The Villainous Lady Doesn't Speak Chapter 113

The Wind Blows from the Imperial Country 5

The ceremony to welcome Prince Roland and his entourage from the Yunatian Empire proceeded smoothly. After the Kingdom of Slibegrad extended its welcome, Prince Roland delivered a speech expressing his wishes for lasting peace and friendship between the two nations. Following this, the court musicians performed symbolic pieces from each country, and a dance was presented. Once the meetings with the influential figures of Slibegrad were completed, the princes were set to join Riley and other royals for dinner.

Originally, Liliana had planned to leave the palace as soon as the dance performance concluded. Although the influential nobles included the Clark Duke’s family, only the Duke, his wife, and, if the heir had been determined, the heir were expected to make formal greetings to Prince Roland and his party. Since Duchess Belinda was sequestered at home and had relinquished her duties as duchess, the Duke had informed everyone that his wife was ill and had made the greetings alone. Clyde was expected to accompany in place of the Duchess. Naturally, Liliana had no obligation to be present.

Despite this, Liliana found herself unable to return to the estate when the influential figures began to leave the palace.

“Stop being so angry just because I’m apologizing,” Austin said nonchalantly. Apparently, he had been asked by Riley to stop Liliana, who was trying to return to the estate with Marianne, and guide her to Riley’s office. No matter how much Liliana tried to escape, Austin’s firm grip on her arm made it impossible to break free. Though he seemed to be trying to avoid causing her pain, his hold never wavered.

(It’s impossible not to be angry.)

Liliana silently complained to Austin but had no intention of going so far as to communicate with him through paper and pen.

“He wanted you to join him for dinner. I doubt it would feel right to have dinner with just the two from Yunatian Empire and the four from the Duke,” Austin explained, as if feeling sorry for her.

Liliana gave him a strained smile, though her eyes did not reflect the same sentiment. Austin’s face twitched at her expression, and he barely managed to hold back from taking a step back.

“—I’m just doing what Riley asked me to do, okay?”

Liliana finally took out her pen and paper, directing a chilly gaze at Austin. Apparently, she was conveying her displeasure at his attempt to shift the blame. The boy’s face paled slightly at her look. Seeing this, Liliana felt a small sense of satisfaction. However, Austin showed no sign of relenting. It seemed he intended to monitor her in this room until she agreed to go to dinner. He gestured to a sofa, inviting her to sit. Liliana considered standing as a form of protest but realized that Riley was the one behind this. While Austin might be able to deter Riley, convincing the earnest Crown Prince would be impossible.

Resigned, Liliana sat on the sofa. Austin exhaled in relief and took a seat opposite her.

“Riley will explain things directly to the Duke. Clyde is to remain unaware,” he said.

Liliana anticipated that her father would be furious. While she had never seen the Duke lose his temper, she had a vague idea of what to expect. He would likely exude an intimidating presence that would freeze one’s very insides with a cold, stern look, rather than shouting.

Even though Riley, at just eleven years old, was still a child, Liliana was curious to see how he would handle the seasoned Duke. However, with her movements closely watched by Austin, who was present with her, she had no intention of using magic due to the high risk of being detected.

Austin, seeing that Liliana had settled down, continued, “After the Duke understands the situation, he will come to this room to escort you. A dress for dinner has been prepared, so you should have Marianne help you change.”

It appeared that Riley had arranged not only the outfit for the ceremony but also the dinner dress. Liliana had no memory of requesting this or even seeing a measurement chart, but Riley must have used his authority as Crown Prince to obtain information from the tailor Liliana favored.

Liliana sighed deeply and looked up at the sound of knocking on the door. Marianne and several maids entered, carrying a large amount of luggage. She had seen this type of situation often enough to be thoroughly fed up with it.

(He not only sent a dress but also jewelry and shoes.)

During the engagement phase, receiving gifts directly from the Crown Prince was not customary. Once engaged, the Crown Prince might present gifts such as dresses and jewelry at his own expense. It is only once the marriage is confirmed and the Crown Princess is established that the budget for her expenses is allocated from the national treasury. Thus, if the lavish gifts were known to others, the social circles would undoubtedly be abuzz with rumors. And most likely, this dress would become the subject of gossip. It had already been seen by a significant number of maids.

The palace maids, all daughters of families with high ranks, had extensive connections in the social world and were themselves avid gossips. Liliana’s magical mice had often brought back valuable information from these maids.

(The rumors sweeping the social scene will include: ‘The Crown Prince has chosen Liliana Alexandra Clark as his fiancée, and the Crown Prince is said to dote on Miss Liliana,’ and ‘The Crown Prince, even before the engagement was officially confirmed, showered her with gifts and will buy her anything she asks for.’)

There were numerous potential rumors Liliana could easily imagine. Among them, there would certainly be stories suggesting that Liliana had made unreasonable demands for gifts from Riley. People love malicious gossip. Criticisms claiming that Liliana was unworthy of being the Crown Prince’s fiancée due to her silence would also undoubtedly circulate. Of course, Liliana was not one to be easily hurt by such slander. As long as it didn’t cause actual harm, it was not a problem.

