Chapter 48

Translation by Watermelon and Doldrums


A Peculiar Request



Llewelyn stared at Duke Brion’s simpering face with a frosty expression.



“Wouldn’t you like to see it too, Your Highness?”



A shiver ran down her back, his inquiry reminding her of her own mother's execution. She had screamed when she had witnessed her mother's head fall off with just one slash.



Trying to control the nervous twitch in her upper lip, Llewelyn replied,



“You haven’t changed at all, Your Grace.”



“Oh my, Princess, was I too crude? I've been fighting those wretched Klarsteins for so long, that I guess their boorish ways rubbed off on me."



‘Wretched Klarsteins’. Llewelyn frowned at the expression.



The Klarstein Rebellion stemmed from the refugee crisis. As the neighboring Kingdom of Condal was ravaged by civil war, the influx of refugees, combined with the poverty of the border autochtones, resulted in conflict. And, as refugees kept pouring in, desperate for survival, people at the border saw their food supplies become scarce, which led to fights erupting between the two sides.



Therefore, both the foreign refugees and the poor district’s residents had been a thorn to the nobles’ side, one they desperately wanted to get rid of. At first, the lord governor of the area had thought the belligerents would fight and obliterate one another, and that in doing so, the problem would take care of itself. However none of the nobles had predicted that these people would be intelligent enough to declare a truce and join hands, in order to relieve the wealthy of some of their possessions.



Thus, a revolt broke out in the Klarstein region. In all honesty, it would have been better for the government to focus right from the beginning on providing food aid relief to the population, and on claiming back the land. If it had, the outcome would have been more beneficial for the country. But no, instead, the Duke of Brion killed them all.



Professing that Bastian ought to display his might for everyone to see, he proceeded to slaughter every last man of the sorry lot, who had wooden spears as their sole weapon. This went far beyond the so-called repression of a mere rebellion.



“Princess Llewelyn, this golden cape suits you very well.”



“...Thank you."



Duke Brion looked her up and down, studying her. It felt as if the eyes of a snake were slithering down her body.



“But for you to come here and act as the Golden Raven…… It seems that you are still not aware of your place. I reckon the Queen became quite lenient while I was away."



Duke Brion's eyes shone coolly. Her fingers trembled slightly, as she remembered how cruel the Duke was. For instance, he had once viciously murdered a young boy attendant who had sided with her... At the memory, Llewelyn's breathing started to become erratic.



She felt helpless. It seemed that the resilience she had built up over the years was about to crumble. What was there for her to say? The Duke of Brion was someone who could kill people just because they got on his nerves. In that, he was different from Pamela, who always killed with a “pretext”.



Should she apologize for forgetting her place? What did he want from her…



“Oh my, I hope I am not interrupting your conversation?”



The delicate, feminine voice brought Llewelyn back to her senses. It belonged to Countess Sundblen, whose green eyes were shining behind her glasses.



"Long time no see, Duke Brion.”



"It’s certainly been a while, Countess Sundblen. I see that you’ve inherited your Father’s title while I was administering the Empire’s affairs."



"Indeed. Alas, coitus didn’t agree with him, and I had to fill in for him after his passing.”



Llewelyn’s jaw dropped open, aghast. True to herself, the Countess had spoken without mincing her words. Duke Brion burst into laughter.



“I hadn’t realized that the Countess was such an entertaining lady. I’d never have thought .”



"Why, thank you! It's comforting to know that the Duke appreciates my kind of humor and won’t hold it against me."



“It must have been straining to inherit the title at such a young age. Come to me if you ever need help.”



“Oh, do you truly mean it? Thank you. It was quite hard because I didn't have a mentor whose guidance I could follow, haha."



Llewelyn listened to the conversations between the two heirs with an indifferent expression. She was busy trying to regain her composure, her whole body trembling with fear.



“But pray tell, does my Lady have some business with the Princess? Are you perhaps hoping to rekindle an old friendship?”



Although he had asked sweetly, the implication behind that inquiry was as glacial as a blade. The Countess replied with a smile,



“Friend with the Princess? I’d thought the Duke knew.”



“…..”



“Things have gone awry between us, so I don’t see how we could still be friends. I’m afraid we don’t have that kind of relationship.”



You and I cannot be friends.



She was stating that plain and clear in front of Llewelyn, with no consideration for her feelings.



Llewelyn, affected by her words, bit her lips, bringing the Duke’s gaze to her mouth. He snickered.



The Duke of Brion, just like Pamela, hated Llewelyn. Therefore, the more she suffered, the wider his smile was. So when Countess Sundblen antagonized the Princess as such, his mood didn’t fail to improve, and his face noticeably brightened.



“I see. I will leave you Ladies to it then.”



