LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 85: Where is he?
Béatrice barely stopped herself from recoiling away from Charlotte, her breath caught in her throat. Charlotte's demeanor, once irritated and tense, now became something off-putting, almost fanatical.
Béatrice's mind swarmed with thoughts of confusion, awe, and fear.
A forgotten bloodline, Ancient powers, rare to modern society? This notion, the very concept, seemed so… wrong, almost as if it wasn't to exist, or… as if it was forgotten for a reason.
Béatrice's mask of a carefully composed woman was now breaking, twitches in her eyes and smiled as her yellow eyes went wide. "Heh, I can't believe that," Béatrice replied with a nervous laugh, "are you sure this isn't some ploy by your father, or perhaps you're chasing ghosts, and fantasies."
Charlotte chuckled softly as she covered her mouth with her hand, "Oh, and you say that because?" She asked with a tilt of her head, her long white hair falling to the side, reaching for her elbow.
"Because I have yet to see proof of what you claim," Béatrice replied after a measured pause, "neither Hinata nor Alexander has shown anything worthy of such claims," Béatrice explained, "Hinata may be a D'élite, but I assume that's from training, right?"
Charlotte slowly nodded in response, "Yes, that is indeed the case, but only because I have yet to figure it out." She answered, "How to unlock their full potential, it's unknown to me."
Béatrice internally breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed that whether this ancient bloodline was real or not, Charlotte had no way to control it currently.
Though it wasn't all well, Charlotte was openly revealing the gaps in her understanding, revealing her weaknesses. This was something so rare that not even Béatrice herself had seen it.
This either meant that Charlotte was confident in thinking that if she couldn't understand it, no one could, or she was desperate for answers, from anyone.
But which was it?
Béatrice's expression began to harden again, finding her confidence in knowing Charlotte was struggling internally with chasing some far-reached power.
There was an opportunity to be had here, even more useful than the soft points Hinata provided earlier.
"That is quite the predicament you've found yourself in," Béatrice remarked with a small but victorious smile, ready to weasel her way out of suspicion. "But I'm curious, if you haven't unlocked this ancient mystery, then why are you so adamant on finding Alexander, I mean, the boy is practically useless to you now."
"Because that power, whether it's realized or not, belongs to the crown, to me." Charlotte answered, her tone growing sharp, "and the last thing I need is for this boy to be hidden away on the demon continent."
Charlotte then paused, her expression becoming irritated again, "Speaking off, where the hell is he?" She asked, her tone laced with venomous frustration, "I know you have him, so where?"
Béatrice's confidence began to skyrocket as a sly smile crossed her thin lips. She was close, so close to freeing herself of suspicion, so close in fact, that she was prepared to take a risk.
It was a dangerous play, as Charlotte's tension wasn't so easily used against her, but Béatrice had long since learned how to walk the thin line of danger, without crossing it.
"Your majesty, your frustrations have been noted, but… what makes you so sure I have the boy?" She asked curiously, "Could he have not been genuinely abducted?"
Charlotte immediately rolled her eyes at the mere idea, "Don't play coy, I doubt you're ignorant enough to let that happen." She replied, her jaw tightening.
Béatrice felt a pang of embarrassment, as she was indeed dumb enough to let that happen.
No, that was exactly what happened…
But, it appears Béatrice's bluff was working well, as Charlotte was weary, and her irritation was evident.
Béatrice nodded, "of course, only a fool would let an asset like that slip between their fingers." Béatrice said with a knowing grin, "But then again, Alexander wasn't the only thing that slipped between your fingers, was he?"
Charlotte paused, her brow arching ever so slightly. "What are you getting at?" She asked, her tone losing its venom.
Now was time to employ the soft points Hinata ever so gracefully gifted.
(Reference, in case you forgot.)
A few points to bring up.
HM lost several shipments of military equipment sent to the Fallen Kingdom, believed to be stolen by you know who.
House Statem is believed to be in bed with nobles from the Western empire, that same house is also attempting to "rebuild" what was lost, further expanding its status. It's a thorn for HM, as it threatens her position in the Fallen Kingdom, pushing back her plans for a commonwealth involving both it and the Tora kingdom.
It's believed that the king is "casing" for a man named Wells, he sees him as a threat and needs help with making him disappear, but HM is denying support, perhaps you can step in?
-H
"Oh, you know." Béatrice said with a confident chuckle, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly, "ships filled to the brim with the finest of military equipment, only to slip through your overreaching fingers and into the hands of some shadowy organizations." She said, her confidence brimming, "quite a tremendous accomplishment for one to steal from you, though it's a wonder why it's so… commonplace."
Charlotte's eyes snapped wide as her expression stiffened. Her confident smirk vanished as she took a step back from Béatrice. "How do you…"
"How could I know such things?" Béatrice continued, finishing Charlotte's question.
"Perhaps it's because no matter how hard you try to hide it, it's no secret factions are mismanaging their assets, or… how should I say this," Béatrice asked with a chuckle, "some factions are… moving against you, taking actions into their own hands and pushing your influence to the side?"
Charlotte blinked in disbelief, her expression changing rapidly between confusion and anger.
"Oh, but politics are hard, you can't be blamed for failing to keep everyone under control," Béatrice said in a mockingly caring tone, "you can barely keep your husband on his leash, though I'm sure Wells appreciates your efforts, whatever relationship you have with him is…"
Béatrice trailed off, allowing her words and insinuations to fill the tense air between them. There was a flicker of anger in Charlotte's eyes, and for a moment, Charlotte stood in utter silence.
Béatrice could only imagine the simmering rage ravaging inside of Charlotte, her seething fury, she could only imagine how it tasted, a sweet honey-like flavor.
Oh, how good it felt to balance the scale and put the ball in Charlotte's court.
"Wells…" Charlotte whispered, "he's a weapon scientist, one with a colored past, and interesting yet revolting taste in women."
Béatrice turned a glance to Charlotte, "Hm?"
Charlotte chuckled softly. "You know, there are a lot of dangerous people I put to work, but none of them are quite like Wells." She continued, "But one thing that's clear is that you don't know everything, at least not if you reacted like that to him."
"Oh, is there more to him than I know?" Béatrice asked.
"Clearly." Charlotte replied, "But, it's obvious you have been busy, so… tell me, what do you want in return for Alexander?"
Béatrice, though slightly confused by Charlotte's response to Wells, smiled. "Oh not much, just… two minor things, if you'd be so inclined."
Charlotte nodded.
"First, I require compensation for the loss of my husband, more than the initially agreed amount, that and access to any newly developed weapon systems." Béatrice said, before raising a second finger, "Secondly, I require Hinata's services for an unspecified period, of course, I'll return her afterward."
Charlotte paused her expression one of silent pondering. After a brief moment, she nodded, "I see no issues with that request, now, Alexander?"
Béatrice was pleasantly surprised at Charlotte's decision, she didn't even try to negotiate, not that it would have mattered.
Now was the time for her actual request, to indirectly ask Charlotte to look for him, using the royal blades.
"Of course," Béatrice said with a nod, "as you know, Alexander is on the demon continent, lost by the Clamori, and potentially held by demons."
Charlotte glanced at Béatrice but remained silent.
"I hope you didn't expect me to make it easy for you." Béatrice said with a grin, "I told you where he is, now it's up to you to find him." Béatrice then chuckled, "But I'm sure for someone like you, it won't be hard, not with assets like the royal blades."