89 Unspoken Truths

“Lying is done with words and also with silence.”
~Adrienne Rich~

Maya Fey
Kurain Village
April 26, 2025, 5:40 PM

The Kurain head stepped into the main hallway of Fey manor, and then let out a startled cry as she unexpectedly bumped into Pearl, who’d just emerged from her room, and was undoubtedly heading to the Dining Hall for dinner.

“Hi, Mystic Maya! You sure look pretty,” her cousin greeted her with a sweet smile. “How come you’re so dressed up for dinner?”

The Master nervously thrust her hands into her coat pockets. She knew how heartbroken her little girl had been over the split with Phoenix. Undoubtedly, despite everything, she was also painfully aware that the teen still adored him and was nowhere near ready to accept another man as a potential “father figure” in her life anytime soon.

Ergo, the village leader had kept mum about her altered marriage stance and her disastrous dates thus far – luckily none of whom had been worth mentioning! She figured she would convey matters to her little girl when the time was right and there was something to tell.

That evening, she’d desperately been hoping to have dodged any encounters with anyone en route to meeting Longines and Mildred at the Meeting Hall, vainly anticipating that everyone else would already be at dinner.

Too late, it looked like she was busted now! The meeting spot was en route to the dining area, and no doubt, Pearl would want to accompany her cousin en route and Maya simply could not think of a single good reason for her not to!

Well, surely Pearly wouldn’t want to stick around for a boring business matter – not when her Fey-inherited six stomachs are calling her! She thought hopefully. Maybe she’ll just say hello and keep walking ahead to go have dinner – and it’s not like Mildew or Longines can say anything to blow my cover in that split nanosecond greeting, right?

“Er, we have a visitor who’s come up this evening that I’m going to be meeting with, Pearly,” Maya responded awkwardly, her hands clenching into nervous fists inside her pockets as she reluctantly headed out the main doors alongside the spirit medium. “We may go out later to have a … business-related outing in the city after dinner and I wanted to look, um, you know, more modern and all…”

It was as close to the truth as she could get without flat-out lying. After all, none of these agreed-to meetings, regardless of whether they led to matrimony, would ever be deemed as some sort of heart or emotive-based decision. Ultimately, any sort of arranged marriage in her case was indeed a matter of mutually beneficial commerce. Like a merger of sorts, based purely on convenience and perhaps someday down the line, if she was lucky, some sort of… contentment.

But it would never be anything beyond that. She was emotionally dead and empty inside now and that would not ever change. Any true love… happiness … joy… these would never be hers again.

As unromantic as it sounded, even if she ever mated somewhere down the line, Maya supposed it would be the equivalent of channeling a spirit. The part where you submitted to them taking over your empty vessel of a body, allowing it to be utilized for the moment. Sure, she was supposed to triumph over loss and all that, but she knew, realistically, that no male would ever take Phoenix’s place. She’d loved him with every fiber of her heart, and every day had to come to terms that she wasn’t going to end up with him. Daily, she still had to fight the urge where all she wanted to do was get in a bed somewhere, turn the lights off, and just lie there. For, like, a century.

Phoenix Wright, there was a time when you literally ran through fire for me; now all that remains of that love is wraith-like ashes that have long since danced away in the wind. I’d naïvely believed our souls had entwined in the purest of eros; a bond of such otherworldly métier I could feel its connection even when we were apart. You healed me in places I didn’t even know were hurt. But the day you left me was more than my vulnerable, jejune heart could endure. The sweet man of valor and principles that you once were, the one I fell for like a ton of bricks, would have kicked your keister to the moon and back for what you did to me. You destroyed me in ways I never dreamed possible when you left me behind, taking away the very heart of me; my mind morphed from a quantum of solace into an abysmal hell of tormented loneliness and desolation. My shattered heart lies in fragments at my feet and somehow I need to find the strength to piece it back together if I ever wish to have any hope to somehow, carry on…

 “You don’t need to explain wanting to get out of those robes on a beautiful night like this, Mystic Maya.” The teen regarded her guardian adoringly. “I know you’ve worn regular clothes sometimes at a conference when we’ve traveled – and I’ve decided to take a break from these acolyte robes once in a while as well. Next time you shop for clothes though, I may take you up on your offer to shop for me, too! I’ll for sure need some looser, bigger blouses, so Mystic Mia doesn’t have another near wardrobe malfunction next time I channel her!”