He walked away, a mirthful smile still playing on his face. Before Llewelyn could say anything, the Countess, who was watching the Duke’s back disappearing from their sight, said,



“This snake-eyed mephitic bastard.”



Llewelyn was momentarily at a loss for words.



“His breath reeks, which really aggravates me. Who does he think he is, the bloody King? Look at those fancy clothes he’s wearing and the way he puts on airs! What a retching sight, truly.”



“Still the same as ever…Celine.”



Lady Sundblen cleared her throat and shrugged in reply. It was quite the singular talent to be able to utter such colorful insults, at a level that only Llewelyn could hear. Llewelyn asked coldly,



"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"



“What happened to Duke Biserk? Why are you here alone?”



"I don't know. Seems like he hurt himself.”



Llewelyn, although she replied curtly, was startled. She hadn't spoken to Celine in over five years, and yet, she was now conversing with her as if the pair had last seen each other yesterday.



“But what’s with you all of a sudden? Must I remind you, Celine, that you usually pretend like you don’t know me."



“Then tell me, what did you expect me to do? I was treading on dangerous grounds, my neck could have come flying at the slightest mistake.”



At the Countess’ words, Llewelyn’s lips slightly parted. Wow, she truly knew no shame. Her audacity was so overwhelming that Llewelyn couldn’t even get angry. Rather, she felt sad. Was something wrong with her?



"…If it was that hard for you to pretend to know me, you could have found a different way."



Llewelyn was taken aback by the acrimonious words that came out of her own mouth. Lady Sundblen snorted dryly,



“I’ll admit that I turned my back on you when you were having a hard time, albeit to ensure my own survival, but why are you being so prissy about it? Is it the hypocrisy that’s irking you?”



“…Then why are you here now? What has changed?”



“Well you see, now I see some hope.”



"Hope?"



What a funny word. None other could make Llewelyn despair as easily as that word, hope. As she looked at the gloomy shadows pass over her face, Celine noted,



“You are still as pessimistic as ever.”



“Well that was quite ridiculous. What kind of hope are you talking about?”



“Duke Biserk has finally returned, and as soon as he comes back, you’re getting more recognition all of a sudden.”



“...”



“Do you truly think it’s merely a coincidence?”



Of course, it wasn't. But Llewelyn stopped her from elaborating any further.



"I’m guessing he must have an agenda, but that has nothing to do with me."



"Oh, is that so? How disappointing.”



Celine scowled, then added,



“I know we can't revert to being like we used to, it's been broken beyond repair. Call me old fashioned, but I do enjoy having a head on my neck.”



“…”


“However, I should remind you that you are Royalty, and as such, you have a duty to ensure that the state of our country doesn’t get any worse...”



What had she just said? Llewelyn almost cursed at the brazen woman. She was seething with resentment, her wrath threatening to explode, yet she suppressed it with remarkable restraint.



“Royalty you said, but what’s so great about it? I’m not allowed to die, and merely being alive is sheer misery”, interjected Llewelyn, sharply.





“…What?"



“Didn’t you see just now? They’re keeping me in check, going as far as to dictate what clothes I should wear.”



Celine frowned at Llewelyn's words.



“Then you’ll have to crush them.”



"Pardon?"



“What do you think Duke Biserk did during those five years, away from the capital? Why would he leave you all alone?”



“….”



“Coming back now probably means that he has solidified the preparations for whatever he has in mind.”



Llewelyn looked at her with a 'So what?' expression, causing Lady Sundblen's face to harden. Looking into Llewelyn's eyes, she realized she had the look of someone resigned to live as if she were already dead.



“I see. Forget I mentioned it.”



“…...”



"Oh, right. At least, do see to this one for me.”



"What?"



Llewelyn was dumbfounded. At first she had thought that Celine was just impudent, but she was really too much...How dared she ask her for favors? Countess Sundblen grinned as if she could feel Llewelyn's wrath brewing.



“Lately, young ladies from newly established noble families have been dying one after another.”



"And?"



“It seems to me that this is not a mere coincidence but someone’s deliberate animus. Why would otherwise healthy young noble ladies drop dead all of a sudden? It looks like they’ve been poisoned, but the Royal Family doesn’t show any sign of starting an investigation.”



“…”



“There’s been a total of seven so far.”



In fact, Llewelyn had heard about those mysterious deaths. A few girls dying? Of course she had found it puzzling, but she hadn’t known that those young girls had hailed from emerging aristocratic families.



“…Are you asking me to investigate? Why now?"



"As a matter of fact, I do. You said you didn’t care about the throne? Sure no problem, but at least solve this for me. The Queen despises parvenus, so I reckon she’ll turn a blind eye to this affair."



