The next morning, as planned, all three set out for the outskirts of the Oberon Empire in search of Elder Ileas. It was going to be a long journey from the Archdiocese — so it was decided to keep the breaks to a minimum.
So as not to attract unnecessary attention — only one carriage was chosen for the journey. And besides too many things would slow down the road. Proceeding from this we took only the most necessary things.
For the first couple of days the carriage traveled practically without any stops. And during that ti Razor managed to notice sothing strange.
Even though they were travelling in the sa cabin, Leriana and Maxie hardly spoke to each other. And the whole atmosphere was rather awkward. And the other prince, sitting across from him, was involuntarily watching this spectacle.
What had happened between the two of them while he was away?
Razor both wanted to ask that, and at the sa ti was embarrassed. The situation would probably only get worse after he asked.
Both turned away from each other and looked out the window. Leriana had even tried to speak to her a couple of tis, but Maxi had only half-joked. The jokes, though, were not the sa as usual.
It was strange.
And since he wouldn't get any answers anyway, he decided to just turn a blind eye. Maybe they would figure it out for themselves…
Their very first stop was in a small port town. There wasn't much left from here before they crossed the border of Azeroth.
Leriana wanted to go out to unwind and get supplies at the sa ti. Maxie and Razor were alone in the carriage, and the latter finally dared to ask a question:
— She blew you off, didn't she?
Maxie flared up.
— What do you an?!
The other prince folded his arms across his chest.
— It would have been obvious even without the gift of clairvoyance.
The Marquis's daughter snorted back.
— It's not like that.
— Oh yes?» Razor raised an eyebrow, «Then Leriane has accepted your proposal and now you're seeing each other?
Maxie shook her shoulder in irritation and gave in. But then she said imdiately:
— One refusal doesn't an anything these days. My father proposed to my mother twelve tis before she accepted.
— Twelve?!
Razor was taken aback by such a figure. It seems that the Marquis of Windsor really did have an iron patience. Or else not everyone had the stamina to get the turn-around-turn-around so many tis in a row…
— Are you saying there's still hope for you? — The prince sumd up.
— Not yet,» Maxie said nonchalantly. «Besides, knights have a rule. You do not lay down your arms until the war is over.
He sighed.
— As you wish.
Razor could only wish Maxi luck at that point. For he highly doubted that Leriana would really change her mind…
Maxie, on the other hand, was going to hold out until the end. After so many years of waiting, she could not let things go so easily. It is quite possible that Leriana was certain of her words only now.
A relationship with Cassius wouldn't do her any good one way or another. Especially now. Maxie just wished: that Leriana would realize that as soon as possible.
Compared to Rachel, with whom they had constant quarrels and misunderstandings, Maxie seed a more reliable person. She remained certain that she would never make Leriana suffer the sa way.
As she pondered this, the girl decided not to interfere for the ti being and let her see for herself. That there was no place for her in Rachel's life anymore.
Maxie and Razor waited in the carriage for nearly two hours for Leriana. But the latter never showed up.
Eventually the second prince began to worry.
— What took so long? — He hesitated, looking out of the window.
Maximiliana was less worried — because she knew Leriana's character well. The girl could easily get stuck at the counter with beautiful trinkets, just to look at them. Or, even more likely, stumbled into a pastry shop…
On that basis, the Marquis's daughter was in no hurry to raise the alarm too soon. It wouldn't be good if they suddenly interfered with her enjoyable pasti.
But when more than two hours had passed, so did she.
Eventually they both decided to get out of the cabin and look for her. Maxie and Razor didn't get very far: before they noticed familiar things on the roadway.
Leriane's purse, which contained all her money and belongings, was lying on the ground. The friends imdiately suspected sothing was wrong.
When they quickly approached the place they also noticed the tracks of the carriage wheels. The picture was quite clear.
While the prince was checking the purse, Maximiliana was out of her mind with rage.
— What kind of ******* dared to do that!
***
Toward one o'clock in the morning, an unknown guest appeared in the crown princess's chambers. The man was dressed in all dark clothes and carefully concealed his identity.
Camilla sat at the dressing table and tried on new rings — while the unknown man knelt before her. Chestily he reported:
— Your Highness, we have done as you commanded.
— Have we? — she said softly, peering at the mother-of-pearl athyst on her finger.
— In our warehouse… We intend to auction her off with the other slaves in two days.
Hearing this, Camilla was satisfied.
— Well done,» she said with a smile, «You have earned your reward.
Saying these words, the princess took the very ring with the athyst from her finger and threw it to the man. He caught it in the air at once.
— T-thank you! Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness…!
While the empire's most notorious slave trader bowed his head before her, the girl grinned.
— You know what must be done,» she announced.
