“Oh, I misheard you. You don’t need to come in.”
“I’ll stay with you if you want. This small room seems perfect for practicing swordsmanship.”
The Tiwakan way of speaking made her laugh no matter the time or place, which was embarrassing. Liene shook her head with a small smile.
“If I want to see swordsmanship practice, I’ll call you.”
“Yes, please do. I will be waiting right here in front.”
The clanging sound of swords continued until Tiwakan left the audience room.
“What kind of tyranny is this...!”
Elaroiden was about to scream out in frustration, but another noble stopped him.
“I’m still outside. If you want to speak, at least lower your voice.”
“Tsk...! Where is Lord Klinefelter? Did he already cut off his head?”
Elaroiden looked back at Liene and clicked his tongue. The two nobles’ attitudes had changed slightly, but that did not mean that their attitudes toward Liene had fundamentally changed. It was understandable. The two families had each brought plenty of private soldiers. They could not enter the audience room, but they were waiting as close as the etiquette would allow. This was also based on the Treaty of Liseberg. That was why they had been able to yell at her as they pleased.
“Lord Klinefelter!”
“I’ll stay with you if you want. This small room seems perfect for practicing swordsmanship.”
The Tiwakan way of speaking made her laugh no matter the time or place, which was embarrassing. Liene shook her head with a small smile.
“If I want to see swordsmanship practice, I’ll call you.”
“Yes, please do. I will be waiting right here in front.”
The clanging sound of swords continued until Tiwakan left the audience room.
“What kind of tyranny is this...!”
Elaroiden was about to scream out in frustration, but another noble stopped him.
“I’m still outside. If you want to speak, at least lower your voice.”
“Tsk...! Where is Lord Klinefelter? Did he already cut off his head?”
Elaroiden looked back at Liene and clicked his tongue. The two nobles’ attitudes had changed slightly, but that did not mean that their attitudes toward Liene had fundamentally changed. It was understandable. The two families had each brought plenty of private soldiers. They could not enter the audience room, but they were waiting as close as the etiquette would allow. This was also based on the Treaty of Liseberg. That was why they had been able to yell at her as they pleased.
But today, Liene was different. Today, Liene could point out the rudeness without worrying about what others thought. It was all thanks to Tiwakan standing firm outside the door. While still suspicious of Black, she was also taking comfort in his presence as well as practical benefits. She kept thinking that she was contradictory and selfish.
“It’s too late to tell you two elders that we need to save face today. Since Tiwakan became the Guardian Knight of House Arsak, royal etiquette has become more strict. It will be different than before, so please understand. And Kleinfelter’s neck is still intact.”
“Ugh... That’s right.”
Only then did the elders glance back.
“Now that you see me, tell me what you want to do. I’ll tell you again, I’m not feeling well and I don’t feel like sitting around for long. If you’re calling a meeting of the General Assembly, why have you come here when the date hasn’t even been set yet?”
“It is for the sake of the Assembly. When convening the Assembly, you should first discuss it with the Speaker.”
Liene smiled faintly.
“You two elders are talking nonsense. I guess you’ve grown older. You know what the agenda is for the council meeting.”
“I can’t believe that agenda from the start. We came here to confirm that Arsak’s daughter has no right to hold the High Speaker of Nauk accountable.”
...I guess that means to be polite when someone says something nice. Liene pondered for a moment about how to effectively convey that there was no need to do that, nor could she do that. It was a contradictory and selfish, but enjoyable thought.
“Because of the Treaty of Liseberg?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, that’s why you’re calling a council meeting, right? Tell the Speaker to make the appropriate decision. Don’t worry about the rest. There’s more than enough evidence.”
Elaroiden arched his gray eyebrows in displeasure. As far as Liene could remember, he was half Linden Kleinfelter: greedy, stubborn, and deeply proud of his family. Which meant that his actions were only half as rude and uncivilized.
“Then the elders will refuse to convene the council.”
She had already guessed that something like that would come out even before calling Aland.
“Ah, then there’s nothing I can do. I understand. Let’s pretend there’s no council.”
When Liene came out like this, the elders seemed embarrassed.
“Then Sir Klinefelter, right now...”
“There is no way to prove Klinefelter’s guilt right now, so I have no choice but to keep him in prison. What can I do? I want to reveal the truth and release him, but if the elders don’t want it, then there is nothing I can do. I am sorry, you two. I will convey your wishes to Klinefelter in the basement without fail.”