Maya giggled. As much as Pearl had grown over the years and now wore a larger size robe than she had as a child, at 15, the youngest Fey was still nowhere near the late defense attorney’s build-in-the-bust department! More times than not, they’d both feared Mia’s Fey Twins would tumble free from the teen’s robes at the most inopportune moment, so the idea of Pearl wearing looser garments wasn’t such a bad one at all!

“Well, you look really nice,” the girl praised her kinswoman as they strode along. “Although I’m still getting used to that new haircut of yours! You’ve never worn it down around the others yet – aren’t you worried about the elders freaking out when they see you?”

“The elders are the last thing on my mind,” Maya answered honestly, yet ran a self-conscious hand over her locks just the same. “Does it look that bad?”

“Not at all,” the teen assured her. “It’s just so different! Besides, you told me Miss Sasha was going to make lots of cancer charity wigs from it, right? Therefore, it was for a good cause! And besides, it’ll grow back!”

The diviner groaned inwardly.

Jeez, thanks a lot, Pearly!

As the Feys loped up the garden path and neared the Meeting Hall, Maya craned her neck to see if Longines had arrived yet, but it appeared that he might have been running late. However, an unexpected visitor, a tall, willowy woman, whose back was to them, could be seen presently speaking to Mildred.

The stranger was suitably dressed for the warm weather that evening, sporting purple suede gauchos, a lime green tank top, lime green espadrilles, and long platinum curls, which spilled about her shoulders. Her hair reminded the brunette of Tiffany, the pneumatic blonde bombshell from The Borscht Bowl, whose eerily similar, perfectly coiffed tresses made her look like she’d just stepped out of a salon shampoo commercial!

For a moment, the necromancer’s heart froze in her chest. She hadn’t seen the waitress since the comedy of errors night that had been her 21st birthday six years ago, and she was mortified at the prospect of seeing an unexpected ghost from her – and her ex’s – past, as she ruefully acknowledged she’d behaved terribly towards the other woman that evening! But what was Phoenix’s colleague doing up there in Kurain?! She hadn’t struck the diviner as the sort who believed in spirit channeling in the least!

As they drew closer to the two figures, Maya could make out the expression but not the words being spoken by the village elder, who was facing their direction. Her hands waved about animatedly as she spoke to the person before her, who had her back to them, a strangely pensive look on her face as she addressed her guest.

“Ah, your hair…” Mildred began uneasily, her bony hands gesturing to her companion anxiously as she fluttered them about like restless birds. “It’s er…grown so long since I saw you just back in February…”

Huh? So Mildew knows Tiffany? But wasn’t her hair always that long? What on earth is going on here?!

As the Master approached, the worry lines in the elder’s craggy mien further deepened, and only became more pronounced at the unanticipated sight of the accompanying teenager.

“Oh, Mystic Maya, there you are! Er, Mystic Pearl…I didn’t expect to see you too…” The old hag tittered nervously. “Ah…ladies, allow me to introduce…”

“No need, Mildred, I’ve been doing my homework on the world-famous Kurain Channeling Technique and its esteemed leader and assistant,” the blonde-haired person drawled and turned to the younger Fey with a megawatt beam. “You must be Pearl! Just look at you! Pretty as a picture, and exactly like in the photos I’ve seen of you online on the Kurain site!”

Another blinding white smile.

“And you … by process of elimination … must be Master Maya Fey! I do declare, the photos do you no justice whatsoever! You’re gorgeous! Although I see you’ve updated your hairdo since that profile pic was taken! I totally approve – it’s fabulous! Loves it!” The village leader was then dimly aware of her hand being grasped into a warm clasp. “Such a pleasure to finally meet you, at last, Miss Fey! I’m Longines Beaugosse.”

The village leader blinked at the fetching blonde female, whose hand was still holding hers – and gawked as she realized this wasn’t a woman at all!

This tall, flawless specimen whose hair, if possible, was even more glorious than hers had ever been, even before she’d cut it … this was her proposed betrothed?!

Yet another man who looks nothing like his photos! She thought dazedly.

Next to her, Pearl’s eyes were the size of saucers as they took in the sight of their visitor.

