Each Person's Life and Bondage (2)

Gulp.

My whole body began to stiffen.

The elf's question might as well have been the point of a spear resting against my throat.

She was dangerous, unpredictable, and powerful enough to destroy me in an instant. Having proved myself useful to her in bed did not make me safe.

If I answered badly, the consequences could be irreversible.

Calm down, Theorad.

I'd been born into a prestigious aristocratic family. Surely all the lessons in diplomacy and manners I'd learned over the years could help me through a situation like this.

First, what if I simply tell her the truth?

Terrible idea.

I couldn't deny that the elf was extraordinarily beautiful. Yet that hardly made Ashley less attractive.

And a woman's beauty wasn't a matter of appearance alone. Her personality, her conduct, the life she'd lived—all of those things made someone truly beautiful.

The wicked elf had chosen her words with care. She hadn't asked which of them looked prettier. She'd asked what I thought.

If I let my personal feelings enter into the answer, I could only choose Ashley.

And then my life, along with the fortunes of House Deharem, would almost certainly take a turn for the worse.

Then should I say the elf is prettier?

That would probably guarantee my safety for the moment.

But what would happen afterward?

The arrogant elf would seize on the answer and use it against me whenever she pleased.

So you admit you enjoy yourself with me, don't you?

I could practically hear her saying it.

Worse, she would almost certainly repeat my answer to Ashley sooner or later.

Master says he likes me better than Lady Ashley.

Ashley knew enough about my circumstances to understand why I might have said such a thing. She would probably try to act as though it meant nothing.

But that didn't mean it wouldn't hurt her.

A wound like that could remain in her heart long after the danger had passed. And I had no idea how to heal it.

In the long run, answering that way would be a disaster. It would drag Ashley into my problem as well.

What if I say both are equally beautiful?

It was an answer that chose neither one over the other.

Objectively, there was nothing wrong with it. Perhaps the elf would be satisfied.

But if she wasn't?

She'd demanded that I choose between two women. Giving her both names instead might only make her angrier.

I couldn't predict what she'd do.

Still, the third answer offered at least a little more hope than the first two.

I arranged my thoughts and opened my mouth.

“In my opinion—”

“That's enough.”

I flinched.

The elf sighed, rose, and brushed the hem of her skirt.

“You're thinking much too hard. It's irritating to watch Master struggle over such a simple question. Whatever you say now will be a lie, won't it? What's the point?”

“No, I was only—”

“I'm not asking you to make excuses. I was merely curious.”

She dusted off her skirt, then turned and picked up her bowl of dog food.

Some of the contents spilled onto the floor. She didn't seem to care.

Her expression remained languid, her eyes half closed.

“But…”

She let out a long yawn and rubbed at her eyes.

Where on earth did you go yesterday to make yourself so tired?

For once, I was almost grateful.

Perhaps she was too exhausted to press me for an answer.

“…I'll go upstairs and sleep for a while. If you need me, you can call.”

“Ah? Yes. Go ahead.”

She opened the dining-room door and left with unsteady steps.

I sat alone, dazed, until a long breath escaped me.

I couldn't be certain, but it seemed I'd survived the immediate crisis.

I'd barely found the composure to lift my spoon again when Havid opened the door and bowed.

“My lord, forgive me for disturbing your meal, but there's something I need to report…”

His words trailed off.

He looked around the room, then tugged at his mustache.

“How strange. Where is the elf?”

“She seemed tired, so I let her go and rest.”

“My lord? During working hours?” Havid looked appalled. “More importantly, she went straight upstairs just because you told her she could? I'll fetch her at once. That rude little—!”

Please, just let her rest, Chief Chamberlain!

I hurriedly caught his sleeve.

“Stop.”

“But, my lord, a servant who neglects her duties and refuses to observe working hours needs firm discipline—”

“I said stop.”

I made my expression serious.

Havid stared at me in confusion, then finally nodded.

---

At the same time, before the drawbridge of Count Pelgaroin's castle…

“Damn it. This is all because of that bastard Fred…”

“Who joins the rebels? Is that fool out of his mind?”

Maldon, his features twisted like a poisonous toad's, was muttering furiously with Cunedella, his elder sister.

They were far from alone.

Count Leonberg, head of House Pelgaroin and lord of the county, had assembled the household to receive a distinguished visitor. There were servants, maids, castle administrators and members of the family, as well as Hildes Froheim, commander of the Blue Banner Knights, with the knights under his command.

