Richard walked through the royal palace, deeply immersed in his thoughts, occasionally glancing around to ensure he didn't miss the turn he needed. Of course, getting lost in such a large building was easy, but the Baron had long known all the routes within it, including secret entrances and exits, and equally secret corridors. Perhaps there were some even he didn't know about, but they were "secret passages" for a reason. However, during his time as Arthur's protector, he had learned a great deal. Understanding the architecture of the royal palace through which the young man walked, it consisted of three main wings: the Ballroom Wing, the Residential Wing, and the Working Wing. The Ballroom Wing contained the royal reception hall and a huge hall where His Majesty's throne was located, several ballrooms for social events, as well as a number of negotiation rooms suitable both for lavish receptions of foreign delegations and for modest receptions of the local nobility. Usually, the Ballroom Wing was closed unless members of the royal family were holding meetings or events. The Residential Wings were accessible only to members of the royal family and their servants, as well as those who had received permission from the king himself—Richard was among this number, as protector of Prince Arthur IV. The Working Wing was open to all, for it housed, unlike the other wings, part of the state apparatus for governing the country: officials, who were mostly children of nobles not destined to inherit their family's title, unless all other heirs died, as had happened with Richard's friend Leon; influential traders concluding deals for the supply of various materials throughout the country and from neighboring states; and ordinary people who had managed to achieve service in the royal palace through their own efforts. All transitions between the castle wings were guarded, and simply entering one from another was quite problematic. Unless you knew where you were going, you had every chance of getting lost in this large palace, considering its corridors were deliberately made somewhat confusing so that invaders would take longer to reach His Majesty. But this was a rarity, considering everyone mainly visited the Working Wing, so they knew where not to go. Occasionally, however, an ordinary commoner might get lost in this abundance of confusing corridors, and the guards would have to point them to the right office.
Returning to his thoughts, which were not occupied with palace architecture, yesterday he had heard a rumor from Pockmark that Leon was being sent for military training to the Duchy of Storm. This simply did not fit in the former baronet's mind, because then access to Leon's inheritance would be postponed for an indefinite amount of time. Richard knew the exact conditions for obtaining those funds that were currently frozen, because with his help, machinations had been carried out to freeze Baron Starr's inheritance so that Viscount Lines could not freely manage it. Richard understood that the old Leon would not have coped with the responsibility that would have fallen on him, no matter how much he loved his friend. Therefore, Baron Orange knew that Viscount Lines' influence had been very good for Leon. Even too good, which somewhat disappointed Richard, as he sometimes wanted to share a few drinks with his friend.
But now all this was meaningless, as all the plans he had been preparing for Leon were simply destroyed. Richard had planned for his friend to quickly complete his studies, and he would help him financially with the railway construction in the process, while he had no access to his inheritance, just like Viscount Lines, thereby strengthening both his own influence in the matter and Leon's. Now this plan had definitely failed, because military training would take at least one year, and then another year to finish his studies. During this time, if the railway construction wasn't completed, it would at least progress to such an extent that all the honors would go to Viscount Lines and the late Baron Starr. This was precisely why the first year was the most important, and in it, neither Leon nor Richard would participate. At least not now. Of course, Viscount Lines would likely manage Baron Starr's influence, and his name would not be forgotten or unmentioned, but it was not the same as if the Baron himself were handling everything, strengthening his own authority in the kingdom. Leon might then be remembered not as the builder of the railway, but as the son of the late Charles, the previous Baron Starr. And then Leon's own authority would be much less, while Count Sky's influence would be greater, which, overall, aligned with the goals of Viscount Lines as Lord Eduard's assistant. And let's not forget that the reason for sending him to military training—the inability to keep his member in his pants—would reduce the number of potential brides for the Baron, diminishing his chances of a successful marriage into some county family or wealthy baronial family, and also lower his standing in the eyes of other nobles. Baron Orange understood that his friend was in a difficult situation, and now he would hardly be able to offer his money to Viscount Lines, as the latter would most likely think it was all due to Leon's old habits, which Richard had cultivated in him. The probability of reaching an agreement with old Howard was almost zero, and the Baron didn't want to take risks, at least for now. For he hoped to find at least some skeletons in old Howard Lines' closet.
