The officials murmured quietly while the duke looked at the door.
'You don't murmur in the court!' The duke sounded strictly.
The hall went quiet . The duke's behavior got everyone thinking. There was a problem. He could be straightforward but it was extreme. Perriguin hoped the duke would not put out his anger.
'Listen…'
Perriguin's heart skipped a beat.
'…Lamidat is dead and it's because of that duchess. Perriguin and I are yet to deal with her…she must pay for all these!' He yelled angrily, clutching his fist.
Perriguin wondered why he was saying they were going to deal with her together. Was she his soldier?
The duke interrupted Perriguin's thought with his strong gaze. He looked at her intently as if he was in search of something inside her eyes.
'The meeting will continue later' he said.
The officials left the court and started murmuring outside. Anyone that dared to be a snitch was going to face the wrath of Duke Jumbadi.
As he was still looking, a letter fell on Perriguin's hands.
'Perriguin
Thank you…
Duke
She looked at the paper for a while. When it finished fading away, she walked to the duke. She stood in front of him. Tears rolled down from her cheeks, washing away more make up. She bowed slightly.
'Duke Jumbadi, how do we tell Queen mother that Lamidat is gone?' She asked.
The duke bent his head down. When he rose his head up, she could see his veins.
'I have to do something before the festival! That duchess must not live!' He yelled.
He looked so angry. A tear fell from his eyes. His hands were clutched into a fist, ready to punch.
'I think I'm ready to break the law. I'm ready to destroy her kingdom. I'm also ready to take over Noir. Perriguin, prepare for war. There must be war!' He yelled.
Perriguin was worried. They lost a lot of soldiers and even Lamidat. The duke's mother was oblivious about the whole thing too.
'Duke Jumbadi…I think we have to tell your mum about this. She'll be angry if she's the one to find out. We have to bury Lamidat as soon as possible. Remember, no corpse crosses over to a new revolution' she said calmly.
Perriguin could not tell herself Lamidat was dead. Maybe it was all an illusion. Lamidat was a very handsome and awesome young man. Everyone loved him. He focused more on loyalty and cared less about loyalty. He related with everyone. Perriguin was sure all the maids would miss him. Unlike the duke, he did not have a problem with bot being respected though he earned it. She missed Lamidat. He was the life of the palace, the juice of the court. The court was too quiet because there was no Lamidat sitting opposite his brother and opposing his every word, turning every serious moment into a joke. He never passed someone in the morning without giving them a reason to smile throughout.
As Perriguin stood there, thinking about Lamidat, the court door flung open. It was the duke's mother.
'Jumbadi, how dare you host a meeting without my attendance? Since when did I stop being Queen mother? This is a family affair!' She yelled angrily but a bit calmly.
Perriguin's eyes locked with Queen mother's. How was she going to explain?
'…besides, where is that son of mine that calls himself Lamidat? Since when did he stop visiting me daily? And Perriguin…don't even want to believe the rumors of you escaping was true…What's wrong with all of you?' She said authoritatively and angrily as if she was yelling at her five years old children.
Perriguin was shocked to hear that everyone thought she escaped but she was more scared that Queen mother hand mentioned Lamidat.
'Where is Lamidat?' She emphasized.
The duke swallowed. He was dumb for a moment.
'Mom…I'm sorry…actually…'
'What!' She sounded. 'I gave birth to you and you must respect that fact. You have to leave a legacy for the next duke to follow!' She yelled.
She was always give the duke advises that he never took serious.
'Your father made sure his mother, wife and siblings were always in the court. Even his children were always in the court! Weren't you? You should learn how to be responsible!' She added.
The duke could not say a word. He was staring at the marble floor. Only if she knew there was something much more heavier.
'Mum…' he began.
She cut in again. She was getting furious.
'And I heard you when to war when I was Ill. Never you think I'm a fool. You also sold Perriguin without my consent and allowed the rumours. Jumbadi, I didn't train you this way, what got into you? Tell me! You also sent the duchess away! C'mon, is she not meant to be your wife? Jumbadi…I know nothing about you now! You're much more different from the baby I nursed!' She yelled emotionally.
Duke Jumbadi signaled everyone to leave the court but held Perriguin's hand and made her stay.
'Mum…I'm sorry…'
He paused and broke down in tears. All the time, he cried but without expressions. This time, he cried like a child. Perriguin just stood there, trying not to join him. She was only sobbing.
The duke's mother could not say any more thing. She started suspecting something was wrong because it was definitely not her son crying over the matter she had just laid.
'Perriguin…you both are hiding something from me' she stated worriedly.
She looked at the duke. He was still crying
'Ma'am…' she paused and broke into tears.
'What is it?' She asked worriedly. 'Talk to me!'
'Lamidat…' Perriguin began and then, knelt down and bent her head. Another round of crying begun.
'What happened to my Lamidat! What happened to my son!' She asked with uttermost confusion.
The duke lay on the floor with head bent. His head was still bent when he finally spoke up.
'Mother, Lamidat died in the war' he said briefly but painfully.