CH 86

Return of the Duchess

Translated by SoundOfDestiny

Edited by Zil

As the battle for the eastern border region reaches its climax, another incident is occurring in the capital, the heart of the Kingdom of Zain.

One of the mansions in the noble quarter of the capital.

In one of the houses in the noble quarter of the capital, Ave Macbeth, one of the vassals of King Granard Zain, is visited by an unusual guest.

“Hmm …… What brings you here so late at night?”

The owner of the house, Macbeth, stroked his long white beard and asked his guest, who was sitting in a chair.

Macbeth’s voice has a slightly reproachful tinge to it.

It is nearly midnight. It is too polite to visit the house of Macbeth, a nobleman of high rank who holds the post of Lord Advocate in the royal court, at this hour.

(TL: Lord Advocate: the principal Law Officer of the Crown)

Nevertheless, Macbeth does not turn his guest away, but welcomes her into the drawing room of his house because he is a woman whom Macbeth cannot ignore.

“I am sorry to disturb you at this hour. Lord Macbeth.”

It was a young woman in a simple dress who bowed her head and said in an elegant manner.

Her name was Mertina Marcell.

She is the daughter of Lockwood Marcell, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Zain, and the fiancée to, Raidorl Zain.

Behind her is a woman who looks like a maid, standing tall and silent.

“What on earth does she want? Visiting at this hour?”

Macbeth scratches his beard and tilts his head inwardly.

Macbeth is in his seventies and is a cunning aristocrat who has survived for decades in the world of politics, where power and intrigue swirl around him.

Even for the experienced Macbeth, Mertina’s visit was something unexpected.

In the first place, Mertina had been taken prisoner a few months ago for attempting to manipulate Raidorl Zain with a curse, and since then she had not been seen in Royal Capital.

Mertina used to be the flower of the salon, bringing together the ladies of the nobility, but now she is treated as if she were nothing at all at court.

Everyone thought she would never appear on the stage again, and Macbeth could not hide his confusion at her visit.

“It has an elegant taste. As expected, You are the Lord Advocate. The tea he drinks is a bit different.”

“…………”

In spite of Macbeth’s bewilderment, Mertina sipped the tea served to her in an elegant manner.

Macbeth looked at Mertina with probing eyes for a while, then sighed with resignation.

“…… I hope you don’t mind if I ask why you’re here.　I’m an old man, after all. Staying up late is not good for the body.”

“Oh,Dear me, I didn’t think this through. I’m sorry for what I’ve done.”

Mertina put her hand over her mouth and made a surprised face, as if she had just noticed it.

Macbeth is slightly annoyed by the sly attitude, but still, as a cunning aristocrat, he keeps his good-natured expression on the surface.

“Ho, ho, it’s a pleasure to talk to you, young lady. I wish you could have come at a more sensible hour.”

“Fu,fu,fu I’m very sorry, but I have some business to attend to, and I thought it might be inconvenient for you to come at a time when you would be seen.”

“Ho? That’s not very nice. Is this some kind of a bad business?”

“Yes, for Lord Macbeth, I suppose it is.”

Macbeth narrows his eyes at Mertina, who smiles elegantly.

“She’s been dodging me for a while now and I’m not getting anywhere. I think it’s best to just ask her straight out.”

“Miss Mertina, even though it is the middle of the night, I have no time to waste. I am busy cleaning up after the war with the Empire. If you have no business to attend to, would you please leave?”

“Oh, well, let’s get down to business, shall we?”

Mertina finally puts her teacup on the table after being told in a rather stern tone.

She looks at Macbeth with straight eyes and opens her mouth.

“I’m going to be very direct with you, Lord Justice Ave Macbeth. You are in league with the Empire, are you not?”

“HA……!?”

At Meltina’s words, Macbeth froze, speechless.

The old man froze in surprise, and Mertina raised her red, crimson lips.