gone for only a short time so they didn’t really have time to suspect that anything happened.
“What are they doing?” Ysabel asked.
“Just chilling. They didn’t notice that we left,” I answered and then gave her a high five.
“So, that was a success. We need to celebrate a little, how about some snacks?” Vincent said, leading us to their dining room.
A big dining table with mismatched chairs—which should look out of place, but somehow looked aesthetic instead—stood in the middle of the room, and it was groaning with appetizing dishes. That was not some snacks, that was a feast. There were two kinds of pasta: one had seafood in it while the other had white sauce. There’s roast meat, some soup, sandwiches, mixed vegetables, salads, and different kinds of cakes and pastries.
“Wow, this is how you eat a snack?” Major Krisham was amused.
“No, but Mrs. Dorothy wanted to impress the Princesses.”
Vincent went to the kitchen and came back together with an older lady. Mrs. Dorothy was a small woman who blushed when we gave her thanks for preparing such an amazing feast.
We sat around the table and started piling food on our plates.
Major Krisham filled a plate with salad and placed it in front of Ysabel. She then turned and kissed his cheek.
“What the hell?” Vincent said, then coughed as he choked on his food.
Sofia reached out to slap his back. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Major Krisham is Ysabel’s secret boyfriend?”
“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?” Ysabel struck a defiant pose.
“No…I’m just thankful that I only like you as a friend. I don’t think I can fight Major Krisham in any battle.” He was eyeing major Krisham’s biceps.
His facial reaction caused the rest of us to burst out laughing. Sofia was clutching her belly with one hand and slapping the table with the other. Our laughter became so prolonged that Vincent couldn’t help but join once he got over his shock. It was nice to have some fun times with friends because I think I would go crazy if I had to constantly think about the threat in my life.
“But how did you become a couple? I never saw you together before,” Sofia asked.
“Do you remember the time I was a fan of concerts? I begged dad to let me go to them without the king’s guards because I cannot blend in the crowd with huge men following me around. He agreed only if Oliver here would accompany me. In the end, we were just going on dates instead of the concerts.”
“I wonder how angry Uncle Ant would be when he finds out about you two,” I said.
“Well…considering that we are all conspiring against him, I think the point is moot,” Major Krisham answered.
***
We decided to go back to the palace at around three in the afternoon, because Vincent’s dad was due to come home soon, and we don’t really want to have to talk to him. I was the last one to get into the car, and when I was about to step inside, Vincent stopped me.
“Claire, can I speak to you for a moment?”
I looked at Sofia, Ysabel, and Major Krisham, all of them had mocking grins, so I closed the car’s door forcefully on their faces.
“What’s up?” I approached Vincent.
“Are you still staying in the cottage?”
“Yes. I feel safer there.”
“That’s good. I worry about you all
the time, knowing that you stay in the same place with that man…can I call you sometimes? To check on you?” he asked insecurely.
“If that’s what you want.”
“I do want that. Take care, Claire,” he said, then kissed me on the cheek.
Once the car’s door was closed, Ysabel and Sofia made kissy-faces while Major Krisham pretended to be busy with driving. I ignored everyone the whole ride back to the palace, even my heart which was beating wildly in my chest.
***
“How was your visit to Vincent’s house, girls?” Grandma asked during dinner that night.
Ysabel gave me a meaningful look. “Claire enjoyed it.”
“It was nice to be out for a while, and their housekeeper prepared a feast for us. I enjoyed it.” I clarified.
“Adam said that he regrets he wasn’t there when you visited,” Uncle Ant said.
It was uncomfortable to have to pretend that everything was okay with Uncle Ant. I was forced to eat with the family because we couldn’t let him notice that anything was different.
Mr. Taz and Mrs. Luminaire were taking turns in pretending to help the kitchen staff prepare the meals, so they could make sure that Uncle Ant was nowhere near the foods.
***
Although we already learned a lot about the case, they were still just he said/she said, and we would have difficulty proving them in court—especially since we were against the most powerful man in Bellanmuse.
We still have no idea how to proceed with the investigation, so we decided to give each of us a task. Vincent would spy on his dad, search his home office for some clues, and follow him around. Major Krisham would talk to the guards assigned to Uncle Ant, subtly ask about the places he visits, and the people he talks to. Sofia and I would talk to the palace staff to see if they knew some vital information. And Ysabel would search Uncle Ant’s office.
“I have news,” Major Krisham said as soon as he arrived in the cottage for our Tuesday meeting.
He looked at Ysabel and Sofia. “Does the king go on hikes?”
“No, he’s not athletic at all. Why?” Ysabel said.
“Well, I learned from one of the guards assigned to him that they often go to a hill.”
Sofia wrinkled her nose. “I can’t imagine dad going on hikes.”
“But what’s wrong with that?” I asked.
“I think he’s hiding something on that hill. When I asked the guard about what’s so special there, he said that they were never allowed to go up.”
“He leaves his guards at the foot of the hill?” I asked.
Major Krisham nodded. “That’s what the guard said.”
“We need to see what’s in there. It’s very suspicious for him to go up there alone,” I said.
“I agree. We must plan on how we are leaving the palace again,” Ysabel said, chewing on her perfect nails.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Sofia charmed Jazaael to find out Uncle Ant’s schedule because we don’t want him to suddenly show up while we were on his favorite hill. She learned that on Monday the following week, Uncle Ant would attend a conference with other dignitaries in a country near Bellanmuse, and the event would last for two days.
We spent the rest of the week planning our escape. Although Uncle Ant’s absence made the task easier, it was still tricky because Grandma was always in the palace, and the guards were as vigilant as ever.
