The Blog of armine

Nearly a fortnight passed, during which time Klarissa remained a prisoner (albeit a very pampered one) at Schloss Esenwein.

She was tended to by hairstylists, tailors, cooks and bathing aides; she was waited on hand and foot by many of the palace's hired servants. All of this activity was conducted in an effort (by her mother) to win over Klarissa's reserved attitiude about coming to live there full-time. But all of the efforts at pampering her did little to warm the girl's heart.

The highlight of Klarissa's day, in fact, was not the sumptuous evening meal that was catered for her; nor was it the leisurely stroll through the beautiful gardens in the sunlight of late afternoon. It was the time she was allowed to spend visiting with her father, down in the sealed-off dungeon - and Klarissa admired the way he was handling what she perceived as a terrible situation. Even Alger attempted to convince Klarissa to move into the castle with her mother - but Klarissa held tight to her position, which was that as long as her father remained behind bars she would absolutely not live at the palace.

The subject was not even open for negotiation, as Klarissa made clear to both of her parents several times during different conversations.

Then, one morning after Klarissa's routine breakfast and beauty bath, Marelda paid an unannounced visit to her daughter in her private quarters.

"You are free to go, if you wish", she said without preamble.

Klarissa was happy to hear this, but nonetheless felt compelled to ask one question. "What about Father?" she inquired.

"He will be staying. You know that", was Marelda's answer.

Klarissa had expected this response, but even so it still pained her to hear it. "I have every intention of leaving", Klarissa said, "but before I do I would like to make one thing very clear. I will never forget about Father - and I will free him from these prison walls if it takes me my whole life to do it!"

Marelda only sighed. "He is my prisoner now".

Klarissa pursed her lips, but decided that arguing would be pointless. "How soon may I leave?"

"Anytime before sundown. Any day".

"Good. Then I will be leaving very shortly".

"You are always welcome to return", added Marelda, "and I do hope that you will. Perhaps one day you will better understand my position, and will have a change of heart about me".

"I wouldn't plan on that ever happening", stated Klarissa. "As I have told you many times, my main concern is for Father. He, not you, is clearly the victim in this case. And I want to talk to him one last time before I depart".

"As you wish", consented Marelda. "Let me know whenever you are ready to go".

Klarissa solemnly stared at the woman who was her mother, yet so much a stranger to her. "I WILL have Father freed someday", she said firmly.

"Goodbye, daughter", said Marelda and turned and left the room quickly, leaving only an eerie stillness in her wake.