Madeline knew how Beth was doing, and it was a simple question that could have different possible answers. She was surprised that Beth had not lashed out in front of everyone or at her again since their exchange of words in the room that had shown each other their positions and where they belonged.
Beth didn’t look at her sister again, but she could feel Madeline’s gaze on her. How was she feeling? She was embarrassed to face people because everyone looked at her with a look of suspicion in their eyes.
“You know how I have been since we were small, isn’t it, Maddie?” Beth questioned her, “We have spent so much of time together since we were little girls, sisters who have known each other’s flaws and positive aspects. How do you think I must be feeling, by not being just pushed in the corner but to be kept aside like I don’t matter?”
“If it is about the wedding and Markus-“
“It isn’t about Markus,” Beth interrupted Madeline, “You know me better than anyone in here. Even more than what our parents have known about me. I have been an ambitious person, wanting a life better than anyone. A house nothing less to a mansion or a castle. A husband who would dot and love me, someone who would give me everything I would ever wish. You have known how I liked the attention. Why didn’t you tell me before that there was something wrong about it? Now that you are putting your feet in the Queen’s shoes, you’re telling it now.” Saying this, Beth turned to look at Madeline who was looking at her.
“I never told it is bad to be ambitious, Beth. You take it wrong, you always have,” Madeline’s words were gentle when she said those words.
Beth turned so that she could face Madeline, “Enlighten me then. It seems like you have suddenly turned to a smart woman.” Beth gritted her teeth in the end.
“You went to help a person who didn’t care about you, and the same person swayed you to poison the King. Where is that Beth, whom I know who would never hurt or harm anyone? Who would think at least once before stamping on someone’s foot?” asked Madeline, “You are right. We have known each other for so long. It is why I know you have a good heart. There’s nothing wrong to be ambitious about things, but you need to draw a line so that you know what price you might need to pay for those ambition.”
Madeline had noticed how Beth, lowered her eyes at the dining table, not because she was angry, but she was ashamed of herself. It was enough as a stepping stone for Beth to start changing her view of how she saw things.
“I know deep down in your heart, you know Markus was using you for his benefit,” Madeline’s words didn’t sit well with Beth as to her, she felt like she was being told off by her younger sister.
“Markus was framed,” replied Beth, “You know that. Don’t preach the King’s cruel deed’s to be right, when he is in an equally wrong footing. Can you tell that what he did was right?” her green eyes were nothing less to the blazing fire.
“Everyone have their reasons. And as I said, there’s a limit to draw which Markus didn’t. Wrong footing would be me asking the King to not punish you for trying to commit treason against him.” Hearing this, Beth’s eyes hardened instantly.
“Are you trying to tell me that it is because of you I am alive? Are you going to keep doing it for the rest of your life?”
Madeline sighed, “It wasn’t my intention to make you feel that way.” All these years, Beth was the one to speak, and others followed her words. Now that Madeline was standing against her words and actions, helping Beth to rectify her mistakes, Beth found it hard to digest. “I won’t bring it up again, and it was only an example. I didn’t speak anything in the past because I didn’t know you would be swayed by people like Wilmot’s. There are many other things that goes in the castle that you weren’t told about. You saw what happened in the trial and don’t turn a blind eye to it. You saw how Rosamund gave away her son just to save herself. It doesn’t matter how much she cried later, because, in the end, that is what she did, making way to his execution. The Wilmot’s were only using you.”
Seeing Beth quiet, Madeline continued to say, “For a moment, just for this one time, I want you to go through all the things they have said and told. I know you are a smart woman, Beth. I have always looked up to you. I know you will see the signs.”
Beth shook her head, turning herself away and sitting down on the edge of the corridor.
Madeline didn’t know if Beth was refusing her advice. Nonetheless, she didn’t give up on her sister. There were already enough corrupt people in this world, and she didn’t want to lose her sister. She took herself to join Beth by sitting down next to her.
“Beth,” said Madeline and Beth raised her hand so that Madeline would stop speaking right now. Seeing how her sister didn’t’ ask her to leave her alone, Madeline didn’t make an effort to move, and she instead, continued to sit next to Beth.
Madeline knew Beth wasn’t a bad person, and she only got carried by her emotions. And Beth was right. Calhoun had not been poisoned, but it was Beth’s thought that was something to be worried about. People like the Wilmot’s could easily manipulate her sister, and it was because Beth was still innocent.
Like many other young men and women, Beth aspired to have a better life, and Madeline never saw it to be wrong, “I am sorry that I am getting married before you.”
“I don’t care about it anymore,” came the response from Beth, looking at the snow that surrounded the open ground.
