The villainous lady doesn't speak chapter 181

 The Black Crystal and the Legend 1

In a lavish mansion in Tutelary, the imperial capital of the Yunatian Empire, the Duchess of Blumberg’s eyes sparkled as she opened a letter.

“My, so he’s already reaching that age.”

Henrietta Blumberg, blushing like a young girl, her eyes narrowed with affection, rose gracefully from the sofa. She left her room and walked down the long corridor, a joyful spring in her step. The household staff were well accustomed to such displays. A butler, noticing her along the way, approached with his usual composure.

“Madam, is something the matter?”

“I’ve just received the most wonderful news. I thought I would share it with Josef.”

“Wonderful news, you say?”

Seeing Henrietta flutter the letter in her hand, the butler gave a solemn nod.

“That is splendid to hear. A letter from your nephew, I presume?”

“Oh, you guessed it right away. You’re as sharp as ever.”

“You honor me with your praise, Madam.”

Henrietta laughed aloud at the butler’s reply. Still smiling cheerfully, she accompanied him to her husband Josef’s study and knocked on the door. After hearing a voice from within, Henrietta entered.

“Josef!”

“Ah, Henrietta, my love. As beautiful as ever. You seem to shine even more brightly than when I saw you this morning.”

“Oh, you. You’re as charming as ever yourself.”

Though they had only just shared breakfast, the two embraced, whispering sweet nothings to each other. But this was simply their daily routine. The butler, long used to it, calmly closed the door behind him and began to attend to some documents.

“Still, what brings you here so suddenly, my dear? You’re not usually fond of this study.”

“Of course not. Being in here, with all these things catching my eye, I can never relax.”

Duke Blumberg had no conspicuous achievements to his name and kept his distance from the heart of politics. Yet, within the Yunatian Empire, he was considered a man of some importance. This was due entirely to the military power his ducal house commanded, its vast territories, and the overwhelming support he enjoyed from his people.

Despite this, the ducal family was left unharmed by other nobles and even the Emperor himself. In an empire rife with power struggles, the Duke’s masterful diplomacy and nonchalant demeanor had served him well, leading every faction to deem him “not an adversary.”

The less charitable whispered that the Duke of Blumberg was “harmless,” “neither poison nor medicine,” or even “like a sundial in the shade.” The Emperor himself had once declared, right to the Duke’s face, “You are like a napping chick.”

In truth, however, the Duke’s study was overflowing with information that must never see the light of day. To survive peacefully in the ever-turbulent empire, one needed to possess every scrap of information imaginable. Without it, there was no way to remain unaffiliated and unharmed amidst the constantly shifting factional wars. Their peace was a hard-won prize, earned by reading the tides of the era and taking preemptive measures.

“Well, it’s true, you were a princess of the neighboring kingdom. It must be especially taxing for you. But then, what is the reason for this sudden visit? You must have something to tell me that’s worth entering a place you dislike, no?”

Her husband asked the question while holding his beloved wife by the waist. Henrietta smiled brightly and nodded. “I do, indeed.”

Henrietta, a former princess of the Kingdom of Slibegrad, was well-versed in international affairs, for better or worse. Had she been born and raised in the Yunatian Empire, ignorant of statecraft and foreign relations, the stacks of documents in her husband’s study would have been nothing more than meaningless rows of text. But alas, a mere glance was enough for her to grasp the subject matter, the ulterior motives, and the tangled web of interests involved.

“A letter arrived from my nephew. It seems a formal missive will be sent later, but he wanted to let me know beforehand.”

“From Prince Riley-dono?”

“Yes. He’ll be fifteen next year. How time flies… truly, like a shooting star.”

At Henrietta’s words, Josef’s eyes widened in surprise. He took the letter his wife offered and scanned it quickly, then nodded in understanding.

“I see, the investiture ceremony. We shall surely be invited as well.”

“I imagine so.”

Riley had just turned eight when the reigning king, Horatio, collapsed with no hope of recovery. With the still-conscious king’s consent, the Advisory Council had named him Crown Prince, and a preliminary investiture was held. Though he had been treated as the Crown Prince in name and in fact, his youth meant he had not yet been formally presented to foreign nations. Thus, it was decided that on the milestone of his fifteenth year, another investiture ceremony would be held. In truth, its primary purpose was to announce his status to the world and forge connections.

“He said he will introduce us to his fiancée. I’m so excited. What kind of dress should I wear?”

“Anything would look beautiful on you, my love, but I do hope you’ll incorporate my color into it.”

“But of course.”