— Yes, but…» the man suddenly hesitated, raising his head, «Your Highness, what if soone recognizes her?
— Hmm?
— After all, she is the first Archduchess… We'll be in trouble if it gets out.
Camilla had to agree with his thoughts.
The face of that bitch was indeed quite famous… And if news that soone like her got into a slave auction would leak out into society, there would inevitably be a scandal. Such a scandal had to be avoided.
But how…?
Fortunately, a bright idea ca to Camilla's mind soon enough.
— Just disfigure her,» she said.
— What?
— With a couple of scars on her face, she's definitely not going to be that pretty, right? So do it.
The man hesitated for a few seconds before he agreed. In another situation, he would never have dared to ruin the face of such a noble lady… But on the other hand, the crown princess is on his side. With her power, his n could not fear any consequences.
After all, the Emperor's word was paramount in this country.
— Yes, Your Highness,» he said obediently.
— Well done,» the girl smiled. «I love a man who's a pleasure to deal with.
— And your promise…» «Is it still in force?
— Of course,» the princess said nonchalantly. «You may rest assured that I always keep my word.
He nodded and felt visibly relieved.
After the man gave her all the important information — disappeared from the chambers as imperceptibly as he appeared here. Camilla was left alone and a smile never left her face.
She never once regretted turning to these people for a favor.
Famous among the underground circles, the slave-trader was a professional. He sold people illegally at auctions among the wealthy aristocrats.
Despite the fact that this kind of activity is officially prohibited in the country — in fact, it was only in writing. In turn, such buildings were skillfully disguised as ordinary buildings, and people bought and sold slaves freely for many decades.
It was not so easy for the governnt to shut down all these shops — after all, it was also extrely difficult to get into them.
In the end, they simply turned a blind eye to this «shady business.
Camilla, in turn, promised to legalize this business in the country after her ascension to the throne. With this, the owners will have far fewer legal problems and will allow them to act openly. The crown princess will act as their direct patron.
Once this law is passed, the black market will «blossom» like never before. It was for this reason that the man agreed to such a dangerous deal — as the kidnapping of the Archduchess.
Two days later, Leriana Ashford finds herself at auction, along with the rest of the inferior slaves. Which, more often than not, were commoners. After that, her life would never be the sa.
Camilla could not wait for the mont — when soone, mistaken for a common slave, would buy her. Such humiliation would be far better than an ordinary death. She would suffer for the rest of her life.
The girl stretched herself relaxed, getting ready to go to bed.
It was the bitch's own fault this had happened to her. If she had sat quietly as she had for all these six months-Camilla wouldn't have had to go to such lengths.
But… She wanted to know the truth. That couldn't be allowed to happen.
The princess humd.
«I had to go through so much to get what I have now…» she pondered angrily, «There's no way I'm going to let you interfere with Her Majesty and my happiness!»
***
When linda heard about the crown princess's plans, she nearly fainted with horror. She couldn't believe that she had actually decided to do such a despicable thing.
Over the past months, trying to get any clue to what happened — the girl had learned to eavesdrop and move unnoticed. But this ti the maid passed by Camilla's chambers entirely by chance.
She was instantly dumbfounded when she heard the words coming from there.
«Mistress… Mistress is in danger!»
As that frightening thought flashed through her mind, linda realized that there was nothing she could do. She is only a maid in the imperial palace. How could she interfere with the crown princess' plan?
Unless…
The only way out is to try to get through to Her Majesty.
But there's no way Rachel would believe her. And even if she did, being infatuated with Camilla, she would never side with her mistress. The only way to prevent what is to co is to expose Camilla's lies.
But the maid had no proof…
And to get them, the girl decided on the risky step: to get the decoction, which the daughter of the viscount personally serves the queen every day, and check its contents… If it turns out sothing questionable — this will be the key to the disclosure of her identity.
Ti was short, and linda went to the imperial physician imdiately the next morning.
The elderly man was alone in the healing room and was surprised when the maid suddenly ca to him.
— What do you want? — he frowned.
linda bowed back.
— 'I have been sent by Her Highness,' the girl inford him, 'She wants you to prepare an elixir for fatigue according to the usual recipe.
— «Elixir of Fatigue…?»
— Yes. The sa one you make every day for Her Majesty.
The imperial healer was confused.
— I think you are mistaken,» he said slowly after thinking, «Her Highness could not have sent for it.
— Why not? — linda wondered.
— I… I've never heard that na before.
The maid was taken aback when she heard it.
— You an you've never made it?
— That's right,» the man agreed, «And why do you ask?
But linda could not answer that question. A chill ran through her whole body.
This story… Turned out to be more complicated than she thought.
What was the crown princess really up to?!
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