Chapter 48
48. Conspiracy
“Ah, I must have misheard. No need to come in.”
“If you wish, I will stay by your side. This room is small, perfect for sword practice.”
Tiwakan's way of speaking, regardless of time or place, made it difficult for Liene because it made her laugh. Liene smiled faintly and shook her head.
“I'll call you when I want to see sword practice.”
“Yes, please do. I will be waiting right outside.”
The clanging of his sword continued to echo until Tiwakan left the audience chamber.
“What kind of tyranny is this…!”
Ellaroiden couldn't hold back and was about to shout, but another noble stopped him.
“He's still outside. Lower your voice if you're going to speak.”
“Tsk…! Where is Kleinfelter? Surely, he hasn't been beheaded already?”
Ellaroiden clicked his tongue, looking back at Liene. Although the two nobles had adjusted their posture slightly, their attitude toward Liene hadn't fundamentally changed. It was understandable. Each family had brought plenty of private soldiers. They couldn't enter the audience chamber, but they were waiting as close as etiquette allowed. This was also based on the Lisebery Treaty. That's why they had been able to shout whatever they wanted in front of her all this time. But today, Liene was different. Today, Liene could point out their rudeness without worrying about their reactions. It was all thanks to Tiwakan, who stood firmly outside the door. Even while still suspecting Black, she was the one benefiting not only from the comfort of his presence but also from practical advantages. She couldn't help but feel that she was being contradictory and selfish.
“It seems I was late in telling you two elders that you should maintain decorum, at least for today. Royal etiquette has become stricter since Tiwakan became a Guardian Knight of the Arsak Family. It will be different from before, so please be aware. And Kleinfelter's head is still firmly attached.”
“Ahem… That's how it should be.”
Only then did the elders glance behind them.
“Now, tell me the reason you wanted to see me. I repeat, I am not feeling well and have no intention of sitting here for long. If it's about convening the Grand Council, the date hasn't even been set yet, so why have you come all the way here?”
“It is for the Grand Council. Convening the Grand Council should be discussed with the Grand Council Head first.”
Liene chuckled softly.
“What nonsense you speak, you two elders. You must have gotten older in the meantime. You know what the agenda for convening the Grand Council is, don't you?”
“We cannot trust that agenda. We have come to confirm that the Daughter of Arsak does not have the right to hold the Nauk Grand Council Head accountable.”
…So, they're telling me to let him go quietly while they're still asking nicely. Liene briefly pondered how to effectively convey that she neither needed to nor could do that. It was a contradictory and selfish, but enjoyable, dilemma.
“Because of the Lisebery Treaty?”
“That is correct.”
“Oh, dear. So, you're saying you'll convene the Grand Council? To give the Grand Council Head a fitting punishment. Don't worry about the rest. I have more than enough evidence.”
Ellaroiden furrowed his gray eyebrows unpleasantly. As Liene remembered, he was like a half-baked Lyndon Kleinfelter. Greedy, stubborn, and with a deep-seated pride in his family. So, his actions were also about half as rude and outrageous.
“In that case, the elders will refuse to convene the Grand Council.”
She had already anticipated that response even before calling Alan.
“Ah, well, then there's nothing I can do. I understand. Let's just forget about the Grand Council.”
Liene's ready agreement seemed to take the elders by surprise.
“Then Kleinfelter is right now…,”
“Since there's no way to prove Kleinfelter's guilt right now, we'll just have to keep him in prison. What else can we do? Even if I wanted to clear his name and release him, I can't if the elders are against it. I'm sorry, you two. I will be sure to convey your wishes to Kleinfelter in the dungeon.”
“Princess!”
Ellaroiden burst out in anger.
“How can you say such a thing!”
“Just as you have the right to refuse to convene the Grand Council, the Arsak bloodline has the right to convene it. I have tried my best to respect the Lisebery Treaty. Why should I have to endure your finger-pointing?”
“Where is the respect in what you're doing now!”