Continuing to reflect, Richard walked through the Working Wing of the royal palace, heading towards her. She was quite often found in the Working Wing, as it was easier to issue paper orders from there, and access to her office was open to anyone who wished. However, one had to know where her office was, and there was no sign indicating whose office it was. Usually, she was addressed either as Mistress or My Lady, omitting the formal name in this place, because as she herself said—even in the palace there are ears that should not know. Why was such secrecy needed? Richard himself didn't know yet, although he had guesses on the matter, but he assumed that everyone in the royal family knew who occupied this room, except perhaps one princess who had shown no interest in it.
Richard understood who else this state of affairs truly benefited, for example, Lady Katerina, Duchess of Blood, or Lord Nikolai, Duke of Wood, but he could do nothing about it, because such a decision had been made by the king himself. Still, he hoped that after meeting with her, she would clarify the situation a little, perhaps even help with advice on what to do next. Though he really didn't want to see her after what he had done before, and hoped she didn't know about it.
When the Baron finally reached the right office, he knocked lightly, waiting for a response. After about a minute, he heard a voice say "Enter," and the Baron opened the door and went inside. This office, as always, was quite bright and cozy, despite the cold aura she emanated. Richard had known her for a long time, ever since she approached him, a young scamp, and offered him a path to a new life. The boy back then had grasped at this straw, even though he thought it might be false. Yet he had managed to achieve success. Following her plan—the future baronet saved his now-friend Arthur IV, then just an ordinary boy he knew nothing about, and was appointed his protector by order of King Arthur III. Afterwards, he himself managed to achieve the title of Baron, receiving his unique title rather than inheriting someone else's. Richard could still only guess—had she planned it all so that the young man would protect the young prince, or had things really not gone according to plan, and he was merely a backup? Now it made no difference.
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He approached the table and merely nodded slightly to the one who sat there, completely absorbed in documents. Her dazzling beauty and the sun, which seemed to illuminate her even more, was so magnificent that the young man always averted his gaze, and this time was no exception. Richard did not want to seem rude and ungrateful by staring at her openly, no matter how grateful he was to her. But these were not the main reasons he looked away.
"Why have you come, Richard?" she said in her soft, velvety voice, in which the young man felt he was drowning.
"I wanted to talk about Leon. Was this your doing?" Baron Orange replied, still trying not to look directly at her.
"Again this bad habit of yours, Richard," she sighed, pushing her chair back and leaning into it. "You're always afraid to look at me."
"My Lady..."
"Allow me to tease you a little, dear Richard," she smiled slightly. "And to answer your question—no. It was not my order; Idivig made the decision himself."
"Do you have any idea why the king made such a decision?" the young man asked in surprise, not understanding why His Highness would pass such a verdict.
"I have many ideas, but do they matter? It could be love for his sister, or a desire to spite me, though he hasn't done that in a long time—he also sees no point, because both he and I do everything for the good of our kingdom," she said with the same slight smile, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, sharing her thoughts with Richard. "Perhaps someone else asked Idivig to do this—I can't tell you anything now, but you can be sure of one thing: Leon is in no danger, at least at this moment in time. However, once in the Duchy of Storm itself, I can promise you nothing. I too would like the Baron to finish the Royal Academy as quickly as possible and gain access to his inheritance. And we could lead him away from that cunning fox Howard. Of course, I trust the loyalty of Count Sky and the Duke of Celestial, but the latter has ruled his domains for too long without passing the title to his heirs, and he's even already become a great-grandfather. But more on that later. Now it's important to discuss something else: I have no leads on Lord Howard, Viscount Lines, but the most surprising thing is not that. I'm not the only one seeking information about him. My people have seen that Lord Gabriel, Baron Fingers, is also trying to find anything about our Viscount, equally unsuccessfully. It seems we'll have to find another approach to him."
"Do you think Viscount Lines suggested this idea to King Idivig? But why?" Richard asked, lightly stroking his clean-shaven chin.
"Yes, I lean closer to that option. In doing so, he shields Leon from Carolina, and the Baron himself will no longer accept her help after our threats," she said, now smiling slightly predatorily, and this smile made the young man shudder slightly, which did not escape her notice. "You behave quite amusingly, as always, Richard, in my presence."
"Forgive me," the Baron apologized, still trying not to look in her direction. "You know how I feel about you."
