— Solly, our last volu is coming out next month. Have you prepared the report yet?
— Um, yes… but I haven't figured out what kind of appeal I'll leave for readers yet.
«Then hurry up and do it faster. I will send this book to print tomorrow.»
— Good…
A tired middle-aged woman, Solly Becker, has only recently put an end to her most ambitious work. Right now, she felt squeezed out like a lemon, while there were still a lot of other things to do. Would she just like to fall asleep and be sowhere else…
Solly sighed.
Sitting at her desk, she tried to leave an appeal to readers who have read her novel for the past seven years. But nothing ca to mind.
After all, what else could she say…?
After such hard and painstaking work for several years, the woman only wanted to go on vacation. After that, she may never return to this case again.
Despite the fact that it was this series of books that made her popular, Solly herself dread of getting rid of her as soon as possible. After all, it was while working on it that she began to have strange dreams that did not give her rest day or night.
It seed to the woman that she was slowly going crazy.
Finally, after much thought, she was able to open the pen and start writing sothing.
A single phrase appeared on the paper.
«I hope you were interested in reading «Bloody Callia.»
***
Razor Blanche woke up in the morning from a dream that seed strange to him. In it he saw strange things made of iron and with a flashing screen. The surroundings also seed unusual, but familiar at the sa ti.
And what was that…?
It feels like he dread of another world that the guy had once been in before. Maybe he's completely losing his mind?
Razor sighed as he got out of bed and changed his clothes. He's been having a lot of problems lately, so he decided not to dwell on his next strange dreams.
After Leriana's departure, his life at the Marquis' estate began to resemble the sa gray everyday life. An early rise was followed by breakfast and a full working day. After that, very tired, the guy ca back and slept until morning. The next day, everything was repeated again.
But at least no one mocked him. And the Marquess of Windsor has recently relaxed his attention, busy with other things.
It can be said that his life in this house was tolerable.
After eating a ager breakfast, the second prince headed to his usual workplace. Digging through the archives of the library every day, it seed to him that he himself would soon be covered with dust.
The library was located in the main estate. Therefore, after leaving the servants' wing, Razor went there. But passing by the front garden, he suddenly noticed a strange carriage at the gate.
It seed completely ordinary, and at first glance it was impossible to determine whether it belonged to a nobleman or was an ordinary hired transport. Despite the fact that he had to go to work, the guy froze for a while.
Even from here, two male voices could be heard from the salon.
— …Idiot! How could you let them go?!
«Y-Your Grace, your servant begs your pardon!»
— You idiot!
There was a whipping sound of a blow. The beatings did not stop for several minutes.
After the first beat the second, the latter with a tallic taste of blood in his mouth, again tried to justify himself:
«Your Grace, I had no other choice! Understand, if I hadn't let them go, then Cassia…»
— That's enough! — another voice abruptly interrupted, — You're just a loser who couldn't even follow a couple of teenagers!
A short pause, during which the characteristic sounds were heard again.
«I–I swear they'll be back soon!» Your Grace, please give another chance!
— You…!
The voices died down, and Razor could no longer eavesdrop on them. Obviously, realizing that they were shouting too loudly, those in the carriage switched to a normal tone. In order not to arouse suspicion, the second prince decided to go into the house and wait there.
About half an hour later, the carriage of the strange visitor left, and the Marquis of Windsor ca into the living room. The second Prince was almost taken aback out loud when he saw him.
The man was beaten as if he had just fought an entire army alone. There were bruises, abrasions, and other injuries all over his face. Without saying a word, he wearily sat down on the sofa to recover.
Razor couldn't believe that the Marquis had actually been beaten up by soone.
The first knight of the empire, Oberon, was like an unyielding mountain that would not be broken even by a storm. He seed so strong and hardy that the guy hardly imagined that such a thing could happen. Unless…
The man did not allow himself to do this to himself.
It seems that he had chosen the right day in advance so that that person could co here unnoticed. Today, his wife was out of town, and would not have been able to catch this scene. Most likely, by the evening, he will already be able to bring himself to a more or less normal appearance.
While Rodrigue Windsor closed his eyes, trying to calm the dizziness, Razor quietly approached him.
«May I know what happened?»
The knight shuddered and looked at him. Now he didn't even have the strength to be angry that he was wandering around the main estate without warning.
— Go away, — he said wearily, waving his hand, — While I'm in this state, you still have a chance to leave and not get punished.
But Razor didn't give up.
— I won't tell anyone what happened.
He chuckled.
— And why are you telling this? Even if you didn't, I would still keep you quiet.
The more the Marquis returned to his usual state, the more dangerous it beca to argue with him. And yet, the guy decided to take a chance.
— Tell … Maybe soone is threatening you?
«Threatening?» — the Marquis was indignant, — Yes, not in my life.
— But the carriage just…
— We are just business partners!
