Chapter 157 If I want to escape, I'll only face death...
To be honest, after seeing this contract, I treated him much more kindly. Firstly, the material things gave me a sense of security, and secondly, I felt he wasn't too bad; at least he kept his promises.
The snow fell heavier and heavier in the depths of winter, and fewer and fewer nobles living outside the palace could attend the balls. Those who could stay temporarily inside the palace began to feel bored. With fewer people, the balls would become somewhat deserted. But this month of balls at the end of the year was also drawing to a close.
I often sat in a corner observing these nobles. They kissed and stripped without restraint, displaying all sorts of drunken antics, tearing off maids' clothes, pinning them to the table, pouring wine or scattering food on them, and laughing loudly. Some even grabbed young male servants and dragged them under the table, the violent shaking causing plates, wine jugs, and other items to fall to the ground.
Having money and power can indeed allow you to do whatever you want, sometimes.
Sometimes, after the midnight banquet, the hot spring pool would be crowded with men and women laughing and joking. Things they wouldn't dare say or do in ordinary times were displayed to the fullest extent; bawdy jokes flew everywhere, and giggles and panting filled the air. Occasionally, one could hear something rather disgusting: "I just saw a lot of bubbles behind Mrs. XX, is she farting?" "Don't worry, she's got a pretty face, even if she farts a few more times, no man will leave her."
I originally planned to go into the water and mingle with them to find out some information, but after hearing the conversation, I put on my outer robe and left.
"Why is the North so peaceful?" I wrapped my outer robe tighter and walked alone in the deserted inner corridor. "Apart from lovemaking, there's hardly anything else to talk about."
When I was in the Westerlands, although the nobles lived extravagant lives, I could still feel a subtle tension and a sense of insecurity about the unstable situation. In the Elven Sanctuary, what seemed like a peaceful paradise was often rife with undercurrents and elven guards on high alert. In the Easterlands, I often heard news of various wars and the open and covert struggles among the nobles. But in the Northerlands, I felt none of this. There was only singing and dancing, and endless scandals and love affairs.
What's going on? Something doesn't seem right. I fell into thought, my steps halting as I reached the boundary between the inner and outer corridors. I stood in the inner corridor, the warmth of the underfloor heating still enveloping me, but from the other side, dense snowflakes and a biting wind kept blowing.
After standing there for a while, the cold air overcame the heat, and I prepared to walk back. Suddenly, a tall and slender figure appeared in the snowflakes, and large white snowflakes fell on him, making him look like a snowman.
"Lady Lana, have you made up your mind?" It was Lydia, whom I had seen at the ball that night.
"Not yet," I said hesitantly.
"Do you think Prince Mamboa can protect you forever?" Letea's voice was as cold as the weather in the outer corridor. "In my opinion, it would be safer for you to return to the West."
"What's the meaning?!"
"Sometimes places that appear safe on the outside are not necessarily safe."
"I don't understand what you mean. Could you explain it more clearly?"
"The Queen of the South and her stepdaughter will be leaving today; they have only been here for three days."
"What do you mean?!" I was even more confused. I carefully considered every word he said, and when I looked up again, Letea was gone. The footprints he had just made in the snow were instantly covered by the thick snow. It was as if he had never been there.
"I heard you're leaving today?" I barged into Princess Yanni's bedroom. The two maids at the door tried to stop me, but they couldn't. My maids subdued them.
The heavy, floor-length dark blue bed curtains were suddenly pulled open, and Princess Yanni's yawning voice came through, "You barged in to see us off, huh?"
Princess Yanni, dressed in a snow-white silk nightgown, got out of bed with a half-smile on her face. I asked, "Is there something that made you leave so suddenly? You've only been here for three days."
Princess Yanni picked up a glass of warm water from the table and downed it in one gulp.
Suddenly, the deep blue bed curtains were pulled back again, revealing another slender figure in a fiery red nightgown. Exquisite features, languid eyes, slightly upturned lips, and long, soft curls—it was the Queen of the Southern Border. They were sleeping in the same bed? I was stunned.
Princess Yanni handed another glass of warm water to the Queen, who drank it gracefully. After they finished, they kissed each other on the lips, and my mind went blank.
"I'm sorry to have made you laugh," the Queen said, licking her tongue slightly before kissing Princess Yanni's cheek. "Our affection for each other has a long history."
"Then..." My stiff expression slowly melted away, "Why do you always insist on getting her married?"
“I think this question is so simple that it doesn’t need an answer.” The Queen picked up her robe from the sofa and draped it over herself.
They are driven by self-interest. They are willing to sacrifice everything for it.
Suddenly it dawned on me—why did Princess Yanni's marriages all fail? Because they foresaw the failures. By securing the marriage and obtaining the benefits they desired, they could then reclaim their dowries after the marriage failed, achieving their goal at zero cost.
