Chapter 54 - 5-5
The widow known as Madame Haupt, Morana Haupt, was originally the daughter of a steady merchant family. In her teens, she led a dissolute life, was disowned by her family, and fell as far as entering a brothel. She did not earn much as a prostitute. This was because she chose her clients. In particular, she resolutely refused clients with venereal diseases. She was scolded and abused by the brothel master for this attitude, and she was bullied by her fellow prostitutes, but it was worth sticking to her guns. She hooked a big fish.
Marquis Sedias Thora.
Morana was not a peerless beauty. She had a face that made people sleepy. The Marquis of Delroy seemed to have taken a liking to that sleepy face. With lightning speed, Morana was removed from the registers and given an elegant mansion within the city of Malfa.
Marquis Sedias Thora of Delroy visited regularly.
Since he was a man of means, he likely played around with other women, yet he came roughly once every ten days. Morana feared that one day he would tire of her, that she would surely be discarded. Despite this fear, their association had lasted nearly twenty years.
Morana had a talent for soothing a man's heart, special skills deployed upon the bed, and a secret-among-secrets function that provided the man who welcomed her with the ultimate experience. Even so, it had been twenty years. Recently, she began to think that rather than being affectionate, the Marquis of Delroy was a man of strong obsession.
The name Madame Haupt was given to her by the Marquis of Delroy.
Morana had become the lord of a village located somewhere in the west of Siddim. Since it was only in name, it seemed a name in name was required. In name, she had been married, and in name, she had been made a widow. She had no complaints. All of her living expenses came from that village. She was provided with money every year that allowed her to hire servants and enjoy a decent amount of luxury.
It was a village whose name she did not even know.
During moments like the twilight hour, Morana would think of the hands of the farmers—stained and hardened by years of field work. Narrow houses covered in dust and mud, and many children. People who were poor and exhausted. Each and every one of their days was spent to support Morana's soft, powder-scented body as she indulged in pleasure.
"Life is different for everyone."
Watching the sinking sun, Morana would mutter things like that. It was not out of a sense of superiority or guilt, but rather a naive, heartfelt reflection.
On that day as well, she woke up after noon, put on her indoor clothes in the disheveled style she had learned during her days as a prostitute, and went down the stairs. The maid was nowhere to be seen. She headed toward the dining room while calling the maid's name.
Sedias Thora was in the dining room.
The Marquis was leaning against a chair. He raised a face with prominent dark circles under his eyes.
"Oh—" Morana was speechless.
Sedias had only just come two days ago. It was rare for him to appear while the sun was still up. Furthermore, he was not alone. Two young men stood behind Sedias. They were dressed like laborers, but their physiques seemed agile and robust. Their gaze was sharp.
—The Royal Army.
She intuited this instantly. A single streak of cold sweat ran down from her armpit.
"Madame Haupt, sorry for the sudden visit,"
the old commander said in a husky voice.
"No, I... in this attire... I will go and change right now."
"It will be over quickly." Sedias looked back at the men behind him. "Prepare it."
The men placed a small inkpot on the dining table. They set a quill pen in the pot. Furthermore, they lined up several sheets of paper on the table.
"Please, this way," one of the men said.
Sedias, who had stood up, put his arm around her shoulder. Morana was trembling.
"There is no need to be afraid. Sign these documents."
"What kind of documents—" Morana asked as she took a seat at the table.
"Just sign them."
Morana did not know much about reading and writing, but she knew the fear of signing documents.
I can't. Wanting to say that, she looked around at the men.
Three cold, stiff faces surrounded Morana. It was not an atmosphere where one could assert anything. Wanting to soften the tense air, Morana smiled.
"This is somehow scary, isn't it?"
"Madame Haupt. Ending this quickly is for the benefit of both parties. Now."
The quill pen was handed to her by the Marquis of Delroy. Morana signed. She was no longer smiling. While suppressing a rising sob, she signed four documents.
The men quickly cleared away the documents, the pen, and the inkpot.
The men exchanged glances. When Sedias nodded, the two left the dining room.
"Sedias—" Morana stood up and clung to the old Marquis.