Maya was no stranger to good-looking men – she’d seen legions of Miles Edgeworth fangirls swoon over the comely prosecutor over the years. Moreover, while he wasn’t as classically handsome as his best friend/rival, Phoenix had also been unconventionally attractive back when he’d been a defense lawyer. However, since getting disbarred and transforming into beanie DILF mode, he’d graduated to an inimitable level of brooding, yet undefined masculinity that had oozed raw, primal sexuality, even in his hobo gear – even though it now killed her to admit it as such!

However, Longines Beaugosse was in a different league entirely. The man was simply the embodiment of even Manfred Von Karma’s approval level of straight-up … perfection.

His smile was soft and genuine, and his fine bone structure would have made him be described as man-pretty without appearing completely feminine. His coloring was like that of a lotus in a pond surrounded by dull green lilypads – he simply had a vibrance that would have made him stand out in any crowd. On top of everything else, there was that hair! Those shimmering, lustrous locks were the kind almost every girl dreamed of, with just the right hint of body and bounce; glossy liquid gold with all the summery essences of Helios, the Greek god of the sun. The billowing tresses draped gracefully around that beautiful visage, curling along the ends and glistening in the evening sunlight with every movement of his head so the rest of it tumbled around his shoulders in mesmerizing waves.

He also looked nothing even remotely like Phoenix Wright, which was merely another crucial point in his favor, as far as Maya was concerned!

The psychic knew she was staring but was unable to stop herself.

This guy’s even prettier than Pearly and I put together, even if he is… super flamboyant! But maybe that’s a hairdressing thing?!

“It’s nice to meet you too…” She finally managed to utter, just as Mildred let out a gasp of dismay as she, at last, set eyes on the village leader’s new hair, in its unpinned glory, for the very first time. Her crepey hands flew to her lips in shock.

“Mystic Maya,” the elder finally managed to croak weakly as she gestured frantically at the Master’s locks. “Wh – what have you done?! Why – why ever did you do such a thing?”

The spirit medium tossed her glossy raven locks back over her shoulder, crossed her arms, and glowered defiantly at her enemy, as though daring her to speak another word. She was inwardly fuming at the dramatic antics of the Dragon Lady. After all, her mane was still plenty long! Despite Maya’s irrational initial pleas, which had stemmed from temporary insanity, for Sasha to hack it off at the nape, the hairdresser had refused, recognizing the heartbroken, impulsive actions of a reckless female when she saw one.

“Do you have a problem with my new hairstyle, Mystic Mildred?” She coolly raised an eyebrow while Mildred’s thin lips opened and closed rapidly, like a fish gaping out of water.

“Your hair!” The hag burst out, pointing accusingly at the onyx strands which had once flowed past the Master’s buttocks, but now fell just under her breasts, admittedly a shocking good two feet shorter than she’d ever had it before. “When did you – that is, how long has it been so short?”

Mildew! Your face! Maya retorted mentally, incensed that the other woman was making such a scene in front of a revered guest, and over a matter that should have been of no concern to her! How long has your pruny, dried-up mug looked like you just sucked on a lemon?

“You’re seriously calling that short?” Longines sounded flabbergasted as he shook his head at the elder. “Are you kidding me? I’m actually in the business and believe me, this girl could easily be a hair model for one of my ad campaigns!”

He turned to the ebony-haired beauty and flashed another gleaming smile worthy of a toothpaste commercial.

“Pay her no mind, Miss Fey – I happen to think that length suits you perfectly! It’s neither too long nor too short. Not too straight nor too curly, but what makes me just adore it is that it’s so perfectly jet-black! Moreover, I can tell it’s your natural color, which is just stunning! The shade is so dark, in the bright sun it positively shines, creating a superb contrast against that smooth ivory complexion – you’re like a real-life Snow White! Plus, it looks so soft and silky, I can tell each strand apart and see that you take great care of it!”

“Longines, please call me Maya.” She smiled shyly. “And thank you kindly – I brush it 100 strokes nightly. It was down past my – er – posterior, up until a couple of months ago. I’ve been wearing it tied back in a topknot since, however. It appears ah, Mystic Mildred here wasn’t expecting such a drastic change at my impromptu unveiling.”

“Fiddlesticks!” Longines waved his hand dismissively and clucked his tongue in disapproval at the stony-eyed Dragon Lady. “For a girl as tiny as you, Maya, it sounds like your hair was way too long before, and would have been completely overpowering you, so people would have been seeing your hair, not you! Besides, we all need to make a change sometimes, right? But, to answer your question, Mildred – no I have not discovered Miracle Grow Hair Magic.”

