The Duke's Masked Wife

"That was quick. Did you run to get her or something?" Tobias asked as their return with Julia was faster than he expected.

"She was standing by the entrance with all the other servants, your highness."

"Little did she know she would become a part of the show. Leave us," Tobias ordered the guards as they did not need to be aware of what was said.

In the meantime, Edgar slid off his horse to deal with the maid.

Julia scrambled to bow her head against the snow on the road in the presence of the king and said, "Your highness, why was I dragged out of the palace?"

"Edgar wait," Tobias blocked Edgar before he could reach Julia. "We won't get our questions answered if you kill her right away."

"I am not going to kill her. There are effective ways of getting information quickly without killing her. I don't have time to waste while she plays innocent," Edgar shoved Tobias away. "Did you put something in the Duchess's tea?"

Julia kept her head low and chose to remain silent. There was no way either of them could prove she had done something to Alessandra Collins.

"I consider a person who chooses not to speak as someone who does not require a tongue. Remaining silent will cost you your tongue and I shall have your lips knitted together with a hot needle. Speak now," Edgar ordered Julia in a low tone. He was ready to drag her back to his estate by a rope.

"I am a loyal subject to the queen. I have never put anything in the Duchess's tea-"

"What about the queen?" Tobias spoke up. "What have you put in her tea? There is evidence pointing to you," he said, though he did not know how Edgar came to point fingers at Julia.

Julia bit her lip out of sight of the two men. She had been careful each time to not get caught. "I have never put anything inside the queen's tea. The tea is always prepared for me to take to the queen," she replied.

"There are times when tea is served like clockwork in the palace but I am starting to recall you bringing my wife tea when you thought she was in need of relaxing. You are always by her side. Have you forgotten how you got out of your past troubles? The queen helped you and you rose to be in a better position than most servants in the palace," Tobias said, becoming angrier by the second.

Julia was close enough to Hazel to in fact put something in her food but Hazel had helped Julia more than anyone would help a friend, let alone a servant for him to never suspect her. When he wasn't by Hazel's side he asked Julia to stay close to her each time. It was hard to trust everyone in the palace but he came to trust Julia well enough to leave Hazel in her care.

"I know how innocent people act when they are accused. You aren't too convincing for me to believe you are innocent. Who are you working for? Won't speak? How are your little sister and your mother doing?" Tobias inquired.

Julia lifted her head in shock. Her family had nothing to do with this.

"Why do you look so surprised? What made you think that if you hurt my family I would leave your family alone? Since you won't talk, I shall find some motivation for you. Maybe if you were to witness their execution-"

"You cannot," Julia pleaded with him.

"Why can't I? Is it too cruel? Isn't it as cruel as you robbing me of the chance to be a father and watching the queen cry knowing it was your fault? Why should I care about your family? Is it because I am the king? I am not like others you fool. My wife comes before the kingdom. I will have your family ready to lose their heads if you do not answer my questions. A good punishment would be for you to watch your little sister be eaten by a few starving dogs. Isn't it?" Tobias questioned with a smile.

"Did you put something in my wife's tea?" Edgar asked once more as this was what was important to him.

Julia hesitated before speaking as she thought about her family. Their safety was promised even if she got caught by the king. "I am the queen's loyal-"

"Reed," Edgar called to the man behind him on a horse. "Bring the child."

Julia looked up at the crowd of men standing behind the Duke. She watched as the crowd of men parted and one came forward holding the hands of a little girl. "No-" she tried to stand up but was met by Edgar's foot pushing her back down. "She is just a child."

"That statement makes you quite the hypocrite. She is off limits you missing with someone's ability to get pregnant is not? I am not as merciful as your dear king. I will kill that child if you do not speak," said Edgar but he did not intend to make the child pay for what her sister did. "Speak now before I give the order."

"I-It was only a little bit for the Duchess. The order came at the last second. I don't know what she did to upset them but I was told to put a little bit in her tea to teach her a lesson. The queen has been kind to me but my loyalty is owed to someone else who has always helped me as a child-"

It appeared like a race between Edgar and Tobias for who could grab Julia's throat first. Both wanting to kill her, Tobias and Edgar grabbed her throat, and neither intended to let go. With the strength between the two, it was easy for them to lift Julia to her feet by her throat.

"Give me a fucking name!" Tobias yelled.

"G-Grant Henson," Julia managed to reveal despite their hold on her throat. "He wants his granddaughter to become the mother of the next king. I have answered you so release my sister from your care."

"Of fucking course," Tobias released Julia while Edgar continued to hold her. "What relationship do you have with Grant?"

"He loves me," Julia answered. "As long as I do what he wants, he will take care of me and my family."

"Any man who took care of you as a child and claims to love you when you are a woman has taken advantage of you and toyed with your feelings to commit a crime worthy of death," Edgar released Julia and went to grab his sword. "I will hold out her hands," he said, handing his sword to Tobias to get the satisfaction of punishing her for all that he and Hazel went through because of this woman. Edgar would get his satisfaction by taking her to his dungeon.

"No!" Julia exclaimed and tried to run but she was pushed down onto the snow and pinned down by Edgar who held out her arms. She thrashed and turned, trying to kick Edgar off her but he was much stronger. "Your highness, please," she wept. "Please kill me instead, your highness. I do not want to suffer without my hands. Please!"

"Cry for Grant instead. You deserve to lose the hands you serve the tea with," Tobias said, raising the sword and aiming it at where he wanted to sever her hands.

Julia's screams were heard by everyone who was present as the sword cut deep into her hand with the first blow but as her arm was not severed the first time, Tobias nudged the sword out of her hand and delivered a second blow.