Young Lady Albert Is Courting Disaster: Volume 6 E-Book

Saki

• Herausgeber: J-Novel Heart
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Serie: Young Lady Albert Is Courting Disaster
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Seitenzahl: 246

Beschreibung

The succession war is in full swing as the three Albert siblings battle for the seat of House Albert’s heir. Mary’s twin brothers, Lang and Lucian, come up with a brilliant idea to determine the winner: a family trip abroad! Together with the servant brothers, Adi and Roberto, they depart for the small landlocked country of Feydella. Mary hopes to use her diplomacy skills to prove herself worthy of heirship. However, her plans are thrown for a loop when the unusual customs of Feydella—also known as the country of many loves—overwhelm her. Worse yet, one of the Feydellans, a young man named Mauro, claims that he knows Mary’s “secret” and blackmails her... In the biggest crisis of Mary’s life, the bonds she shares with her friends are put to the ultimate test! Will she be able to handle life in this strange new place with Mauro’s threat hanging over her? And will she finally attain heirship, or will her secret lead to her downfall?

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Characters

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Epilogue

Look to the Future, Not the Past

Afterword

About J-Novel Club

Copyright

Landmarks

Table of Contents

Prologue

Mary’s brows furrowed as she watched her knight take a hit with a high-pitched clank. Oh no, she murmured inwardly, lamenting how she had let her side of the board thin out to such a degree. Yet no amount of regret would bring the knight back to life, and giving in to her grief could’ve put the rest of her pieces at risk. The battlefield is an exceptionally unforgiving place, indeed.

No, it wasn’t just the battlefield that was unforgiving. The reason behind this very fight—House Albert’s succession battle—was most unforgiving of all. The siblings were awash in blood, kicking each other down in their struggle to reach the one and only throne. The winner would attain immense honor and glory, while the losers would have no choice but to depart.

Mary had committed herself to this struggle, and she refused to be shaken by the loss of a single piece. Reassuring herself in her mind, she reached her hand towards one of her own pieces, aiming to turn the tables in a single swift move.

She had to center all her attention on the game of chess. Her eyes were locked on the board, because she had to gaze at nothing but the monochrome pieces as they spun around the battlefield. She couldn’t afford to look away. The gentle aroma wafting from the tea, the pound cake covered with dollops of fresh cream—she couldn’t pay heed to such things.

Mary had to be careful not to let her brother’s grin enter her field of vision either. The same was true for the partially hidden banner, which nevertheless was somewhat visible, bearing the words, “Friendly Chess Tournament between the House Albert Siblings.”

“Lang, this is a genuine battle, so can’t you look a little more serious?” Mary asked.

“Oh, pardon me,” he responded. “Getting to play chess with you just makes me so happ—er, I mean, so nervous that I can’t control my expression! But this is so nostalgic... We’re the ones who taught you how to play chess, Mary.”

“No, Adi taught me,” she corrected him. “You two would always mess about and start throwing the pieces. You didn’t teach me anything.”

“Really? You have a good memory, Mary. As expected of our adorable little sister.” Lang smiled in good humor, then glanced down at the board. “Oh dear, looks like I’ve lost!” he added, raising his arms in the air in a gesture of surrender. His attitude, expression, and tone of voice all suggested he was in high spirits. His countenance was always jovial to start with, and now he looked happier than ever. There was no trace of the loser’s frustration and disgrace about him.

Soon enough, Lucian cleared the board. “Now it’s my turn,” he declared, sitting across from Mary. He usually had a melancholic look about him, but right now he couldn’t hide his joy. He was also in a good mood, which was even harder to comprehend than with someone like Lang. “All right, Mary. Let’s have a friendly game of—I mean, a battle for heirship. You’re smart, so I’m sure this will be fun— I mean, I’m sure this will be a difficult and harrowing fight, which will endanger our very lives...”

“Your expression’s pretty soft, Lucian,” Mary noted.

“Soft? Me, who’s so very gloomy? That’s impossible... Oh, you’re right.” Lucian poked his own cheeks, realizing the face he was making. He then began listing all sorts of excuses, like how he was nervous after having witnessed the previous battle, and that he was trembling with excitement for the upcoming match. Neither of these actually explained his expression, so his words were no more than irrelevant non sequiturs.

