Chapter 21 - 2-11
Even if she was told to act as an intermediary, the other party was the Princess. The Princess's convenience took priority. Krisina promised to convey the matter and sent Yugis away. Although Yugis Necrat obediently followed Krisina's lead, his expression looked like that of a prisoner who had been sentenced to death.
Upon returning to the Princess's chambers, Krisina immediately informed Princess Lucy.
Just as Krisina expected,
"Will I be killed?"
the Princess reacted.
It was the Princess who had demanded retribution from her fiancé, Laicanel Thora, for the humiliation she had suffered.
"I never asked for anyone to be killed. I did say that 'there should be a corresponding atonement,' however. After all, he made me suffer such a shame."
"But he will likely kill him."
"Surely not. Cowards often make a fuss over nothing."
The Princess looked out the window. The window was made of glass.
The walls were coated in white plaster and were clean. Regular undulations were formed by the pillars and chimney flues. It was a modest room. Modesty and simplicity of decoration were traditions cherished by the royal family.
The most prominent piece of furniture was likely the bed covered by a ceiling-hung canopy. Currently, it was enclosed in a square by curtains depicting stars, the moon, and the desert.
Additionally, there was a desk and a chair with a backrest. A chair that also served as a costume box, without a backrest. There was a long sofa by the window. The two of them were talking while sitting on this sofa.
"I've been thinking about this on my way here," Krisina began to speak.
It was safe to believe that Laicanel-sama was attempting to kill Yugis-sama. Since he had sent Ness-sama and was attempting to lead him into a duel under the guise of a discussion, it was difficult to imagine any other purpose.
However, was the true objective not to clear the Princess's humiliation, but to control the children of the nobility gathered at the school?
Decisive measures. Without doing this, there would be no resolution. If neglected, it would mean permitting everyone to act as they pleased, and order would be disrupted.
If Laicanel-sama carried out the execution, the lower nobility would tremble in fear, and various matters would undoubtedly proceed smoothly from then on.
"If the Thora house were to be looked down upon, it would not benefit the royal family either. Laicanel-sama's decisiveness is truly commendable."
"Wait a moment, Krisina, are you okay with that person dying? I don't hate him enough to want him killed."
"That is the point. What Laicanel-sama is overlooking is that the beginning of this matter was far too trivial."
"Well, if it's trivial, then—"
"Listen, Lucy," Krisina spoke much more casually, continuing. "If you carry out a purge over something trivial, the Thora house will instead incur resentment. That man must have parents, siblings, and friends, even if it's Yugis-sama. If one takes a human life, there must be a reason that anyone who hears it would find convincing. A reason without a single flaw. If the noble children from the East begin to exude a rebellious atmosphere, Laicanel-sama's plan will be a complete failure. At worst, the fallout might even reach the Princess, you know?"
"I wonder what I should do."
The Princess gazed at Krisina searchingly.
Princess Lucy possessed extraordinary beauty. When those wide, staring eyes were directed at one, one could only stare back as if under a spell, or shrink back as if a weapon were being thrust at them. Even Krisina, who had been with her for a long time, often flinched.
"Oh, it's a simple thing," Krisina managed to return a smile. "It is for the Princess to stop him. If it is the Princess, you can persuade him."
"Laika? Persuade him, huh."
"Are you reluctant?"
"I wonder if he would even listen to what I have to say."
There was no way he wouldn't. Princess Lucy was sulking. Most likely, she was displeased with the part about 'the purpose not being to clear the Princess's humiliation.'
Krisina thought this was a good opportunity to speak about the things she usually thought about.
"Hey, Lucy. I wonder if you've noticed."
"What is it?"
"When you start talking, there is nothing that does not fall silent. There is no one who does not lend an ear."
"Heh."
"It is not because you are a member of the royal family that they listen attentively."
"Because my face is beautiful?"
"That's not it. That is terrible vanity."
"What? Even though you're always praising me so much."
