The Villainous Lady Doesn't Speak Chapter 103

That day, a rare guest visited Liliana’s mansion near the royal capital. In the parlor, furnished simply yet elegantly, Clyde Benito Clark spread out the documents and maps he’d brought on the table. Liliana, with a serious expression, leaned in to listen to her brother's explanation while reviewing the materials in front of her.

“Father has already agreed to your visit to the dyeing district. However, given the distance from the capital to the district, I’d prefer not to make it our sole purpose, as we did when we visited with His Highness before.”

<If possible, it would be nice to showcase something unique to our territory—or at least something distinct to our country that would make the trip more enjoyable. And it would be even better if they could take some of these special products home with them.>

After hearing her brother’s words, Liliana wrote down her opinion on the paper in front of her. Clyde nodded, saying, "Exactly." Additionally, it was crucial that the area be easy to secure since they were inviting a state guest. That naturally limited their options. But if they were too rigid in their thinking, they wouldn’t be able to properly entertain the prince. Balancing entertainment, interest, and security was proving to be a challenge.

“I’ve already come up with a few ideas,” Clyde said as he showed her a list that included items like herb-infused beer, wine, and woolen goods. The beer was made using herbs grown in the Clark Duchy, and the wine was produced similarly. Beer, in particular, was widely consumed and might be familiar to the envoys from the Yunatian Empire.

However, none of these products were exclusive to the Clark Duchy. Other lords would likely perceive this as preferential treatment. If the prince from the Yunatian Empire favored these products, it could lead to potential exports to neighboring countries, which might stir discontent. They had to avoid that at all costs.

<Beer and wine are also specialties of other territories. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to have each territory bring their special products to the capital instead?>

“Good point, Lily. I thought the same. It might be better to showcase something in the territory that can’t be brought to the capital, but finding the right thing under these constraints is tricky.”

Clyde smiled warmly, indicating that Liliana’s suggestion had already crossed his mind.

To be honest, Liliana doubted that Clyde was seriously seeking her opinion on Prince Roland’s visit. For something like this, he could have made the decisions without consulting her.

<In that case, how about the smithy?>

“The smithy?”

Nevertheless, Liliana felt obligated to provide a thoughtful response since he asked for it. After some consideration, she suggested something that wasn’t on the list. As expected, Clyde tilted his head in confusion.

<Yes. I’ve heard that the Yunatian Empire is also a country where magic is prevalent, just like ours. However, it seems their farming tools are not as advanced as those in our territory. So, although there is a risk of technology leakage, I believe it would make sense to have them observe the production of farming tools in the Clark Duchy.>

“Oh, that’s—yes, that could be quite interesting. I hadn’t thought of that. And if that’s the angle we’re taking, it would indeed be the smithy, not just the assembly area.”

Clyde blinked in surprise, evidently caught off guard by the idea. Liliana made sure to keep her expression neutral, though a small, satisfied smile formed on her lips. Clyde, meanwhile, eagerly added “Visit to the smithy” to the bottom of his list.

There was also talk of visiting the silver mines, but the silver extracted from other territories and the Yunatian Empire was of higher quality and in greater quantity. It wouldn’t be anything new for Prince Roland. While industry was gradually expanding, agriculture remained the cornerstone of the Kingdom of Slibegrad’s economy.

“Ultimately, it’s probably best to focus on a showcase of each territory’s specialties in the capital, with only limited visits to the countryside. The dyeing district should definitely be on the list, especially since there’s a patent award ceremony there—and considering their request.”

<Did His Highness specifically request the visit?>

Liliana’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. Riley had mentioned it to her in passing, but he hadn’t said anything about the Yunitian Empire specifically requesting the visit. Clyde nodded.

“Apparently, yes. I didn’t know at first either, but it seems Princess Edith has an interest in fashion. That’s probably why the request was made.”

Clyde answered with a wry smile, and Liliana understood. Princess Edith, Prince Roland’s younger sister, was indeed one year younger than Liliana. She was known for her exceptional beauty but also had a reputation for being fond of extravagance—a fact Liliana had learned from Obsidian.

(I don't recall her appearing in the game, though.)

