Chapter 6
***
She managed to eat despite her stomach turning several times, and fortunately, she never ran into Roan again.
Four days later, they finally, or at least slowly, reached the capital.
"...."
As soon as they stepped out of the carriage, Delnia, Marianne, and Sophie were speechless at the sight of the city.
The statue at the main gate was rusted to the top from exposure to the rain, and weeds of unknown origin grew knee-deep in the grass.
It had obviously been left unattended for a long time, given its location on the outskirts of the capital city.
"Follow me."
Marianne narrowed her eyes like an angry man and followed Sylver, who led the way. Sophie walked beside her, muttering prayers incessantly.
The interior of the mansion was better than the exterior, but it was still dire.
A small wooden bed, a table, and a stiff chair barely big enough to turn over in the dingy bedroom, and faded, out-of-fashion curtains hung like ghosts from the window.
"You'll be staying here until your trial. I've assigned you a maid, and if you need anything, just ask. I'll tell her to accommodate you as best she can."
"I can't believe I have to tell you what I need after seeing us in this state."
Marianne clicked her tongue and scoffed at Sylver’s consideration. Her cheeks had sunken to the point where there was nothing left of them, but the tip of her tongue was still sharp.
Marianne glared hard at Sylver with her beaky eyes, then pushed past him into the room. Sophie, after a brief glance, followed her coldly.
Delnia, still lingering in the doorway, looked back at Sylver, who was giving her a cool look.
"I hope you'll understand. My mother is very sensitive when she's ill."
"Yeah, well. Because she's sick.................."
Sylver nodded his head like a gentleman, though he didn't seem to understand.
"Well, I'd better be going, then."
"One moment, lieutenant."
Delnia grabbed Sylver as he turned to leave.
"Is the Count here, by any chance?"
Sylver’s eyes widened, and then he replied with an awkward expression.
"Yes, he is, but I'm afraid you won't be able to communicate. We will continue to deploy troops..........."
"Troops?"
Surprised, Delnia interrupted, forgetting her rudeness.
It wasn't that she didn't think there would be eyes watching them. It was just that...................
"Does that mean the navy will remain here?"
"Yes."
Delnia's jaw tightened at the simple affirmation.
She'd expected to be handed over to the ground forces or the Imperial Guard once she reached the capital, so she'd thought to ask an officer there to let her see her father once, but it had all come to naught.
"If you have no further business, I'll leave you to it."
With no further questions from Delnia, Sylver bowed again and left the room.
Left alone, Delnia was once again troubled.
If they were to remain under the Navy's jurisdiction, there was only Roan, the man in charge, to ask.
But her breath caught in her throat as she remembered her last encounter with him, and she doubted that he would grant her request.
'But...................'
Delnia glanced back. Sophie was tending to Marianne, who was lying on the bed, making painful noises.
She couldn't expect anything from her mother, who could barely take care of herself. She was the only one who could assess the situation and discuss a plan of action.
Delnia hesitated, then rushed out into the hallway. By now, Sylver was far enough away that she could barely see his massive bulk.
"Lieutenant Dieppe."
At her call, Sylver stopped walking and turned around. Delnia kept pace with him, her stride quickened.
"Do you think you could deliver a word to Major Barthez for me?"
"What words.................. do you mean to ask him to let you see the Count?"
Delnia nodded at Sylver, who hadn't had to guess too hard.
"I have yet to receive any word from the Count about this, and since I was brought here without knowing anything, I believe I have the right to ask."
Delnia appealed, her tone calm and gentle.
From his demeanor, it was clear that Sylver was of noble birth, and chivalry was alive and well in him. It also meant that he was a gentleman who would not turn away a lady in need.
"In that case, please wait. I'll ask the Major."
It was not long before Sylver granted her request.
Delnia thanked him with a slight bow of her head, as a polite lady should.
***
"As you requested, I have escorted the Countess of Eperne and the young lady to their rooms and have posted soldiers in the hallways."