Our decision was to pretend that we’re just hanging out inside the palace—a pretend movie marathon in the theatre room—but we’re actually leaving with Vincent by hiding in his car. Major Krisham would still accompany us, but he’d meet us outside the palace.
“How was your class, girls?” grandma asked while we were having lunch.
Uncle Ant left last night on his private plane because the conference started early this morning.
“It was tiring. I want to have some relaxation.” Sofia yawned like she just finished ten exams in one morning.
“How about a movie marathon?” Ysabel suggested.
“That’s great! I want to watch movies too,” I said, following my line from the script we wrote earlier.
“Do you want me to ask Mr. Kai to make some snacks for you?”
“No need, Grandma, we can just ask later if ever we get hungry.” We don’t have time to wait for the snacks. We need to sneak out of the palace soon because Vincent was already waiting in his car.
***
After lunch, we went to the theatre room, set the big television to play several movies, one after the other, set the volume high, and then locked the door. Then, we sneaked out one by one and met in Vincent’s car.
“Are you comfortable, girls?” Vincent asked.
“No! Just drive already so we can get up from this floor sooner!” We squeezed our bodies on the floor at the back of Vincent’s car like human pretzels, and it made Ysabel grumpy.
“Relax, I’m driving.”
Limbs twisted and random metals poking on our bodies, we held our breath when the car arrived at the gate.
“Sir Vincent, you’re leaving late today,” a guard said.
“Yeah, homework sucks.” Vincent’s acting was on point.
The guard chuckled. “Drive safely and come back for more homework tomorrow.”
Thank goodness the guards were lax with Vincent since he comes and goes every day.
Vincent drove for about three minutes before he decided that we could get up and sit properly.
“That’s the most uncomfortable position ever,” Ysabel complained.
***
We arrived at the foot of the hill an hour later. Major Krisham was already there, busy with something by the edge of the trees.
“What are you doing, Oliver?” Ysabel asked as we approach him.
As I got nearer, I saw what he was busy about. A fence surrounded the edge of the hill, and a sign on the gate reads Do not enter.
“I’m picking the lock on this gate.” He fiddled with the lock, twisting and turning a piece of wire.
“There, done,” Major Krisham said a minute later.
“Great! Let’s go. We better start walking.”
“Wait, Princess, we’re not walking,” Major Krisham called after me.
When I turned around, he was gesturing to a monster of a vehicle that I didn’t notice earlier because he parked it in a corner, under the shade of trees. I didn’t know anything about vehicles, but I know that the wheels of that thing were almost as tall as me.
“Nice jeep, man!” Vincent was green with envy.
“Thanks. I figured that the Princesses would prefer the ride, instead of a hike.”
“You guessed right,” Ysabel went to the passenger side but stopped when she realized how high it was.
Major Krisham chuckled and lifted her so she could sit. Vincent did the same for me and Sofia before he heaved himself into the backseat.
***
The journey so far was not that bad; the trees were widely spaced, allowing Major Krisham to maneuver with ease. The only difficulty we had was the rocky terrain. The bumpy ride caused a few headbanging and limbs flailing, but all in all, I still see no reason why the king’s guards were left behind.
Minutes passed with no clue on how far we were from reaching the top because the surroundings remained similar. I was just wondering if Major Krisham was lost and going around the same route when the trees became fewer and more flowering plants came into view.
Suddenly, Major Krisham gasped.
“What is it?” I asked.
He remained silent as if scared that someone would hear him and pointed his finger instead.
A huge greenhouse structure was built at the top of the hill. The trees stopped a few meters from it, making it look like an actor surrounded by spectators in an amphitheater.
“Do you guys think we’re alone?” Ysabel asked once Major Krisham turned the vehicle off.
He opted to park by the edge of the trees, probably to avoid disturbing the lush grass near the g
reenhouse and alerting Uncle Ant that someone had been in his secret place.
“The truck was loud, if there are people here, they’re welcoming us now,” I said.
“Or shooting us with their guns?” Sofia added.
“Or that,” I said with a shudder.
Vincent opened the door and jumped out of the vehicle. “Stay here. I’ll look around,” he said. He walked around for a few minutes, peeking at the greenhouse and in between the trees before he was satisfied that we were the only people present.
At his signal, we jumped out of the monster vehicle to do our own look around. The size of the greenhouse made me wonder if Uncle Ant built it himself or paid people a substantial fortune both for the construction and for their secrecy.
“Do you guys know what those plants are?” Vincent asked, pointing to the thick foliage visible from where we stood outside.
The closed door prevented us from seeing the entirety of the garden enclosed in the structure.
“No. But the flowers are pretty,” Sofia said, standing on her tiptoes and craning her neck to get a better view.
No one seemed to want to make the first move, so with my heart pounding in my chest, I reached my hand to turn the door’s knob. It didn’t budge. I had a hunch that it wouldn’t because there was a keypad attached beside the door, but I figured there was no harm in hoping that this would be a smooth sailing investigation.
“What could the password be?” I asked the sisters. They knew Uncle Ant better so their guess was probably better than mine.
“Try his birthday, 083073,” Ysabel said.
I pressed the numbers, but it was wrong.
“Try Ysabel’s birthday, 042095 or mine, 122400,” Sofia suggested.
I tried both sets of numbers, but the door remained locked. What day could possibly be more important to Uncle Ant than his children’s or his own birthday?
“How about the day he was crowned as king?” I asked.
“That was a few days after Grandpa’s death,” Ysabel said, counting in her head. “Try 111505.”
I pressed the numbers, and then the lock beeped followed by metallic sounds.
“Genius thinking, Claire. Of course, that day was most important to him. I should have known,” Ysabel said, shaking her head.