Liliana mused to herself. Despite being the younger sister of Prince Roland, a key character, Princess Edith's name didn’t seem to appear in the game.

<Will Princess Edith be accompanying him as well?>

When Riley had mentioned it earlier, it was vague at best—“She might come,” he had said. If her presence was confirmed, they would need to reconsider the itinerary to ensure it appealed to the princess. However, Clyde shook his head.

“It's not confirmed yet. I wish we could find out sooner, though.”

Liliana noticed a hint of unease in Clyde’s expression.

<Are you making two plans—one if the princess comes and another if she doesn’t?>

“You figured it out. Yes, if the princess does come, there’s a proposal to invite only the prince to the inspection while she stays in the capital.”

Clyde let out a small laugh, and Liliana couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated internally.

Hosting royalty was a significant responsibility for any nation. Ensuring their safety was paramount, but they also had to enjoy themselves, requiring meticulous attention to detail. This included not just the itinerary and the schedule of events, but also procuring food, planning meals, decorating the guest rooms, preparing for evening receptions, arranging for greetings from the nobility, providing accommodations, and even managing waste. All of this needed to be handled in a manner far beyond the norm. The regular palace staff wouldn’t suffice; they would need help from the Royal Knights and even personnel from nearby territories. The cost of labor alone was enormous, and if it couldn’t be covered by the national treasury, they’d have to find other funding sources.

The sheer volume of work on top of their daily duties was enough to make one's head spin. With less than a year until the royal visit and no final confirmation on the main guests, they would have to plan everything in two different ways.

<There isn’t much time left. Do we have enough food and accommodations?>

“I’ve asked each territory to make arrangements, but with monster stampedes still occurring frequently, even if less severely, many of the affected regions haven’t fully recovered. Honestly, handling just the prince’s visit will be challenging enough.”

Clyde sighed, and Liliana felt a pang of sympathy. She was beginning to understand why Clyde had been put in charge of the inspection plans. Even the highly capable Duke Clark likely didn’t have the bandwidth to manage such detailed arrangements. While matters of state could be delegated to aides and civil servants, the affairs of the duchy couldn’t be entrusted to them.

“The prince will likely be accompanied by a detachment of his royal guard—probably about 150 men if it’s a unit from the Empire. If the princess comes as well, that number will likely double to 300. We’ll need to start instructing the lords on how much food to secure.”

<Especially since fresh produce can’t be transported from far away. It can be preserved to some extent with magic, but still…>

“Exactly. And with that many people staying, we might need to consider opening up some of the palaces as well—”

<Which means we’ll also need more attendants and stewards.>

Liliana found herself staring off into the distance, and Clyde didn’t bother hiding his bitter expression.

The Yunatian Empire had a stronger military than the Kingdom of Slibegrad. Even if Crown Prince Riley were to visit a neighboring country, he couldn’t simply bring a full detachment of knights along. The fact that the Empire was sending such a large force was not just about ensuring the prince’s safety. It was likely a display of power, a way to assert their dominance over what they viewed as a vassal state.

Clyde looked at Liliana with a concerned expression, as if something else was on his mind. However, Liliana couldn’t quite grasp what was troubling him. She tilted her head slightly, signaling her question.

“Well… since the princess is about your age, I wondered if perhaps you and she might—”

Clyde started to say something but stopped himself, instead offering a dismissive smile and a shake of his head. Seeing this, Liliana frowned slightly but quickly composed herself. If he wasn’t going to say anything more, it probably wasn’t that important.

<In that case, how about the perfumes that are a specialty of the central Clark Duchy? Whether the princess accompanies the prince or not, Iris perfume is popular with women, so it might make a good souvenir.>

“Oh, that’s right. That’s a great idea,” Clyde said, nodding in realization and quickly adding it to the list.

They discussed several other ideas, but none stood out as particularly ingenious. After dinner, they each returned to their rooms.

*****

When Liliana returned to her room after dinner and her bath, she found that Ajulite had settled near her bed and was relaxing.

“Oh, it’s been a while,” she remarked.

[It’s been four days, but yes] Ajulite replied.