Fifteen minutes later, Princess Yani and I were in the hot spring. Princess Yani was happily washing her long hair and arms, humming a little tune. I sat on the edge of the hot spring, my feet immersed in the water.
"What benefits did you get from your previous husbands?" I asked, splashing water with my feet.
Princess Yanni dodged the water and said unhappily, "You asked too directly, I won't answer."
"Then why did you leave in such a hurry?" I asked again.
She still didn't want to answer, yawning as she washed her arms, and after she finished, she called a maid to wash her long hair.
The hot spring pool fell into an eerie silence. She and her maid were carefully washing their long hair, while I watched them silently from the other side.
I tried to ask them something before they left, but I failed.
Two hours later, she and the Queen left in a carriage, braving the wind and snow. Neither she nor I said another word.
I'm bad with words and don't know how to beat around the bush. When I speak, I'm always straightforward, and she just ignores me.
After watching them leave, I returned to my bedroom, where Mamboya was waiting for me.
"What are you doing here? Why didn't you go to see Princess Yanni and the Queen off?" I asked in surprise.
"Pack your things, I'll take you on a tour of the capital tonight," he said, seemingly changing the subject.
"Go patrol the royal city at night? Are you crazy?" I asked incredulously.
"Just pack up your most important things." He stood up from the sofa and patted my hair. "Don't be nervous."
"Why should I be nervous?" I was both amused and bewildered.
"It's good that you're not nervous." He smiled and pushed open the door to leave.
I stood there, stunned.
As night fell, the carriage stopped in front of the palace gate. The snow was already deep, above my knees; I was lifted into the carriage by Mamboya, and I saw that the snow had reached his thighs.
"Why do you have so little stuff?" He frowned and looked at the luggage compartment under the back seat of the carriage.
"What could I possibly have?" The wind was so strong that I could barely speak.
He stopped talking, put me in my seat, and then pulled me into his arms.
The carriage started moving quickly. This carriage was specially made, with long and thick wheels, clearly designed for this kind of snowy terrain.
The night was dark, but the two oil lamps in front of the carriage were very bright, illuminating the snowflakes and the snow-covered road ahead clearly.
The carriage wasn't moving very fast and was swaying slightly, but Mamboya's embrace was warm, and I quickly fell asleep.
With a screech, the carriage came to a sudden stop, and I was instantly jolted awake. Manberia's arm around me stiffened for a moment.
“Prince Manboa, Duke Yedana has important matters to discuss with you. Please come with me.” A very gentle and polite male voice came from outside the carriage.
"Let's talk about it in a couple of days. I'm on my way right now," Manberia said calmly.
"Please get out of the car, so as not to frighten Mrs. Lana." The man's voice was even gentler, it could be described as tender as water.
Manberia looked at me, and I looked at him. I seemed to understand something, and I gripped his clothes tightly.
Suddenly, Manberia laughed, kissed my cheek, and was about to open the car door when I grabbed the handle tightly to stop him.
He gently but firmly pried my hands open, opened the car door, and got out of the car gracefully.
A biting wind, carrying dense snowflakes, blew in, making me shiver. The carriage door quickly closed again, the snowstorm stopped, and I looked out the window. What I saw shocked me: the carriage was surrounded by layers upon layers of guards, the oil lamps at the front illuminating the menacing, armored soldiers clearly. Surrounded by them, Manberia slowly boarded another luxurious black carriage. He didn't even glance back at me.
The coachman's voice came from ahead, "Madam Lanna, shall we continue to the train station?"
"They let me go?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
"They said you can go wherever you want."
Does that mean we can leave the North?
"Anywhere is fine?" I asked again.
"Yes."
"Where did Prince Mamboa originally intend to take me?" I asked again.
"Take the train and go to a royal city that is privately owned by the prince."
"Why are you taking me away?" I couldn't help but ask again, regardless of whether the driver would answer.
The coachman was silent for a moment before saying, "The king is seriously ill, and the prince is afraid that the situation in the palace may change, so he wants to take you away first."
But to my surprise, it was still too late.
"Seriously ill? How could he be seriously ill?" I asked, somewhat puzzled. "He seemed perfectly fine at the banquet a while ago."
“Madam, the King’s health has never been very good.” After saying this, the coachman fell silent again, and I remained silent as well. He suddenly asked, “Madam, where are we going?”
I looked out the window. The black luxury carriage had already left, but layers upon layers of armored guards still surrounded my carriage. I sighed, "Let's go back to the palace."
The coachman immediately cracked his whip to urge the horses on, and the carriage began to head back. After a while, the coachman's hushed voice came, "Madam, you saved our lives."
I chuckled to myself. If they really wanted to let me go, why would I still be surrounded by guards? If I wanted to escape, I would only face death.
Thinking of Princess Yanni's silence, could she have already foreseen the impending palace coup? Why didn't she tell me? Of course, she had no obligation to tell me.
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Author's note: Guess what kind of palace coup has occurred?
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