However, if this led to a perception that Riley was unfit to be the next king, it would be problematic. That needed to be avoided, but given that he had progressed smoothly as Crown Prince in the game from Liliana’s previous life, she hoped his position would not be easily undermined.

Called by Marianne, Liliana rose from the sofa. It was not appropriate to change clothes in the office. Hearing that there was a nearby room for changing, Liliana headed to the separate room with Marianne and the maids.

*****

Despite the successful completion of the ceremony, Duke Clark was extremely displeased. As he was finishing up the remaining work in the Prime Minister's office, he immediately questioned the words conveyed to him by the Crown Prince. Although his question bordered on disrespect, he already wielded more power within the palace than the Crown Prince.

“What did you say?”

The Duke's formidable presence could make even seasoned nobles tremble. However, the still-unreached Crown Prince calmly received the intimidating look and repeated the same words as before.

“I would like Liliana to accompany Prince Roland and his party for dinner tonight.”

“Will the Duke be attending as well?”

The Duke could not understand why his daughter was required to attend, and his implicit rejection was clear. Yet Riley tilted his head slightly and gave a wry smile.

“It seems the Duke has an urgent matter tonight that cannot be postponed. I was surprised that anything could be more important than a dinner with a neighboring country, but it appears it is a matter of life and death, so there’s nothing to be done.”

Riley spoke with a concerned expression, but the Duke looked down at him with a bitter face.

There was little chance that the Duke was genuinely facing a life-threatening situation. It was likely an excuse. And where Duke Franklin Slibegrad had gone—there was no need to think hard about it.

“Shall we go and ask him to return?”

“Well, I would prefer if he were still in the palace. I’ve been searching for him, but he is nowhere to be found.”

Riley remained calm in the face of the Duke’s agitated state. The Duke and his lover had left the palace long ago. Though the Duchess’s husband was a marquis, he was a staunch supporter of the old regime and opposed to the pro-monarch faction supporting Riley. He was not among the key figures in the palace and had left the venue soon after greeting Prince Roland. If they pursued him, the Duke and his lover were likely enjoying a romantic tryst in their love nest.

Riley discreetly observed the Duke’s reaction. Given his reputation as the "Blue Flame Prime Minister," he was likely aware of the Duke’s lovers, but whether he could identify the current one was doubtful. The Duke was known for being notorious for having multiple partners without settling on a specific one. However, his current partner was someone with whom he had been involved for a very long time compared to other women. Even the most informed individuals never named the Duke’s lover, likely because the image of his current partner was vastly different from that of a lover.

—A highly esteemed and wise woman who can even instruct the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Her manners are impeccable, and her demeanor is that of an ideal lady who always smiles gently while supporting her husband. On the other hand, she is well-connected in the social circles and is said to be knowledgeable about every rumor—Lady Finch, the Marchioness.

Having seemingly given up, Duke Clark deeply furrowed his brow and asked quietly.

“Then why insist on bringing her to the dinner? She is still just a duke’s daughter, not even a fiancée. Moreover, she cannot speak. Are you intending to undermine the dignity of the Kingdom of Slibegrad?”

“Duke Clark, Miss Liliana’s worth is not diminished by the mere fact that she cannot speak. I am confident that she is suitable to be the Crown Princess.”

“Even so, that does not justify bringing her to tonight’s dinner.”

“There is no problem with bringing a fiancée-to-be to a dinner with a foreign country.”

Riley met the Duke’s gaze directly. The standoff persisted, with neither side backing down. After a moment, Duke Clark said calmly.

“—The Emperor has approved that if Miss Liliana does not speak by the age of ten, she will be removed from the list of fiancée candidates.”

“What reason could there be for not wanting Miss Liliana as my fiancée?”

Riley implied that there was no one more suitable than her. However, Duke Clark remained coldly unresponsive.

“I do not believe I need to answer that, Your Highness.”

Riley hesitated. He did not intend to concede. However, if he made a mistake with his next words, it could make it difficult not only to make Liliana his fiancée but even to have her attend tonight’s dinner. While he could use his authority as Crown Prince to push through, he preferred to gain agreement amicably, considering the repercussions.

At that moment of silence, there was a knock on the Prime Minister’s office door. When both men looked toward the entrance, they saw a confused attendant and a bearded man standing there.

“Times always change, Duke Clark.”

—“Duke Ealdred.”

It was clear from Duke Clark’s low voice that he was not welcoming Duke Ealdred. Duke Ealdred did not typically visit the Prime Minister’s office, not because Duke Clark disliked him vehemently, but simply because there was no need for it.

“It’s rare for you to come here,” Duke Clark said, his mouth twisting into a sardonic smile.

Duke Ealdred, however, remained unfazed. He kept a small, unreadable smile and ignored Duke Clark’s words.

“I don’t know what secret agreement you’ve made with His Majesty, but as long as that agreement remains unknown, if the majority of the advisory council supports the Crown Prince’s wishes, Miss Clark will become the fiancée.”

