Chapter 11
I stand corrected. Rather than a witch… a spirit hiding in nature would be more accurate. The woman seems to live in a different tempo of time, all on her own. It felt as if time flowed slowly only for Helena von Delken. That’s why she belongs nowhere, is accustomed to observing, and walks around wrapped head to toe in languor.
Friedrich knew.
Although he was the one who had cited the reason ‘I want to change this tedious season into something fun,’ the one who was truly languid was Helena.
Perhaps she had chosen him before he chose her.
“…It’s not a given.”
When he finally retorted with stubbornness after a long pause,
“It is.”
A response came from the other side, so composed it was infuriating.
“Why is it a given? Why? Do you think you’re that pretty?”
“It means that even if I’m not ‘that’ pretty, I’m pretty enough in your eyes. Thanks for the compliment, but that’s not the reason.”
“…”
“There’s no way that you, who came looking for me despite the trouble, would be satisfied with just playing like this once. Of course, there might be people like that, but you’re definitely not one of them.”
What kind of person am I?
Friedrich held back the reflexive question. If he asked here and heard an unexpected answer… no, for now, he didn’t want to hear it. Absolutely not.
And so, he merely grumbled.
“You, you’re cunning.”
“That’s a favorite expression of men for women they can’t handle as they please.”
“…”
Helena, letting out a dry laugh, spun around halfway, and, under the dim moonlight, began to walk ahead. Friedrich, who had been quietly observing the back of the departing figure, likewise started to follow her.
Helena von Delken’s walk was a bit peculiar. In a sense, it was very her.
The peculiar gait of someone wrapped in an incongruous atmosphere. There was not a single deviation from etiquette, yet it was not conventional, and it was light and elegant without ever being fast.
As if walking on the surface of water rather than on the ground. Perhaps this gait contributed to completing Helena’s atmosphere.
The treasured gem that the holy nation of Rondinel cherished so dearly was truly multifaceted.
“It’s here.”
Thanks to Helena’s declaration, Friedrich was able to wake up from his uncharacteristically trivial sentiments. Following her white finger, he looked up and saw a classic balcony welcoming the night breeze. Just as Helena had explained, right next to it was a pipe he could hold onto to climb.
“Do you really want to climb the wall to get up?”
At Friedrich’s probing question,
“We’ve already done it, haven’t we?”
Helena retorted as if it were obvious.
“The list for my confession is already longer than usual anyway. Now that it’s already long, it doesn’t matter if it gets a little longer.”
“…Won’t you get scolded by His Holiness?”
“It’s a confession.”
“You know, Lena. Even if you were a man, I would have called you cunning.”
“You’re only realizing that now?”
Hah… yes. I did know, didn’t I…
Friedrich opened his arms in resignation, and Helena came over and nestled into his embrace. Arms as white as cream wrapped around his neck.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
“To have finished preparing so quickly, you’re a fast learner.”
Before Helena could utter the words ‘ridiculous’ or ‘unbelievable,’ Friedrich kicked off the ground and leaped up. The drainpipe fixed to the wall was thick enough to be easy to grip.
Without hesitation, he scaled the wall and reached a height similar to the balcony. He threw his body and landed precisely inside the balcony, then carefully set the woman down.
“Thank you for personally escorting me here, Your Highness.”
As if their time of transgression was over, Helena greeted him politely with an utterly false tone. The flourish of lightly grasping her skirt and curtsying was a bonus.
“Of course. If you would give me a kiss on the cheek as a token of your gratitude, I will be able to sleep soundly.”
“You are kind, but as ever, you have no conscience. Well then, let’s meet at the Glass Garden as soon as the sun rises.”
“Huh? First thing in the morning…? Why?”
“Why else? I have to go apologize to the kitchen.”
“No way!”
Friedrich, leaning against the balcony railing, flailed like a child.
“You’re supposed to enjoy the thrill of these things until you get caught. That’s the beauty of it!”
“It’s not beauty, it’s a nuisance. See you in the morning, Fritz.”
Helena waved goodbye and slipped into her room, showing off that impressive gait of hers.
As the night had grown quite deep, Friedrich didn’t bother to hold the woman back. He sat on the balcony railing, dangling his legs, and simply savored the memory of her skirt wrapping around her legs.
