The look on the matriarch's face told Lucy she did not believe her one bit, but Lucy couldn't care less. "If I give you the location of the tree, you would be able to go ahead with your plans," Lucy said. Her words calmed the matriarch a little.
"Your intention is a flashy show for the Harnian gate; I do not object to this reasoning. What time would you think would make the most entertaining show?" Matriarch Lilac asked. She did not fault Lucy's reasoning.
If Lucy was fighting anyone, it must be those that killed her mother; the Harnian gate. Those were their enemies too. It was only right that they get a show worthy of the Thraine name.
"The opening of the alignment battleground. This lady has never sponsored a show before. This dedicated work of art, I require a worthy audience to sing its praise," Lucy said.
Lucy had continued to stay in the Lucen nunnery after talking to the matriarch. Her maids were settled in nicely and the guards, set up outside the nunnery. The white cold had finally arrived This-side and the mountain range was colder than usual. The nuns kept large fires lit and the nunnery warm. This made one forget they were high up on the highest peak of the Lucen mountains. Since Lucy and Matriarch Lilac talked, they two no longer sought each other's company. Lucy spent her days reading reports from her shadow guards on orders outside and understanding the movements of those she found important.
A knock on the door caused Lucy to look up. Lady Steinhouse entered and curtsied. She was garbed in black fur, allowing her raven hair to make her out as a dark angel.
"Come, sit," Lucy invited her in. Lucy had all but ignored the existence of the lady when she had appeared in her moving coach. Lucy may be a lady bred within the expectations of society on the outside, but she could not communicate with women. She preferred to talk about things that mattered. Lady Steinhouse, who was not used to this, was very nervous the entire journey.
"You wanted to meet me. Lord Morge and Lord of Merve made had it known," Lucy said.
"I... I wanted to know..." Lady Steinhouse started to say.
"Where your husband is? Working, I hope," Lucy answered. This made Lady Steinhouse more uncomfortable; that was no answer at all.
"I think I have a right to know," Lady Steinhouse took in a breath and said. She may be wary of this lady before her, but this was only because she was somewhat scared of Walter. For one to be her husband's boss, there was some level of fear she need to accord this lady.
"I sent him to do something impossible," Lucy answered.
"Impossible?" Lady Steinhouse frowned.
"All others that have attempted it have died," Lucy said and Lady Steinhouse stood abruptly.
"What?" anger and shock edged her face. Lucy remained cold, staring at her angry form. It did not take long for her aura to deflate under those cold eyes.
"Sit," Lucy said and she did so.
"I never said he was dead," Lucy said.
"And if he dies?"
"He dies," Lucy answered. Lady Steinhouse felt the room spin for a second. It felt as though the air in her lungs had tripled in weight, making breathing hard.
"What has he ever done to you? Why? What did he do to you to deserve this?" she asked.
"He was too good," Lucy answered
"What?"
"He was too good at doing what I asked, so I asked him to do the impossible. He is the only one qualified to do it, anyway," Lucy said.
"How can you not care for his life?" Lady Steinhouse said in words that came out as a whisper. Hot liquid betrayed her eyes and escaped down her cheeks.
"I have no such luxury. This task, it must be done. I placed all my bets on his success and played my cards toward that end. I have no plan B. If I placed all my bets on him, it is not possible that he will die," Lucy said and Lady Steinhouse paused.
"Or do you think it possible that he could fail? Even without knowing the task, he is handling?" Lucy asked. At that moment, Lady Steinhouse seemed to have regained her calm. She was Walter's wife. More than any, she had somewhat of blind faith in this regard. Even though she worried for his life, she saw Walter as an invincible being.
"There is no way my husband would fail at anything," she declared.
"Then, do you know why I brought you with me?" Lucy asked.
"No,"
"How do you feel about your clan?" Lucy asked.
"I couldn't care less what they do,"
"What about what someone does to them?"
"Does Your Ladyship have intention towards them?" Lady Steinhouse asked.
"Why? Do you protest this?" Lucy raised a brow.
"The only one I worry about is Protector Klienn and he is very loyal to the clan," Lady Steinhouse said.
"Your clan took you without Walter's permission. He is your husband and he had asked you to stay home. Do you not feel anger towards them?" Lucy asked.
"They still have the pride of an ancient clan. If only I could rub their faces in mud," Lady Steinhouse said.
"You are a very prideful woman. You take great pride in being Walter's wife," Lucy said and Lady Steinhouse blushed a deep red.
"As he is not around, your well-being and that of his family, I take great interest in. After all, he is doing me a great service at the moment," Lucy said.
"Thank you," Lady Steinhouse was grateful. She knew that only as Walter's wife was she safe from her clan.
"This lady is protecting you on your husband's behalf. This lady will put on a show very soon, I brought you with me to rub mud on people's faces," Lucy said and Lady Steinhouse paused, confused. A show? What kind of show?
"What? You don't feel up to it?" Lucy asked her.
"Rub mud? It would be even better if I bathed them in it," Lady Steinhouse said. Lucy liked this very much. If she did not feel like slapping the face of those who slapped hers, she would not be a wife worthy of Walter.