A Plot Most Devious

After tea with the Duchess was concluded, Mattheus decided to visit Edgar.

Duchess Sophily had kindly directed him to the training grounds when he asked after the whereabouts of his older brother, remarking that the knight-captain always trained at this time.

While walking toward the training ground in question with a guide, Brunilda trotted along by his side. She was always present whenever he visited the palace or generally went outside the Crown residence, just in case.

So it had just been the cat being grumpy about being used as such a humiliating distraction.

Brunilda would have never left him vulnerable, considering they were still unsure who had killed the original Mattheus Crown, but that she was walking with her own power—rather than hitching a ride with him—was a show of her irritation from acting like the adorable cat she appeared as for the Duchess.

After all, Brunilda much preferred being a pretty murder kitty instead.

He should probably thank her for her rather trying work when he could. The human equivalent of what she did was basically act cringy cute when Brunilda tended to be on the dignified side. He definitely couldn't have done that himself.

As they walked, Mattheus eventually heard a murmur and the sounds of impact. He stopped when he saw the training ground itself.

It was an open area surrounded by covered walkways in three directions, with the training ground fenced around—probably for safety. Dispersed around the area where the knights were training were groups of people, most of which were focused on what was happening in the training area. As if they were enjoying a spectacle.

"Lord Crown?" the guide, one of the guards of the palace, seemed to inquire.

Mattheus waved him off. "Thank you for showing me here. You can go back to your post," he said in dismissal.

While the guard saluted the baron, the young nobleman was busy observing the small crowd around the area, already distracted by the presence of more than just the knights he expected.

There were the soldiers and maybe a handful of male servants, of course, but what was unexpected were the presence of maids and ladies in waiting. The women of "polite" society usually thought physical acts such as sparring and violence uncouth, either being the delicate sort or ones who simply were disgusted by such acts. The maids he could excuse because some of them were commoners even if they would be from more well-to-do families. But some of these nobles' daughters?

"Your brother is popular as always," Brunilda drawled as she also noted the surprising number of women around.

On further thought, Mattheus shouldn't have been surprised at the number of the fairer sex watching knights train. Especially when one of those knights was Edgar Crown. It would be weirder if there were no maids or ladies in waiting taking a peek at the handsome and dashing viscount that was still single and not yet promised to anyone.

Pale-gray eyes looked around once more before Mattheus headed toward an open area mostly avoided because there was a pillar in the way. While the cat hopped right onto the fence surrounding the actual training area itself, the man was half-hidden by the pillar as he leaned against it.

The clear view into the open area revealed various muscular knights on one side that were observing a bout between two of their numbers. Edgar was one of the ones fighting.

As the pair of friends watched what looked like knockout-style sparring matches, Mattheus finally took the time of anonymity to speak to Brunilda.

"What do you think we should do?" he asked.

Brunilda was silent for a moment before she sighed. The cat made no visible movement, seemingly still focused on what was happening within the bare grounds of the training area.

"I suppose you have decided to continue on the path set. Let me think for a moment."

Patiently waiting for Brunilda's thoughts, he stared as his older brother made his opponent lose his sword before grinning and patting the other knight in a show of good sportsmanship (or would it be more appropriate to call it chivalrous behavior?) and wondered why life as Mattheus Crown was so complicated. There was still the mysterious society whose symbol was an Egg of Columbus tangram on a round pin that they barely had any leads on. Yet, here he was, worrying about his new family and having to get involved in the succession of New Albion personally.

He had never felt more like he was balancing precariously on shaky grounds, with a very long fall awaiting all around him if he misstepped, than he did now.

Brunilda thankfully distracted him before he could work himself up from how much danger he was (probably) in.

"Sophily Morgaine should be taught how to use magic," Brunilda started speaking her conclusions. "Maybe fake an affair between your brother and her. It's fairly obvious the Crowns are with the Duchess after you became Court Healer with her help, so it wouldn't be much worse."

Mattheus was confused over why Edgar was brought up before Brunilda elaborated.

"Most people know Edgar Crown as a knight and a failure of an occultist but never realize that your brother is only a failure by the standards of a Crown. He is decent enough to teach her surreptitiously and could always be helped by Hugo Wenht or the Earl if there is an issue."

The baron's eyes were slightly wide as he stared at his brother, who was still sparring with his fellow knights. The idea was ridiculous to the point of being brilliant.

Edgar was on his third opponent since they arrived. He was dressed down in a way Mattheus had never seen him do so even at home. He was not dressed like the viscount he was but similar to his fellow knights…

Only he stood out anyway because of his appearance.

Mattheus could completely see everyone believing a scandal involving this twenty-four-year-old man with such good looks and dashing demeanor.

"What do you think?"

Brunilda seemed to misunderstand his question since she replied, "He is very good. Not only does he have the strength and technique with the blade, but he is also conserving his strength. There are no wasted movements. It is why he has only broken into a light sweat despite who-knows-how-many opponents he's already sparred with." Her ears flicked. "His feints are also believable."

He was actually asking about going through with the idea but it was probably good to know—just in case. "Can you beat him?"

Mattheus felt the metaphorical sneer at his question.

"Do you have to ask?"

The arrogance was technically warranted because Brunilda was untouchable when she was human.

Yet.

"As a cat?"

"That's as a cat," she huffed.

She kneaded the fence with her claws and Mattheus was suddenly reminded of how Brunilda mauled Edgar's arms to the point they would have scarred if he hadn't interfered and healed his brother.

"Ah, I guess so," Mattheus agreed after a moment of sympathic pain.

Edgar seemed to finally notice Mattheus's presence when he turned at just the right angle, after winning his latest match, to spot the half-hidden baron.

"Mattheus, what are you doing here?" he voiced in open confusion before quickly adding, "Though I am happy to see you, Brother."

"Happy to see you too, Edgar." Mattheus grinned wryly. Then, he said in an audible volume, "I'm just making sure you're doing your job as a captain rather than slacking off and flirting with Her Grace!"

Edgar sputtered.

"At least Mother would be happy," Mattheus loudly remarked. His words immediately set off a different kind of murmur on the grounds.

Mattheus wished the maids' gossip network good luck and preemptive praise for doing most of the heavy lifting in this plan.

It was a move that could not be taken back once it was done. The rumor was inevitable now.

His older brother closed the distance between them. "What are you doing, Mattheus!" Edgar demanded an explanation in a hushed whisper, eyes wide.

"We have sided with the Duchess, Brother," Mattheus reminded. "Do you not think it is long past the time for her to learn how to use the magic she was born with?"

"What does that have to do with me having an affair with Her Grace?" Edgar muttered in irritation.

"If you pretend to have an affair with her, it would give you leave to teach her without others realizing she is learning. They would think those times you are teaching her to be… well, you know."

Edgar grimaced and looked a bit embarrassed, jogged out of the flash of doubt at the mention of teaching magic, when Mattheus implied everyone would think Edgar and the Duchess would be caught in flagrante delicto if anyone would interrupt them.

Mattheus used a hand to pat Edgar's shoulder. "Brother, it is a good way to get Mother off your back about marriage too. Two birds with one stone, yes?"

What Mattheus kept to himself was that he thought it might help give Edgar more confidence in his abilities when it came to the occult.

If he derived a bit of entertainment from this heavy-handed manipulation that didn't give Edgar a choice?

Well, he was just channeling the willfulness of the youngest.

…