“What did you mean by the trade dispute with Yula?”
“Ah, that?”
I smiled as I watched the Sierra delegation storm out in a huff once the session was over. A few knights stationed outside entered the room, and I rose from my seat. As I passed Celine, who was letting out a long breath to ease her nerves, Duke Prodiad approached me and asked the question. For a moment, I tilted my head, wondering how he could have heard when I was certain the door had been closed, but then I remembered he was a knight and let out a light laugh.
“Sierra bent the rules a bit in their trade with Yula. Isn’t that right, Senior Pello?”
“Yeah, well. It was minor, but certainly enough to put them at odds with Yula.”
Senior Pello drew out a cigarette as he always did, looking at least a little relieved that the talks had wrapped up. As I made ready to take my leave, Celine let out a heavy sigh.
“They looked as if they wouldn't yield even if it killed them. Besides, Kaila Island and the two million gold weren't part of our original plan anyway, so it doesn't matter if we don't get them… Celine?”
I paused mid-comfort, startled to see her suddenly slump down onto the floor.
“What’s wrong?”
“Uh, my legs just gave out.”
At her words, Korkel, who was sitting beside her, chuckled and supported her back up. I smiled faintly as well.
“It’s always like that your first time.”
“Right. Though for someone whose legs gave out, you were speaking quite sharply, weren't you? Didn’t you go around picking fights with professors back at the Academy?”
“She’s practically a little Scarlett, isn’t she?”
“Hold on, what is that supposed to mean?”
At Senior Pello’s remark, I snapped my head toward him. The easy, relaxed way he held the cigarette between his lips was insufferable. With Korkel’s support, Celine settled back onto a chair, and I flashed her an encouraging smile to tell her she had done well. Worn out with tension, her face broke into a broad grin the moment she saw mine. I tapped her lightly on the shoulder and took a step forward.
“Ah, Korkel. Could you come to my room this afternoon? There's something I need to ask you.”
Seeing Korkel nod in response, I offered him a smile and stepped out of the negotiation chamber.
Duke Prodiad, who had been watching me with an unreadable look from the side, followed behind me.
“You surprise me.”
“Pardon?”
I was lost in thought about the negotiations the day after tomorrow, so his sudden remark caught me off guard and made me look up. Good grief, man, how am I supposed to know what you mean when you leave out all context?
As if reading my thoughts, Duke Prodiad spoke again.
“I assumed you would handle it entirely on your own. You have been taking care of most of the work by yourself over the past few days.”
“Oh, the others were part of it too.”
“Yet Lady Dirnant was the only one awake until three in the morning.”
How—how does he know that?
I put on an awkward smile, my expression turning uneasy. That was supposed to be a strict secret.
Since arriving at Sorel Castle, our meetings had always wrapped up at ten o'clock so everyone could rest, but I consistently stayed behind alone to draft more contingency plans. It was to ensure that no matter what cards the other side laid on the table, I wouldn't be caught off guard. Having meticulously recorded every scenario down to the last syllable, I ended up working until the early hours of the morning on most days.
Even so, I didn't seek my colleagues' help. First, because I was the one responsible for this assignment; second, precisely because I was in charge, I had no desire to shift my burden onto someone else.
My lips twitched at Duke Prodiad’s words, and in the end, I let out a sigh.
“I had no choice. I am the Lead Envoy; if this negotiation falls through, we will be in serious trouble.”
“Yes. I understand.”
“However, I am merely the Lead Envoy, not the sole negotiator.”
Certainly, I was the Lead Envoy and the person held accountable. No one would have rebuked me if I had drafted everything alone and done all the talking, but that would leave my colleagues with no reason to have accompanied me here.
“Senior Pello has far more composure than I do. Whenever I get flustered, he can ground me calmly. Korkel is cheerful and approachable; he inspires trust in people. Senior Trichel is quiet and sober, but his empathy is remarkable—he excels at reading exactly what the opponent wants, what they can concede, and what they cannot, and he knows how to probe right into those seams. Celine has less experience, but that very lack means she has nothing holding her back. She is bolder than I am.”
“Are you saying they are all superior to you, Lady Dirnant?”
“No. We are all exceptional. But each of us has our own strengths, and coordinating them is far more effective than me acting alone.”
I smiled toward Duke Prodiad. I meant every word. Everyone had their own strengths, and my goal as Lead Envoy was to maximize those advantages to bring this negotiation to the greatest possible success. Individual heroism sounded plausible and glamorous enough, but honestly, how could one person possibly best five? Above all, I was no genius.
Duke Prodiad wore a faint, subtle look at my words. His expression was impossible to describe, so I chalked it up to admiration or understanding and turned away. In that fleeting second, I almost thought I heard a chuckle from his direction.
No, I must have misheard. What was there to laugh about? Shaking off the thought, I crossed the corridor toward my room on the second floor. As soon as my door came into view, I turned and took my leave of Duke Prodiad.
