Chapter 36
Trap (1)
Liene washed and dressed. She wore a lilac dress that she usually left untouched. It was made of thin, delicate fabric with small embroideries, making her constantly worry about tearing it. She had sold almost all her impractical clothes, but this one remained. Madam Flambard had tearfully begged her to keep it, and Liene knew the lilac color suited her face well, so she was a little reluctant to part with it.
“You did well to keep it a hundred times over.”
Madam Flambard nodded repeatedly as she styled Liene’s hair to match the dress.
“Indeed, you did well. How could a princess of a nation only have tough and durable clothes?”
“It’s not really necessary, though.”
“Why isn’t it? You’re wearing it so beautifully today.”
“I suppose so.”
Unlike usual, Madam Flambard skillfully braided Liene’s hair neatly and pinned it up, then added a deep purple flower behind her ear.
“You look absolutely beautiful. I must say, even though I did it myself, it suits you so well.”
Liene smiled shyly.
“Thank you.”
Madam Flambard, who had been watching Liene with a satisfied expression, shook her head and said,
“Then I will go to the temple before anyone notices I’m gone. I am sorry I cannot attend to your meal, Princess.”
“It’s alright. You’re doing something much more important. Please be safe.”
“Yes, Princess.”
Madam Flambard nodded with a determined look and quietly left Liene’s room.
“I still have some time.”
She had hurried her preparations, so she had time to spare before the appointment.
“Should I do some sewing? Madam Flambard might have left something unfinished.”
But she only said the words; her body didn’t move. For some reason, she kept glancing at the mirror.
“Does it really suit me so well…?”
From the front, she couldn’t see how Madam Flambard had placed the flower.
“I wish I could see it too.”
Madam Flambard said it was pretty, so it probably was, but she wanted to see it with her own eyes. Would he think it was pretty too…?
“—Suddenly so beautiful.”
Whenever that phrase, uttered while showering her with kisses, suddenly popped into her head, her eyes would reflexively close. She felt dizzy, as if floating in the air, and her toes tingled. Her former lover had always praised her beauty, but those words had never truly resonated with her. The same went for her lover’s appearance. Laffite was handsome, but she had never lost track of time staring at him the way she did with Black.
“……I’m nervous.”
Her eyelashes fluttered against her closed eyelids. Liene lightly clutched the fabric over her chest. She had never felt her heart tremble from the bottom up just from the thought of meeting someone. Everything was new.
“Why only with him…?”
Her thoughts kept getting stuck on Black, as if trapped somewhere, so Liene steeled herself and stood up from in front of the mirror.
“Let’s not do this. What if I end up liking him all by myself?”
He was someone she shouldn’t like yet. In fact, she might already be at the point of liking him, but Liene tried hard to ignore that fact.
“I should do something else. Going to the dining hall first would be a bit much.”
Liene left the room, intending to find the sewing Madam Flambard had left behind. Madam Flambard’s room was a bit of a distance from the bedroom Liene was currently using. It was the room adjacent to the one Liene had used as a child. As she left, she noticed that Black’s room was empty. She had suspected as much since she couldn’t hear any sound.
“He probably isn’t in the dining hall already.”
There was a little less than an hour until the appointed time.
“……Well, he must be doing something somewhere.”
Liene walked towards the east tower where Madam Flambard’s room was located.
“Princess!”
It was unexpected to run into mashilow along the way.
“Lord mashilow…? What brings you to the palace?”
Ever since mashilow had arbitrarily written a knighthood certificate in the office, Liene had forbidden mashilow from entering. Now, mashilow could only set foot in the ruler’s office with Liene’s permission or if he had requested entry in advance.
“There was no choice, as there were many matters to attend to. There’s the knighthood certificate for the Kleinfelter Family, and I also need to discuss the payment for the temple stairs construction…”
“That payment will be made in Lord Tiwakan’s name. As for the knighthood certificate, I have nothing to say for now. Unless the Kleinfelter Family offers something in return first, there is nothing I can do.”
“Yes, I know. But shouldn’t there be at least some advance payment to the quarry? Because the construction is delayed, the temple is filled with wails instead of prayers. The temple couldn’t bear it any longer and sent someone to me.”
“Oh dear. If that’s the case, why did they seek you out instead of coming to me?”
“As it happens, a priest is here. There are many other things to discuss as well. Why else would I have entered the palace so early in the morning?”
“I see.”
The timing was awkward. But she wasn’t the type to postpone state affairs for the sake of a meal.
“Then let’s make it brief. Lead the way.”
Liene gestured towards the office.
“Thank you for your permission, Princess.”
mashilow hurried his pace, glancing around nervously. That was when she should have noticed something was wrong. * * * Bang! The moment she entered the office, the door slammed shut. Liene turned around in surprise. The one who had closed the door was a man dressed in priestly robes.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Liene asked, looking back and forth between the priest and mashilow. mashilow lowered his head and mumbled.
“I had no choice… I had no choice, Princess.”
The man in the priestly robes was not a priest.
“Shut up and listen to me, Princess.”
He took off the hood that had been pulled down so low as to completely cover his face. From the grinding voice, Liene already recognized who it was. It was Lyndon Kleinfelter. It wasn’t particularly surprising, considering what he was capable of.
“You look terrible, Lord Kleinfelter. So now you’re imitating the children of God. Was Tiwakan guarding the gates that frightening?”
“Are you deaf because I told you to shut up?”