Henrietta nodded emphatically. Her marriage to Josef had undoubtedly been a political arrangement, but fortunately, the two had managed to cultivate love after their engagement. They were blessed with children and lived fulfilling lives. At the same time, however, the signs of an approaching storm had grown more apparent in recent years, threatening to disrupt their tranquil days.

“—However, if we are to leave the country, I cannot help but worry about Her Highness the Imperial Princess.”

“Princess Edy, is it?”

Her husband’s face soured as his wife whispered in his ear, and he nodded grimly.

It had been three years since Prince Roland had contacted the couple in secret. Returning from his diplomatic visit to the Kingdom of Slibegrad, the prince had implored Henrietta to become a tutor to his younger sister, Princess Edith. For the duke and duchess, the request was a bolt from the blue.

‘I believe I can entrust Edy to the two of you, who have so skillfully kept your distance from the court’s power struggles.’

Prince Roland’s expression was taut, a stark change from the last time they had seen him. But they could not simply agree to such a sudden request. It was Josef who, his face a mask of faint bewilderment, had asked, ‘With all due respect…’

‘Her Highness the Princess already has tutors appointed to her, I believe. For my wife to engage in such a thing would seem, I fear, a breach of etiquette toward the Imperial Family.’

Josef’s point was undeniably correct. Henrietta felt the exact same way. But Prince Roland did not back down.

‘I will silence my father and his circle on the matter. But regardless, as things stand, Edy’s future is short. To survive in this country—Edy is far too… well… innocent.’

Prince Roland had hesitated, but he forced the words out. And it was a sentiment with which the ducal couple could only agree.

Princess Edith was rumored to be the apple of the Emperor’s eye, her beauty and charm widely known. But in reality, she was far too trusting. Her father’s word was absolute, and she accepted every tale whispered to her by those around her as gospel. She had her likes and dislikes when it came to food and clothing, and she certainly possessed emotions, but she lacked any firm “values” of her own. She simply judged things as likable or unlikable on impulse, without rational thought. Her entire standard of good and evil had been given to her by others.

And while she might be safe so long as the political situation remained stable, she would never survive should it descend into chaos. When turmoil reigns, one needs the ability to calmly assess the situation and make one’s own judgments. And in such a scenario, there would likely be few—no, none other than Prince Roland—to lend Princess Edith a helping hand. Yet if the prince himself were caught in the vortex, he would be powerless to protect her.

The prince’s expression remained slightly tense as he continued.

‘If my elder brother or sisters inherit the throne, it will sooner or later lead to war with the neighboring kingdom. But I wish to build a friendly, equal relationship with them. For Edy’s sake, I know it would be best if I stayed out of the succession struggle, but—even if I do not participate, our lives will be targeted simply for existing.’

And so, Prince Roland declared, he had decided to seize the throne himself.

Currently, all those with a claim to the throne, though their methods differed, had their sights set on the Kingdom of Slibegrad. Some planned to use military force, while others schemed to control the nation from within. But Roland had resolved to set himself apart from them. This was undoubtedly a lesson learned from his time abroad. The Kingdom of Slibegrad possessed qualities the Yunatian Empire did not. If the Empire were to dominate it, those qualities would surely be lost, Prince Roland had explained in few words.

But at present, the prince had little backing. If Duke Blumberg were to join Prince Roland’s camp, the political landscape would shift dramatically. However, while Roland himself might be capable, Princess Edith lacked the ability to navigate such a turn of events.

‘That is why I want Edy to learn to think for herself now. For that, Duchess—I wish to ask this of you.’

At Prince Roland’s earnest plea, the ducal couple exchanged glances.

Considering only their family, it was better not to accept. To involve themselves with the imperial family was to be drawn into the power struggle. But Henrietta looked into Josef’s calm eyes and made her decision. Without a word, the two, who trusted each other implicitly, understood the other’s resolve.

Henrietta would become Princess Edith’s tutor.

And Josef, even if it meant being caught in a fierce power struggle, would protect the ducal house and their lands to the very end.

‘—My thanks.’

The words Prince Roland uttered were heavy with a thousand emotions. But the gaze he fixed upon them burned like fire, revealing the determination of a man who could become a conqueror.

Lost in her memories, Henrietta let out a small sigh. Josef gazed gently at his wife and offered a reassuring smile.

“It will be all right. His Highness the Prince will manage somehow while we are away. Thanks to you, Her Highness the Princess is beginning to develop a sense of self, is she not?”