Then, Sedias Thora's large hand pushed Morana away. Thanks to grabbing the back of the chair, Morana managed not to fall. Sedias was not looking at her. He was looking behind Morana. When she reflexively turned around, the men had returned to the dining room.
They were holding swords.
Screaming, she dove into the Marquis's chest once more.
This time she was not pushed away, but her shoulders were grabbed and she was pulled apart.
"Circumstances have changed, Morana."
"No, no..."
"For you as well, this is the best outcome."
Morana closed her eyes and covered her ears. Sedias took Morana's wrists and forced them down.
"Madame Haupt must die."
"No..."
"Your next name is Madame Madden."
"That... that can't be."
"The land you possess will increase to four villages. All of them are planned to be villages in the east."
"That... Madden? Villages?"
"I believe you understand, but in reality, the Thora family will possess them. It will be as if you requested that I handle the management. However, I will make your living conditions a bit better."
"Villages? I—"
"And also," Sedias Thora brought his face close to Morana's ear. "Do not cling to me in front of the soldiers. I have my reputation to maintain."
Sedias Thora cleared his throat and spoke to the men.
"For three days starting today, protect Madame Madden. Do not let her outside."
"Yes," the two young men answered simultaneously.
"Morana, from here on, it is war with the east. As part of the preparations, a bit of a commotion will occur outside. Do not leave the mansion so as not to be caught up in it. As a precaution, I am leaving these men here. Also, dress like a lady. You lot."
—If you lay a finger on this woman, I'll kill you.
Sedias swept his cloak and departed.
Morana collapsed onto the floor, ending up needing the help of the young soldiers.
Around the time Madame Madden began changing on the second floor, Urgil Necrat was on the road. He was on horseback. He was on his way to a discussion regarding debts.
It began to cloud over in the afternoon, and it became humid. Noticing the water stains increasing on the cobblestones, he was wondering whether to return to the mansion, and it was then.
From the shadows of everything, armored soldiers appeared and surrounded Necrat. When he tried to pull the reins in surprise, it did not go well. The reins had been taken by a soldier who had rushed over. Another soldier grabbed Necrat's ankle, grabbed his cloak, and grabbed the hem of his coat. Countless hands were reaching for him.
By those hands, Count Urgil Necrat of Carossa was dragged down from his horse.
He was slammed onto the road, hitting his shoulder hard.
"I won't draw my sword! I won't resist!"
He shouted regardless.
"Shut up!"
He was struck on the head with the hilt of a sword by one of the soldiers. His ears rang.
"Is there anyone here in a position to speak with Sedias!"
Urgil roared.
His body was already pinned down upon the cobblestones.
"I might be able to speak with him when I report,"
a voice sounded above his head. He could not see the face.
"If you start a war with the east, it won't be settled even in ten years. Tell the Commander-in-Chief of the National Army that! There, run. Go tell Sedias that. I'll be waiting!"
"The east's resistance won't last two days," the soldier said. It sounded like the voice of a youth.
"The east will not forgive the lawlessness of Sedias Thora!" Urgil screamed in a voice that seemed to echo through the city. "City of Malfa, listen! We will not forgive the Thora family!"
This time, countless boots dug into Urgil's body.
His nose was broken, and likely, one of his eyeballs was crushed. His internal organs did not seem to be intact either.
"I have a message for Sedias!"
When he shouted without flinching, the kicking stopped.
"Depends on the content," the young voice above answered.
"Swear that you will deliver it."
The man above hesitated, but then blurted out, "I swear."
"Know shame, Sedias Thora. Your son is the disgrace of the kingdom."
Whether he had lost his sight, he could see nothing. Is it no use, the Count of Carossa thought.
—Yugis.
Among his four sons, Yugis was the first to come to mind. Danger would undoubtedly reach Yugis as well. He regretted it, thinking Damn it.
The Thora family? Such things were trivial. He should have told Yugis. Leave it alone. Don't stick your nose in. Become an official or something, start a family, he should have said.
However, Urgil had been happy. Happy that he could share his anger toward the Thora family with his son. Thinking that the boy had understood his father a little, he had been happy.