Mary gazed at him intently and then replied, “That makes sense.”

This world contained a noblewoman who experienced every human emotion via tears, so it wasn’t all that strange to consider that there could be a gentleman whose expression grew soft when he felt nervous or excited. Probably, anyway. For the time being, Mary would leave it at that. In any case, right now she knew she ought to be focusing on chess.

“I’ll attain a crushing victory and freeze that look on your face!” Mary said, declaring war as she picked up one of her pieces.

***

When all was said and done, she ended up winning against Lucian as well. However, she didn’t follow through on her words in their entirety, because her brother looked incredibly happy to have lost.

Even now, during the postgame analysis, the twins discussed the matches with soft, relaxed expressions. Of course, their “discussion” was composed entirely of them singing Mary’s praises, saying things like, “That move of hers was particularly keen!” and “She didn’t let herself be intimidated into taking the defensive—as expected of her!” They did this even for completely unremarkable moves she had made, claiming things like, “As she made that move, her hand looked so graceful!” and “When she reached for her piece, you could see that her fingers are shapely and beautiful, all the way down to her nails!”

Fed up with them, Mary turned to Adi and Roberto, who’d been watching the matches from the side. “I would like you two to answer me clearly, honestly, and without any falsehoods. Were our battles heated and harsh?”

Roberto smiled warmly. His narrow eyes creased with amusement, and he responded, “Yes, of course.” His tone of voice wasn’t any different from the usual, and he didn’t seem to be lying.

As for Adi, however, his cheeks puffed up instantly with a repressed laugh, and he openly turned away to avoid Mary’s gaze. Though he and Roberto were brothers, their reactions couldn’t have been more different.

“Roberto, you think those were heated battles, right?” Mary prompted.

“So much so that even my hands have grown clammy with nerves,” he claimed. “Everyone’s fighting spirit was tangible as you refused to give each other ground.”

“Y-Yes, exactly... What about you, Adi? Are your hands clammy too?”

“M-Me?! Uh... Rather than ‘heated,’ I’d say it was a warm and friendly— Ow!” Adi cried out suddenly, interrupting his incoherent reply. His glare was uncharacteristically sharp as he turned his eyes to Roberto, who was standing next to him.

Mary looked them over with confusion, only to discover that Roberto was stomping on Adi’s foot. His heel was grinding into the toe of Adi’s shoe with such ferocity that Mary could practically hear it.

That must hurt, she thought. She had stomped on Adi’s foot countless times herself, but only with moderate strength. Given that Adi was two heads taller than her, the sensation would’ve been more like having a kitten climb onto his foot. In contrast, Roberto was even taller than Adi, and there was no hesitation nor pity behind his actions. What made it all the more terrifying was the fact that his expression hadn’t changed at all: if one didn’t glance down at his feet, he would’ve still seemed like a perfectly composed butler.

“Go on. Lady Mary is waiting, so answer her at once,” Roberto ordered Adi. “Do note that depending on what you say, I’m willing to abandon all of my duties for the rest of the day in order to keep stomping on your foot.”

“You’re my brother, so I can tell you’re serious about that. How terrifying,” Adi murmured. “You need to stop that and do your job.”

“Don’t you worry. I do all my work one day ahead of schedule, so there’s no problem. Now, answer her.” Roberto put more of his weight onto Adi’s foot.

Adi groaned, his brows furrowing from the pain. He turned to look at Mary. Part of him seemed to want to ask her for help, but since situations like this happened frequently, he decided to first answer her question.

“Did you also think they were heated battles, Adi?” she asked.

“Y-Yes, of course... They were truly bloodcurdling matches. From here, you all looked like mightily ferocious kitte—I mean, tigers,” Adi said, his voice strained with pain.

Roberto removed his foot from Adi’s, satisfied with that response. Adi let out a relieved breath, and hurriedly retreated to Mary’s side. This was no cowardice—anyone would’ve done the same had they gone up against Roberto. Only a certain pair of careless twins had the nerve to oppose him.

“Lady Mary, did my foolish brother’s answer satisfy you?”

“The idea of saying yes after witnessing that chain of events annoys me, but for the sake of Adi’s foot, I’ll pretend to have been fooled,” Mary replied.

“Kind as always, Lady Mary. That brings us to the end of today’s succession battle,” Roberto declared. With a single clap of his hands, the atmosphere shifted immediately.