The hair heir twittered at the old woman’s thunderstruck expression.

“Not yet, anyway! FYI, until my actual hair gets to this length, these here are Beaugosse brand hair extensions I’m rocking at present!”

He then studied the still-stupefied elder with a contemplative expression.

“Also, we so have got to do something about that skinned rabbit look of yours, as you insist on scraping your hair back into that über tight bun! I’m amazed you have any hair left at all – you’re just asking to go bald early!”

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I suppose.” Mildred pursed her lips together so hard, they seemed to disappear. “Although I’ll have you know, I’ve been wearing this hairstyle for the better part of 50 years.”

“I’m all about signature style, but why must you wear it so tight?” Longines exclaimed, undaunted. “I noticed it when we last met, by the way, but didn’t want to say anything at the time. It seriously looks like your hairdo is trying to give you a facelift!”

Smoke was practically coming out of the Dragon Lady’s nostrils now, much to Maya’s great merriment.

“By the way, if getting a little nip and tuck is your end goal, I can recommend a killer place to get that done! Nevertheless, right now, your unfortunate hairdo is pulling the skin around your temples and the way it slants up your eyes makes you look almost Asian!”

“Mr. Beaugosse!” Mildred huffed through gritted teeth. “I’ll have you know that nearly everyone in Kurain, while of the Caucasian race, has some sort of Japanese ancestry that ties them to the roots of this village! Technically speaking, when it comes to our heritage, we are all Asian!”

“Relax, Millie girl, or you’ll lose whatever hair is left on that head of yours! Apologies – I did not intend to insult you!” Longines tittered and held up his hands in a palm up, no offense gesture. “Whatever floats your boat, you know? I was just giving you my professional input, that’s all. Anytime you want a tune-up, you know where to go, though!”

Millie girl? Maya nearly snorted with laughter at the outrageous nickname – this entire exchange was beyond hilarious! Next to her, Pearl’s lips also switched with barely repressed mirth. The old battle-axe noticed, and shot them both a filthy look before turning back to the Sun God.

“I prefer to be addressed as Mystic Mildred, thank you.” The old woman was struggling to sound civil despite her clenched jaw. “Regardless, we seem to be straying away from the important matter at hand. Mystic Maya, have you decided yet what your plans will be this evening, to better acquaint yourself with your suitor?”

The Master jolted, both at the sound of Pearl’s astonished gasp and the thoroughly unfamiliar use of the phrase, all the while realizing, to her utter horror, how within that exact moment, her cover had been blown!

Before she could give the Dragon Lady hell for her big, fat mouth, she turned her head to look guiltily at the teenager, whose angelic face had transformed from being wreathed with surprised curiosity into one that was now white with shock as the meaning of the very telltale word sank in.

“Suitor?” The acolyte echoed in dismay, her accusing gaze sliding resentfully first from the bewildered Longines, to her shamefaced cousin. “Mystic Maya, you were going to marry this man? S –so soon?  And you weren’t going to even tell me?!”

She raised a hand and pointed her trembling finger at the billionaire.

“Was he the reason why you got so dressed up for dinner when you lied and told me that you might have a business meeting tonight?!”

“Pearly, no!” The chagrined psychic shook her head vehemently. “It’s not like that! Please! Let me explain!”

She reached out a hand towards the deceived adolescent, but the younger Fey pulled away, shaking her head violently as hurt and angry tears filled her eyes.

“Mystic Maya, you lied to me!” Pearl glared at her guardian and Longines defiantly. “How could you have a change of heart already? I – I still miss Mr. Nick!”

With that, the poor girl burst into tears and ran off, leaving a thunderstruck Master, a mixed-up Mildred, and perplexed Longines in her wake.

“Pearly, wait!” Maya cried, and then frantically turned back to her guest, a distraught expression on her pretty face. “Longines, I’m so sorry, but I have to go! My Pearly… she had no idea about any of this! I swear, I was going to tell her if there ever became something worth mentioning but right now, she’s been completely blindsided – yet again! Even worse, she thinks I betrayed her. That poor girl’s been through so much already! Please, excuse me…”

She turned to run after her cousin, but the Dragon Lady clamped a hand on her arm, effectively halting her.