“Yes, of course she is. She’s completely different than before. She no longer accepts what people tell her at face value, but thinks for herself—and if she still doesn’t understand, she asks either me or His Highness.”

But it was still not enough. Princess Edith had only begun to “think for herself” three years ago. To expect her to master it in such a short time left some lingering anxiety. Perhaps due to her original nature, Princess Edith struggled with making quick decisions. When danger loomed, a moment’s hesitation could be fatal.

“I don’t believe the situation is quite so chaotic just yet, but—with the investiture ceremony in the neighboring kingdom, it will surely give the nobles another reason to make their move.”

Henrietta voiced her concerns with a sigh. Josef nodded in agreement.

“But there’s no use worrying about it now. We still have a year. Let’s think of some measures we can take in the meantime. We’ll have to consult with His Highness the Prince as well.”

“Yes, let’s do that. Though it will mean more trouble for you.”

“Don’t worry about it. We are husband and wife. We should help each other, shouldn’t we?”

At Josef’s words, Henrietta’s face broke into a smile like a blooming flower. They shared a light kiss, and Henrietta left the study. It seemed she was about to instruct her maids to begin consultations for the dress she would wear to the ceremony.

After watching his wife depart, Josef turned to the butler who had just closed the study door.

“What do you think?”

The butler glanced up, reading his master’s expression, and replied in a flat, emotionless tone.

“I suspect he will request a recommendation for a guard.”

“—I see.”

The butler, a long-serving retainer, had perfectly grasped Josef’s intent. The question was what Prince Roland would ask of the couple when they informed him of their departure for the Kingdom of Slibegrad to attend the investiture ceremony. And the butler’s answer was that Prince Roland would likely ask them to recommend a suitable person to guard Princess Edith.

The probability was high. The princess currently had several guards, but all were randomly selected from the Imperial Guard. There was no guarantee that they weren’t spies for factions plotting to harm Princess Edith.

“In that case, we’ll need to pull someone from outside the Imperial Guard. A bother, but—I know, perhaps we can have someone join the Guard first.”

There was still time. It was a bit tight for laying the groundwork, but not impossible.

Josef ordered his capable butler to compile a list of promising candidates. Even if the prince made no such request, having a few of their own people in the Imperial Guard would make it easier to act should something happen in the future. With that judgment, the man before him was already a far cry from the “harmless duke” who had so skillfully avoided the power struggles of the court.

＊＊＊＊＊

At the same time, in a tavern in a town several days’ ride by horse from the imperial capital of Tutelary, two figures sat. One, a man with crimson eyes, glared impatiently at the youth before him.

“—How many times do you think I’ve had to clean up your messes?”

“Who knows? But you get it, don’t ya? If I don’t do this shit, you’ll never get what you want.”

“It does not have to be you. Yes, what about that man? The one in the neighboring kingdom who routed your comrades. If I recall—he was bodyguard to some noble’s daughter.”

As the red-eyed man spoke mockingly, the nonchalant youth’s eyes narrowed for just a moment. A sharp glint flickered in their depths, but the red-eyed man didn’t flinch. To the man known as the “Crimson Reaper,” the youth sitting before him, no matter how skilled in combat, was nothing to be feared.

“Gerulf—if you do not wish to yield your position to anyone else, you will listen to what I say.”

The man called Gerulf let out a sharp click of his tongue. He shot a look that screamed I want to kill you right now, but it was clear that defying the man here and now would yield no good result. He averted his gaze and muttered in a sullen tone, “I know, I know.”

“That’s why I just showed my face at the enemy camp and pulled back last time. I did it to save your ass, Your Grace, Grand Duke Herzberg.”

“Just showed your face? What are you talking about? Several of our mages fell into enemy hands. If that was ‘just showing your face,’ then I can no longer grant you permission to set foot on a battlefield.”

“Dead men don’t talk.”

With that insolent retort to Grand Duke Conrad Herzberg, nephew to the Yunatian Emperor Calvin, Gerulf stood up.

“Like you said, I’ll lay low for a while. That’s what you want, right? Then, whenever you give the word, I’ll be ready to move out. But don’t you dare tell me how to fight. The way you knights do battle and the way the ‘descendants of the Alvaldi’ do are two different things.”

With that parting shot, Gerulf stormed out of the room with heavy, angry footsteps, not waiting for Grand Duke Herzberg’s reply. The Grand Duke watched his retreating back with a contemptuous glare and let out a heavy sigh.

“—A mad dog that knows only how to bare its fangs.”

There was no one to hear his complaint-filled words about the trouble of holding the leash.

—-

Toc

Chapter 182