[SCR] 14 – ‘Caretaker’

"I can't."

　Idyllia looked at her sister and shook her head firmly.

"I have decided that I will no longer be involved in worldly affairs."

　What happened five years ago was her deep psychological trauma.　She would never again be involved in politics. She would never imitate an informant or be one.　When she looked at Beatrice with determination, Beatrice giggled. Then spoke in a catlike voice.

“You adorably naive child. I'm telling you, you can't leave this palace without my permission as queen. Besides, you can't return to that convent when you leave. I have told them that it would not be good for them if they welcomed you when you ran away.”

"Oh no...!"

　She finally understood the reason for the abbess's unnatural appearance.　She had received threats.　If the convent's survival and the nuns' safety were taken as a shield, Beatrice knew she’d give in. That was how her sister calculated.

“You want to redeem him, don't you?　Why don't you just do it? With your body.”

　Mistily whispering this, Beatrice poked Idyllia's chest with the tip of her fan.

"Please stop!"

　She spoke in agony as she brushed the fan away with her hand.

"In any case, you can't disobey my instructions ... No?"

“....”

Her stomach chilled before Beatrice’s cold gaze. She was right.　There was only one reason why Idyllia couldn’t resist her sister.

"Will you do it?"

　Idyllia squeezed her fist at the question with an absent smile.　

-Go to Silvio and find out what he's up to?

　Disobey his trust again?　There was no way she could do that.

(But─but I have to...!)

Being on the receiving end of her sister’s gaze and smile, exuding only cold intimidation, she bit back her sense of helplessness.

After a long hesitation, Idyllia nodded slightly.

"...Alright."

　Her response was a mosquito's cry, as she foresaw her fate thereafter would be drastically changed.

♔♔♔

Silvio had removed the country's Kingsguard from the Kingsguard regimental quarters adjacent to the royal palace and had sent his men from Mediolam to stay there.　

As for himself, the palace provided a large room in the East Wing, which he used as a base for diplomatic negotiations.　

At night, Iydilia visited there with the queen's attendants. Or, more precisely, she was sent there.　

Standing in front of the chocolate-coloured oak door, she gave her name to the soldier guarding her.

'Let her in,' Silvio's voice rang, and the guard opened the door and let Iydilia through into the room.　After seeing her through, the attendants turned on their heels and left.

Silvio stayed in a large drawing room for nobles, consisting of several adjoining rooms.　The drawing room was just through the door and was a quiet, ivory-toned room. Apart from the thick carpets, paintings larger than the average man's height, and the caramel-coloured furniture and furnishings, the walls, ceiling, and even the marble mantelpiece were all ivory.　

The most distinctive feature was the ceiling, which was covered with exquisite lace-like patterns painted in three dimensions using an abundance of ivory.　

It was not flashy, but it was evident that the room was for people of as high a status as royalty.　

Silvio was dressed only in a loose white shirt and breeches despite being in such a splendid room. He was sitting comfortably on a velvet chaise with intricately woven patterns.　When he saw Iydilia, who had arrived alone, he quickly put away the papers he had spread out in front of him.

"Hm, you're here."

As she looked up at him with her big doe eyes, he thought to himself; her face was awfully wonderful at seduction.

"I told you it would be like I said, didn't I?"

　In contrast, Iydillia bowed, her face scrunched up in nervousness.

"... I have come as a caretaker. I will serve you to the best of my ability, so please take care of me."

"I see. Caretaker, huh..."

　He broke off and looked at her; his eyes devoured her from head to toe.

"That suits you much better than your plain, shabby clothes."

　Her cheeks heated up at the ridiculing remark.　It had been a long time.

She was not used to wearing dresses. And it was not just any dress.　

Her sister had chosen a provocative scarlet dress. The long, billowing sleeves had several vertical slits, made to reveal skin through the thin gauze and cut back high on the hips. The dress was made extravagantly, with eye-catching embroidery all over the fabric, but the wide-open bosom was only concealed by frilly lace.　

Her cleavage peeked invitingly supple, and her body was obscured like a dress worn by the Siren of the night.

In addition, the design cinched at her waist, emphasising her gentle bulge more than necessary.　

Just imagining herself in such a dress was embarrassing.　In contrast, Silvio overtly directed his gaze towards her deep cleavage.