Lyndon Kleinfelter retorted to Liene’s sarcasm with a roar.
“Oh, no… Lord, how could you…”
mashilow, who hadn’t expected Lyndon Kleinfelter to go this far, waved his hands with a pale face. But neither Liene nor Lyndon Kleinfelter paid him any attention. The two were already at rock bottom. Instead of standing on ceremony, they would rather fight.
“My ears are fine. Don’t get your hopes up and just leave. Or do you want me to scream?”
“You dare…!”
Lyndon Kleinfelter raised his hand as if to hit Liene. But it was just a threat. He didn’t seem ready to cross that line. Of course, Liene had no intention of standing still. If Lyndon Kleinfelter dared to swing his hand, she was prepared to smash his head with an ink bottle this time.
“Today…! You will release Laffite immediately. Do you understand?”
“Dream on. Do you think that’s possible?”
“Why not!”
“You know what Laffite did. He tried to kill my fiancé in broad daylight in the middle of the street! Are you telling me to ignore that? How on earth?”
“Why does it matter what he did! What is there that the eldest son of the Kleinfelter Family cannot do in Nauk!”
Liene looked at Lyndon Kleinfelter with a look of disgust. With that kind of thinking, he must have been able to commit all those deeds and still remain so brazen.
“……My mind will not change. And there is nothing I can do. The one in charge of Nauk’s security is currently Lord Tiwakan.”
“I heard that guy has become a dog that wags its tail whenever the Princess lifts her skirt. Where are you getting this ridiculous excuse from?”
“Shut your mouth!”
“L, Lord Kleinfelter! Even so, you shouldn’t say such things…!”
It was an excessive insult. mashilow was so shocked that he pointed a finger at Kleinfelter. Liene’s face turned white as she clenched and unclenched her fists.
“Don’t ever speak to me like that again. I will not tolerate it a second time.”
“Or what?”
“It seems that your rude and foolish head cannot comprehend why the eldest son of the Kleinfelter Family is still alive despite committing treason. There will be no second time. I swear it in the name of Arsac.”
“……Damn it!”
Lyndon Kleinfelter, unable to contain his anger, burst out with curses. He knew Liene was right. It was none other than the chief of Tiwakan. There were more than a few witnesses who saw him, having suffered an accident to his body, turn into a mad beast and chase after Laffite. Laffite would have had nothing to say even if he had been torn limb from limb on the spot. The reason his nephew's head was still attached to his body was, though he hated to admit it, Liene. That young pup, who somehow ended up on the throne despite knowing nothing, must have done something. His nephew was so infatuated with that pretty face that even Tiwakan's beast seemed to have fallen for her.
“Let's negotiate.”
Unfortunately, Liene was the only way to get his eldest son out of prison.
“Let's do it with money, as we've always done. I'll deduct thirty percent of the money the Princess borrowed, so take responsibility and release Laffite. Do you understand?”
...Understand what? Even when he came to beg for his life, Lyndon Kleinfelter was arrogant. Watching him act so rudely made her want to slap him across the face.
“Is the life of the eldest son so cheap? Only thirty percent.”
Liene massaged her trembling hands, trying to suppress her impulse.
“Add more.”
“What are you saying? No matter how crazy the Princess is about money, how can you talk like that?”
“Shouldn't you at least be polite if you've come to beg?”
“Impudent…”
Lyndon Kleinfelter bared his teeth and growled. Liene met his gaze with a sharp glare.
“It's no use insulting me a hundred times. I give up since you seem to be completely hopeless when it comes to honor or etiquette. Instead, let's get the calculations right. It's not thirty percent, it's fifty percent. And I won't pay interest for the next three years.”
“Are you trying to rob me?”
“The Kleinfelter Family has been robbing us all along. Considering the interest you've been taking, it shouldn't be such a losing deal, so why are you being so stingy?”
Lyndon Kleinfelter gritted his teeth, the sound scratching at her ears.
“...In exchange for releasing him right now.”
“No. No way. Bring me the debt-related documents first.”
“Do you think I'm joking right now?”
“Not at all. Although, you do seem to be failing to grasp your position, considering you came here to beg.”
“……”
Lyndon Kleinfelter's eyes changed. He didn't care whether mashilow was there or not and started speaking informally to Liene.
“What makes you, a mere child with nothing but an ill-fitting crown, dare to wag your tongue like that in front of me?”
“Who's wagging their tongue wrong… Hngh!”
Suddenly, Lyndon Kleinfelter reached out and twisted Liene's wrist sharply. mashilow flinched in surprise. But that was it. The timid advisor didn't seem to have the guts to stand up to the head of the Kleinfelter Family. Liene yanked her wrist away roughly and glared at Lyndon Kleinfelter.
“Let go of me.”
Lyndon Kleinfelter responded by twisting her wrist even harder.
“I've said it many times, you don't know your place. Just because your father stole a crown and it somehow ended up in your hands, do you think that makes you look great? Not at all. Even if I twist your neck and kill you right here, nothing will change.”
Liene pushed Lyndon Kleinfelter away with her other hand and raised her voice in anger.
“Have you gone senile? There's a limit to everything! Can't you let go right now?”
Lyndon Kleinfelter didn't budge. He bared his gums like a rabid dog and said ominously.
“Return the eldest son of the Kleinfelter Family. By any means necessary. Otherwise, I will erase the name of Arsac from this land. The Kleinfelter Family has more than enough power to do so.”