“Thank you for your hard work. I will prepare the rest on my own.”
“Understood. I will be on standby outside. Call for me if you need anything.”
His message was clear. I was about to return his words with a smile and turn around, but something came to mind, and I met his gaze once more.
“Your Grace.”
“Yes.”
“The negotiations the day after tomorrow will require more people. In fact, since Your Grace served as the Commander-in-Chief in this war, I believe you should be present at the negotiating table. So—”
“Would you participate in the negotiations?”
He nodded, seeming to understand what I was getting at. Satisfied with his agreement, I smiled. In truth, my plan was to have him take a seat with us once we moved to the formal negotiations, where there were no limits on attendee numbers.
“Ah, and one more thing—”
“Yes?”
“Could you stand guard outside my door tonight?”
“Of course. Though the 1st Knight Order stands guard for you every night, Lady Dirnant.”
“Not them—Your Grace personally. Oh, and I have terrible sleeping habits, so I might roll off the bed; you don't need to pay that any mind. If anything happens, I'll scream.”
After wearing an odd expression for a moment, the Duke nodded and accepted the unreasonable request to stand night watch for a mere Duke's daughter. I gave a slight bow at his consent and slipped straight into my room.
It was utterly quiet. In the dead of night, so hushed not a mouse stirred, I lay motionless and stared at the ceiling. One, two, three, four—counting softly under my breath to keep from drifting off, I breathed a sigh of relief when Duke Prodiad did not kick open the door, just as I had asked, even when I deliberately kicked the bed or bumped against the desk. He was a brilliant knight, so he had definitely heard me.
Keeping count with one part of my mind, I suddenly recalled the worried look Celine had worn when she asked me a question a few days ago.
“Will it really be all right? This seems a bit excessive.”
Just as she had said, this negotiation was unreasonable to an extent. Search Winchester’s history as one might, there would be no record of demands greater than this. The image of Grand Duke Closer throwing a fit and shouting about pillage flashed through my head. Yes, you're right. To some degree, it is pillage.
However—
The sight of the Lord of Sorel surfaced in my mind. I also remembered Professor Smith lecturing passionately on 'History and Architecture.' After glancing around briefly, I closed my eyes again and resumed counting.
The count steadily passed into three digits, and just as it was nearing a thousand—
A ‘guest’ burst in.
With a long creak, the wardrobe door swung open. Instinctively gripping the hilt of the dagger clutched in my hand, I kept my eyes shut tight and simply listened as he slowly approached the bed.
He was evidently an accomplished assassin, making only the barest trace of noise. Naturally, I strained every nerve to pinpoint his movements. From early childhood, I had been plagued by constant threats of assassination; with all my senses honed on him, I tracked his presence as he made his way toward me—
Having a stranger clamp a hand roughly over my mouth was certainly not a pleasant feeling. I twisted slightly to slip free of the grip holding my mouth shut, but as expected, breaking away proved difficult. Even so, I did not panic. If my deductions were correct, the assassin—this guest—did not intend to kill me.
As if to confirm it, the ‘guest’ leaned down slowly.
“Give up on everything except Beliche.”
Just as I thought—
I shifted my gaze between the assassin’s familiar blue eyes and the gleaming steel of the blade pressed against my neck, then shook my head to gesture that he should let go of my mouth. Deciding that I wouldn't dare scream with my life held in the balance, he took his hand off my mouth. In truth, I had no desire to risk my life by screaming either. No matter how swift the Duke might be, could he really outpace a blade that was already practically grazing my neck before it cut through my artery?
Looking straight into the assassin’s bright blue eyes, I smiled and opened my mouth.
The whispered words did nothing but stoke his rage, and dissatisfied, he pressed the cold blade closer against my throat.
“Then you die.”
“Kill me, then.”
“And the negotiations will fall apart. All it takes is your signature to end this.”
His growling voice was relentlessly rough and fierce, and honestly, a flicker of fear did stir in me. But there was one thing he didn't know: I am the heir of a ducal house. Second, I had endured so many assassination attempts since childhood that I could trust no one aside from my parents.
And third, finally.
“Even without me, our negotiation delegation will not collapse.”
I felt him furrow his brow at my words. Even with his face fully concealed, his expression was obvious enough, and I smiled brightly at him.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, this just became so much easier.”
Enraged by my cryptic words and determined not to delay any longer, the assassin raised his blade high. In that exact instant, I brought up my empty hand and seized the thrusting blade firmly to stop him. At the same time, I drew Olivia’s knife from beneath the pillow on my right and slashed it across his throat.
The pungent scent of blood filled the room. I gritted my teeth against the searing pain surging through my left hand, and my desperate strike seemed to have dealt him a deep wound. Riding that momentum, I screamed at the top of my lungs.
“Aaaah! Help me!”
