Villainous Lady Doesn't Speak Chapter 123

Exchange of Shadows and Lights 1

The day after the martial arts tournament had concluded without incident and they were preparing for the granting of the letters patent, Riley and Liliana furrowed their brows as they discussed the latest piece of information over tea. Standing before them was Austin, dressed in his knightly garb.

“Elmar Hagen?”

“Yeah, it seems General Elmar Hagen of the Yunatian Empire has passed away. While he wasn’t as influential as the Emperor, he was a figure with substantial charisma, especially among knights and soldiers who were fervent supporters of his.”

Liliana and Riley exchanged glances. Riley was somewhat knowledgeable about the affairs of neighboring nations, but he didn’t have detailed information about the military. Unlike their kingdom, the empire’s military was robust, consisting of a mix of knights from noble families and soldiers recruited from commoners. However, Riley had never heard much about a figure named Elmar Hagen. He tilted his head, puzzled, and asked Austin.

“I’ve heard the name before. I remember something about him being an exceptional warrior, but... was he that old?”

“He was still young, as far as I know.”

Given the tales of his military prowess, it would be easy to assume he was a veteran, but in fact, he was young. Liliana, quietly sipping her tea, softly whispered to Riley, "I believe he was of the same generation as the Grand Duke." Riley, who easily received her words through the telepathic bracelet, raised an eyebrow. That would place him at around thirty years old.

“So, it's likely he was assassinated.”

“That seems like the most natural conclusion. Regardless, with the general’s sudden death, the balance of power in the Yunatian Empire will undoubtedly shift.”

General Elmar Hagen had risen from the rank of a common soldier to general at a young age, a man of undeniable talent. Though born a commoner, his natural gifts and imposing physique had blossomed into an impressive military career. He was well-liked by the Emperor and had consistently led the Empire to victory in wars with neighboring countries. Some high-ranking nobles despised him for his commoner roots, but his overwhelming strength earned him the admiration and envy of knights and soldiers alike. There were even rumors that he was more revered than the Emperor himself. It was said that when he attended court banquets, his formal attire was so covered with medals that no fabric was visible.

Despite receiving sufficient honors and wealth in the Yunatian Empire, Elmar Hagen was an ambitious man. Though the Emperor had many legitimate heirs, there were even whispers that he aimed for the throne himself. And yet, he remained favored by the current Emperor, his survival skills garnering much attention.

“That being the case, I’m worried about Prince Rolando and Princess Edith. I hope they can return safely... Do you know what their relationship with the general was like?” Riley asked.

“No, I don’t know the details. But neither of Their Highnesses should have been directly involved in any power struggles yet. As for the general, he likely had ambitions for the throne himself rather than pushing any particular successor.”

Austin’s words drew a nod from Riley. While this was the first time Riley had heard such details, it was likely that the Prime Minister and the advisory council had already been informed. Austin had probably learned this not directly from his father, Duke Ealdred, but from conversations within the knights. Although this information was confidential, Austin had likely come to inform Riley, knowing that the advisors would withhold such information from him. However, Austin likely didn’t possess much more detailed information. Still, the death of such a prominent figure would undoubtedly impact the Kingdom of Slibegrad.

“Thanks for the information, Austin. I’ll look into it on my end. You should be careful not to get too involved.”

Austin raised an eyebrow at Riley’s words. Others might have found Riley’s tone dismissive, but having known him for a long time, Austin quickly understood Riley’s true intentions. He smiled, unoffended.

“Yeah, I don’t plan on getting too involved. Acting carelessly would only cause trouble for the knights.”

Following last year’s monster stampede—the largest in history—near the capital, it had become clear that some nobles harbored ill will toward the knights. If something happened, Knight Commander Hegaty’s position could be in jeopardy. Thus, knights loyal to the commander were all on edge, careful not to show any weakness.

Austin politely bid farewell to Liliana and exited the room. After confirming that his presence had fully receded, Riley turned to Liliana with a questioning look.

“Do you know anything about General Elmar Hagen?”

‘Only what’s commonly known,’ Liliana replied without hesitation. Information about neighboring countries rarely made it to them, and what did come through was often just rumors of questionable reliability. That was why Liliana had asked Obsidian to investigate for more concrete details. While she hadn’t yet received in-depth reports, she had managed to gather some basic information about General Elmar Hagen.