"Princess!"
Elaroiden burst into tears.
“Are you saying that now!”
“Just as you have the right to reject the Council, the Arsak bloodline has the right to call one. I have done my best to honor the Treaty of Liseberg. Why should I endure your swearing?”
“Where is the respect in what you are doing now!”
“It is respectful that Klinefelter’s head is still attached. He did something that would not be surprising if he was decapitated immediately upon being caught by the Tiwakan chieftain.”
“....”
“...!”
Those words made the two elders shut their mouths for a moment.
“Then I understand that there will be no general assembly. Your business is now concluded, so you may all return home.”
Liene waved her hand as if she had no intention of listening any longer. The nobles who had been watching her closely reluctantly opened their mouths.
“It’s too late to tell you two elders that we need to save face today. Since Tiwakan became the Guardian Knight of House Arsak, royal etiquette has become more strict. It will be different than before, so please understand. And Kleinfelter’s neck is still intact.”
“Ugh... That’s right.”
Only then did the elders glance back.
“Now that you see me, tell me what you want to do. I’ll tell you again, I’m not feeling well and I don’t feel like sitting around for long. If you’re calling a meeting of the General Assembly, why have you come here when the date hasn’t even been set yet?”
“It is for the sake of the Assembly. When convening the Assembly, you should first discuss it with the Speaker.”
Liene smiled faintly.
“You two elders are talking nonsense. I guess you’ve grown older. You know what the agenda is for the council meeting.”
“I can’t believe that agenda from the start. We came here to confirm that Arsak’s daughter has no right to hold the High Speaker of Nauk accountable.”
...I guess that means to be polite when someone says something nice. Liene pondered for a moment about how to effectively convey that there was no need to do that, nor could she do that. It was a contradictory and selfish, but enjoyable thought.
“Because of the Treaty of Liseberg?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, that’s why you’re calling a council meeting, right? Tell the Speaker to make the appropriate decision. Don’t worry about the rest. There’s more than enough evidence.”
Elaroiden arched his gray eyebrows in displeasure. As far as Liene could remember, he was half Linden Kleinfelter: greedy, stubborn, and deeply proud of his family. Which meant that his actions were only half as rude and uncivilized.
“Then the elders will refuse to convene the council.”
She had already guessed that something like that would come out even before calling Aland.
“Ah, then there’s nothing I can do. I understand. Let’s pretend there’s no council.”
When Liene came out like this, the elders seemed embarrassed.
“Then Sir Klinefelter, right now...”
“There is no way to prove Klinefelter’s guilt right now, so I have no choice but to keep him in prison. What can I do? I want to reveal the truth and release him, but if the elders don’t want it, then there is nothing I can do. I am sorry, you two. I will convey your wishes to Klinefelter in the basement without fail.”
"Princess!"
Elaroiden burst into tears.
“Are you saying that now!”
“Just as you have the right to reject the Council, the Arsak bloodline has the right to call one. I have done my best to honor the Treaty of Liseberg. Why should I endure your swearing?”
“Where is the respect in what you are doing now!”
“It is respectful that Klinefelter’s head is still attached. He did something that would not be surprising if he was decapitated immediately upon being caught by the Tiwakan chieftain.”
“....”
“...!”
Those words made the two elders shut their mouths for a moment.
“Then I understand that there will be no general assembly. Your business is now concluded, so you may all return home.”
Liene waved her hand as if she had no intention of listening any longer. The nobles who had been watching her closely reluctantly opened their mouths.
“I... I didn’t... say that. Please don’t distort my meaning, Princess.”
“Distortion? Didn’t you clearly state that you would refuse to convene the National Assembly?”
“It is invalid because it does not include the will of the Speaker.”
Elaroiden nodded vigorously at the words of the other nobles, thinking that they were right.
“That’s right. The decision to convene the council requires the consent of all the elders. You know that, don’t you?”
Liene intentionally showed her irritation.
“So what are you trying to say?”
“I need to meet with the Speaker before making a decision.”
“...”
It wasn't that it wasn't, it was that it had become really annoying. The memory of the six nobles putting their heads together never once brought about anything good, which brought about unpleasant feelings.
“Distortion? Didn’t you clearly state that you would refuse to convene the National Assembly?”
“It is invalid because it does not include the will of the Speaker.”