Roan nodded indifferently as he stood at the entrance to the mansion and listened to Sylver’s report.
There was no need to linger here now that the convoy mission was complete, and he was about to leave the mansion without further ado.
"Uh, Major."
Sylver called him to a halt, his voice cautious.
Roan stared at him wordlessly, watching him scratch the back of his head as if something was bothering him, then Sylver finally spoke up.
"Actually, I have a message for you, Major, that I was asked to deliver on the lady’s behalf."
"What message?"
"Well, the young lady would like to speak to the Count in person, and since she knows nothing about this case, she wants to talk to him face to face."
Roan didn't answer. Instead, he glared at his lieutenant, who had taken it upon himself to act as the woman's spokesman.
Sylver Dieppe was a rookie officer, just two years into his commission, with the honor of being the first graduate of the Naval Academy.
He had been criticized by Kais for being a little on the nose and a little on the high-minded side, but Roan didn't mind. An unflappable attitude was a quality befitting a soldier.
So he figured it wouldn't be a problem if he was assigned to the woman.
One day, he started treating her like she was the most important lady in society, and in the end, this was what happened.
‘How the hell did she convince him?’
Roan shifted the blame to Delnia, as if it was only natural, for she could mesmerize a man with her tongue alone.
He clenched his fists involuntarily as the memory of having once been at the mercy of that tongue flashed through his mind.
It had been a long time ago, and he was no longer the stupid, foolish boy he had been.
"She's pretty."
Roan's mouth curled into a fierce sneer, as if he were mocking his former self.
"Ah, yes. She’s very beautiful.................."
Sylver’s casual affirmation was interrupted. He realized a beat too late that Roan's words were an accusation that he had fallen into the beauty world.
Sylver’s ears, which had been fine until then, instantly perked up. Roan's eyes flashed with the keenness of a hunter waiting for a trap.
"Oh, no, sir, she’s beautiful, but I never said that I fell for her beauty, or that I ever..................."
Sylver’s voice trailed off as he threw up his hands in denial. The more he tried to explain, the deeper the wrinkles in Roan's brow deepened.
Roan, who had been glaring at Sylver with no hint of displeasure, suddenly tilted one corner of his mouth upward, a grin that sent chills down Sylver’s spine, and he swallowed hard.
“If that’s true, then I will allow them to meet just this once.”
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. But only on the condition that you’ll observe them."
"What? Observe?"
Sylver asked, dumbfounded, but Roan added in a nonchalant tone.
"Wouldn't you want to see what the sinners are talking about?"
"But..................."
Sylver hesitated, realizing that he was actually being asked to not simply observe, but eavesdrop and monitor.
But Roan was having none of it and nailed the order down.
"I'm going to see the Admiral and then return home. When you're done, come to the mansion. I'll hear the report there."
"..................Yes, sir."
Sylver shook his head, finally obeying the order.
Roan watched his lieutenant's back as he walked away, his hulking form slumped in a pitiful heap.
***
Delnia gazed out the window, her face blank.
It wasn't a view that could be described as pleasing to the eye. The tiny branches of the trees, shaded by the buildings and yet to bud, swayed helplessly in the breeze, a subterranean wasteland untouched by the breath of the goddess of spring.
And yet she couldn't take her eyes off it. It was as if she was mesmerized by the silence.
The silence, which seemed to be frozen in time, was broken by the sound of a shuffling outside the room.
Delnia turned her attention first to the bed. Marianne was fast asleep, and Sophie, who had been tending to her, was also dozing in an uncomfortable position, her forehead resting on the corner of the bed.
Rising gently so as not to wake them, Delnia moved to the door, her footsteps muffled, and carefully opened it, stepping out.
"You can't come out without permission."
The soldiers standing guard outside widened their eyes and tried to stop her.
***
To donate for extra chapters for my series or to tip me visit my kofi page
Write a comment