Word had arrived that Benelia, Third Princess of the Empire and minister of military affairs, was coming to the castle.

And she wasn't coming alone.

She was bringing an army.

That detail mattered more than anything else.

Word was that Fred, the count's second son, had joined the rebels. To the people assembled outside the drawbridge, the imperial troops seemed a warning to the entire family.

“They're coming…”

Maldon spoke in a frightened whisper.

Horns sounded at intervals in the distance.

The imperial formation moved along the broad avenue in orderly ranks. High above the approaching soldiers fluttered the white lion of the imperial household, a symbol imposing enough to make the waiting nobles feel small.

“Ashley! Did you know about this?”

Maldon's fear turned to irritation.

He suddenly remembered how, two days earlier, Ashley had inspected the servants' uniforms on their father's behalf and ordered the knights to polish their armor.

She'd known the princess was coming, or at least she'd prepared as though she did.

Ashley merely turned cold eyes on him for a moment and looked back toward the approaching troops.

Maldon held his tongue.

He had argued with his younger sister since childhood and had never once come away feeling he'd won.

“Everyone!”

As the imperial troops drew nearer, Hildes Froheim shouted in a voice as powerful as a lion's roar.

“Attention!”

Thud!

The knights stamped in unison and straightened.

The servants, administrators and nobles followed, lifting their heads and standing as rigidly as they could.

Even Maldon hurried to imitate the knights.

At last, the vanguard reached the waiting household.

A mounted herald rode before a four-wheeled carriage decorated with the white lion. He raised one arm and signaled behind him.

“Halt!”

THUD!

The procession stopped as one. The impact of so many boots against the ground seemed to shake the earth.

Silence followed.

The herald lowered his arm and began the formal announcement.

“Hear me, all of you! Orc slayer, benevolent commander, military minister and commander of the Dawning Steps, pillar and hope of the Empire—Her Highness Princess Benelia von Esteban has come here in person!”

His voice carried across the entire gathering.

The maids and servants bowed first, followed by administrators, knights and the noble family.

Count Leonberg stepped forward and laid a hand over his heart.

“My heart is pledged to the Empire. I, Count Leonberg, ask the honor of beholding the noble blood of His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Your request is recognized, Count Leonberg. You may receive Her Highness.”

The brief ceremony concluded.

Two knights guarding the carriage opened its door.

Benelia emerged in a neat military uniform.

She stepped down the short set of stairs placed before the carriage and frowned faintly at the sudden sunlight. Then she approached the count at an easy pace.

When they stood face to face, both smiled.

“We meet again,” Benelia said, “after Father's summons.”

She extended a hand.

Her white glove was richly embroidered with the imperial white lion.

“I'm sorry you've been caught up in such an unpleasant matter.”

Unpleasant?

Count Leonberg felt the sharp edge beneath her pleasant words.

He kept his expression mild as he took her hand.

“It is unfortunate. At my age, I find it hard to understand how such things come about.”

“Of course. We'll take our time and learn what happened. There may be nothing more to it than a small misunderstanding.”

“Ha ha. That's reassuring to hear. The weather is growing hot. Shall we go inside?”

“I'd welcome that. But first…”

Benelia looked around.

The servants and maids wore immaculate uniforms, neat enough to look new. Every knight's armor shone. Even the castle officials had attended carefully to their appearance.

The preparation was conspicuous.

It was almost as though the county were saying, This is Pelgaroin territory, not the imperial palace. We know how to receive you, but don't mistake us for people you can trample.

They weren't told I was coming early enough to make these preparations at their leisure.

It didn't seem like the sort of painstaking detail Leonberg himself would have overseen.

Who, then, had arranged it?

Benelia studied the Pelgaroin children.

Three members of the family stood among them, richly dressed. One woman alone neither trembled nor lowered her bearing.

She was familiar.

The second daughter of Count Pelgaroin, a young woman held in considerable regard by the people of the territory.

Ashley de Pelgaroin.

She had bowed her head, but not her spirit.

Beneath blonde hair bright as sand in the sun, her clear eyes were directed straight toward Benelia.

For an instant, the crowd around them seemed to fall away.

It was as though only the princess and the young noblewoman remained, facing each other in a silent contest of intent.

Four years…

What extraordinary bearing she'd acquired.

Benelia smiled with genuine pleasure.

The young swan who will one day lead Pelgaroin.