Elaroiden nodded vigorously at the words of the other nobles, thinking that they were right.
“That’s right. The decision to convene the council requires the consent of all the elders. You know that, don’t you?”
Liene intentionally showed her irritation.
“So what are you trying to say?”
“I need to meet with the Speaker before making a decision.”
“...”
It wasn't that it wasn't, it was that it had become really annoying. The memory of the six nobles putting their heads together never once brought about anything good, which brought about unpleasant feelings.
***
Still, since that was the law, she couldn’t refuse in the end. Following Liene’s words, Tiwakan guided the two nobles into the dungeon. Since they were both insisting that they needed an escort since they were going to such a dangerous place, the scuffle went on for quite a while. That’s why the number of people heading to the dungeon increased significantly. It was because Tiwakan, who had said that they could hire an escort however they wanted, was tired of arguing, but he brought more guards than that number.
The nobles’ faces turned pale when they saw Tiwakan and the guards surrounding their guards. Liene had to brace herself not to laugh out loud at the sight.
“No, this... this kind of thing... how can this be...?”
The two nobles continued to mutter complaints as they descended the narrow, steep stairs.
“Hey, if you have time to chat, you should walk a little faster. You’ll be pushed back behind you.”
Every time Tiwakan did that, he would rattle the handle of his sword and scold them. The nobles, who had never been treated like this anywhere, were so shocked that they could not even breathe properly. Still, the sound of the sword was scary. If it was Tiwakan who was handling the sword, it was even more so.
“I’ve never walked down a road like this before...”
“That’s right. I felt like I was going to fall, so... I, I was careful..."
So that was an excuse for not being able to walk fast.
“Then roll. If you roll well, you’ll get hurt less than if you fall.”
The two nobles desperately held back their anger. If they got angry here, they would roll those beasts down the stairs. In fact, their thoughts weren't so wrong. Tiwakan was the type of person who would roll the nobles away without batting an eye and then calmly scold them for not going so fast. Thanks to that, the pace was a little faster.
“Oh, what is it? Why are there so many of you here?”
When they arrived at the prison entrance, as expected, they didn't hear anything good.
“Are you out of your mind? How are these people supposed to move around here?”
The prison itself was spacious, but the passageways were extremely narrow, making escape difficult.
“That’s what happened. Would I have brought you here because I liked you?”
“You can’t all come in.”
“Then should I pick something appropriate and put it outside?”
“I can’t do this because I’m crazy. Put me in an empty room and make me wait.”
"I get it."
There was some timid resistance, but eventually, the men were divided. Three were privates, and five were Tiwacans. With the addition of two nobles, a total of ten men headed to the prison where Kleinfelter was being held.
“Here it is.”
The prison door, guarded by two guards, opened. The prison was so small that it obviously could not accommodate more than ten people.
“The chairman and the elders have gathered, so this is now like a grand council. Those who are not qualified should not dare to enter.”
As the prison doors opened, Elaroiden asserted his authority, which he had momentarily forgotten. Tiwakan did not particularly try to pick a fight.
“As you wish. But I will leave the window
“No, this... this kind of thing... how can this be...?”
The two nobles continued to mutter complaints as they descended the narrow, steep stairs.
“Hey, if you have time to chat, you should walk a little faster. You’ll be pushed back behind you.”
Every time Tiwakan did that, he would rattle the handle of his sword and scold them. The nobles, who had never been treated like this anywhere, were so shocked that they could not even breathe properly. Still, the sound of the sword was scary. If it was Tiwakan who was handling the sword, it was even more so.
“I’ve never walked down a road like this before...”
“That’s right. I felt like I was going to fall, so... I, I was careful..."
So that was an excuse for not being able to walk fast.
“Then roll. If you roll well, you’ll get hurt less than if you fall.”
The two nobles desperately held back their anger. If they got angry here, they would roll those beasts down the stairs. In fact, their thoughts weren't so wrong. Tiwakan was the type of person who would roll the nobles away without batting an eye and then calmly scold them for not going so fast. Thanks to that, the pace was a little faster.
“Oh, what is it? Why are there so many of you here?”
When they arrived at the prison entrance, as expected, they didn't hear anything good.
“Are you out of your mind? How are these people supposed to move around here?”
The prison itself was spacious, but the passageways were extremely narrow, making escape difficult.