“He’s a commoner who rose to the rank of general at a young age?”

‘Yes, and it seems he was quite revered by knights and soldiers. Some even say his supporters’ enthusiasm surpassed that for the Emperor himself.’

“Indeed, which is why rumors of him aiming for the throne had started circulating. And yet, the Emperor was still fond of him... It’s strange.”

Liliana nodded at Riley’s words and decided to ask what had been weighing on her mind.

‘The general’s death will surely shift the power dynamics in the empire, but what do you think will happen as a result?’

“Well…”

Riley tilted his head in response to Liliana’s question. Just before his tenth birthday, he had been entrusted with a portion of the king's "shadows." Skillfully using them to gather information was a crucial part of his duties. Ever since he had received them, he had been instructing the shadows to gather information not only within the kingdom but also from neighboring countries. However, even with these capable shadows, gathering intel on the neighboring nations had not gone as smoothly as he hoped. Despite its outwardly open appearance, the imperial court seemed to have strict security measures, making it difficult even for the shadows to infiltrate. Furthermore, trying to pry information out of those close to the imperial family or the more powerful nobles at social gatherings yielded little result. It was unclear if it was due to a strict information lockdown, but as a result, all Riley had been able to obtain about General Elmar Hagen were mere rumors. There was still no concrete information.

“What I’m most concerned about,” Riley said, “is whether the general intended to maintain a cooperative relationship with the surrounding countries or if he was planning an invasion.”

Liliana blinked at Riley’s response. After a moment of thought, she interjected, “In other words... are you saying you thought the general might invade our kingdom?”

“If he really had full control over the military, it would explain the recent tension along the borders, wouldn’t it? He was an exceptional warrior who rose to the rank of general, so he must have had a keen strategic mind as well.”

If that was the case, what would happen now that the general was gone? It was hard to say. With no one to keep the knights and soldiers in check, they could run rampant and launch an invasion of the Kingdom of Slibegrad. On the other hand, a faction advocating for cooperation might rise to power, bringing peace to both nations.

If it were the former, the safety of Prince Roland and Princess Edith could no longer be guaranteed. Riley would need to consider whether to return them safely or treat them as hostages.

Having fully understood Riley’s concerns, Liliana calmly stated, “I believe it would be best to return them promptly. They’re not the kind of people we can afford to handle carelessly. If, by some chance, they were harmed without our knowledge, it would only give the enemy an opportunity to exploit us.”

“As I expected, that’s your stance. To be honest, I agree with you. However, I’m certain some nobles will suggest making the princess my fiancée to secure a marriage alliance,” Riley said with a wry smile.

Marrying the crown princess of a neighboring country to the crown prince as a means of preventing invasion was a classic strategy. However, this approach required the assurance that the neighboring country wouldn’t abandon the princess after the marriage. At the same time, they would need to confirm that the princess wasn’t acting as a spy for her country.

“In a time of peace or post-war negotiations, it might be a viable option. But with the current instability, it’s certainly not a strategy we should employ now,” Liliana said.

“Once again, I have to say, choosing you as my fiancée was the right decision,” Riley muttered to himself.

Given the Emperor’s character, there was no guarantee that he wouldn’t sacrifice the princess. He might deem her death a necessary price for the country’s victory and launch an invasion. Alternatively, they might assassinate the princess and frame the royal family of Slibegrad. Princess Edith was simply too dangerous to keep around.

Riley muttered his thoughts while listening to his fiancée’s composed response. Liliana, however, continued to smile serenely, tilting her head slightly. She hadn’t thought she had said anything out of the ordinary. Besides, Riley had come to the same conclusion as her. The other potential fiancées would likely reach the same conclusion eventually, if not immediately.

Even so, Riley chose not to explain his reasoning any further to the puzzled Liliana.

Although Duke Ealdred had garnered support for Riley’s engagement to Liliana from other nobles, there were bound to be some who would change their stance if the situation shifted. Even though Riley had secured a written agreement, he wanted to formalize his engagement to Liliana as soon as possible. To that end, he needed to entertain Prince Roland and Princess Edith while advancing his engagement announcement with the help of Duke Ealdred and others. Sensing that things were about to get busier, Riley let out a small sigh.