Duke Ealdred implied that Duke Clark should not be unaware of this. Duke Clark’s eyes, sharp and unreadable, fixed intently on Duke Ealdred. Calmly meeting his gaze, Duke Ealdred then turned his attention to Riley and said cheerfully,

“Your Highness, it seems Miss Clark is ready. It would be best to proceed soon.”

“—Thank you.”

Riley nodded. However, he had not yet received Duke Clark’s consent. For a moment, he cast a concerned glance at the Prime Minister, but the Prime Minister continued to glare at Duke Ealdred without reacting. Duke Ealdred’s smile deepened.

“Duke Clark, the ceremony is over, the major nobles have left the palace, and the Duke is currently missing. With neither of us able to attend, I see no valid reason to prevent the Crown Prince from having Miss Clark, who has been designated as his fiancée, attend.”

Duke Ealdred quietly posed the question of whether Duke Clark still opposed. The participants from the Yunatian Empire were Prince Roland and Princess Edith, and Dormil Butler was not attending. To balance this, it was necessary for a member of the royal family to be present. Duke Clark was not of royal blood. With the Duke absent, the only other option was either Riley’s fiancée or Duke Ealdred, who was of royal lineage.

If Duke Clark chose to send someone he disliked to the dinner with the foreign princes, it would harm his pride. Duke Clark could not win against Duke Ealdred, whose royal blood was an undeniable fact.

Realizing this, Duke Clark glared at Duke Ealdred with evident malice and growled lowly,

“—Just for tonight.”

He implied that no further concessions would be made. Riley, thus, did not nod in agreement. He smiled calmly and left the Prime Minister’s office, with Duke Ealdred following behind. The door to the Prime Minister’s office closed behind them.

“Your Highness,”

After walking a short distance, Duke Ealdred addressed Riley. Riley looked up but soon appeared flustered.

“Ah, Duke Ealdred. I forgot to thank you earlier. Thank you for your help; it means we can dine with Miss Liliana.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Duke Ealdred responded with a beaming smile. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened, softening his strict demeanor slightly. Riley noticed a resemblance to Austin in Duke Ealdred’s demeanor and smiled in return. Duke Ealdred gazed down at Riley with a serene expression.

“Regarding Miss Clark,”

“Yes?”

Riley listened attentively. Duke Ealdred lowered his voice.

“There is already a majority in favor of making her the fiancée in the advisory council. For caution, I have also secured a written agreement. I recommend that the matter be brought up at the advisory council as soon as possible. Lucian should be able to handle it effectively for you.”

The unexpected words left Riley stunned. He stared in surprise, unsure where to start, and decided to voice his questions one by one.

“—A written agreement, what is that?”

“Oh, since it would be troublesome if it were merely a casual promise, I made sure to get evidence. The original is kept in a safe place, but I can provide a copy later.”

“Are the majority of the advisory council in favor?”

“Yes. Of course, they have their own principles and factions, but they reached a consensus on your fiancée without much trouble. Well, since both I and Margrave Kennys support it.”

Margrave Kennys, who had been rendered paralyzed by an assassin’s attack and has since remained in his domain, still holds significant influence. Even though his son Lucian has taken over his duties in the capital, people still view Kennys’s influence behind Lucian. Many would overlook some unease if Kennys himself recognizes Liliana as Riley’s fiancée. Furthermore, Duke Ealdred also supports it. The only noble likely to oppose would be Duke Clark. With the written agreement in hand, it would be nearly impossible for them to retract their stance.

“—Thank you. Not only for Miss Liliana, but also for the matter of the Duke. I’m sorry for the late gratitude, but your help was invaluable.”

Though Riley did not fully understand why Duke Ealdred was so devoted, he expressed his gratitude sincerely. Duke Ealdred let out a pleased sound from his throat.

“Don’t mention it. It is both my duty and pleasure as a predecessor to nurture and assist talented young people. She is truly—yes, truly an exceptional young lady. She will be able to support the country alongside you.”

Hearing the praise from a man renowned for his exceptional talent, Riley blushed. He felt a flush of embarrassment akin to when he was praised. However, he managed to calm himself.

“To hear such praise from a duke reassures me that my own judgment was not mistaken.”

“You should be fine. You have an eye for people.”

Duke Ealdred mischievously added this, then came to a halt. They had already arrived near Riley’s office, and the room where Liliana should be changing was also close by.

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

Duke Ealdred bowed to Riley. Riley again thanked him and turned on his heel.

The dress he had chosen for Liliana had been the result of much deliberation with a tailor over the best design. Liliana, though appearing delicate, had a strong core. He had pondered what dress would best highlight her beauty.

The dress he had agonized over should surely suit her well.

With his heart swelling, Riley quickened his pace. He was eager to see Liliana.

----

ToC

Chapter 114

(T/N: There has been a mistake regarding 'Baron' kennys name it should have been translated as Margrave Kennys, I noticed while doing the v1 of LN translation of this series. It will be translated as Margrave from now onwards.)