“That’s what happened. Would I have brought you here because I liked you?”
“You can’t all come in.”
“Then should I pick something appropriate and put it outside?”
“I can’t do this because I’m crazy. Put me in an empty room and make me wait.”
"I get it."
There was some timid resistance, but eventually, the men were divided. Three were privates, and five were Tiwacans. With the addition of two nobles, a total of ten men headed to the prison where Kleinfelter was being held.
“Here it is.”
The prison door, guarded by two guards, opened. The prison was so small that it obviously could not accommodate more than ten people.
“The chairman and the elders have gathered, so this is now like a grand council. Those who are not qualified should not dare to enter.”
As the prison doors opened, Elaroiden asserted his authority, which he had momentarily forgotten. Tiwakan did not particularly try to pick a fight.
“As you wish. But I will leave the window
open.”
It wasn't a separate window, but a small window made in the prison door that was used to put food in.
“What do you mean? What good would it do to leave the window open?”
“Then should I leave the door open?”
“Where did you hear such nonsense!”
“That’s the rule in prison. If you don’t like it, just leave.”
“That’s ridiculous! Where is that rule!”
“Oh, there’s a new one. Now, Tiwakan is in charge of guarding the Nauk Castle. I think that kind of rule is necessary to prevent accidents.”
There was no way to know if the mercenary's words were true or if he had made them up on the spot. However, he knew that if he continued to insist, it would not work. Elaroiden sighed as he glanced at the three remaining private soldiers.
“...I can’t help it. Open the door.”
“It was going to happen anyway, so why bother. Tsk.”
At Tiwakan's nod, the guard opened the chained prison door.
It wasn't a separate window, but a small window made in the prison door that was used to put food in.
“What do you mean? What good would it do to leave the window open?”
“Then should I leave the door open?”
“Where did you hear such nonsense!”
“That’s the rule in prison. If you don’t like it, just leave.”
“That’s ridiculous! Where is that rule!”
“Oh, there’s a new one. Now, Tiwakan is in charge of guarding the Nauk Castle. I think that kind of rule is necessary to prevent accidents.”
There was no way to know if the mercenary's words were true or if he had made them up on the spot. However, he knew that if he continued to insist, it would not work. Elaroiden sighed as he glanced at the three remaining private soldiers.
“...I can’t help it. Open the door.”
“It was going to happen anyway, so why bother. Tsk.”
At Tiwakan's nod, the guard opened the chained prison door.
***
“Lord Klinefelter!”
“What is this! The Speaker is in prison!”
Linden Klinefelter twitched his facial muscles as he stared at the astonished faces.
“...You’re coming now.”
The two nobles shook their eyes in bewilderment at the criticism of being so slow. Linden Kleinfelter’s appearance was equally bewildering. The arrogant and brash grand noble of Nauk was now lying on the prison floor with both his hands broken. The splints on his hands were so insincere and shabby that it seemed impossible to say that a proper doctor had taken care of him. This was the first time Kleinfelter had been seen like this.
“What are you saying... Please do so. To a person who came all the way to this dangerous place to see the Speaker.”
“You had to come anyway! Don’t you know what it means for me to be locked up here? It means that Tiwakan will turn this kingdom upside down and swallow it whole. Do you think the Kings will be safe then?”
Elaroiden jumped up and pointed to the door behind him.
“Sir. Cover your mouth. The window is open.”
“How about it? It’s not like I don’t know the story. If you didn’t think about this, then the story is that the monks didn’t have heads, but rather stone statues shaped like heads.”
“Your Excellency! How can you say such things! Are there any others besides us who would stand on your side now?”
“Don’t you think that’s too insincere? You didn’t come to prison empty-handed, did you?”
“Huh... Why is that...”
But Linden Kleinfelter had a plan. Now that the visitor was here, this was his only chance. Linden Kleinfelter gestured to the nobleman who had come with Elaroiden, his mouth moving.
“Can’t you see through those dim eyes what kind of treatment I’m receiving here? I miss a well-baked loaf of bread!”
Another nobleman approached Linden Kleinfelter, keeping an eye on him. He quickly put his lips to his ear and whispered.
'Go to... and do... quickly.'
After hearing the story, the nobleman opened his mouth in surprise.
"What...?"
“If you understand, then go out and get something to put in your mouth! Don’t be so stupid and complacent! The Great Council will survive only if I am safe!”