Lang and Lucian, knowing their afternoon work awaited, rose to their feet at the sound. Truly, it was hard to say who was the actual master between the three of them.

“Oh right!” Lang muttered suddenly, having remembered something. He signaled Lucian with his eyes, and the both of them approached Mary.

Their expressions were grave. Their previous joy seemed to have vanished, and their gazes were sharp. Despite their small frames and babyish features, which made them look younger than their actual age, their serious faces instantly gave them the sort of dignity that only House Albert’s sons could have.

Even Mary found herself fixing her posture. “What is it?” she inquired.

“Mary, there’s something we have to tell you,” said Lang, putting on airs. “There’s something that you need to do in order to become House Albert’s heir.”

“Something I need to do?” she repeated, leaning closer to him in anticipation.

The air around the brothers was tense, signifying that this “something” was very important. Mary gulped reflexively, urging them to continue.

Lang paused for a moment, and finally opened his mouth to speak while gazing at Mary. “In order to inherit House Albert, you must go on a journey!”

Mary was silent for a while, staring at him blankly. “A journey...?” she asked, tilting her head with a confused frown.

Chapter 1

“What do you mean, Lang? I’ve never heard of such a thing,” said Mary.

“That’s because you weren’t a candidate for heirship until recently,” Lang responded. “The next head of the family must undergo a grueling journey across the neighboring nations, and have their growth and skills recognized by those around them.” His voice lacked its usual cheer as he explained. There was no humor in it, nor was he trying to deceive Mary. Instead, his tone was heavy, as though he were teaching her about an important rule.

Lucian wore an equally grave look on his face, and when Mary glanced at him for confirmation, he nodded deeply.

The twins’ attitude was different from those of their normal selves, and there was an inexpressible intensity evident in their actions. Each word they said was heavy, and they had a solemnity about them that would rival even their father’s.

In fact, when the brothers actually tried, they could conduct themselves with solemnity and dignity. In front of Mary, they let their doting affection for her show, but during diplomatic meetings or emergencies, they displayed an obvious wit and capability. The other nobles had long decided either of them would make a good heir for House Albert, and some even envied the family for the security it had owing to such excellent sons.

That said, the pair’s affection for their younger sister was the strongest force of all. After all, those dignified and intelligent twins instantly turned into doting brothers as soon as they laid eyes on Mary. Their dignity disappeared in a flash, and any serious diplomatic discussions they might’ve been having turned into them singing Mary’s praises.

Yet that same duo was looking at her right now with grave expressions. A little overawed by their intimidating air, Mary once more murmured, “A journey...” as her mind spun.

It was such a sudden thing, but at the same time, she didn’t find it that shocking. House Albert was this country’s most distinguished family, and for generations they had been second in power only to the royalty. Their influence had naturally spread across the nation’s borders as well. Taking action within their country alone wouldn’t have been enough for previous heads of the house to inherit such a family. In other words, this was an international debut. Those who failed it wouldn’t be worthy of taking on the title of House Albert’s heir.

Mary nodded in understanding, and looked back up at Lang with a serious countenance. Under other circumstances, she might’ve responded to this by saying something like, “How bothersome. What kind of souvenirs will you get for me?” But now that she was a candidate for the succession herself, she couldn’t make such leisurely remarks.

“Are you two going on that journey?” she asked.

“Yeah. The heir is still unsettled, but this trip might be the deciding factor,” Lang said. “You’ll come with us, won’t you, Mary?” He wasn’t just inviting her, but rather instigating her.

A fighting spirit glinted in Mary’s eyes, and she clenched her fists. There was no need for them to even ask her that. “Of course!”

Lang and Lucian exchanged a look upon hearing her prompt reply. They nodded at one another as if affirming something.

“You could say this is a battle journey, and it will most certainly be severe...” Lucian was the one to speak up this time. Though he looked glum, his eyes were sharp, as if he were sizing up the fighting spirit within Mary. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

“Yes, I am. When do we depart, Lucian?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Very well, I’ll make the preparatio— Tomorrow?!” Mary exclaimed, not having expected it to be so soon. If anything, she might’ve thought it would happen in the next few days. Departing tomorrow morning meant she had very little time left to prepare.

