Princess Lyra Belle de Anemoi
_______

Chapter 22

Within a week, Duke Atlas investigated and covertly gathered all the pieces of evidence. He then requested Lyra for a meeting a day before the council meeting took place.

Lyra, with the same pure smile, sits in front of Duke Atlas relaxed as she sips her tea. Duke Atlas continues to examine her as he still cannot come to comprehend what the crown princess is devising.

"Brief me, Duke Atlas. What prompts you here? How can I aid you?"

"I came to inform you of the results of the investigation."

Lyra's emerald eyes flicker as if the gem-like eyes reflected the sunlight.

"Oh. Why me?"

"You were the one who informed me about my assistant secretary. Therefore I felt it would be right to brief you on what I had found."

"And what did you uncover?"

"All the money that was being stolen, went to an account owned by a sole man. Whether it was the conversion of money, illegal smuggling, all of it can be linked to that same account."

"Pray do tell, it seems your assistant secretary isn't behind this, am I right?"

"All of it goes to a woman identified as Nova."

"A woman?"

"Affirmative. It seems she is the owner."

"And who is this Miss Nova?"

"She does not exist. It is a facade. Instead of her, it is a man who always visits the bank for the transactions and he is the one who handles everything including signing the papers."

"I suppose you identify who this man is. Please do go on."

"It is Sir Hubris."

"Oh?"

For the first time, Duke Atlas noted an astonished look on Lyra's calm and collected face. It seems she was expecting it to be Wily. Letting out a small scoff, she states,

"How interesting. Although I believe that is not all you have found, have you? There is something more that you seem to say."

"There is something I am perplexed about, however, I do not know whether I should ask this question or not."

Placing her teacup down, Lyra moves forward smirking,

"Shall I rid of your uncanny misery? Do you mean to inquire me how I am going to get out of this since they are sure to place all the blame on me, seeing how I have been the one handling the accounts recently? Am I right?"

"..indeed."

Duke Atlas was surprised at Lyra's sharpness.

"Fret not. I have it all taken care of. Although let me submit you a question, Duke Atlas. Why did you inform all of this to me? You could have handled it all independently and presented it in the meeting tomorrow without retaining me on board. Can I take it as a sign?"

"I felt that it is time that I shall urge my stance known. This is the year that your highness will be crowned Queen. It is about time. Isn't it the same for you? The reason why your highness is finally taking steps forward to secure her position."

"If you want to think like that, then you are free to do so."

Duke Atlas blinks in response. For some reason, he felt that perhaps Lyra did not wish to be Queen. Then why go through all this trouble?"

"It seems you are not extremely keen on the idea of accepting the throne."

"Is that so?"

Lyra politely dodged his suspicions. Duke Atlas takes the hint and decides to change the topic.

"My daughter, Aelia, mentioned you in her letters. It seems you are still in contact. I thought that it was prohibited to send and receive letters for the princesses since there were threats of someone delivering poisonous flowers in those letters."

Duke Atlas's daughter has always been ill since birth. She didn't harbor any particular disease but rather her physical health was quite frail. Growing up, the exclusive place she ever visited was the Royal Palace for her doctor's visit as the King had allowed Duke Atlas to get treated by the Royal Physician. Because of her visits and her being of the same age as Lyra, they both quickly became faithful friends. Their friendship was renowned in the nobility as friends that were like sisters.

As it happens when Lyra was not allowed to leave the Palace after Medea took over the duties, Aelia continued to visit Lyra regularly. Medea tried multiple times to stop Aelia from visiting, but with the help of the knights that supported Lyra, she would sneak in to meet up with her sole friend. Although her health remains, nevertheless, an issue. The doctors recommended that she gets treated by a specialist in herbal medicines in Gaia. Since then the duchess and her daughter, Aelia have been residing in Gaia. Lyra would forward letters to Aelia as well but she would never receive any back. The aforesaid case that had happened to her with Dylan.

However, fate coveted them to remain friends, as one of the Duchess's servants is Delilah's lover. He would visit Anemoi once or twice a year and whenever he would do so, Lyra would deliver a gift and a letter to Aelia and she would do the same. Although Lyra felt one letter was not enough for her to speak her heart out, she still remained indebted for this opportunity.