"You need not fear me, Richard," she changed her smile from predatory to a more familiar and soft, comforting one. "I am very glad that you protect our future king, and I was not mistaken in entrusting this to you."
"Yes, I understand," the young man said, unable to speak her name. It was always difficult for him to talk with her, because she frightened him far more than attracted him with her beauty. Especially her shadows, with which she carried out her dirty operations. Invisible warriors hiding in the darkness and merging with the shadows. Perhaps even one of them was in this room now, and Richard simply didn't see him in the few shadows of this bright room.
Of course, Richard had Pockmark, who had learned a special trick in the Kingdom of Stone, from which he himself hailed. His wandering jester could connect two objects, and if changes occurred to one, the same happened to the other. Thus, they intimidated nobles and officials by sending them letters with inscriptions that would later burn up on their own, sowing discord or eliminating competitors. But the killers who emerged from the shadows frightened him far more than the small tricks his subordinate was capable of.
"You do understand why we do all this, Richard?" she said, as if testing the Baron's loyalty.
"Yes, my Lady. If we do not control the kingdom's underworld, it will exist without our knowledge, thereby destabilizing our homeland," the Baron Orange answered clearly, as if reciting from some manual.
"That's right, Richard. We cannot completely eradicate crime, but we can lead it so that it works for the benefit of our kingdom. Even if these very smugglers, thieves, and murderers do not suspect that they are actually working for us," she continued to smile.
*She is a demon in human form,* Richard thought to himself, but remained silent, giving no answer. He had no more questions for her, and regarding the deed he had carried out—she said nothing. So she was most likely unaware, and Richard could continue working on his railway project.
"If I have answered all your questions, Richard, you may go. You still have preparations to make for the ball. Oh, and yes, tell Pockmark that the silk delivery from the Tsardom of Vys will not be coming this month, so his services will not be needed," she said, again immersing herself in the documents scattered across her desk.
Silk deliveries—that's what they called any contraband. Usually, they delivered people they deemed undesirable to the Tsardom of Vys or the Desert Empire, where slavery was officially permitted, unlike the Kingdom of Crow, where it had been banned since its founding. Currently, she was referring to the delivery of new muskets, purchased bypassing the Free Cities, which they had been importing into the kingdom for a year. The shipments were usually not very large, so they didn't attract much attention in the Tsardom of Vys. But now, this weaponry could arm the army in the Royal Capital of Crow. Why was this necessary? So that their potential opponents would not know that the technologically backward Kingdom of Crow could also rival its enemies. Yes, they didn't have such ultimate weapons as the airship, due to which the Desert Empire had lost to the Free Cities. But having weapons the enemy had no information about could, at some point, play a cruel trick on them.
Baron Orange said nothing in reply, merely inclined his head in farewell and began to leave the office. He was still trembling slightly from the inexplicable fear he felt before her, but quickly regained composure and was about to head to another wing of the royal palace to meet with Arthur and ask him, just in case, whether he had suggested such an idea to His Highness Idivig, when her voice called out to him from the door:
"And yes, Richard, we have never spoken about this before, and much time has passed, but it's worth mentioning, as it is a rather important and delicate matter. Do not make such foolish mistakes again, like the murder of the Starr family. I barely managed to save Leon from under your stupid escapade and cover the whole thing up. But in the future, please, consult with me. And yes, so you don't get too happy—the railway project will be as I have approved it, no other way. This is an important matter for our entire kingdom, and King Idivig agrees with me."
A slight chill ran down Baron Orange's spine at her words, and he finally left the office without answering her. Of course, Richard shouldn't have been surprised that she knew about his escapade, but he still thought he had covered his tracks well. And what did she mean, saved Leon? He wasn't supposed to be there during that raid anyway...
*Wait, what was the name of that commoner girl Leon was fucking that night by the lake?* the young man thought to himself.
*"Richard, I'm going home now, and there's this girl there, simply incredible! I keep forgetting her name. Either Mary or Molly, but does it matter?"* Baron Orange recalled Leon's words. He stopped again, overcome by a slight trembling. If it was THAT Molly, the one who served her, then everything fell into place.
*What a mess you're in, Leon,* Richard thought, and continued on his way, pondering what to do now about Viscount Lines.
