Chapter 86

As the battle in the eastern border region intensified, an unusual event was also unfolding in the heart of the Zain Kingdom, the capital city.

In one of the mansions in the noble district of the capital,

a rare guest had visited the residence of Aibh Macbeth, one of the king Granado Zain's ministers.

"Hmm... What brings you here at such a late hour?"

Macbeth, the master of the house, stroked his long white beard and asked the guest sitting in the chair.

There was a slightly reproachful tone in Macbeth's voice.

It was already close to midnight. For a high-ranking noble like Macbeth, who held the position of Lord Chancellor at the royal palace, it was extremely impolite to visit his residence at such an hour.

Nevertheless, Macbeth did not turn the guest away but welcomed them into the reception room of the mansion because the person was someone he could not easily dismiss.

"I apologize for the late hour, Lord Macbeth."

A young woman dressed in a simple dress spoke in a cool voice and bowed her head.

Her name was Melitina Marcel.

She was the daughter of Lockwood Marcel, the Prime Minister of the Zain Kingdom, and the fiancée of Prince Raidor Zain, the king's younger brother.

Behind her stood a woman who appeared to be a maid, standing silently with her back straight.

(What could she want at this hour?)

Macbeth scratched his beard and tilted his head in confusion.

Macbeth, in his seventies, was a cunning noble who had survived for decades in the political world, where intrigue and scheming were rampant.

Even for such an experienced Macbeth, Melitina's visit was completely unexpected.

To begin with, Melitina had been imprisoned several months ago for the crime of attempting to control Prince Raidor Zain with a curse, and since then, she had not been seen in the capital.

Once the belle of the salons, Melitina had been a leader among the noblewomen, but she was now treated as if she did not exist in the court.

No one had thought that she would ever reappear on the public stage, and Macbeth could not hide his bewilderment at her visit.

"This tea has a refined taste. As expected of someone who holds the position of Lord Chancellor. The tea you are drinking is of a different caliber."

"......"

Ignoring Macbeth's confusion, Melitina elegantly sipped the tea that had been served.

Macbeth stared at Melitina with a probing gaze for a while, then sighed in resignation.

"......May I ask the reason for your visit now? After all, I am an old man. Staying up late is hard on my body."

"Oh, how thoughtless of me. I apologize for my rudeness."

Melitina placed her hand to her mouth as if she had just realized her mistake and made a surprised face.

Macbeth felt a slight irritation at her pretense, but as a cunning noble, he maintained a grandfatherly expression on the surface.

"Hehehe, it is a pleasure to converse with a young lady, but I would have preferred a more reasonable hour."

"Ufufu, I apologize again. Given the nature of my business, I thought it would be more troublesome to come at a time when I might be seen."

"Hmm? This does not sound good. Could it be some unsavory matter?"

"Yes, it might be so for you, Lord Macbeth."

Ufufu, Melitina smiled gracefully, and Macbeth narrowed his eyes.

She had been evading the issue all along, and it seemed best to be direct.

"Miss Melitina, even though it is late at night, I am not idle. I am already busy with the aftermath of the war with the empire. If you have no business, I must ask you to leave."

"Oh, then let me get to the point."

Responding to Macbeth's slightly stern tone, Melitina finally placed her teacup on the table.

She looked straight at Macbeth and spoke.

"To be blunt, Lord Aibh Macbeth, you are collaborating with the empire, are you not?"

"Wh...?"

Macbeth was speechless, frozen by Melitina's words.

As the old man stood in shock, Melitina's red, painted lips curled into a smile.

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