Llewelyn turned her head to look in Pamela’s direction. She was wearing the latest trend, a dark lilac gown. No doubt she had devised to wear it with the intent that it would be more eye-catching than Llewelyn’s own feathered outfit. Looking at the purple dress, Llewelyn temporarily got lost in her thoughts.



Purple was a rare dye. But when the Queen had appeared in her amethyst silk dress, everyone had admired her beauty and her wealth. Since then, purple has become a constant trend in the social world. And tonight, draped in the lilac fabric, Pamela was fanning herself, sitting elegantly.



“I’ll get going then. I shall not hold it against you should you decide not to help. After all, both of us are trying to survive however we can, right?"



As if that request had been her real purpose all along, Lady Sundblen quickly left.



*



After the Countess left, no one else tried to approach Llewelyn. It didn’t matter that she had been chosen to incarnate the Empire’s emblematic animal, her plight had remained unchanged. By all means, people acknowledged her as the Golden Raven, nevertheless they had opted to continue to diligently ignore her.



The corners of Pamela's lips rose as she watched Llewelyn being purposely alienated. At any rate, Llewelyn was glad that Pamela didn't pester her on the grounds that she had been chosen to be the Golden Raven this time.



Llewelyn frowned, as she took in the people around her. So girls from new noble families were dying? Emerging aristocrats were wealthy merchants, who had paid a substantial tribute in exchange for their titles, unlike orthodox nobles who possessed lands.



And these nouveau riche maidens particularly admired the Royal Family. Because of this, they sometimes accidentally walked up to Llewelyn and started talking to her, forgetting she had been branded as persona non grata. The Princess was a person of high status after all!



New nobles who had just entered the aristocratic society, eyes bright with exaltation, had a purer side to them than nobles from secular Houses.



“But why did she untrust me with this all of a sudden?”



Annoyance was slowly creeped in. Celine had tried to beguile her with soft deceitful wiles, in order to unload this strange case on her as she pleased, and even had the guts to look disappointed in her. Although Llewelyn was well acquainted with that personality of hers, her “I’ll do whatever I want” attitude was starting to really grate on her.



Had she lost her mind? Llewelyn had no intention of helping her.



Ever.



At that firm resolution, the musicians started playing simultaneously, and the sound of violins began filling the air. It looked like it was time to dance, and the nobles, quite consistent in their shunning of Llewelyn, moved away from her. As if drawing an invisible circle around Llewelyn, the attendees blatantly retreated further down the room.



The first song had to be performed by the Golden Raven, but no one volunteered to be her partner.



Everyone kept their distance so as to not be forced to get involved with Llewelyn. Many, starting with Pamela, burst into laughter.



As Llewelyn looked around, Bastian, who was sitting on the throne, met her eyes and smiled warmly. He was her savior among that pandemonium of mockery. Clearly ignoring Pamela's attempt to dissuade him, Bastian came down from his throne.



Watching the scene unfolding before them, the nobles started to whisper,



“Dear me, how magnanimous of His Majesty.



“How could he, she’s the offspring of the woman who cursed him…”



“She might be his younger sister, but still…”



Llewelyn could hear their murmurs of disapproval, but she paid them no heed. Far from being entangled in this criticism, Bastian's character was rather praised by the nobles, which was of course preferrable. Though for all she knew, this slander had been planned by Pamela.



Llewelyn slowly walked towards her brother. There was still a long way left to go in order to reach Bastian, who was still standing on the dais, when suddenly Llewelyn was pushed from behind. As she was starting to lose her balance, someone suddenly grabbed Llewelyn's hand, keeping her on her feet.



“Are you that eager to dance, Princess?”



Llewelyn raised her head. Almondite's face appeared in the golden light of the banquet hall. Wearing black, he looked perfect today as well. The laughters that had been pouring on her disappeared like magic when he positioned himself next to her.



“What on Earth are you doing here…?”



Rancor quietly welled up within Llewelyn’s heart. Although that feeling was somewhat tinged with relief.



“Please forgive me for being late, Princess.”



“…”



“But still, did you really have to hurry so?”



Almondite raised the corner of his lips, smiling, and Llewelyn let out a sigh of relief. Taking her hand, he walked her onto the dancefloor.



“You truly are an insuf…”



At that moment, soft lips grazed Llewelyn's cheek and somewhere in the room, a gasp was heard.



“Shh, Llewelyn, you need to focus on your dancing.”



“...”



“If you keep getting angry, I will kiss you”, whispered Almondite playfully.


****


Seems like Almondite’s plan is in motion!
I feel like Llewelyn should cut Celine some slack, she’s been trying to survive as well and it’s not like she plotted anything against her, she simply ignored her :’(

Chapter end