The last thing Urgil Necrat heard was the soothing sound of rain approaching, a shhhhh sound. Or perhaps, because his neck had been severed, it was the sound of blood flowing like a waterfall from the cut surface.
The rain that began to fall abundantly made many citizens of Malfa feel the early summer.
Zeal Androsh felt the same.
—This rain feels damn good.
The ground is wet, and the air will likely cool down soon.
Zeal, his chin scar turning white, had been walking through the back alleys for a considerable amount of time. Steam rose from his wet overcoat. He was careful not to walk too fast. He did not want to stand out.
The rain was heavy, and visibility was poor.
He was heading toward the south side of the city wall. Within the enclosure of the city wall, the city of Malfa had another, slightly smaller wall enclosure. This city was the political capital as well as a military fortress. Even while strolling, one would bump into walls and gates everywhere.
The back alleys were wet and black, and the air felt grayish. He noticed a figure crouching at the exit of a back alley. It was a familiar, plump back.
"Yo," Zeal greeted in a low voice.
Kashu Coil turned around while putting his hands on his hips.
Both of them, as if by prior agreement, were wearing overcoats with their hoods up.
"How's the South Gate?" Zeal asked.
"No good. It's shut tight." Kashu stepped back to make room.
Zeal peeked out from the back alley. Beyond the white, misty street, the closed great gate was visible. There were several Royal Army soldiers in armor.
"Looks no good. Let's go. Did you see the Church Gate?"
Kashu shook his head.
The two began to head back through the back alleys.
"Did you meet anyone?" he asked.
"Raslaf Dravar. He should have gone outside the city with his attendant, Arnosh Dracy."
Zeal laughed. "Idiot. He should have just gone with us."
"I'm regretting it now. I hadn't eaten lunch yet, so I held back. What about you? I wonder what happened to that Yugis fellow."
"I haven't seen anyone."
"Hey, what's going on?"
Ahead of them, a figure that repelled the rain in white moved.
They quietly stepped into a side path. The two ran for a while.
After confirming they weren't being followed, they returned to walking.
"It's not like we're the targets," Zeal said.
"Probably."
"It seems more vague, like they're capturing everyone in the east one by one."
Before emerging onto a large street called Shirogane Street, the two cautiously crouched in the darkness of a back alley. There were soldiers being hit by the rain. Counting them, there were six.
The man the soldiers were leading away was tall. It was Udoh Renne. Udoh had rope wound around his waist, and his face was swollen. It seemed he was being taken to Malfa Castle.
Waiting for the soldiers and Udoh to disappear into the curtain of water-mist, the two crossed the street like mice. They escaped back into a narrow path.
"What a foolish guy. He probably fought back."
"As long as he's alive, it's no problem. He's a member of the Fourth Army, which was established under the orders of the Thora family. He'll probably be released soon anyway."
"If the circumstances haven't changed, then yeah."
"More importantly, at this rate, the Church Gate will be closed too. Don't you have a hideout or something?"
"Those aren't in a place like this."
"It's a pain that the gates are being secured. It's only a matter of time before we're caught."
"True."
"In the barber district ahead, there's a shop that grills good meat."
"Do they serve alcohol?"
"They do, of course."
"Well, shall we go?"
The two changed their destination. It was far more sensible than running around in the rain.
Cloden Danforth had also reached a similar conclusion to Zeal and the others.
He had gone to a tavern. Cloden ordered a beer at a tavern on Withered Leaf Slope, and before he could finish drinking it, a soldier grabbed his wrist.
"Let me drink."
"Just stand up."
"It's pouring rain, isn't it? Let me drink until it lets up."
"Don't make this a hassle. I'll knock your teeth out."
Cloden had a hope that he might be able to meet Yugis at this tavern. If he met him, there were things he wanted to say. One was a grievance, and the other was an apology.
That things had turned out like this might be Cloden's fault.
Cloden had come across the suspicion that Laicanel Thora was sleeping with the Queen. He had heard that a lady-in-waiting to the Queen named Almirah Paison had spoken of it, which a food server named Naria had heard, which a youth named Hui, a bedroom attendant, had heard as a bedtime story. It was a suspicious tale.