“The respect is that Kleinfelter's head is still attached. He did something that would have gotten him beheaded the moment he was caught by the head of Tiwakan.”
“……”
“……!”
That statement silenced the two elders, at least for a moment.
“Then, I'll take it that the Grand Council is off the table. Now that our business is concluded, everyone may leave.”
Liene waved her hand as if she had no intention of listening any further. The nobles, who had been cautiously watching, reluctantly spoke up.
“We… we didn't exactly… say that. Please don't distort our intentions, Princess.”
“Distort? Didn't you clearly say that you would refuse to convene the Grand Council?”
“That's invalid because it doesn't include the Grand Council Head's opinion.”
Ellaroiden nodded vigorously in agreement with the other noble's words.
“That's right. The consent of all the elders is required to decide on convening the Grand Council. You know that very well, don't you?”
Liene deliberately showed her annoyance.
“So, what are you trying to say?”
“We must meet with the Grand Council Head before making a decision.”
“……”
Indeed, it was turning into a truly annoying situation. The memory that nothing good had ever come from six nobles putting their heads together brought about unpleasant feelings.
* * * Still, since the law was such, she couldn't refuse in the end. Following Liene's instructions, Tiwakan led the two nobles to the underground prison. Both of them insisted that they needed a guard force since they were entering such a dangerous place, leading to a rather lengthy argument. For that reason, the number of people heading to the underground prison increased considerably. Perhaps tired of the bickering, Tiwakan, who had said to attach as many guards as they pleased, brought a guard force that easily surpassed that number. The nobles' faces turned pale as they saw the guards surrounding their own guards in layers, along with Tiwakan. Liene had to clench her stomach to keep from laughing out loud at the sight.
“No, this… this is… How can we be treated like this….”
The two nobles muttered complaints the entire time as they descended the narrow, steep stairs.
“If you have time to complain, why don't you walk a little faster? You're causing a traffic jam behind you.”
Tiwakan would clang his sword hilt and scold them every time. The nobles, who had never been treated like this anywhere before, were dumbfounded and couldn't even breathe properly. Still, the sound of the sword was frightening. Especially if it was Tiwakan wielding it.
“I, I've never walked on a path like this before….”
“That's right. I feel like I'm going to fall, so… I'm, I'm being careful….”
It was an excuse for not being able to walk faster.
“Then roll down. You'll get less hurt if you roll well than if you fall.”
The two nobles desperately held back their anger. If they got angry here, those beast-like men would gleefully roll them all the way down the stairs. In fact, it wasn't a far-fetched thought. Tiwakan was the kind of person who would roll the nobles down without batting an eye and then nonchalantly scold them for not going faster. Thanks to that, their pace quickened a bit.
“Ah, what is this? Why are there so many people?”
Upon arriving at the prison entrance, they were met with unpleasant words as expected.
“Are you crazy? How are these people supposed to move around in here?”
The prison itself was large, but the corridors were very narrow. This was to make escape difficult.
“That's how it turned out. Do you think I wanted to bring them?”
“Not everyone can come in.”
“Then should we pick a few and leave them outside?”
“It's too distracting. Lock them up in an empty room and make them wait.”
“Got it.”
There was some timid resistance, but in the end, the group was divided. There were three private soldiers and five of Tiwakan's men. With the addition of the two nobles, a total of ten people headed to the prison where Kleinfelter was being held.
“Here it is.”
The prison door, guarded by two guards, was opened. Since the prison was small, it was naturally impossible for ten people to enter.
“The Grand Council Head and two elders have gathered, so this place is now no different from the Grand Council. Those who are not qualified should not even think about entering.”
As the prison door opened, Ellaroiden asserted his authority, which he had momentarily forgotten. Tiwakan didn't particularly try to argue.
“As you wish. But I'll leave the window open.”
He wasn't talking about a separate window, but a small opening in the prison door used to pass food.
“What does that mean? What good is it if you leave the window open?”