A gentle breeze blew. The scent of the summer night carried in it was refreshing and crisp. Friedrich took a deep breath and silently let time pass.
Heedless of the gazes monitoring him growing even sharper.
“…Hah.”
After a long while, Friedrich let out a sharp sigh. Thinking back, they had really played like ‘brats’. There was a moment in the middle that was dangerously adult-like, but since they ultimately didn’t cross the line, it could be considered innocent play.
This process, this ending, was so peculiar that he pondered it for a long, long time.
So, the problem was,
what kind of man Friedrich Alaric Theodor von Silbert was.
Right now, his own country, Silesia, called him a patricide. A truly accurate expression. For the blood of his own brothers was on his sword. In essence, he was a murderer who had mercilessly slaughtered his brothers and yet felt not a shred of remorse for the atrocity.
And yet, tonight, he had played as innocently as a child who knew nothing… as if he had gone back to being five years old.
“Interesting.”
Friedrich tapped the railing and tilted his head this way and that. After much thought, he finally let out a chuckle and shrugged.
Yes. He had to admit what needed to be admitted. The ‘complete sense of liberation felt from acting like a child’ was definitely appealing. He wanted to taste more of it, but… he couldn’t stop at just this level.
The goal became clear.
He wanted to conquer the woman. He had to conquer her to be satisfied.
How could he not feel a competitive spirit towards that temper that toyed with him, those calm and arrogant gray eyes that seemed to have been sculpted from the authority of the holy nation? In the first place, Friedrich von Sibert was a usurper who had survived by striking at those above him.
Therefore, Helena von Delken.
Fall for me. Please, be on tenterhooks because of me. Not that I will fall for you, of course.
Friedrich quietly repeated to himself.
Certainly, the end of this relationship had to be such a conclusion. Wouldn’t that be his complete ‘victory’ in this game?
“You’re in big trouble, Lena. You shouldn’t have taught a strange man the location of your bedroom.”
Having finished his thoughts, Friedrich grinned and leaped down.
༻❁༺
“A pig-like man is corrupting our chaste treasure-aaaaah!”
At the roar spewed by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Georges of Avice, Pope Vito subtly covered one ear. The Secretary of State, Godfrey of Ketrak, had lost all decorum and collapsed onto the floor.
‘As if the world is ending.’
Vito chuckled and read through the report that had been hastily written overnight. He didn’t know who the author was, but they must have been very angry, as the tone in some parts was quite harsh despite it being an ‘official report’.
Of course, the arrows of that harshness were aimed solely at Friedrich.
“Your Holiness, this is serious. We must not overlook this situation!”
“If you let a pig loose, won’t a well-tended field be ruined! Lena is our treasure. As her guardian, Your Holiness must put a stop to this!”
A pig, you say? A golden pig, perhaps. Vito thought placidly and folded the report. It would be a rather handsome golden pig.
“So, what is Lena doing now?”
“She went to the kitchen to apologize. All by herself! Even though the main culprit is someone else!”
“Sob, our good, gentle child… how did she fall for that bastard’s tricks…”
Yes, our Lena is indeed cute and good. But when was she ever gentle?
Vito couldn’t bring himself to offer the valid and reasonable advice to recall ‘Helena von Delken’s true nature’. It seemed more urgent to first soothe and calm the two who had fallen into a state of panic.
Shouldn’t you work before you wail, you people?
Even if I don’t work, you must. Wasn’t that the fate of subordinates?
Vito placated them half-heartedly.
Until the very last moment of leaving the room, the Dean of the College of Cardinals and the Secretary of State were straining their necks, insisting that ‘Your Holiness must give her a stern talking to’. Of course, Vito neatly brushed off the loud clamor sent by his loyal servants. What would it be but senility to interfere with the cute mischief of the young at every turn?
Just after placing his beloved Leo on his lap, Vito had to witness the anxious expression of his attendant. The old attendant, skillfully pouring tea, had eyes full of worry.
Vito grinned and began to stroke Leo’s fur. If he couldn’t ease the worries of the person right next to him, he would have to step down from the papacy.
Actually, I do want to step down.
