Episode 210.1
(EP-210.1) Summer #8
210 Cold Summer #8
Lunchtime.
Mirna and I were waiting for someone in the conference hall of the cathedral. After a long, meaningless wait, Mirna let out a long sigh.
It seems theyre running late. Or, they might not come at all. In that case, its best to just give up. You know right, Sir Theo?
Yes
Perhaps due to anxiety, I felt the urge to shake my legs. Of course, I wasnt light enough to outwardly express such agitation.
I suppressed the impulse and wiped my hands with the wet tissue on the table. Then, the door suddenly swung open, and a woman with a black cloth over her face appeared.
Her Majesty, Queen Aira, is entering. Please rise and give your respects.
Aira soon appeared.
This time, her hair wasnt disheveled, and she wasnt without stockings. She was neat and perfect, this was the usual look of Aira.
Seeing her like that, I felt both glad and a bit resentful at the thought that she was doing fine without me. She seemed to have gotten prettier somehow.
At the same time
I felt the tension creeping in, doubting if it was indeed Aira who ordered my kidnapping.
.
Aira didnt look at me.
After briefly scanning the surroundings with her cool eyes, she spoke in her usual calm voice.
Mirna of the Draco Family. What is the reason for summoning me like this? I am a busy Queen. It would be quite disappointing if you called without reason.
Thats-.
Mirna gave me a certain look, perhaps signaling for me to start if I had something to say.
I had plenty of things I had thought about saying, but
Looking at Airas relatively nonchalant expression, I began to wonder if the stories I had prepared would work on her.
As I pondered for a moment, Mirna let out a soft sigh and started talking on her own accord.
Queen Tarantera. I call you at this time because of what happened yesterday. You wouldnt feign ignorance about what that might be, would you?
Seureuk-.
Mirna pulled a black cloth out her pocket.
It was embroidered with a spider and resembled the cloth currently covering the face of the new aide standing by Airas side.
Anyone could tell that it was an item of the Tarantera Family. With narrowed eyes, Aira reached for it.
This, looks like a hexenzirkels hood. Why do you have this, Mirna?
[T/N: hexenzirkel = circle of witches]
I wonder if youre pretending not to know or genuinely in the dark. Do you have no idea what happened last night?
Last night?
The Taranteras hexenzirkel, Walpurgis, has invaded my mansion and threatened me and Sir Theo. We were nearly killed!
Mirna questioned Aira with a clear voice.
Saying we were nearly killed was honestly an exaggeration. But we werent sure how Aira would react, so this was to raise the tension a bit. In response, Aira furrowed her brow and slammed her hand on the table.
How conspiring of you, Mirna. I never gave such an order.
Then who else could control the hexenzirkel if not you? Its shameless to lie so blatantly, Aira Von Tarantera.
Mirna looked really angry, and it was justified. She had every right to blame the assassins who had intruded into her familys estate.
However, this conversation looked peculiar. It felt as though Aira was truly unaware.
My gaze shifted to the new aide, who blended naturally into the background like Airas shadow.
I didnt know her name or face, but judging by her two-braided black hair, it was clear that she was the same person I had seen before.
Could it be her?
This is akin to a declaration of war. Even if youre the Queen sitting on the throne of Angmar, if you mess with the Draco Family in this city of the church, you wont get away unscathed.
Mirna, too, slammed her hand on the table. Thanks to this, the peaceful conference hall of the cathedral took on a heavier tone.
I said I didnt do it. I am Aira Von Tarantera, the Queen of Angmar. If I say I didnt do it, then I didnt do it.
That doesnt make the evidence go away. It may have worked in the palace, but it wont work here.
The two women glared at each other. It was a long-running battle. Finally, Airas gaze turned to me.
Theo, do you think so too? That I sent assassins?
I.
I am the Queen. Theo, you have both the duty and right to believe me.
You act like a Queen whenever it suits you. How shameless!
Mirna interrupted before I could even say anything. Give me a chance to speak too. I opened my mouth wide, fearing I wouldnt get a word in otherwise.
Wait. May I speak? Before that, I want to have a conversation with Aira-nim. Just the two of us.
But Sir Theo-.
Mirna wanted to dissuade me, with a worried look in her eyes. It wasnt surprising, as I had more or less anticipated that she would react this way.
Outrageous! How dare a lowly slave-root mage like you speak alone with Tarantera-nim!
But I hadnt expected the new aide, who had been melting into the background, to suddenly raise her voice.
Tarantera-nim, you must not lend your ears to such a man. He must bear a grudge for being cast out, and is using the Draco Family to falsely accuse the Queen. This kind of thing-.
Step back.
But.
I said step back.
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