Chapter 63: Chapter 11. Secret meeting

My eyes widened.— W-what… What did you say?

The Marquise gave me a quick glance, looking around.

— You heard everything. Hurry up and leave while there's still time.

I froze in a stupor.

«Are you really going to let me go…?» I asked, dumbfounded, because I did not expect such a thing from the wife of the owner of the house.

— yes.

I was scared. In the blink of an eye, it became clear for what reason she took me for a walk. This was done not at all for the purpose of «relaxing», but to give me the opportunity to escape from here…

— B-but why? — I volunteered, — Why are you doing this?

Obelia Windsor hesitated for a second when I asked her this question. At that moment, she returned the sad expression with which she usually looked at me.

Hesitantly raising her hand, the woman still stroked my hair. A faint smile froze on his lips.

— Is it really that important? I just want to get you out of here.

When the Marquise said that, I didn't know what to do. What was happening hardly fit into my head, as well as the fact that I could get freedom right now. By giving me such a chance, the Marchioness of Windsor was directly betraying her husband. A man with whom they spent many years of married life together.

And all just for the sake of an unfamiliar hostage… I really didn't understand why she was doing this.

However, now the Marquise seemed completely sincere, and I immediately realized that she was serious. Except I wasn't ready to accept her kindness so easily.

«But aren't you going against the Marquis' plans now…?»

Obelia Windsor shuddered and looked away. However, her determination at this moment did not waver at all.

«You don't have to think about it.»

Despite her unwillingness to answer the question, deep down she understood that she would definitely get for it later. And how else, if she independently released the person on whom the Marquis had placed all bets?

— But won't your spouse accuse you?

«It'll be all right. I'll just say that you made me lose consciousness, and then you ran away.»

The Marchioness of Windsor wanted to calm me down and give me the determination to escape, but it didn't make it any easier. Even if she manages to escape punishment, how can Razor…?

How could I leave my friend in such a place?

Perhaps the most logical solution would be to return to Azeroth and ask for help from my father, but it would take too much time. At least two weeks. But the guy couldn't wait that long.

Having missed one hostage, the Marquess of Windsor will certainly be more severe towards the second. Perhaps he will ban him to prison again, and he will be treated much worse than now. Let him not kill, but he will be able to apply corporal punishment and other attempts required for prisoners.

The thought that a friend could endure all this because of my self-willed step made my skin shiver.

Razor and I promised each other we'd get out of here together. That's why I couldn't leave him halfway.

«Thank you for your help,» I sighed, «but I really can't leave here right now.

The Marquise was surprised.

— why? Don't you want to go home?!

— I want to, but… — I faltered, — My friend is still there. I can't leave him.

For a while, the woman continued to look at me with her eyes wide open, after which she exhaled wearily.

— In fact… — she smiled faintly, — You are the same as her.

— what?

— That fool always thought about others, too, but not about herself. I was hoping that at least in this you would be different.

The Marchioness of Windsor was talking again about something I didn't understand. I wanted to ask who she meant, but she asked the following question:

— Are you sure you won't regret it? Next time, it may not be so easy to persuade your husband to let you go.

«I'll definitely come up with another way,» I said, «we'll get out of here on our own.» Because of this situation, I don't want to put you in a dangerous position.

At that moment I looked determined, and the Marquise finally gave up.

«All right,» she said reluctantly, «as long as it doesn't happen too late...»

***

As if nothing had happened, the Marchioness of Windsor and I returned back to the manor. That's when I started looking for ways that Razor and I could safely get out of our captivity.

The nearest suitable opportunity presented itself pretty soon.

As it turned out, the planned coup of the Marquis played into our hands in this. Since neither of them wanted to overthrow the current government of Oberon, several other influential aristocratic houses joined his movement. Together, they wanted to get rid of the oppression of Azeroth, which their weak king had endured for so many years.

It was a secret community of people united by one goal. To discuss further plans and at the same time strengthen their union, all its members met once a month at the house of one of the participants. As a cover, this meeting was presented as an ordinary social reception.

And this time, it was the Marquess of Windsor's turn. In a couple of days, a small banquet was to be held at the estate, to which the nobles themselves and their wives would come. It looks like an absolutely unremarkable meeting of old friends. Although in fact, a united conspiracy against the current government.

As a servant who had the opportunity to move around the estate in her spare time, I hoped to secretly eavesdrop on their conversation. There was probably a gap in this plan that would allow Razor and me to escape during all this turmoil. After all, when the real coup begins, few people will have the opportunity to continue to monitor us as carefully.

Therefore, in addition to the main duties in the form of work on Maxi, in parallel I also tried to stay abreast of all the news.

And when the evening of the banquet came, the girl and her father went to the party. I was left to clean up her room, but I was still able to sneak away unnoticed.

Razor did the same. During the month we spent here, we learned how to navigate the estate perfectly, and found out some workarounds. The banquet was held on the first floor, but the prince and I hid behind the partition of the second.

From here there was a great view of the whole hall.

In honor of the reception, the living room was solemnly decorated, and there were tables with food and drinks everywhere. In total, about six aristocratic families of Oberon arrived, which included both very influential and not quite people. They all communicated with each other, filling the space with cheerful conversations and noise.

I noticed the Marquess of Windsor almost immediately. Together with his wife and daughter, he stood in the very center, exchanging word after word with another similar family. In general, the first part of the evening was quite relaxed.

Razor and I were patiently waiting for some important information.

And it happened pretty soon.

Leaving the women and children alone with each other, the men slowly began to ascend to the Marquis of Windsor's office, where their main conversation was to take place. Razor and I immediately moved behind another partition so that they wouldn't notice us.

— … did you hear?» This year, the king decided to organize an imperial hunt.

— Really? Why all of a sudden?

The aristocrat who said this chuckled.

— A solemn event in honor of the ten-year «alliance» with the Empire of Azeroth, — he quoted contemptuously, — It seems that this idiot has once again decided to trample us into the mud.

There was an indignant hum.

— Did he seriously call the forced slavery of our country a «union»? The Marquis was indignant.

— Whether it will still be, — shrugged the other, — Until we overthrow him on our own, the current useless king will continue to humiliate us in front of these bastards.

There was an angry sigh, among which meanwhile the main question arose.

— And what are we going to do?

— Are we really going there? Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

— And what else is left? It will be too suspicious if we ignore the King's invitation. Anyway, it is he who is in power now.

There was a brief pause.

«To hell with him! — said the Marquis, — It's not worth much effort. And I haven't been kneading bones for a long time.»

— I agree. After all, it's just a hunt. Why not have fun, for that matter?

— Really… I don't even remember the last time we had an imperial hunt.

After these words, the aristocrats entered the office, and the door slammed behind them on the latch. It became impossible to eavesdrop further, and the guy and I turned to each other excitedly.

«The Imperial hunt?» Razor asked, «So the Marquis will participate in it?»

— This is a great chance! — I quickly realized, — We can use this opportunity to escape from here.

— Hmm? — he didn't quite understand me.

«If the Marquis goes to the imperial palace, he will probably be gone for a while. Security for this period will also weaken. This is the best moment to leave unnoticed.»

The prince thought about it.

— You're right… — he slowly agreed, — It's possible that this way we really will have more chances.

I nodded. He and I were both excited about the upcoming event.