Aelia

"How is she doing? It has been years since she went to Gaia due to her health issues. I hope she is faring better than before."

Lyra once again dodged his question. Duke Atlas then recalls what Vile had informed him about how the princess doesn't allow people that she doesn't fully trust close to her.

"She is doing quite well. Thank you for your good wishes. She seems to be missing you quite a lot. You already know how due to her feeble health, she is unable to leave her room. Your Highness remains her sole friend. I hope that you two end up reuniting soon."

"I hope so too. Preferably, I will be visiting Gaia soon which I am certain you must have heard hitherto."

"I have a favor to request of you, your highness. If you will be extremely kind to allow it."

Lyra nods in response.

"I retain some gifts I wish to deliver to her. Please accompany them with you. I hope that you are able to bestow those gifts to her in person and that way you two would be able to meet."

Smiling Lyra replies,

"I was planning on contacting her even if you had not asked me of this favor. Nevertheless, I will be willing to oblige."

"Much appreciated, your highness. I will be eternally indebted to you."

Atlas was averting his gaze here and there. It seems he wanted to state something before. Before Lyra could probe him, he got up and bent down on his knees. With his head lowered, he stated,

"I wish to vow an oath of loyalty to her highness."

"Huh.."

Lyra pulls Duke Atlas to stand up and adds,

"I appreciate your kind gesture but you do not need to go this far. You are a Duke and not a Knight."

"I comprehend that but still, I wish to show my sincerity with this oath. I am a man of principles, and I wish to follow this rule."

Sighing, suddenly a thought flashes in Lyra's mind. She smiles,

"If you heartily wish to do so, then do not do it right now. I require you to do it at another time. And if you do it on that day, then I will accept that you undoubtedly mean it."

"Another time? When?"

"I will let you know soon."

Duke Atlas was taken aback. It seems Lyra was already planning something else in her mind.

She subsequently adds,

"I know you may be thinking about how I am going to contact you. Suitably, I obtain my sources. Therefore, I will be sending you a letter soon but not so soon as there are some things that still need to be taken care of."

"I understand. Your wish is my command. I will be waiting for that day."

Duke Atlas bows as Lyra nods in acknowledgment.

The fateful day had come when the council meeting was going to take place. Solon paced around in her office, which Lyra had set up in the private library house that her father had built her years ago.

His face depicted vicious circles and weary eyes with a dry look as if he had not slept all night due to nervousness.

"What are you so worried about?"

Lyra inquired as she hummed joyfully. She was peacefully sketching something while hearing the birds chirp. She sat, relaxed, on the very a sofa which was itself in a cramped space but felt cozy since it was surrounded by books and windows that let the window in.

"Your Highness! You should at least be a little nervous. They are guaranteed to frame you. What if our plan doesn't work? Then what? Duke Nabal will never listen to anything against his family. Your Majesty, the king may also end up not supporting you. At that time the situation may become quite dire."

"Is that so? Then so what?"

"The coin may flip to the wrong side. I however think it is too soon for this plan. We need to gather more allies before we go ahead with this."

"Let me ask you something. Why do you suppose most of the nobility tend to slavishly follow Aunt Medea?"

"Because they have sworn loyalty to them?"

Solon replied as he stopped pacing. He was bewildered as to why Lyra refused to gather more allies.

"Not at all. They aren't loyal to them. They are only loyal to their money. This is why even after being humiliated to the point that they are handled like objects, they nevertheless continue to crawl back to her. They are all slaves of capitalism and with just a bit more money, all of them are willing to betray Aunt Medea without even batting an eye. I have no need for forming an alliance with such snakes. If I need allies, I want them to come to me by themselves without me having to covet them.

"....While that may be true, however right now they are supporting her. We cannot afford to overlook this fact."

"Then so be it. It is not like I am expecting them to be punished for their crimes."

"???"

Confused, Solon stares at Lyra, waiting for her to explain. She places the paper on which she was sketching aside as she gets up and smiles,

"I am merely showing them a humble teaser for what could happen in the future if I were to take action. Now come on, let us go. It is time."

______

Princess Lyra Belle de Anemoi