Bab 231: [Chapter 231] Missing You
Summer had arrived.
Although it was only a slightly uncomfortable temperature in this cool land, the natives were struggling. Neris started wearing muslin clothes instead of silk and prepared for summer in the north.
The Grand Duchess's office, where the sweet scent of summer flowers wafted in on the wind through the open window.
"Haha!"
Talprin burst into laughter as he read the installment that would be published in this newspaper. Aidan, seeing him so cheerful for the first time, looked bewildered.
"Is it that funny?"
"To those who understand the meaning."
Neris said meaningfully. Talprin hugged the manuscript tightly.
"Ah, it's truly a masterpiece, Your Highness. May I keep this?"
"Of course. You already sent the same thing to the newspaper."
"As expected, Your Highness! Thank you!"
Who would have imagined, at first, that the day would come when the picky Talprin would say things like "As expected, Your Highness."
Aidan was curious about the content too, so he stared intently at Talprin. Talprin hissed like an angry cat.
"Oh, come on, you ignorant swordsman who can't even understand it, don't even think about touching it!"
The two were clearly close, but Talprin constantly belittled Aidan. Neris was already used to this atmosphere, so she kindly explained.
It's really nothing special. It's still a long way to meet the evil dragon. This installment harshly criticizes Natrik, which is why Sir Talprin is so happy.
Natrik, meaning "snake," was a character based on the brave Bisto. According to news from the newspaper company, which consistently breaks sales records in the Imperial City, readers seem to have a lot of resentment towards him.
Because he has the distinct characteristic of the Imperial Family, the blue gem, he can't be cursed, but there are quite a few letters from avid readers who wish that Natrik's duplicitous side would be exposed soon.
"Madam, this is a letter from Miss Mackinnon."
Gilbert, the butler, entered the office with a thick envelope on a silver plate. As usual when something new happened, Talprin was the first to show a bored expression.
It was an impolite attitude to take towards the messages that the Grand Duchess and her close friend exchanged, but it was hard to blame Talprin. Diane's letters were always close to packages. Neris smiled and took the letter and opened it.
"She asks if she can visit Maindelant first after graduation."
It was summer, so soon Diane would be putting a period to her long studies.
"What will you answer?"
"I have to say no. You never know what might happen."
"Well, that's true. After experiencing that last time, she's coming to visit again. She's quite brave."
Neris felt a sense of unease at Talprin's unnecessarily long speech. Since when was he so concerned about Diane's safety?
She smiled at him.
"Everyone knows that the Mackinnon family and we are close. Since they provoked the Imperial Family and the Duke of Elandria, we need to always consider the possibility of them targeting the Mackinnon family."
"Yes, that's why I already have my men stationed at the Mackinnon family. You instructed me to do so before, didn't you?"
"Yes. But when Diane travels, it could be dangerous, so please pay extra attention to her."
In a game of wits, being a step behind means losing forever. Talprin bowed politely.
"I will obey your command, Your Highness. I will thoroughly check the situation there, making it my top priority."
"Thank you."
It was good, but Talprin's current words didn't consider the possibility of Clewdin giving him other important instructions. Neris pointed that out.
"But what if my husband needs you?"
"Oh, the Grand Duke doesn't need me. Even if he does, he'll tell me to do whatever you've instructed first, so don't worry."
That seemed likely.
Neris chuckled and thought of the academy. There was no one who wanted her classmates to graduate safely more than she did.
'Diane. I miss you.'
Now, Neris understood her own feelings.
'If you hadn't cared for me from the beginning, I might not have had the courage to trust people.'
So, in all the turmoil, just stay safe.
Talprin looked at Neris with admiration as she smiled.
He and Aidan didn't know exactly why their mistress was creating a serialized novel. They were only told that she was creating a story based on the three heroes, with a lot of adaptation, and that the character based on Bisto was the villain.
But even that was enough to bring significant benefits in Talprin's view.
Even before the last one, a justification is needed. If there is peace somewhere, there will surely be those who are forced to shut their mouths. They need a justification to rise up.
Talprin had done many things as the head of the night revels, and one of the most important tasks was manipulating public opinion.
If people now realize that this story, which begins with "Once upon a time, in a fictional land, there lived a fictional character...", is a harsher truth than fiction.
And if they are given the right wind to feel that strangeness.
Maindelant will break through the defenses of the most terrifying force in this world, and perhaps even gain support. That is the belief in righteousness.
'My job is to control that precise wind.'
He is confident in infiltrating and subtly inciting the wind. Talprin smiled.
"Since Your Highness arrived, my work has actually decreased. The fights between the administrators and the lords under them have disappeared, and the remnants of those who secretly sided with the Earl of Tipean have now been completely removed. And you know, overall, the satisfaction of the nobles with the center has increased?"
"Really? Is there a reason for that?"
Neris tilted her head, as if she had never heard of it. The people of Maindelant always seemed to be absolutely loyal to Clewdin and admire him. Was there any reason for their feelings to change lately?
Talprin started to chuckle.
"The Grand Duke is a fair ruler, but he came to power in difficult times, so he was a little harsh in the eyes of others. Moreover, he's a bit... unique, wouldn't you say?"