Linden Klinefelter shouted as if he was trying to silence the whispers, and Elaroiden blushed and turned blue, still not knowing what was going on.
“...Oh, I understand. It must have been very difficult. I will do so.”
At those polite words, Elaroiden opened his eyes wide and raised her voice.
“Ah, no...? Should we just keep going like this? The National Assembly! What about the National Assembly?”
Another noble grabbed Elaroiden, who was a little oblivious.
“That’s the problem now. The Chairman is tired and his head doesn’t seem to be working properly, so let’s fill his stomach first... Hey! Open the door! I’m going to go now!”
The prison door opened slowly.
“Why are you leaving so soon? Didn’t you already come all the way here?”
The window was open anyway so he could hear what was being said, but it was just an intentional attempt to get him to take medicine.
“Oh, that’s what happened. Let me get out of here.”
“That’s right. I thought we were on good terms since we came all the way here for an interview, but I guess that’s not the case.”
Anyway, the door opened, and the two nobles climbed the steep stairs again, their knees shaking. That evening, a basket of food had been delivered to the dungeons from the Elaroiden. A new rule was immediately created that no food was to be delivered to the dungeon prisoners. The Elaroiden's messenger had to make the long detour again, shoulders hunched.
Linden Klinefelter twitched his facial muscles as he stared at the astonished faces.
“...You’re coming now.”
The two nobles shook their eyes in bewilderment at the criticism of being so slow. Linden Kleinfelter’s appearance was equally bewildering. The arrogant and brash grand noble of Nauk was now lying on the prison floor with both his hands broken. The splints on his hands were so insincere and shabby that it seemed impossible to say that a proper doctor had taken care of him. This was the first time Kleinfelter had been seen like this.
“What are you saying... Please do so. To a person who came all the way to this dangerous place to see the Speaker.”
“You had to come anyway! Don’t you know what it means for me to be locked up here? It means that Tiwakan will turn this kingdom upside down and swallow it whole. Do you think the Kings will be safe then?”
Elaroiden jumped up and pointed to the door behind him.
“Sir. Cover your mouth. The window is open.”
“How about it? It’s not like I don’t know the story. If you didn’t think about this, then the story is that the monks didn’t have heads, but rather stone statues shaped like heads.”
“Your Excellency! How can you say such things! Are there any others besides us who would stand on your side now?”
“Don’t you think that’s too insincere? You didn’t come to prison empty-handed, did you?”
“Huh... Why is that...”
But Linden Kleinfelter had a plan. Now that the visitor was here, this was his only chance. Linden Kleinfelter gestured to the nobleman who had come with Elaroiden, his mouth moving.
“Can’t you see through those dim eyes what kind of treatment I’m receiving here? I miss a well-baked loaf of bread!”
Another nobleman approached Linden Kleinfelter, keeping an eye on him. He quickly put his lips to his ear and whispered.
'Go to... and do... quickly.'
After hearing the story, the nobleman opened his mouth in surprise.
"What...?"
“If you understand, then go out and get something to put in your mouth! Don’t be so stupid and complacent! The Great Council will survive only if I am safe!”
Linden Klinefelter shouted as if he was trying to silence the whispers, and Elaroiden blushed and turned blue, still not knowing what was going on.
“...Oh, I understand. It must have been very difficult. I will do so.”
At those polite words, Elaroiden opened his eyes wide and raised her voice.
“Ah, no...? Should we just keep going like this? The National Assembly! What about the National Assembly?”
Another noble grabbed Elaroiden, who was a little oblivious.
“That’s the problem now. The Chairman is tired and his head doesn’t seem to be working properly, so let’s fill his stomach first... Hey! Open the door! I’m going to go now!”
The prison door opened slowly.
“Why are you leaving so soon? Didn’t you already come all the way here?”
The window was open anyway so he could hear what was being said, but it was just an intentional attempt to get him to take medicine.
“Oh, that’s what happened. Let me get out of here.”
“That’s right. I thought we were on good terms since we came all the way here for an interview, but I guess that’s not the case.”
Anyway, the door opened, and the two nobles climbed the steep stairs again, their knees shaking. That evening, a basket of food had been delivered to the dungeons from the Elaroiden. A new rule was immediately created that no food was to be delivered to the dungeon prisoners. The Elaroiden's messenger had to make the long detour again, shoulders hunched.
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