Sneaky Plan

"This is accurate news!" Baron Jason snorted smugly, took a sip of brandy, giggling in the bright sun. He was currently at the residence of Count Shelpher, along with his cousin, Count Finn, the son of Count Shelpher. His hair glistened in the sunlight, his pale skin blushed slightly from it, a stark contrast to his narcissistic pink suit.

Count Finn took a sip of his brandy, smiling over his glass, watching his cousin with his jet-black eyes. "I thought you were just saying nonsense to look cool. But this time it seems you were right. Luckily I chose not to deliver yesterday's harvest."

"Why?"

"So that I have big news to spread." Count Finn's overly stout hands were raised in the air. His black hair waved in the wind, like a very fragile braid.

"You should thank me." Baron Jason raised his eyebrows, then snorted again. "If I didn't carry out this bold idea then there would be no news for you."

"But you still have to thank her. If she didn't reject you then you wouldn't be this brave." It's not a compliment, but sarcasm. Sometimes nobles had such a relationship with other people. Some do have genuine close relationships, some are sarcastic, though not hostile.

"Yeah," answered Baron Jason halfheartedly. "If she wasn't so cheap then I wouldn't have done this."

"But hey, she dumped you after you two slept together. She's not a cheap Cousin, but clever. You were fooled by her."

"That's why I have to take revenge. She deserved to die."

"But are you sure she's being a prisoner in Wereal? Was she placed in prison? Have you visited her?"

Baron Jason shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know where she was placed, maybe in the lowest and most heavily guarded prison. I'll bet she's not fed every day." He laughed again. "Too bad her beauty was wasted. If she was willing to marry me then she wouldn't suffer like this."

"You seem to still like her, Jass!"

Baron Jason looked away, then took another sip of his brandy. "Only a blind man would not like her. She knows that, but she's just taking advantage of us. Now she will get revenge for her sins. She will soon be put to death."

"But are you sure she did sleep with Duke Kleo? I mean maybe she just touched him, and that pissed him off."

"Who knows." Baron Jason's eyes looked into the distance as if looking for something there. "But Duke Kleo spoke to me as if they had slept together."

They were too busy gossiping without realizing that someone was eavesdropping on their conversation from behind the wall, silent and sipping the most expensive cup of tea that Count Sharpher's family-owned.

The man approached them, standing with his skin like honey. His eyes are the same color, with pale skin that looks classic and perfect. It was Marquess Helmut, who stood in his white suit as if to highlight how gentle and kind his personality was.

"Sorry if I interrupt you, gentlemen." He said as he raised the cup in his hand, smiling as he watched the two idiots in front of him gasp in shock. "It seems that you two are talking about very interesting things. May I join?"

Baron Jason and Count Finn looked at each other, unsure if they wanted to have additional guests.

"It seems we are on the same side. Don't you know how much I criticize Cousin Kleo's regime?" He coaxed again, with his poisonous and sly tongue.

Finally, Baron Jason nodded, then motioned for himself to take a seat. There was only a cup of tea on the table as if to indicate who was the leader among them.

"So is what I heard true, My Lord?" Marquess Helmut gave off the friendliest smile he had. His face is indeed supportive of it, which has the impression of a very obedient mama's child.

Baron Jason nodded. "That's right, my lord." He didn't want to continue, because he wasn't sure to what extent Marquess Helmut had overheard their conversation.

"Wow, I can't believe Kleo slept with a girl. And he even brought her to Wereal."

"To be executed." Baron Jason added.

"True," nodded Marquess Helmut amiably, after a long pause. "Did you hear firsthand that the girl was going to be executed?"

"Of course." As usual, Baron Jason did like to exaggerate the story. He had only heard that Lyra was going to be punished, with a punishment he never even knew about. "I heard it firsthand. Duke Kleo was furious at that time, My Lord."

"But why haven't we heard the news of the execution yet?"

"That's what I'm wondering, My Lord." Baron Jason lowered his head in thought. "Even though it's been a week, approx. However, there is no news of the execution yet. So I checked into Wereal yesterday."

"You did?" Marquess Helmut frowned. "How brave you are! How do you do that?" Yeah, he's good at fawning over people to get the information he wants.

Someone who thirsted for praise like Baron Jason of course easily fell into the trap. "I went on behalf of my cousin to deliver the harvest, My Lord. I did know her, so I tried to find out. I begged Duke Kleo to forgive her, but he seemed to be getting angrier. Isn't that obvious? Perhaps the execution will take place soon."

"Oh, is the girl you mean Lyra?"

"Wow, how do you know, My Lord? Are the rumors of your intelligence true?"

Marquess Helmut waved his hand in the air humbly. "I saw you taking her to Lady Rassy's ball. To be honest, almost everyone in Eastlandor knows Lyra, she is a popular and beautiful girl."

That fact made Baron Jason even angrier. If only he could marry Lyra, besides having a beautiful wife then he would surely be able to make the other nobles jealous of him.

Count Finn, who had been listening to it all this time, suddenly asked Marquess Helmut. "My Lord, I heard that Duke Kleo seems happier lately. Could this all have something to do with it?"

Baron Jason snapped his fingers enthusiastically. "Right, that's possible right, My Lord? Could it be because Duke Kleo was about to execute someone so he was happy with it? It's as if he's managed to get rid of a flea."

"Wow." Marquess Helmut clapped his hands gracefully. "You are brilliant, gentlemen. I wonder why Kleo looks so happy lately, so that's the reason." His eyes narrowed as he smiled, not long after that, his body rose. "Looks like my visit is over. I have to go to take care of some things. I hope we can meet and talk in the future."

"Sure, My Lord," said Baron Jason and Count Finn in unison, ushering Marquess Helmut to his horse, then waving his hand as the galloping of the horses drifted away.

Marquess Helmut's friendly, sparkling face suddenly vanished, replaced by an expression of disgust and twitching under his eyes. He shouted for his assistant, then said fiercely, "Check my schedule! I'll be visiting Wereal in a bit!" His assistant nodded and pulled the reins of the horse.

Spurring his horse even faster, Marquess Helmut clenched his fists too tightly. His eyes lit up when he saw the street as if he wanted to destroy everything around him. "He's not going to execute her," he growled. "He wouldn't be this happy if he wanted to execute her. I have to find out." And he began his cunning plan.

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