After breakfast, I headed to Aifé’s room so we could continue our discussion from the other day.

  “There are some other options, but I think the most likely candidates are the marchioness’s cult and my elder brother.”

  She grimaced. “Those are unpleasant candidates. I thought the marchioness was executed?”

  “Yes, but she didn’t start the cult. It’s possible it has many remaining members who see Helian as a threat to get out of the way.”

  “I see. Yes, that makes sense. If that’s the case, though, I’m not sure how much we can do about it… perhaps the duchess’s agents would be able to track them down, but I can’t imagine that would be a fast process.”

  Considering how long it had taken to get evidence on the marchioness in the first place, she was right. It wouldn’t be quick.

  “You said your brother could be involved. Why would he want to make Helian sick?”

  “Extortion.”

  “For what purpose? I don’t understand.”

  “Remember how my father won the succession battle? All he would need to do is convince Helian’s wife to divorce her.”

  “Oh. Yes… considering his personality, that’s quite plausible.”

  I was very tempted to focus on that option since I could at least do something about it. Even if anyone who helped me would likely be executed, it would be good for the kingdom in the end.

  And it would be incredibly satisfying.

  “You’ve given me a lot to consider, Rosa. I do have some good news, at least. From what I can remember, interfering with Helian’s consciousness to this extent would be a very challenging ritual – you’d need at least a dozen people with significant magical capability to maintain it in shifts.”

  I nodded. “That is good news; it will be easier to find them and get rid of them.”

  Aifé leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. “There really is no rest for the wicked, is there?”

  “I don’t know if I’d go that far.”

  “That’s kind of you.”

  “It’s more for me than it is for you.”

  She turned to face me. “Rosa. You didn’t do anything wrong. You understand that, right? You were just a child, what happened wasn’t your fault. Telling the truth isn’t a sin.”

  “What? I… didn’t tell anyone. Why do you think I told someone?”

  Aifé turned pale. “If you didn’t tell anyone, how did he find out? You were the only person who knew.”

  “I thought… I was sure Mother told him. I figured she felt guilty and decided to admit the truth and apologize, so she could fix things and we could go back to normal.”

  “She never would have done that, Rosa. Going back to normal was already impossible. And… she had nothing to apologize for. Your mom did nothing wrong.”

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  The nerve of this woman! “Are you seriously going to claim after all these years that what you two did was right? That’s too much, even for you.”

  “Fuyu didn’t do anything, Hana! It was my fault! And in the first place, if not for your damned grandfather-”

  Wait, what does grandfather have to do with this?

  “What did he do, Aifé? What could he possibly-”

  The arranged marriage. Shit.

  “Wait, were you two… you were together? Before she got married?”

  “There was nothing we could do about it.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? We could have stopped her!”

  “What’s the point of turning you against your father for something he didn’t do? I won’t pretend to like the man, but he tried his best given the circumstances.”

  My face was wet. “We could have stopped her, Aifé! You could have… I don’t know, you could have run away, or something!”

  “You know that isn’t true, Hana. She would have been dragged back and confined in her room. And… I was afraid. I didn’t want to die.”

  “I… I can’t talk about this anymore. This is too much.”

  Aifé had her head in her hands. I needed a distraction. Anything to think about other than this.

  After a few minutes in silence, it occurred to me.

  “Aifé… doesn’t the temple ban perfumes? Is there an exception for bath oils or something?”

  She seemed confused by my question. “Yes, it does, without exception. Why do you ask?”

  “You haven’t noticed? Most of the priestesses here are wearing some sort of perfume. It has an odd smell, it’s kind of familiar but I don’t know what it is…”

  “That isn’t right. If it’s as you say and most of the sisters are doing it, I would have noticed by now. Are you sure it’s not something else, like the incense we burn during ceremonies?”

  “No, it’s not the incense. It’s… fresh? Like how it smells after it rains, or-”

  The scent of the forest. But that wasn’t right. Why would the priestesses smell like that?

  “They smell like a forest. Does that make sense? Do they wash using river water or something?”

  She seemed genuinely concerned now. “No… we use spring water to bathe, and for purification ceremonies we use sanctified holy water. That shouldn’t be the cause.”

  “Am I losing it, Aifé?”

  “No, I believe you. I don’t know why I haven’t noticed it. Maybe you should ask one of the knights?”

  “That’s a good idea. I’ll ask Ernest, he’s new enough that he wouldn’t have gotten used to the smell.”

  But why was it so familiar? Where had I smelled it before?

  I suddenly felt incredibly anxious. “I need to go check on Helian.”

  “Okay. Do you want me to come with you?”

  “No, that’s alright. You should stay here and rest, you look tired.”

  “If you insist… make sure to get some rest too, okay? You sound exhausted. Once you speak to Ernest, have him guard the door while you take a nap.”

  ------

  “Now that you mention it… I did notice that smell once I arrived. Perfumes are banned? I had no idea.”

  “I suppose they didn’t tell you since they assumed knights wouldn’t use perfume…”

  Ernest rubbed his chin in contemplation. “That’s quite a mystery. Maybe it’s caused by their diet? They’re vegetarians, after all.”

  “No, that rule only applies to the main temple in the capital.”

  “Ah, piety…”

  “Ernest, this is going to sound ridiculous, but have you ever smelled it before? Other than in an actual forest, I mean.”

  He closed his eyes and remained silent for a few moments. “Yes, I think so. Once. Before I joined the order, I think it was at a ball? If I was close enough to notice it… it would have been when I was dancing, I suppose.”

  Shit. “It wasn’t one of the women who got arrested, was it?”

  “Do you mean the marchioness’s cult? Why would… I suppose it could have been. What does that have to do with perfume?”

  “The thing the cult worshipped was real, Ernest.”

  Ernest was taken aback by the way I had casually uttered blasphemy in the temple. “That’s ridiculous, how could… wait, was? It’s not anymore?”

  “Helian and her wife killed it.”

  “I’m still not getting it. What does all this have to do with perfume? It’s strange, I agree, but-”

  “Helian and her wife killed a tree, Ernest. The marchioness and her cult worshipped a giant tree.”

  “Oh. Oh, that’s… very surprising, and I can see why you thought of it, but wouldn’t that mean-”

  “Could you do me a favor and go get Aifé? You’ll have to wake her up, but it’s important.”

  “Who’s Aifé, Rosa?”

  “Sorry, I mean the revered mother. Tell her about what we discussed, and then escort her here as soon as you can. I’m… going to lock the door.”

  Once I checked on Helian, I opened my suitcase and unsealed the hidden compartment.

  I should have brought more knives.