Razor remarked awkwardly:
— But I saw everything. Know that partners are usually not beaten so much.
Rodrigue let out an indignant sigh when this stubborn boy was still bothering him.
— I thought I told you to get out! Why are you still here?!
— What do you think? I can't just walk away after what I've seen. If you are threatened, then I am also in danger. What if one day, this person just decides to attack this place?
The Marquis paused. He didn't want to share with anyone the details of his relationship with this man. Even his wife didn't know about it. And here… The boy he kidnapped as his hostage was directly interrogating him. If it wasn't for the fact that he was the second prince and still needed him, the knight wouldn't have tolerated such insolence.
— Why are you asking about this? Do you want to do sothing? He squinted suspiciously.
Razor sighed.
— Now I am completely at your rcy. Even if you tell sothing, I still won't be able to use it. I just want to know what happened.
The man turned a hard look at him, and after that he didn't say anything.
Then, Razor decided to assu:
— Can it be… That this is one of the aristocrats of Azeroth?
If you think about it that way, it was the only logical option. Since there was no one in Oberon more influential than the Marquis, except the king himself. And he was too weak to threaten him.
At these words, the knight grinned, and Razor realized that his guess was correct.
«Looks like I was right about you. You're much smarter than your brother and that girl.»
The second Prince hesitated, pondering this. Who among the aristocrats of his country could exert such strong pressure on the Marquess of Windsor…? Knowing a man, he would not have obeyed the inhabitants of the empire he hated so easily. It must have been a very influential figure indeed.
— This is… — the guy began cautiously, — Could it be my father?
He even laughed.
— You an your pathetic king? — the knight said with a laugh, — This rat is no better than ours. The sa coward who always hides behind the backs of others. Would I be afraid of him?
Razor was perplexed.
If not the ruler of Azeroth, then who…? How scary should a man be for whom the Marquess of Windsor trampled on his honor and dignity by allowing himself to be beaten? He didn't even think of any adequate suggestion.
— Don't try to guess, — the man smiled, — It's better for you to sleep peacefully, not knowing what kind of monster is right next to you.
«But…» the prince hesitated, «Why is he threatening you?» What have you done?
The Marquis said nothing.
«I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to know what to prepare for.»
— And what will you do if you find out? — the latter asked with interest.
«I… maybe I can help you.»
Rodrigue Windsor chuckled.
— Boy, if this is how you're trying to ingratiate yourself with , then you still won't succeed…
Razor dared to cut him off in mid-sentence.
— Let clarify, does this person know that we are being held hostage by you?
The Marquis was clearly confused by such a sudden question, and did not answer imdiately. But this guy was enough to establish himself in his words.
So influential aristocrat of Azeroth knew about the whole situation, but did absolutely nothing. In other words, he just turned a blind eye to the fact that the daughter of the archduke and the youngest son of the king are being forcibly detained in a foreign country right now. It only ant that…
That he had bad intentions not only towards the Marquess of Windsor, but also the power of his own empire.
Razor realized that this was just the beginning of the tangled tangle of events that they unwittingly had to get involved in. And the further, the more dangerous the consequences beca.
At least one thing remained obvious: in the kingdom of Azeroth there was a figure more influential than the king himself. And, worst of all, nothing was known about his true plans.
The second Prince found out about this completely by accident, but quickly ca to the conclusion that he could not stay away in such a situation. Until he finds out who really controls everything from the shadows, we can say that he and the Marquis have a common enemy.
«Sir, you know yourself that you can't handle this alone,» Razor sumd up, «it would be prudent for you to cooperate with .»
— «Cooperate»? — He grinned, — And this is what a brat like you is telling ? Who are you trying to fool…
«I, the second Prince of the Azeroth Empire, Razor de Blanche, keep my word! — the guy swore, — If you don't believe , then I will prove the sincerity of my intentions in practice!
— What? — the knight was surprised.
— If this person threatens the security of your country and mine, it will be beneficial for both of us to get rid of him. If you agree to cooperate with my father in the future, I will help you make a coup.
— From where…! — the man was amazed how he found out such details, but the prince decided to give him an explanation about what was happening later. In the end, before she left, Leriana told him everything.
— So what? Do you agree to this proposal?
The Marquess of Windsor frowned.
«You're saying you're going to help ?»
— I swear on my honor.
There was a brief pause, during which the knight seriously considered his words.
Finally, to finally push the man to this decision, Razor said:
— Since I'm going to take part in the battle, don't you think I should change my activities.
The Marquis stared at him in bewildernt.
— About what…?
— Instead of simply wasting ti in the archives, I would like to take up arms.
The guy said it firmly, being completely confident in his words. He had been protected by the people around him for too long. It's ti to take responsibility for life in your own hands.
Razor Blanche is tired of being weak.
— Sir, please accept as your disciple!
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