She quickly turned to look at Adi, silently asking if it was possible for her to join her brothers on the trip. Surmising this, he started saying, “We’ll have to adjust your schedule...” until Roberto suddenly elbowed him in the side. That also looked painful.

Roberto cleared his throat and replied in Adi’s stead. “Tomorrow is luckily, conveniently, blessedly good timing, as your schedule is quite clear, Lady Mary. I see no issue with you going on the trip.”

“Really? That’s a relief to hear. It honestly is good timing. Almost too good...” she said with a frown. Something’s strange about this...

Young noblewomen’s lives seemed leisurely and extravagant from the sidelines, as they mostly consisted of attending parties and sipping tea. But as a daughter of a distinguished family, Mary still had responsibilities. Moreover, tea parties and mingling were a woman’s job in high society, and someone like Mary was kept busy with numerous invitations to all kinds of events.

On top of the things she’d learned while she was in school, Mary was now studying even more diligently so as not to fall behind her brothers as one of the candidates. Managing the migratory bird restaurant was not to be forgotten either. Rather than having an iron in the fire, she had three or even four of them.

Yet despite her busyness, her brothers’ trip was happening right when she had some time to spare. She had no invitations to events or tea parties, nor was she expecting any visitors. Could this truly be written off as mere luck or coincidence?

I feel like there’s a catch... Mary thought, and right then, someone presented her with an item. It was a thin pamphlet. The fine paper was sprinkled with gold dust, and its oppressive letters read, “Handbook for the Next Family Head’s International Tour.”

Mary took it, gulping at the sheer intimidation radiating off the cover. The lettering was gloomy, and the booklet felt profoundly heavy in her hands. Much care had obviously gone into selecting the paper as well.

She turned the first page to find a list of the necessary items to bring on the trip. On the next page was the place and time of meeting, the means of travel, and the destination. When Mary read the name of the nation, she let out a quiet, surprised noise—it was Feydella.

Feydella was a small landlocked country, which rarely interacted with other nations. Most of its work was done within its own borders. Mary wasn’t aware of any further details about the country, and seeing its name didn’t bring anything particular to mind. However, her aunt and uncle lived there, and it seemed she and her brothers would be staying with them during their trip.

Her aunt and uncle were a good, kind couple. The thought of getting to see them again made Mary’s heart throb. If they were only going to be staying there for a few days, it might be best for her to spend the time with her relatives. They could show her around any places of interest, and she could talk with them while enjoying tea. Reminiscing on her past meetings with them, Mary felt a wave of nostalgia and anticipation.

That said, her primary objective was the succession war. She realized that her aunt and uncle’s assessment of her and her conduct during the trip may affect House Albert’s heirship. Her face began to break into a smile at the thought, but she quickly pulled herself together. Perhaps it was her brothers’ aim to distract her with the trip and kick her down... She couldn’t help but have such concerns.

That was a close call. If I’d been swept up by some childish, playful mood, I would’ve fallen behind my brothers. I must be on my guard, Mary thought, disciplining herself. She exhaled deeply, and continued leafing through the handbook.

“Ah, a list of tourist attractions?” she said, looking over the page. “I’d love to climb the hill overlooking the entire town. And there’s a famous café that sells seasonal tarts—I wouldn’t miss it for the world. My, there’s even a guide on popular souvenirs! How lovely. I’ll get something for everyone.” Mary giggled to herself as she read through the rest of the book.

The information regarding Feydella was detailed and well researched, but not overwhelming. The text had been interspersed with witty jokes and catchphrases recently favored by the youth, and there were even illustrations every now and then, making the whole package an easy read. What especially enraptured Mary’s heart was seeing the listed attractions, such as the beautiful night views and seasonal tarts. The article on souvenirs was filled with a variety of goods, and though she hadn’t even departed yet, she was already deliberating on what to buy.

The quality of this handbook was almost too good for what it was. Publishing this pamphlet would certainly help to boost Feydella’s tourism.

Mary paused. “This is a harsh journey for the succession war, right...?” she murmured. Overcome with a strange discomfort, she closed the book and glanced at the cover to double-check what it was. There, the oppressive letters did indeed read, “Handbook for the Next Family Head’s International Tour.”

Sensing the difference in temperature between the cover and the contents, Mary furrowed her brows. She looked at the cover, then checked the inside, then once again glanced at the cover in a looping cycle. Formal, severe lettering; a lovely illustration of some cakes; formal, severe lettering; a catchphrase that made her heart pound...

Finding this bizarre, Mary opened her mouth to allude to the discomfort she was feeling. But right then, Lang exclaimed, “All right!” and vigorously rose to his feet. Lucian did the same. “I can’t let myself get distracted now that I know Mary’s coming too. To think that the succession battle turned into a three-way fight! That a trip between siblings could contain this much joy—I mean, sorrow!”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Lucian said. “I’m sure this will be the harshest journey in House Albert’s history... I’m so excited that my expression is softening...”

“Well, since we’re departing tomorrow, let’s work hard to wrap up today’s duties, Lucian. We’ll excuse ourselves here, our sweet Mary.”

“Mary, be sure to prepare for the trip... I look forward to— I mean, I’m brimming with fighting spirit at the thought of traveling with you.”

The gleeful Lang and gloomy Lucian spoke in turns. Overwhelmed by their vigor, Mary could only nod in response. Soon enough, the twins vacated the room. Neither of them looked sorrowful nor brimming with the will to fight, but that much was stating the obvious by now.

Once the two yin-and-yang twins who nevertheless were equally boisterous had left, a silence settled over the room. Mary was unable to hide her impatience. There was a fire in her eyes, and she gripped the handbook tightly.

“I do have a point of concern, but I’ll let it go for now. We need to get ready for the trip! Let’s go to the town center, Adi.”

“The town center?” he echoed.

“Since we’ll be staying with my aunt and uncle, I want to get some gifts for them. Little things like that are what the head of the family pays attention to!” Mary declared proudly, puffing out her chest.

If their relatives were to look after the three siblings during their stay, then Mary was certain her brothers had also arranged a way of showing their thanks. House Albert would never fail to remember such a thing, and it was possible the twins would prepare a gift even more expensive than a luxurious stay at an inn.

But the gift Mary was thinking of was something else entirely. She didn’t want to give her relatives something as a member of House Albert, but rather as herself. Such attention to detail made all the difference.

“Now, let’s go!” she urged Adi after explaining her thought process. But she suddenly noticed Roberto was still there and let out a gasp. She scolded herself in her mind. “Roberto, please don’t mention any of what I just said to my brothers.”

“Oh? You mean about your gift?” he inquired.

“That’s right. You’re their ally, aren’t you?” Mary questioned in turn. She’d thought up such a brilliant strategy to outwit the twins, but if Roberto told them about it, they’d probably copy her.

That was why she imposed a gag order on the butler, who expressed his agreement. His voice was calm and dependable when he replied. “Please rest assured. I won’t notify them of your tactics. And while I am the ally of Lord Lang and Lord Lucian, I am also your ally, Lady Mary.”

“Mine? Are you saying you don’t mind who inherits the family?”

“Indeed. I believe House Albert will be safe in the hands of whomever succeeds it. But if I had to specify...” Roberto trailed off, glancing aside. His gaze landed on the door through which Lang and Lucian had exited earlier. His sharp eyes were filled with loyalty, as well as a deep friendship for the two brothers he’d grown up together with.

Mary tried to predict the rest of his words based on his expression. He was about to say who he hoped would succeed House Albert. Before Mary had entered the candidacy, she’d once asked Roberto which twin he’d like to be the heir, to which the butler had claimed that he would want to split them into ten parts.

Perhaps he’d repeat himself now. Or perhaps his line of thinking had changed with Mary joining the ring. She kept quiet, watching Roberto nervously as she awaited his next words.

The butler gazed at the door in reverie for some time, until with a gentle expression, he finally said, “I’d blend you, Lord Lang, and Lord Lucian together into one new whole.”

“That’s excessive,” Mary said.

“Since House Albert is such a peerless family, being a little excessive is just right,” Roberto said humorously. “Excuse me,” he added, bowing once before exiting the room. His conduct was impressively elegant and beautiful, but Mary found his attitude slightly aloof. Was it because of what she’d witnessed earlier between him and Adi, or was that just a glimpse of Roberto’s character?

Mary groaned to herself. “He’s always like this,” she muttered with a sigh, her shoulders drooping. Adi smiled bitterly, for he knew his brother’s personality better than anyone. “There’s no point in trying to guess his intentions. He is the most cunning man in all of House Albert.”

