Blood Peonies (Who Made Me a Princess)

Gently As She Goes

Beta-ed by Sylvetterianne

The luncheon was held in a tense silence. The Duke seems to be wary of making a foolish mistake again and has left the ball in my court. But I don't really want to talk and I do find the silence comforting. At least I won't have to deal with his yapping. As expected of the Empire's Dog. That's not really an official title for Duke Alpheus but Bel can somewhat imagine the ears and tail that goes with the duke's white hair. And if I heard the rumours right, Princess Athanasia did call him a dog on their first meeting, or that's what my informant in the palace told me. Seriously, that girl is useful but she does give me too much information that it's unnecessary. Bel sighed while she sips her tea.

But as they say, in for a penny, in for a pound.

Bel contemplates on how to go on this luncheon. Of course, she knows what the Duke was doing here. He wants to establish connections regarding the Siodonna – Obelian trade, especially the trade of magicians. Magicians are numerous in Siodonna because only Siodonna has the school for magic, the Siralos Magia Academia. One of the reasons Siodonna has even managed to get by despite being a small kingdom is due to the number of magicians they have at disposal. They basically have monopoly of magicians. Siodonna alone has the number of magicians that are of the same amount as all the magicians that the kingdoms have combined. Of course, other kingdoms also have their own Magia Towers but the difference in skill between Siodonnean magician and other kingdoms' are evident. There are a few mages that could rival Siodonna like the Black Magician of the Obelian Magia Tower but in this case, the numbers would also be in favour of Siodonna. The technology they also have greatly precedes the other kingdoms and has made their army nigh unstoppable. However, Siodonna has clarified its intentions that they have no desire to expand its territory. A logical reason would be that Siodonna cannot spread its forces too thin due to othe low army population and the population of the kingdom as a whole. But the main reason for Siodonna not wanting to gain more land was that Bel felt that managing a larger territory is just a pain in the neck.

It is unofficial but everyone knows that the Piviones family holds the most power in the Siodonna kingdom, even more than the imperial family. It also doesn't help that the current king is a push over and is relying heavily upon the Piviones for gold and political advice. And gold is authority; a disgusting mindset if you would ask Bel but that's how things work behind doors.

Bel is a frugal person who doesn't really care about riches but if it were to make things better on her end, she would throw away gold if that's what's necessary.

The Duke cleared his throat as if wanting to say something and Bel snapped out of her musing. She eyed the Duke now that he finally has gotten the courage to initiate conversation after his embarrassment upon his arrival. She would observe and if she can get something out of this, then all the better for her inconveniences. She's the Devil's Lady Bel after all. She has a reputation to keep even if she doesn't particularly care for it.

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Duke Alpheus eyed the Demon Lady warily. She has been implicit and he is not sure on what she's thinking. Did I mess up? She looks calm like a lady should but I know that I shouldn't base my assumptions on her behaviour, I've learnt my lesson. He sighs as he drinks his tea. Is this Lippe tea? He knows that this tea is a specialty of the Siodonna kingdom so it should be obvious that this is what nobles also drink here.

I should give my compliments for the tea first as an ice breaker for negotiations; I can't afford to go back to Obelia without accomplishing anything here. Alpheus cleared his throat to signal that he was going to speak. Lady Bel looked at him with those dead eyes. The Duke is pretty sure that this lady wouldn't even bat an eye if someone were to get murdered in front of her.