Her Dark Knight

The Argument

Something had changed in Arabella over the past few months; she had felt herself become more aware of the inequalities surrounding her in life. For one - the servants were not as well treated as she had first believed. Having ventured down into the kitchens late one evening, she had found them all huddled around a table, scrambling over the leftovers that she had eaten with her family only hours before. That image had haunted her… a group of older Weres, unable to eat as well as her, all because they had not been born into a high noble family.

She had decided to eat less each day after that shocking sight, so they would have more food between them. She felt like they needed it more than she, as they worked around the house all day whereas Arabella often hid herself away with books she had stolen from her father’s study.

She had felt some distance grow between herself and her parents; she had never been as close to her mother anyway, but her father… The Lady had definitely noticed that something had been troubling him yet did not dare approach the subject for fear of incurring his wrath. He was being called to the Palace much more often, something related to the security of the Kingdom she supposed, but when he came home late at night he was often in a dreadful mood – not even her mother wanted to see him. 

Whilst the servants ate their dinner in the evening, Arabella often found herself wandering into the kitchen to sit with them, asking them questions about the city and anything suspicious that was occurring. 

“The Rogues have been back, Missus. Just small things, really. Attacking some shops in town and stuff. Nothing like what happened at the ball…” The old cook said, looking up quickly to answer the Lady as she settled down next to Delores at the table.

“Hm…” Arabella pondered, “Why would they suddenly be attacking merchants? I thought they only wanted to abolish the Royals, didn’t they?”

The servants shrugged, noisily eating their food. One in particular caught Arabella’s eye. He was a young boy, of only 10 winters she would say, a skinny thing with barely any muscles who was gulping down his food like he was half starved.

“Say,” she said, pointing her chin towards him, “What’s your name?”

He looked up quickly, shocked to see her looking at him and shakily replied, “Ah.. Ma’am, I’m Jerry. I’ve been helpin’ at the stables.”

She nodded, and then softly asked, “So Jerry, how do you like working here?”

Jerry swallowed his food, “It’s been good to me Miss, I’m glad I’ve managed to get some work here and not outta town, them boys don’t come back,” he spluttered out.

Arabella frowned, “Don’t come back? Whatever do you mean?”

“He means,” the cook said, staring pointedly at the boy, “That sometimes the younger boys that are employed to work in the farmlands out to the West sometimes don’t make it back into the city. Suppose it’s nothing, considering most of them are orphans anyway – they probably just ran away or died out there.” 

“But, assuming that these disappearances have just started occurring, correct?” She quickly turned to face the boy, finding him nodding his head in agreement, “Then why have these boys started going missing around the same time as the kidnappings in the city… All whilst The Rogues have just started uprising? Something just doesn’t seem right…” She tapered off, eyes going blank as if she were no longer in the room.

The servants all glanced at each other nervously, they didn’t want to say anything that could get them into trouble with the Duke. The old cook glared at the young stable hand; he had started it so he had to get them out of this mess. 

Jerry cleared his throat awkwardly and gave a nervous smile to the Duchess, “Uhh… Miss. The boys probably did just try and run away, yanno. It ain’t nothing serious I’m sure.”

Arabella hummed, before standing up and announcing her retirement for the evening. Delores quickly stood up and hurried after her Mistress, waving goodbye to her fellow workers.

The workers all sat back and sighed, that had been a close one. 

- - -

The next morning, Arabella was silently getting dressed with the help of Delores, when there was a quick knock at the door.

“Come in!” Arabella shouted, quickly patting her hair to make sure it remained in place.

The door opened, and in its frame stood Igor. “Good morning, Lady Arabella. Your friend Lady Kylia is downstairs waiting to be received, she said that you had called for her,” he said, bowing politely to the young Duchess.

Arabella nodded politely and swept past him, out into the hall and down the stairs. Upon her descent, she spotted her dear friend standing within the entrance hall of the house, holding an umbrella to evade the high winds that had been forecast.

The Lady of Angelos grinned at her best friend whilst speeding up to embrace her. “How have you been?” She asked.

“Just fine,” Kylia replied, “glad to be seeing you again, my friend.” The Duchess Stratiotis winked and interlocked her arm with Arabella’s, directing them towards the garden room where they usually sat for their tea. 

They entered the lit room and made their way to their own seats, Arabella facing the large windows overlooking the garden, whilst Kylia sat facing towards the large double doors leading to the rest of the house. For a few moments it was quiet, Arabella was looking outside at the high winds whipping sand around, not noticing Kylia gazing upon her face with adoration.

“So my Bella, why did you ask me here, specifically?” She asked, “I’m glad to see you, of course, but it was quite an unexpected invite.”

Arabella directed her eyes to rest upon her friend, “I was just wondering about your thoughts on all the disappearances,” She started, quickly adding when she saw Kylia open her mouth, “and don’t tell me that its all rumours. All my servants tell me the same stories, Kylia!” 

Kylia closed her mouth, pondering her friend’s words for a moment. “Bella… I don’t want to upset you with my thoughts,” she finally said, pleading with her eyes to Arabella. 

The Angelos Duchess frowned, “Kylia, whatever you have to say – please say it. I’m tired of everyone hiding things from me.”

Kylia sighed, then opened her mouth to say something that she possibly could regret very soon, “Bella, it’s like the Monarchy don’t care. They told my Father not to send soldiers out into the city, even after the King had specifically said he would put the best detectives on the case. There have been no new leads, and more bodies… It’s as if the King is just trying to sweep it all under the carpet.”

“Hm… That’s strange. Do you think it’s because he’s focusing more on the threat of the Rogues?” Arabella asked.

“I don’t know, but least I can guess one thing – I don’t think The Rogues have anything to do with the kidnapped children, these have been happening long before any Rogue disturbances had started. But, Bella, I don’t think the Rogues are necessarily bad people-” Kylia whispered but was interrupted when Arabella stood up in shock.

“How dare you Kylia! Did you not see my Ball?! They tried to kill us all!” She shouted, throwing her arms up in disbelief.

“No! No, Bella please listen! They only had one target. The King and the Prince, I’m sure!” Kylia shouted back, standing so that she was not inferior to the betrothed Duchess. “Bella, I’m not trying to upset you but things have been so off recently. You don’t understand because you’ve been trapped in here, but something is not right with the King.”

Arabella narrowed her eyes to the Duchess of Stratiotis and hissed, “Be careful, Kylia, for I am soon to be the Queen and will be married into the family you seem to despise so much.”

“I could never despise you, Bella…” Kylia whispered sadly, collapsing back down into her seat in anguish. 

“Well then how could you say these things! I will be loyal to my husband first and foremost, and if that means we shall have to stop speaking, then so be it. All this nonsense is just in your head!” Arabella hissed, moving to walk towards the door.

“Bella! Please, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you. I just don’t think you should blindly follow the Prince, the Rogues might not be the bad people here…” Kylia shouted after her, standing up and stumbling towards the Duchess. 

Arabella stopped walking, still facing the door. She took a deep breath, “what you speak is treason,” then turned around quickly to face Kylia, “I shall take my leave now, I’m sure you can find your way out.”

With that, she left. Leaving her scorned friend standing in the large, majestic room – feeling very lonely indeed.