“Mystic Maya, are we to take this to mean you never told Mystic Pearl that you’ve since agreed to the matchmaking?” Mildred was the picture of innocent mystification, as though still not realizing – or more likely, uncaring – of the calamity her unthinking words had just caused. “While of course, it is entirely your prerogative to do as you see fit, I must admonish this notion you have of rewarding such unseemly behavior if you take off after your cousin right now! It would be hardly prudent, not to mention flat-out rude, considering our visitor here has come from so far, and certainly no less impertinent than that whole scene your kinswoman has subjected us to just now!”

The wretched harridan then affixed her most serene expression and turned to their visitor, ignoring the dangerous warning glimmer in the Kurain head’s eyes.

“Mr. Beaugosse,” she simpered. “On our village leader’s behalf, please allow me to most sincerely apologize for Mystic Pearl’s unprecedented outburst in front of mixed company, incidentally which, I’m sure you’ll concur, was most inappropriate and unbecoming behavior for a gently-reared young lady…”

“Will you shut the holy hell up, Mildew!” Maya exploded, jerking her arm free. Her expression as she glowered at the village elder was downright murderous. “Haven’t you and your ever gaping, blathering pie-hole done enough damage already?!”

“Why, I never!” The Dragon Lady gasped theatrically and clutched a veiny hand to her chest as she affected her most affronted expression. “How dare you speak so disrespectfully to an elder council member, and in front of an honored guest, too! Mr. Beaugosse, I assure you this sort of outrageous behavior is not typical in the least and nor at all condoned in our village whatsoever…”

“Oh, will you give it a rest, Mystic Mildred! This is hardly the time and place for this nonsense!” Longines snapped, all former joviality vanished from his face as he frowned his disapproval at the old woman before turning to the Master with a compassionate look in his blue eyes.

“Don’t you worry about me, Maya. Go to your cousin,” he urged softly, his expression one of utmost sympathy. “I’ll still be here when you get back, I promise.”

“I don’t know when I’ll be back … Pearly’s run all the way down to LA before as a child; she’s quite the little sprinter,” the diviner sighed but flashed him a grateful smile. “Thank you for being so understanding…”

“There’s no need for you to need to clean up this mess which you have had absolutely no hand in creating, Mystic Maya,” a fourth voice chimed in just then from behind them. “I shall agree with Mystic Mildred that it would be most inappropriate to run off on your guest in this instance.”

Mildred Latrine and Mystic Matilda
Kurain Village
April 26, 2025, 5:50 PM

The Master spun around at the familiar sound and came face to face with Mystic Matilda. She was uncertain how long the other village elder had been standing there, or how much she had witnessed, but the older woman’s face was a mask of disapproval. Her dark eyes remained riveted on Mildew, whom she was now addressing in a no-nonsense tone.

“Since you’re the one who caused this catastrophe, however unwittingly, it is only prudent that you be the one to clean up after the chaos you’ve created, wouldn’t you say?” Matilda prompted firmly. “Otherwise, we are allowing our village to be regarded in a most unfavorable light! Would you be in favor of allowing this kind gentleman to think we endorse not tidying up after our own messes here in Kurain, Mystic Mildred?”

The Yzma clone gulped and shrank back under Matilda’s withering stare.

“Of – of course not!” She stammered, clearing her throat. “You make a magnificent and wise point! I ah, was just about to suggest that myself, Mystic Matilda.”

“I’m sure you were.” The new arrival smiled thinly at her cohort then graciously inclined her head towards Maya and Longines. “Welcome to Kurain Village. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, however briefly, Mr. Beaugosse. Please excuse my hasty departure now, as Mystic Mildred and I tend to this cataclysmic matter.”

She congenially placed her hand on the old woman’s arm and began to lead her away, tossing a reassuring smile at the anxious Master over her shoulder.

“Please try to enjoy your evening, both of you. And don’t you worry about your cousin, Mystic Maya. I’ve lived in this village my entire life, and I know every nook and cranny of it. She can’t have gone too far. We’ll sort this all out with her – you have my word.”

The moment they were out of earshot, Matilda abruptly dropped her hand from Mildred’s and faced her squarely with a stern expression.

“That is the man whom your miai chose as a suitor for Mystic Maya?” The elder demanded, crossing her arms across her chest. “And you seriously approved of it? What on earth were either of you thinking?!”

“What exactly is your issue with Mr. Beaugosse?” Mildred countered, opting to play dumb and act as though she had no idea about what exactly was being referred to. “He is a successful businessman and as you saw, a most gallant gentleman, as well! Plus, he’s not exactly hard on the eyes! Surely he will sire Mystic Maya with a most handsome heir!”

