One person sat down with class and the other simply plopped himself down. Renner poured a cup of red tea and pushed it towards Marquis Raeven.
“It’s an honour to have the princess pour it personally for me.”
“I’m sorry that it’s only lukewarm.”
“Hmmm, is there none for me?”
Zanack looked towards both of them with disappointed face.
“My, my... I thought older brother disliked teas.”
“Yea, I don’t like weird water dyed with tea leaves, but having nothing to drink feels lacking.”
“Should I tell the maids to bring something over? Would you prefer liqueur?”
“Doesn’t matter if it’s red tea. No need to tip off the maids.”
“If we act today, maids won’t have the chance to send information back to their family.”
“Should we not be careful? Women’s tongues are very loose. Especially the maids that work in the palace. They’re faster than they look.”
With a smile, Renner poured a cup of red tea and placed it in front of Zanack.
“Hmmm… You’ve already tested the maids’ information network, haven’t you.”
“What might you be talking about?”
“Well, it doesn’t matter.”
Zanack replied curtly and sipped the red tea before sticking out his tongue at the bitter taste.
“But, Princess Renner, what is the matter this early on? Of course, I am always prepared to answer your call.”
“Thank you, Marquis Raeven. We don’t have much time so I will be frank. I wish to borrow your wisdom.”
With a light cough, she spoke earnestly. Marquis Raeven’s eyes widened and had light of surprise in them. However, those eyes returned to normal once he calmed down again.
“My wisdom. If it’s a problem that you cannot solve… I’m not sure if I can be of any help.”
“I don’t believe so, Marquis Raeven. After all, concerning matters within the palace, there is no one more talented than you.”
Marquis Raeven and the Prince shared a glance.
Renner almost never participated in the power struggles. However, what did she mean by “matters within the palace”? Marquis Raeven chuckled. When you are lacking in information, it is better to gather more rather than guess and come to a wrong conclusion.
“So how may I help you?”
“I wish for you, the hidden leader of the Royalty Faction, no, the one who controls the Royalty Faction from the shadows, to lend me your household troops.”
"...What?”
Marquis Raeven made an expression as if there had been a magical explosion right in front of him. Anybody would have been surprised if they were here. After all, Marquis Raeven was not a man who easily changed his expression. However, he could only react like this. If it was any other noble, he would have laughed it over. But this was a long concealed truth.
Marquis Raeven had for a long time been considered a rat who would go between the two factions as it suited him, but in reality he commanded the Royalty Faction and prevented civil war from breaking out. If the man called Marquis Raeven had not existed, the Kingdom would probably have already collapsed. On the side, Zanack held his breath.
He already knew Renner was incredibly smart, a monster with the shape of human. But without anyone to act as her hands and feet, she was in a way imprisoned in the palace. How did she come to that conclusion? In the entire Kingdom, Zanack had been the only one to deduce that. Both people immediately thought that she might be bluffing, but abandoned the thought immediately. From Renner’s tone, nobody could imagine that she is lying. Both were constantly dealing with people who were full of lies, and they were still unable to determine if she was lying or not. Renner ignored the flabbergasted Marquis and continued her story leisurely.
"...Perhaps I need to confirm it with the other great nobles in the Royalty Faction, but Marquis Volumlashu is leaking information to the Empire. If so…”
“Wha, what?”
“Wait a second!”
Even louder than Zanack’s cracked voice, Marquis Raeven raised his voice.
“Marquis Volumlashu…”
“You know, don’t you? That’s why you were making sure that the Marquise didn’t get access to too much information.”
Both men looked at Renner with their mouth gaping open.
Renner had murmured this with the same unchanging expression, daring them to prove her wrong.
“You, what…”
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