“He’s my brother, but even I don’t understand his character,” Adi told her.

“I’d like to blend him and my brothers together, then split them into three.”

“I don’t think any of them would let you do that.”

As they conversed, she began heading out of the room in order to go shopping at the town center. Mary straightened her back and clenched her fists with renewed determination. This wasn’t the first time her brothers had stirred up trouble, and if she wasn’t competent enough to rein them in, then she wouldn’t be worthy of inheriting the family.

The wall she had to overcome was tall, but that was what made it fun. Only once she had knocked such a wall down would the seat awaiting on the other side have any worth.

“Through this journey, I’m going to rein in my brothers and Roberto, and take the heir’s seat!” Mary declared, pumping her fist in the air before triumphantly exiting the room.

Adi’s shoulders sank when he was left alone in the room. He was holding something that Roberto had given him earlier. It was the handbook for the upcoming trip, its paper of high quality. The cover was intricate, sprinkled in a layer of gold dust, and the beautiful and dignified writing read, “Handbook for House Albert’s Friendly Family Trip.”

“Do not let Lady Mary see this,” Roberto had ordered when he’d passed the book to Adi. His voice had been icy and overflowing with intensity.

Lang and Lucian had been standing behind Roberto at the time, and though neither uttered a word, they were radiating an aura that said, “You got that?”

Faced with his brother, whom even Mary had dubbed House Albert’s most cunning man, and the twins, who’d been headstrong since childhood, Adi knew he couldn’t oppose them. He had paled, and all he could do was nod. Even if Mary were to see this handbook eventually, Adi thought he would like to go for at least a day without having to examine the tips of his shoes. The trio was sure to stomp on them relentlessly if Mary found out the truth.

“For the sake of my feet, please remain fooled for a while, milady...!” Adi muttered under his breath.

“Let’s go, Adi!” Mary’s voice called to him from beyond the door, and so he hurried after her.

Mary was assembling everything she needed for tomorrow’s journey in her suitcase. Of course, since she was a noblewoman, it was the servants’ job to pack her belongings. No matter how abrupt the trip, she was within her rights to command, “Make the arrangements,” and leave it there. So right now, Adi was stuffing various items into the suitcase while Mary lounged on the lavish sofa.

Occasionally, he asked her things like, “Do you wish to bring the white shirt, or the light-blue one?”

Sleepily, Mary would respond with, “The turquoise one.” That about sums up the extent of her participation. But out of nowhere, she recalled something and suddenly sprang to her feet. “Oh no! This is a trap!”

“A trap?” Adi questioned.

“Yes. A proper head of the family should be able to pack their own belongings. If my brothers were to find out I left all my packing to you, I bet they’d laugh and think I’m still a child!” Mary explained, rushing over to Adi’s side.

The packing was mostly done, but there were still a few items that hadn’t been put away into the suitcase, and Mary let out a relieved breath. This meant she could pack some of her own things, and her brothers wouldn’t be able to claim that she’d had Adi do all of it.

When she said as much, Adi sighed in exasperation. “Milady, can you really picture Lord Lang and Lord Lucian doing their own packing?”

“I can. I’m sure they’ll pack their own suitcases... Oh, my mental image just changed into a competition between them to see which one can fit more things into their luggage.”

“Of course it did.”

“Now they’re debating whether it’ll be possible to close the suitcase if they get on top of it... Oh no, Roberto is standing behind them with an icy smile! Run, my brothers, run!” Mary shrieked, trying to warn the twins in her imagination.

While she did that, Adi finished up the packing and closed the suitcase with a thunk. “There, all done,” he said. “Just what were you thinking, my lady? Packing your suitcase isn’t a part of the succession war.”

“Hey, don’t act like you know it all,” Mary scolded, disgruntled with Adi’s nonchalant attitude. “To me, this trip is like a trial. I have to be vigilant at all times, and take up any challenge that arises!”

The upcoming trip would indeed be a battle between Mary and the twins, and although Adi was her husband, he had no interest in becoming heir and therefore wasn’t involved in the war. Of course he was Mary’s ally, but no more than that. That was why he felt more at ease than the involved parties. Still, Mary didn’t appreciate how he was acting.

“A trial...” she murmured under her breath, then smirked.