Even being able to describe the perfect Clewdin Maindelant as "unique" was one of Talprin's great strengths.
"So?"
So, while many people looked up to the Grand Duke but were afraid of him and felt distant, your arrival brought balance.
"Is that so? I don't think I'm very sociable or friendly."
"Ah, the Grand Duke is now taking care of that part. Your Highness is as fair as the Grand Duke, but not as harsh. The Grand Duke, standing before Your Highness, now seems a bit more approachable."
And, Talprin added.
"Isn't Lady Trude there? Lady Trude is sociable and friendly, so she is the perfect person to convey the intentions of the two of you more gently. But she's not someone who uses that position to wield power, is she?"
Just because Neris married Clewdin, it didn't mean her mother's status itself was elevated. However, she was the only Grand Duchess's mother, and she had saved the Grand Duke's life before, so she could not be treated with more respect.
Talprin's use of "Lady Trude" reflected the atmosphere of Maindelant.
Neris, convinced by the explanation, laughed for a moment and then looked at Aidan with sharp eyes.
"Sir Aidan, I have something for you to take care of too."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Joan has finished the arrangements. By the time this novel is published today, it will be fully uploaded. It's a dangerous path, so provide people to protect Joan. And while you're at it, I'd like you to deliver a letter to the Grand Duke of the Imperial City."
It was time for Nellusion to know who was behind the newspaper owner.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Unlike Talprin, Aidan couldn't analyze things like the situation or the causes of change, but he knew one thing. The people of this land were definitely more spirited than before.
And that perhaps the long history of oppression and lies was coming to an end.
Aidan bowed, his heart filled with respect.
****
The summer sun poured into the grand hall of Katen, an ancient building.
"Congratulations on your graduation."
As soon as Mrs. Hockman spoke, the hall was filled with excited chatter. This year's graduates, their graduation gowns fluttering, began to chat excitedly with their friends. Now that they had graduated, they would marry their betrothed, chosen by their families, and go down to some manor, or they would go abroad for a while as a lady-in-waiting for some very high-ranking lady. They shared their future plans, half boasting, half anticipating.
It was hard to believe that the graduates, who were gracefully smiling, clutching the bouquets their families had brought, were the same people as when they were freshmen. But two classmates, whose appearance was most different from their freshman days, were not present.
"Who would have thought Neris would become the Grand Duchess?"
"She was different from the start."
Someone who changed for the better in every way imaginable.
"I knew it, all that flirting... she must have learned it from her mother. To be honest, I always found Megara a bit vulgar. I didn't say anything because you all seemed to like her."
"We all did. In fact, wasn't it all her inferiority complex that made her bully Idalia?"
And someone who changed for the worse in every way imaginable.
Diane didn't say a word to the children who were gossiping and boasting about the Grand Duchess of Maindelant and the Crown Prince's mistress. In her opinion, no one in this hall, really no one, was qualified to speak like that now.
It was true, was there anyone here who didn't dislike her because they didn't want to admit Neris's "difference"? Was there anyone here who didn't contribute to bullying Idalia simply because they admired Megara?
It was ridiculous how Neris and Megara, whose inner selves hadn't changed a bit, were acting as if they had known all along that this future would come, boasting confidently. Diane turned away without hesitation and left the hall.
Or, she tried to. If she hadn't run into Alecto Islani at the door.
"Hey, Diane Mackinnon."
Alecto spoke with a slouch. Diane crossed her arms and gave her a slouchy retort.
"Why?"
"Congratulations on graduating?"
"Were we ever close enough to congratulate each other on graduation?"
"Don't be so picky and just take it. We're going to be seeing each other in social circles for the rest of our lives anyway. Are our families not going to work together?"
Alecto's point was valid. If it hadn't been said by the very person who had insulted her just a few years ago, as if they would never see each other again, Diane would have readily agreed. And if the Mackinnon Trading Company hadn't taken another leap forward after the downfall of the Wells family, now having an influence on par with the great noble families in terms of economic power.
Also, if there hadn't already been several children who had approached her as if they had always liked Diane and Neris, ever since Neris became the Grand Duchess.
Diane snorted derisively. Then she asked.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous. I have no regrets about you. No, to be honest, none of the kids have any regrets about you. The one who had regrets about you was someone else, and that person isn't here, right?"
As if... Diane was dumbfounded, but she decided to hear what the other person was saying. Seeing Diane narrow her eyes, Alecto smiled darkly.
You're going down to your territory, right? I'm going straight to the Imperial City. My father is ambitiously preparing for my debut in the Imperial City's social circles. They say that there's only your classmates in the social circles. There's no need to fight, so let's get along, okay? Please take care of me, Lady Mackinnon, Countess?
Alecto, who had been rambling on in her own way until the end, left with a smirk.
Diane couldn't stand it anymore, she wanted to leave the academy as soon as possible. The two years here without Neris felt like two hundred years.
I miss you, Liz.
You know? I've only ever received love my whole life.
Of course, I love my family, but loving a friend is different. The experience of a relationship that could be severed at any moment, how it's both poignant and precious, and how it ultimately becomes part of my life.
So, I hope this anxiety is just my delusion.
The sun shone on Diane's face as she finally left the grand hall and her school days behind.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone