A few more days have passed since the secret meeting with Milena.
More or less, I think I succeeded in inflicting some damage on her through
the discussion and the punishment that followed.
It is also great that we were able to see how much of our information has
been leaked.
And for that, it should be best if we utilize this already exposed 'dealings'
with the merchants as bait, in order to hide from their eyes the real secret
meeting with the true anti-Marquis commanders later on, just in case we run
out of options.
Well, even though there are various things that needed to be fixed, it's not
like their obstruction will stop.
Today another sabotage occurred, and as expected, it was by the Zaintert
sisters.
Lucy immediately ordered her vassals to deal with it, but it will probably
delay the schedule again.
The soldiers seem to have realized by now that the recent incidents were
deliberate, and their morale is low.
"Hmm. Their interference is still ongoing, but this time it's of a lower
quality than before. Maybe it's not Milena but Lacy who is setting them up
instead?"
Unlike her sister Milena, Lacy is the type who easily shows her emotions.
On the other hand, this also means that she's not good at doing subdued and
detailed operations.
She's almost to the point that you got no choice but to tie her up rather than
tame her like a pet to prevent her unwanted recklessness.
"Well, even if she's the emotional type and not suited for covert missions,
her mentality is probably stronger than her sister's. This is why I saved her
for last."
As I said this, I put up a strategic plan in my mind.
I had cleared the first step: to make contact with Milena alone.
Now I'm approaching the second step, which is widening the rift between
the sisters.
"Now, then. I have given her the summons. She should be coming soon."
As I muttered this, I turned around.
Anastasia was there.
"Are you really sure that I just have to stand by until you give the signal?"
"I've learned my lesson about one-on-one encounters after the incident with
Milena. If Lacy comes at me, be sure to help me."
The first time had me in a near-death experience. I didn't want a second
one, so I asked Anastasia to be my bodyguard. If yo u a re ab le to r ea d
this me s sage, yo u are re a ding from an un autho r ized agg regat e sit e. R
ead at my Wor dP ress at stab bin g with a sy ring e. h ome. blo g to sup po
rt me and my trans lat ions.
Of course, by far, Tilda is the best, but though her combat strength in handto-hand combat is higher, she's not suited to subterfuge tactics.
"Leave it to me. Today, I've spent the rest of my time allocating my mana
on physical abilities. Of course, except for the minimum amount of magic I
use for concealment, so I won't lag too far behind."
Saying that, Anastasia cast some magic on herself and hid behind the bed.
At first glance, it may seem an easy-to-spot hiding place, but since she is
almost completely hidden by her concealment magic, it would be
impossible for them to pay attention to her unless they knew she was there.
Then, when everything was fully prepared, I welcomed Lacy, who came a
bit later.
"I've been waiting for you, Lacy. Here. Have a seat."
I sat down in my chair and offered her a seat, which is prepared in front of
me.
"No, thanks. I didn't come here to have tea."
But instead of adhering to my offer, she just stood there and looked at me.
As expected of someone wielding her sword at the front lines, her gaze is
sharper than her sister's.
And above all, she is blatantly wary of me.
As if the cheerful atmosphere she had when we first met was a complete lie.
"And? You wanted to see me?"
"Don't be so alarmed. I'm not going to eat you."
I smiled at Lacy, who asked me with a swarthy aura.
"Hmph. Even if you try something else, I'll just cut you down and go home.
And believe me, this latter option is way easier for me."
"Wow, how scary. I am no match for Lacy, so please excuse me from that."
I chuckled, but Lacy's expression didn't even twitch.
"Sigh… Then let's get to the point."
I looked at Lacy in front of me and began to speak calmly.
"The reason I asked you to come here today is because I want to recruit
you."
"Recruit? Me?"
She tilted her head as if she didn't understand what I meant.
"Yes. I am recruiting you. Instead of being Marquis Krall's subordinate, I
am asking if you are willing to become Viscount Finlay's subordinate
instead."
"Are you… kidding me?!"
She said as if to cut me off.
The anger in her voice was evident.
"Leaving my uncle for the likes of you? That's impossible."
"Why is that? Is it because you need medicine for your father, the Count,
who is suffering from the Nobleman's Disease?"
When I asked this question, Lacy's expression changed to one of
astonishment.
"How did you know about that?"
It was understandable that she was surprised.
After all, only the people involved with the Count personally would know
about this information.
"Well, it's because I heard it from Milena."
I told such thing to Lacy to invite further turmoil.
"I don't believe you! My sister would never sell us out!"
Without hesitation, Lacy immediately asserts.
Even though they have huge differences in their traits, they seem to trust
each other in the most foundational of ways.
In that case, let me destroy that foundation for you.
"Even if you don't believe me, I heard it directly from the woman herself."
"That's absolutely impossible! In the first place, why would my sister be
giving away our secret?'
"Why? Pretty simple, actually. That's because Milena is now one of us."
At these powerful words, Lacy involuntarily took a few steps back.
"D-Don't be silly. There's no way my sister would betray our uncle!"
"You can think what you want, but it is as you heard. Milena is actually on
our side now."
"This… unthinkable… wait. That's right! This is just a ruse! You're just
saying that because you're trying to split us up!"
Lacy pointed at me as if she suddenly realized. It's a good guess,
considering she nailed it to the point. Thi s cha pt er tra nsla tion is mad e
pos sib le by stab b ing wit h a s yr inge tr ansla tions. che ck only up- to-d
ate tra ns lati ons on my W ord pr ess si te.
But that's too bad, for I will now be crushing those hopes for you.
"Unfortunately, it's not a ruse."
I say so while pointing to my chest.
She looked at me suspiciously, not knowing what I was talking about.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, this? I was just wondering if you sisters are also similar… around
these parts."
In a tone deliberately expressing dejection, I told Lacy.
"Did you know that Milena has a mole on this part of her chest?"
When I said this, Lacy seemed to finally realize what I was trying to tell
her.
Her face changed complexion, and even her voice started to tremble.
"That's ridiculous… that thing is only for our family members to know!"
"But indeed, that is also the position of Milena's mole. It's in a position
where you won't be able to see it unless you take off her clothes and look
closer at her body. And your sister… let's just say she's very passionate at
night and doesn't even let me rest."
"My sister is… with a man?"
Lacy still can't believe it.
"Oii, snap back to reality. In any case, Milena and I now have 'that' sort of
relationship, if you know what I mean."
"No way… not even a single word from me…"
With these words, Lacy finally came to see the reality of the situation.
It's not like she's actually switching sides right now, but this should be
enough for the simple-minded Lacy.
And when she finds out that there is a traitor in her family…
"Uncle will surely hear about this… and I will definitely make you regret it
later!"
Saying that, Lacy bursts out of the room.
I chuckled as I watched her back.
And Anastasia, who had been hiding behind the bed, also stood up.
"She looked so horrified, Yuushin. She really believed it, didn't she?"
"I hope so, or this plan is going to get compromised."
I moved to the window and watched as the figure of Lacy ran away toward
the castle.
"I hope you two sisters have a good rivalry with each other so that I can
move easily on my next plan."
Thus, just like that, the second phase of my plan was left out of my hands
and got entrusted to Lacy, without the other party even knowing she had
already become my pawn.