“Then should I leave the door open?”
“Where did you hear such nonsense!”
“That’s the rule of the prison. If you don’t like it, you can just leave.”
“That’s absurd! Where is such a rule written!”
“Ah, it’s newly established. Tiwakan is now in charge of guarding Nauk Castle. I figured we needed a rule like that to prevent accidents.”
There was no way to know if the mercenary’s words were true or just made up on the spot. However, Ellaroiden knew that arguing further would be futile. He glanced at the mere three remaining soldiers and sighed.
“……I have no choice. Open the gate.”
“You were going to do it anyway. Tsk.”
At Tiwakan’s signal, the guards opened the prison gate, which was wrapped in chains. * * *
“Lord Kleinfelter!”
“What happened! The Chairman of the Grand Council in prison!”
Lyndon Kleinfelter’s face twitched as he met the horrified faces.
“……You’re only coming now.”
The two nobles, taken aback by the rebuke for being so slow, shifted their eyes nervously. Lyndon Kleinfelter’s appearance was equally shocking. The arrogant and unrestrained great noble of Nauk was now lying on the prison floor with both hands broken. The splints on his hands were so carelessly and poorly made that one could never say he had been cared for by a proper doctor. It was the first time they had seen Kleinfelter in such a state.
“What are you saying… Do so. To one who has come down to this dangerous place to see the Chairman of the Grand Council.”
“You were going to come anyway! Don’t you understand what it means for me to be imprisoned here? Tiwakan is going to turn this kingdom upside down and swallow it whole. Do you think you’ll be safe if that happens?”
Ellaroiden jumped up and pointed to the door behind him.
“Lord. Watch your words. The window is open.”
“So what? It’s not like it’s a secret. If you hadn’t thought of that, you’d be carrying around statues shaped like heads instead of actual heads.”
“Lord! How can you speak like that! Who else is on your side but us?”
“You don’t seem very sincere for that. Surely you didn’t come to the prison empty-handed?”
“Huh… Why would I….”
But Lyndon Kleinfelter had a plan. Now that visitors had arrived, this was his only chance. Lyndon Kleinfelter gestured to the noble who had come with Ellaroiden, speaking busily.
“Can’t you see in your clouded eyes what kind of treatment I’m receiving here? I’m longing for a piece of well-baked bread!”
The other noble glanced around and approached Lyndon Kleinfelter. He quickly put his lips to his ear and whispered.
‘……Go to …… and do …… Hurry.’
The noble, after hearing the story, was shocked and gaped blankly.
“What……?”
“If you understood, go out and bring something to eat! Don’t be so foolish and complacent! The Grand Council can only survive if I’m safe!”
Lyndon Kleinfelter shouted as if he was quite angry, as if to erase the whisper. Ellaroiden was still clueless and his face was turning red and blue.
“……Ah, I understand. You seem very tired. I will do so.”
Ellaroiden’s eyes widened at the obedient words, and he raised his voice.
“Ah, no……? You’re leaving like this? What about the Grand Council! What about the Grand Council then?”
The other noble pulled Ellaroiden, who was a little lacking in tact, away.
“Is that the problem now? The Chairman of the Grand Council seems to be too tired to think straight, so let’s fill his stomach first. ……Hey! Open the door! We’re leaving now!”
The prison door slowly opened.
“Why are you leaving already? You came all the way down here.”
He was just trying to provoke them, since he could hear everything they were saying through the open window anyway.
“T, things have turned out that way. Let us out quickly.”
“That’s a shame. I thought you were close since you came all the way here to visit, but I guess not.”
In any case, the door opened, and the two nobles climbed back up the steep stairs, their knees trembling. That evening, a basket of food was delivered from the Ellaroiden household to the underground prison. Consequently, a new rule was immediately created prohibiting the delivery of food to prisoners in the underground prison. The errand runner from the Ellaroiden household had to return the long way with slumped shoulders.