*****

The venue for the granting of the royal charter was the same hall where the guests from the Yunitian Empire had been welcomed on the first day. Preparations were already complete, and Riley and Liliana waited in the antechamber for the appointed time. The guests from the Yunatian Empire were in a separate room prepared for them, and the two were planning to enjoy a brief conversation alone. However, not long after they entered the room, there was a knock at the door. When they called for the person to enter, it was none other than Prince Roland and Princess Edith. Though surprised, Riley and Liliana couldn’t simply turn them away, so they invited the two inside.

Princess Edith glanced at Liliana with a curious expression but soon blushed and moved close to Riley.

"Riley!"

She gleefully reached out to touch him, but Riley gently avoided her hand.

“I’m surprised. We had a room with a much better view prepared for you both as a waiting room. Was it not to your liking?”

Though his words subtly conveyed that "this is not a room meant for you," Princess Edith didn’t seem to notice at all and laughed innocently.

“Well, I am your fiancée, after all, Riley. I wanted to stay by your side as much as possible.”

Riley momentarily forgot to mask his expression, a deep frown forming on his brow. He had never once indicated that there was any possibility of Princess Edith becoming his fiancée. But he couldn’t let her push her way through here, so he quickly composed himself and asked calmly.

“Fiancée? I believe I told you that Liliana is my fiancée.”

“Huh? But isn’t Lady Liliana just one of the candidates? I heard all the other candidates were dismissed, and I was to become your fiancée, Riley.”

With an innocent tilt of her head, Princess Edith looked utterly bewildered—and quite adorable. However, Riley was unmoved by her mannerisms. In terms of appearance, Liliana, while different in style, was no less beautiful or graceful.

“Who did you hear that from?”

The problem was the basis for Princess Edith’s belief that she was Riley’s fiancée. If it was merely her own misunderstanding—that was troublesome but still within manageable bounds. However, if a noble of the Kingdom of Slibegrad had told her something of the sort, action had to be taken immediately. Just as Riley was solidifying his engagement to Liliana in the public eye, it was possible that some noble had deceived Princess Edith, intending to make her Riley’s fiancée.

“It was from the Chancellor—”

“Edith!”

Prince Roland cut off his sister’s words, but Riley and Liliana had already clearly heard the name. The Chancellor—Duke Clark. Riley clenched his teeth. He hadn’t expected interference from that quarter, but for Duke Clark, who opposed Liliana as Riley’s fiancée, now was a prime opportunity. However, he hadn’t anticipated that the duke would go so far as to push Princess Edith into the role.

“Princess Edith, I’m sorry, but that is not true.”

Riley firmly denied the claim, his words aimed not at the princess but at the attendants in the room, making it clear for all to hear. Princess Edith, shocked, paled. For the moment, Riley left her as she was and ordered the attendants to leave the room. He allowed only one trusted guard to remain.

Once the door was closed, Riley finally offered seats to Prince Roland and Princess Edith. Princess Edith, looking as if she might collapse, shakily sank onto the sofa and gazed at Riley with teary eyes.

“But… I thought… I was going to marry you, and then Father would…”

“I’m sorry, but I cannot consider anyone other than Liliana as my wife—no matter what political reasons are put forth, no matter what hardships may come, I have decided that Liliana will be my wife.”

At that moment, tears spilled from Princess Edith’s eyes, which she had been desperately holding back. Prince Roland, who had been sitting beside her, quietly handed her a handkerchief.

Riley’s words could be interpreted as an ardent proposal, but Liliana remained seated beside him, her serene smile unchanged.

The conversation Riley and Liliana had earlier over tea was something Princess Edith would never understand. Although she had been educated as a princess and was far from foolish, her emotions as a girl in love likely overshadowed her sense of duty as a princess. Even if reason and emotion were to clash, a compromise would never be reached. In such cases, it was better to state outright that there was no romantic interest—while it might hurt the other person temporarily, it would increase the likelihood of them accepting the reality.

On the other hand, dealing with Prince Roland required logic. Shifting his gaze from Princess Edith, Riley looked at the prince. Despite rumors of his dullness, there was a faint, mocking glint in the prince’s eyes as he observed Riley’s actions. Finally, Prince Roland opened his mouth.

“Your feelings may be clear, but if your decision leads to this kingdom’s downfall, the people will never forgive you.”

Riley blinked, unsure of what the prince was getting at, and remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

Their gazes locked, and it seemed as if sparks flew between them.