"You are a genius. A genius of storytelling."
"That's a rare theory. I wonder if there's something you want."
"It's not that kind of talk," Krisina leaned forward. "Just the other day, you told a story about your childhood memories, didn't you? That short story about how a dirty dog wandered into the detached palace, and when you gave it food, it became attached to you. At that time, everyone present was moved. I saw the stiff Duke Lambour wipe away tears."
"Heh. Uncle must like dogs."
"You have a quality where you can change people by speaking to them."
Princess Lucy crossed her arms and looked into the air.
Had what she wanted to say been conveyed to the Princess?
Krisina waited in silence for the Princess's reaction.
Princess Lucy directed a gorgeous smile toward her.
"Fine, I'll go and try talking to him now. It's about time that idiot shows his face in the hall. Also," the Princess's eyes flashed defiantly, "I will meet Yugis Necrat."
"Is that so. Very well. However, I think it would be better to leave a short interval."
"Any time is fine. I'm just going to tell him what kind of humiliation I tasted." The Princess looked up at the window again. "The sun has come out now that it's afternoon. You stay here."
"But—"
"I'm taking Elnona with me, so it's fine. If it's too bright, stay inside the bed curtains."
The Princess stood up, smoothed the wrinkles of her skirt with a single pat, and quietly walked out of the room.
Krisina could only watch her go in silence. Krisina was not fond of sunlight. When exposed to the sun's rays, her vision was temporarily taken away, and her skin would burn.
She knocked on a different door from the one the Princess had exited, and after waiting for a response, entered the adjacent room. In the adjacent room were three noblewomen excluding Elnona. They were all the Princess's ladies-in-waiting. They were sitting on a rug, with wall hangings on their laps, performing embroidery.
"A screen?"
Nona looked up. She meant, should she use a screen to block the sunlight?
Krisina smiled and shook her head.
Kiara stood up, and
"You asked where to use blue, didn't you?" she said, spreading out the wall hanging to show. "Right here."
A blue wavy band had been created on the wall hanging. Krisina was honestly impressed. Kiara was foolishly good at this kind of color usage.
Krisina sat at the spinning wheel in the dimness at the back of the room and told them about the conversation she had just had with the Princess.
"Hmph."
When she finished speaking, Wilma laughed through her nose. "I already knew."
"Knew what?"
"Doesn't Yugis-sama have friends?"
Krisina had not told them everything. She had kept the relationship between Cloden and Yugis a secret even from the Princess.
"That's surprising. Who did you hear from that Yugis-sama and Cloden are friends?"
"Various men. Right?" Kiara interjected.
Nona let out a stifled laugh while keeping her gaze dropped to her handiwork.
Wilma was not a girl to be shaken just by being teased. "Well, from certain sources. Also, regarding the story of Lucy-sama's talent that you told, I agree as well. Isn't it precisely thanks to the Princess's talent that we are able to stay together so well?"
Both Nona and Kiara nodded.
While they were chatting like that for half an hour, the door opened without a knock. It was the Princess.
"Krisina, you were here. It went well."
She entered the room in high spirits.
"I thought of it on the way to the hall. Rather than saying exactly what Krisina said, it's more effective to hint at it. Do you understand? Hinting. If you point it out bluntly, the man will rebel, right? So, I'll suggest it subtly and make the opponent think."
"Did it go well?"
"Probably."
To speak her true heart, Krisina wanted the Princess to point out Laicanel-sama's mistake boldly. A too-frank way of speaking might indeed spoil Laicanel-sama's mood. However, in the end, wouldn't he have been forced to do as the Princess said?
If the Princess had overwhelmed Laicanel-sama with logic, that man would surely have re-evaluated Princess Lucy a little.
Krisina respected Laicanel Thora not only for his family lineage but also for his character. She also held a favorable impression of him.
However, she could not erase the suspicion that he thought of the Princess as nothing more than 'a girl you can find anywhere.'