“The man is prettier than Mystic Maya herself and I highly doubt she’s his type, nor does she have what he’d seek in order to spur the actions that are required to create said heir!” Matilda retorted.

“And just what is that supposed to mean?!”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice something that might be amiss in this union to make this marriage – and subsequent consummation of it – ever come to fruition?”

The Dragon Lady placed her hands on her hips and glared at her colleague defiantly, even though deep down, she was painfully aware the elder was simply stating the obvious and was voicing her own innermost fears aloud. And how she loathed Matilda at that moment for it!

Internally, Mildred had been silently screaming in horrified disbelief from the moment she’d witnessed the outrageous night and day transformation of the handsome, soft-spoken, aristocratic man she’d first encountered, to the now ostentatious foppish Goldilocks clone she’d come across that evening!

I nearly lost it when the hair heir called her Snow White tonight – the man looks more like a Disney Princess than Mystic Maya herself ever could! I guess it takes one to know one?!

Something in Longines had evidently snapped after his father’s untimely demise – he’d proudly told her that he had decided to finally “free himself of his previous, stifling shackles” and “finally be the true me I’ve always wanted to be!”

The astounded elder had been positive that there was no way in the seven circles of hell Maya would ever accept such a flamboyant popinjay for a suitor, one who was even more feminine than she was! However, Mildred would be damned if she were the one to try to be a cog in the wheel, in the unlikely event of a miracle! After all, perhaps Longines was merely going through a phase of sorts, and marriage would straighten him out onto a more … normal path, yet again!

However, these were misgivings she would never admit aloud in a million years!

“Just what are you trying to imply, Mystic Matilda?” Mildred demanded tersely.

“I wasn’t implying anything!” Matilda snapped. “I’m flat out saying it! There is no way Mystic Maya will ever agree to some sort of sham of a marriage to this coxcomb! Surely, you’re putting me on here – you absolutely cannot be this completely daft or blind! If you allow this to happen, Kurain will yet again be the laughingstock of the nation! We both know that Longines Beaugosse is queerer than a three-dollar bill!”

“He is not gay!” She denied hotly, feeling her face burn with embarrassment and anger. “He’s just… French!”

Matilda just stared at her dubiously.

“He’s also in the hair industry…so he’s just colorful, that’s all!” Mildred continued, warming to her defense argument and actually beginning to believe her own words now. “You know how that metrosexual craze has allowed men to be a tad more effeminate nowadays! How else can you explain the makeup for men and the man purses they now make?”

“Is that how you plan to explain the fact that Mr. Beaugosse was sporting both of those things tonight?” Matilda arched a derisive eyebrow. “The man had longer lashes than I do!”

“I refuse to partake in this slander another moment!” Mildred declared, assuming her most sanctimonious tone. “I truly trust the belief of our esteemed, world-famous, professional matchmaker that this match would not only be a suitable one for our Master but a fruitful one for Kurain!”

“You can’t sacrifice Mystic Maya into a loveless marriage where forces of nature dictate she can never be wholly compatible with the mate she’s been offered, just for the better of the village!” Matilda exclaimed in incredulity. “That not only isn’t right – it’s obscene!”

“Fine! If you wish to be one to stand in the path of what could very well lead to a happy union that benefits us all, because of your own narrow-minded prejudices, Mystic Matilda, then go ahead, and be my guest!” Mildred countered, knowing full well that the quick-speaking, but slow-acting, and overly tenderhearted woman would do no such thing. “But I do believe you promised Mystic Maya that you’d see to her cousin’s distressed state first and foremost, did you not? Ergo, I shall leave you to it! I am going to retire to my chambers as soon as I make that long trip down to Eagle Mountain. All this bickering has given me quite the headache!”

She paused for dramatic effect and placed a hand on her forehead, suddenly pale with an instant terminal illness. Then she sniffed haughtily and headed off in the direction of Heavenly Hall.

Matilda stood there alone, biting her lip as she struggled with both her plight and the weight of her decision – doing what was morally right versus what was for the greater good of the village where she was a leading council member and for which she wanted nothing but the best!

But first things first, she was indeed a woman of her word – she would go and try to console Mystic Pearl as she’d promised she would.

However, after that, I know what I have to do. Because it is long overdue…