"You know what they say about the women of Lys," she began before receiving any prompting. "All of them are flowers, yes, but most are th.o.r.n.y, many are poisonous, and some are… er… some are carnivorous." As she listened, it seemed Gisela had great trouble figuring out why Hilde was saying these things or where she was going with it. Hilde clarified, "That is to say, cousin, it wouldn't be the best place for any Arnican woman, much less…"

'Much less for YOU' was the obvious concluding word, but she just managed to stop herself. It didn't matter, though. When the meaning registered to Gisela, it registered in full. She understood even the things that hadn't been said – including the fact that Hilde thought she had developed a liking for the lone Lysean among the Lord General's family. Or that, much like her mother did, her cousin saw her as a sweet and unblemished bloom.

Also, just like her mother, Hilde wanted her to remain that way.

Gisela broke out of her melancholy to let out a brief giggle. "Silly Hilde," she said. "It isn't about that at all."

"So what is it about?" Hilde asked. Then, despite the unlikelihood given how tightly Lady Ilse would have been guarding her, it occurred to Hilde to wonder: "Earlier… did anyone say or do anything to you?"

"Just a bug," drifted a voice from the front. Though Lady Ilse did not look at the girls, Hilde could read from the rigidity of her back how deeply affronted she was by this. She sniffed before continuing, "It shall never go buzzing near her again, rest a.s.sured."

Hilde kept facing the Lady, but her eyes slid sideways. She managed to catch how Gisela's eyelids fluttered, how her own gaze also slid for a moment to once again look in the direction of the bier in front. She then retrieved her gaze and resumed staring at the ground, a small frown between her otherwise perfect brows.

Hilde too frowned. Eyes sliding the other way, she thought, 'If not Leal, then…'

When the answer hit her, she did not quite know what to feel. However, overriding all the jumbled sensations in her chest was the realization that, yes, she did very much want to find out exactly what happened between her cousin and Lothar's younger brother. More importantly, she wanted to know why Gisela was feeling so down about whatever it was – she wanted to know where things might lead to if the situation were to be allowed to develop.

'So…' Hilde thought, now feeling a mixture of suspense, pleasure, and guilt. 'This is what being a gossipmonger feels like…'

"The soldiers have been detailed as ordered, Queen," said the Captain of the Queen's Guard after saluting to her in a clatter of ceremonial armor – his and his comrades' were also lacquered black, but theirs were detailed in gold.

On the other side of the Prince's bier, Lady Ilse's soldiers arrived as well. All eight saluted to the royals, but the four who'd been with Hilde earlier gave her an extra nod of acknowledgment. She returned these with a simple smile.

"Queen Heloise, why are there only four with you?" Lady Ilse asked, seemingly out of nowhere. Until she pointed this detail out, Hilde hadn't noticed.

"I could only provide the best for a visiting royal, Lady," the Queen answered coolly. She gave Hilde a blank, lingering look before continuing, "Now that his true ident.i.ty's out, Prince Leal's protection is even more paramount. There's also the other Lyseans to guard. I'm afraid the Princess and I must do with less to ensure they would not be harmed."

"But…" Lady Ilse began. From the looks of her, that reasoning did not compute at all – who gives a fig what happens to Lyseans? What then if it was her equally royal nieces who'll be harmed? One of them's just another head-knock away from dying! "Then take two of my—"

It was then that the Prince's Guards arrived into their midst. Because they'd be the ones taking the brunt of the second part of the funeral rites, they, along with the other armored guards, had been allowed to take their last refreshments in more comfort than the people outside.

Four of these last arrivals, including the Captain who was called Judda, took positions on the four corners of their liege's wheeled bier. When he and the others greeted the women, there was no hint in his eyes that he'd had any interaction with Hilde before then.

'Screw it,' she thought, spurred by a sense of urgency. If, like the Lord General seemed to have done, Captain Judda was thinking there was no use for her now, he might not care enough to intervene in case a "certain someone" makes use of the incoming opportunity to do her harm. Four guards for the two of them? Hilde scoffed inwardly – more like four guards for the Queen and absolutely none for her. 'This is so not the time to not make a.s.sumptions.'

She briefly debated and was about to ask p.r.i.c.k if he can restore her body to full strength. She also saw that Lady Ilse was about to continue her interrupted offer. Before either could act, however, they were both interrupted.

"At your command, Princess."

Surprised, Hilde turned to find a familiar injured soldier standing before her.