“The silver-haired man has begun to move. He was in Armenia from the day before yesterday. He calls himself an aristocrat. It’s Emilio, Baron Barcelo of Nogueira. He’s currently staying in the mansion of Marquis Matos.” He approached Alana’s bed and sat down without notice.
“Apologies, but I’m going to be useless for a while. I was struck by an arrow he shot – that silver-haired man, he’s got insanely sharp intuition. I’m horrified. That’s why I need a little rest.”
“You’re injured. Are you okay? I’ll take care of you. I have some medicine and ointment.”
“I don’t mind the pain. Your highness, you don’t need to take care of me secretly. If anything, if you can’t take care of yourself, you’ll die. Weeds can’t be spoiled. That’s why they disappear for about a week.”
“But…”
Benito ignored Alana and continued, “the area around Marquis Matos raises enough suspicion to be explored. Two years ago, when your coronation was held, didn’t one aristocrat die? The lover of Marchioness Matos was executed.”
Alana tilted her neck with hazy eyes. “Yes.”
She was sick following the coronation and had slept, so it wasn’t until after she had recovered that she had asked about the events that happened.
“Marquis Matos instigated the execution brutally. Without forgiving his wife’s sins. Murder and infidelity. So, he recently welcomed his new wife. A widow, they say, of the Marquis of Longolia. A milky woman with terrible sensuality. But she was the Marquis’ mistress even before the execution. The Marquis secretly blamed his wife for being unfaithful. The Marquis of Longolia is the old man who died in the river before you were crowned. Infidelity is what most aristocrats do. Few haven’t done it.”
Alana thought not much of the aristocratic iniquity, partly because her late father and brother had many mistresses. There was no end to them. Besides, the nobility knew that they were creatures who placed themselves on pedestals and blamed others. There were few innocent people, big and small, and everyone had a terrible side.
“I’ve known Marquis Matos for a long time. I know he’s remarried, though I have yet to see his wife, Flavia. I heard she’s a beautiful person.”
“Beautiful? Ha, she’s a snake. She sleeps with her husband, Marquis Matos, every night, but also with a man who has a build of bulky muscles every day. She’s working disgustingly hard. That alone isn’t enough, and that woman and the man with silver hair are also entwined. That woman can be called a walking genital because she has sexual intercourse all day long. Oh yeah, like you, she was taking yellow medicine to avoid getting pregnant. She’s pretty bad when it comes to her involvement with the poisoner.”
As Alana vaguely looked into the distance, he reproached her, “Listen carefully, Miss. I think I reported it before, but the silver-haired man uses an unfamiliar language. His subordinates too. What language is that? I haven’t heard of it. And the same with Marquis Matos. He was speaking that language. Do you see what I’m trying to say? They are from the same country. They are definitely friends. The Marquis, I’m still not sure what he wants to do, but be wary anyway.”
“I made you worried, but it’s all right. Thank you.”
He frowned fiercely and let out a snort. “Fu, thank you? You make me astonished. It’s not all right at all. You’re taking things too leisurely, my Queen. Worse, it seems that you will welcome the daughter of Marquis Matos as a maid. A daughter named Priscilla. Absolutely not. Refuse now.”
“That’s right. But I don’t have the authority to decide on a servant, so I won’t refuse.”
The man stood up and abandoned all courtesy, “It’s not the case about authority. That’s utter crap. Damn kid… you don’t care about your body; you don’t care about your life. You might as well beat yourself till your ass breaks. Then you can be assassinated, and you can do whatever you want. I said I’m useless now. I can’t protect you. How do you protect yourself in the meantime by keeping the guards away? I took the trouble to report, but when it comes to you, you say sh*t.”
“Don’t do it.” Benito left Alana’s room, only leaving those words behind.
Alana, who remained, stared at the window, not even bidding him farewell with a glance.