He had intended to tell no one until he gained certainty.
Then, an enemy spy named Lian Belghiyo appeared. This was a story from around mid-winter. Cloden viewed this situation as grave.
The unremarkable man named Lian had obtained some information from Laiel Gilmond. He had apparently disguised himself as a confessor and made Marquis Gilmond confess. That was not all.
Lian learned about Cloden. Two of his comrades, Yugis and Haider, had spoken to Lian. That Cloden was investigating Laicanel Thora.
Then what would happen?
Lian Belghiyo was likely the dog of Prime Minister Gilma Rigardie. That Prime Minister was coordinating with the Thora family.
In other words, the fact that Cloden was searching for Laicanel's secret was completely transparent to Sedias Thora.
Yugis had said brazenly,
"Withdraw your hand from Laicanel."
He had wanted to curse him. Yugis and Haider had turned Cloden's efforts into bubbles. One could even say they had sold Cloden out.
However, sadly.
Cloden was not a fool.
Setting Yugis aside, he understood Haider's intentions. Give the information on this side to Gilma through Lian. See how the Prime Minister reacts. Haider likely wanted to see that. Would he hand the information over to Sedias Thora as is? Perhaps he wouldn't. Gilma was a politician. He was not a cheap politician who was merely a lapdog to the Thora family. Perhaps he would make a proposal that benefited this side and lead it toward a deal.
Haider must have been thinking about whether he could utilize the Prime Minister.
—But.
The information Cloden had grasped the beginning of was too great. It was impossible to bury.
It was the affair between Queen Yumeria Alish of the Kingdom of Siddim and the son of the Supreme Commander of the Royal Army. If it were spoken once and exposed to the air, would it not explode? Would it not blow the Thora family to smithereens?
This information might be something that even Yugis or Haider could not handle.
After thinking it over, Cloden consulted with Yugis's father, Urgil Necrat.
Lord Necrat met with him amiably. He provided wine and food. He listened to the story with sincerity.
"Not because you are my son's friend, but..." Lord Necrat, who sported a thick black mustache, maintained a serious expression throughout. "I believe it is certain that you should withdraw your hand from Laicanel. Because it is dangerous."
"That said, I do not believe it is a matter that can be treated lightly."
What was served to Cloden was a fragrant wine. He gulped it down.
Unlike his son, Lord Necrat had good taste in wine.
"It is also a story that would wound His Majesty's heart. How about this? I would like to take charge of this matter."
"What do you intend to do?"
"I will subtly bring it up to the father's side."
He apparently intended to hint at it to Sedias Thora. Perhaps he intended to cancel out the secrets Marquis Gilmond had leaked to Lian Belghiyo with that.
Cloden wondered if it would be alright.
Cloden was drunk, and since he had already spoken, the Count of Carossa would likely do as he pleased. He decided to leave the matter of the affair to Count Urgil Necrat.
And then, this happened.
If Count Urgil Necrat of Carossa had threatened Sedias Thora using his son's scandal as leverage. If that scandal were actually true. Would Sedias Thora be driven by rage? Or tremble in fear? The reaction of the head of the Thora family was unpredictable. He might do something reckless.
Using the Royal Army to arrest the eastern nobles root and branch. For example, such a reckless act.
The sight of the city wall gates being sealed and Royal Army soldiers marching through the city in formation was something that could not be realized unless one were dyed in madness. Partly due to the rain, this was a nightmarish situation.
This was the core. It was too much of a core to become a superficial reason circulated to the public. Sedias Thora had obtained some reason to attack the east. A grand justification, far removed from vulgar stories like affairs.
A justification grand enough to move the Royal Army.
—In other words, it means it will become a war.
The man who grabbed Cloden's wrist pulled his arm roughly.
In the end, he ended up leaving the shop, leaving the half-drunk beer on the table.
He was taken to the dungeons of Malfa Castle. Within the castle, there were countless towers and prisons. Shivering while soaking wet, he descended the stairs illuminated by the jailer's hand-candle. Many solitary cells came into view. There, he saw an unexpected person. It was Laicanel Thora.