Interestingly, Ajulite and Obsidian never seemed to visit at the same time. Liliana even suspected that they might be avoiding each other on purpose, though she kept this suspicion to herself.

“When did you arrive?” she asked.

[Actually, I’ve been here since morning. I just made myself invisible.]

“Well, it would have been nice if you had made an appearance.”

Liliana chided gently, to which Ajulite snorted.

[I have no interest in being seen by anyone other than you.]

Finding this typical of Ajulite, Liliana took a book and sat down on the sofa. She opened it to a bookmarked page and casually asked Ajulite, “Did you see my brother?”

[Yes, I did. He doesn’t really resemble you much.]

“Oh—really? Is it about his appearance?”

Surprised by the comment, Liliana tilted her head and asked for clarification. While Clyde and Liliana did not share similar hair or eye colors, they were often said to have a similar aura due to their delicate and ethereal appearances.

Ajulite nodded nonchalantly. [The appearance is quite different. He’s a man and you’re a woman.]

“Oh—yes, indeed, that’s quite different. That wasn’t exactly what I was asking about, though.”

The unexpected response left Liliana momentarily speechless. Ajulite continued without any concern, but this time Liliana was left utterly speechless.

[And also, both of your personalities are quite different. It seems your brother has a great fondness for you.]

Liliana froze, holding the book in her hands. She took a moment to process Ajulite’s words and, with a frown, cautiously looked at the black lion. Its beautiful eyes sparkled like the night sky. Despite the captivating gaze, Liliana spoke quietly.

“My brother came to discuss the inspection.”

[That’s just an excuse, isn’t it? He could manage with just himself. He probably wanted a reason to meet and talk with his sister. How touching.]

“Me and my brother—we don’t have that kind of relationship…”

The unexpected observation left Liliana bewildered. She fell silent, unsure how to respond.

Originally, there hadn’t been much interaction between Clyde and Liliana. She was disliked by her mother and felt a strange hostility from her father. Her maternal grandparents were already deceased, and her paternal grandparents had no interest in her. As it stood, Clyde should have neither liked nor disliked her. So, being suddenly told that he “liked” her or “wanted to talk with her” left Liliana confused.

(Does this mean he likes me—wants to get closer as a sister?)

It was all too unclear. In the game from her previous life, Clyde had seemed to harbor some disdain for his sister. Love and hatred were simplified terms, but he struggled with his feelings throughout, growing more resentful despite his attempts to care. If the heroine pursued Clyde in the game, Liliana would face a choice between poisoning herself in a happy ending or being imprisoned in a bad ending. The former represented a final act of familial affection, while the latter was the result of unresolved hatred.

(If that’s the case, it makes a certain sense. A sister trying to get closer could end up resorting to dark magic, harming not only the heroine but also the crown prince.)

At present, Liliana was working to avoid such a tragic ending. Therefore, other questions needed to be considered.

(However, at the start of the game, my brother was depicted as having a black-hearted nature. As the future prime minister, he was portrayed as highly intelligent—but despite his current abilities, he doesn’t seem to be black-hearted at all.)

It had always puzzled Liliana. Of course, the characters were still young. With four years remaining until the start of the game, it was not surprising if some factor changed their personalities during that time. The problem, however, was the scarcity of information about that period. The strategy guides and setting materials were mostly vague, with only a few specific events that could be pinpointed in time.

[No matter what you think, that brother of yours clearly adores his sister and wants to get closer to her] Ajulite said, interrupting Liliana’s thoughts with an unflinching reality check.

Liliana, deep in contemplation, was not disturbed by Ajulite’s blunt remarks. She sighed deeply, considering whether it might be better to build a closer relationship with Clyde rather than maintaining a distance, as was generally advised to avoid disaster.

She closed the book she had been reading and slipped into bed.

[Are you going to sleep?] Ajulite asked.

“Yes, I’m quite tired today,” Liliana replied.

Ajulite nodded and hopped onto the single sofa beside the bed, curling up comfortably. As the striking eyes of the black lion were hidden beneath closed eyelids, Liliana also closed her eyes, embarking on her journey to the world of dreams.

Unaware that a storm would soon sweep in, she drifted into a peaceful and quiet night.

—

Chapter 104