He wore only a small piece of cloth covering his groin. Though he was clad in manly muscles, for a moment, he had white, beautiful skin that could be mistaken for a woman's.
"Yo," Cloden said.
Why was he in prison?
It was certain his father had put him there. Likely for the sin of the affair.
"His Majesty—"
The maid Almirah burst into the room without knocking.
The lights of the candelabra swayed all at once, and several shadows intersected convulsively.
Yumeria gasped, then immediately felt relief. The child she held in her chest moved. Never had she wanted to strangle this maid more than at this moment.
"What is the meaning of this, entering without a word!"
Nurse Madame Mcgillis, who was in the same room, scolded her on Yumeria's behalf.
As night fell, the rain weakened. However, Yumeria's body was wet with sweat.
"I am terribly sorry," Almirah said, walking forward with a straight posture. "His Majesty asks that you come to the dining room."
"Why?"
Yumeria was in a rocking chair. She had taken off her shoes and put her bare feet up on the chair, her back rounded.
"Everyone is gathered. He thought you would be anxious, so he wants everyone to spend time together."
His Majesty was a kind person. He was a person skilled at soothing people's hearts.
There were parts where he would understand one's feelings even without words.
Because of that, Yumeria was afraid of the King. Right now, she did not want anyone to peer into her heart.
"Tell him that Clorot is fussy," she ordered in a raspy voice.
"Yes, then—"
Almirah's words did not continue. Yumeria raised her face.
At the doorway, there was a square face bathed in orange light.
Strength entered the arms holding the young Clorot. "At such an hour, do you have some business at the detached palace? Marquis of Delroy."
"There was something I had to speak of to His Majesty. Since the door was open, I thought it would be better to show my face—Queen Majesty."
Marquis Sedias Thora of Delroy entered the room. The room grew dark. The Marquis was soaking wet.
Almirah bowed and left the room. Madame Mcgillis peered into Yumeria's eyes. She was likely asking whether she should take the infant. Yumeria shook her head.
"It was a long day. Though most of it was settled on the first day."
When they were alone, Sedias Thora sat his wet backside down on Yumeria's bed.
It was naturally unpleasant. "His Majesty also uses that spot."
"Not just His Majesty."
This man has nothing, Yumeria thought. A lack of grace was the most prominent characteristic of a man who had nothing.
"Necrat was beheaded on the streets of Malfa. Paishal Anavis was taken down on the highway. Hmph, Paishal apparently wept prostrate on the ground. Well?"
"What do you mean 'well'—"
"I'm asking if you are relieved. I've slaughtered all the scum who threatened us."
"Us?"
"Don't play dumb, Yumeria."
Threatened by Necrat over the matter of his son's playing with fire, Sedias Thora had questioned Laicanel. Despite how he looked, Laika apparently did not break. Yumeria was different.
To protect her son, she had no choice.
When asked by Sedias if it were true, she admitted it. Once she admitted it, Sedias could not escape either.
"You didn't kill him, did you?"
"Huh?"
"Laicanel."
Sedias Thora slowly stood up and approached. He reached out carelessly. Before she knew it, the infant was snatched away.
"A cute thing. If I think of him as my grandson."
"That child is His Majesty's—"
"Stand."
She stood up as if repelled.
Sedias laid the infant he was holding in the rocking chair with a surprisingly domestic touch. Clorot was sleeping peacefully.
As if part of a sequence of motions, Sedias grabbed Yumeria's collar and tore her loungewear vertically. Even so, he did not spare a glance at the Queen's body. He lay down on the bed languidly. Like a boy would, he lay on his back with both hands locked behind his head.
"Come. Take off my clothes."
Yumeria climbed onto the bed naked and straddled the Marquis's body with her knees. She removed the old man's cloak and began unbuttoning his shirt.
"I've taken it," the Marquis said.
"Eh?"
"The east will surrender sooner or later. The completion of my hegemony. The last part of the kingdom, here." A thick finger entered her body. "I've taken it."
—.
Yumeria lowered her eyelashes. She did not want her desire for revenge to be noticed.