The Springtime Chime of Marielle Clarac by Haruka Momo

Author:Haruka Momo [MOMO, HARUKA]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: J-Novel Club

Chapter Nine

I walked over to the secret door and picked up the lantern on the floor beside it. “It’s very well made. The joins between the door and the wall are hidden among the decorations, so when it’s closed, it’s not visible at all. The unlocking mechanism is...ah, I see, if you turn the candelabra, this part rotates and winds up the chain...which then pulls on the bolt. Goodness, it’s just like something from an adventure novel! This can’t be here purely for having affairs. I bet he wanted the excitement of having a secret base. Whatever the era, men are always little boys at heart!”

Entertained, I rotated the candelabra and then turned it back again several times. This is it! This is exactly what you want a castle to have! Secret mechanisms just like this one!

The entrance was so small that even I had to stoop to fit inside. In the narrow space, I could immediately see a ladder. No room for a staircase, I suppose. Still, the idea of the castle’s long-ago lord climbing up this ladder for his secret trysts is a slightly underwhelming image. Hmm... It does spark my spirit of adventure, but it’s a bit lacking in romance.

Lord Simeon wrapped an arm around my waist from behind and pulled me back through the doorway. “Don’t go poking around in there in the dark. It’s not safe.”

When I turned to look at the lady’s maid, she was still slouched on the floor. Wondering if she’d recovered from her surprise enough to reply, I went back over to her and crouched down. “What’s your name?”

“It’s...Lise...” she hesitantly told me. Her voice was barely a flicker, but she did muster an answer.

With a nod, I put a hand on her shoulder. “Can you stand? It must be cold on the floor. Let’s sit you down in a chair.”

But Lise stayed silent and didn’t move. For a moment, I wondered if she was still paralyzed with fear, but then, all of a sudden, she bowed her head deeply.

“I...I’m so sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry!”

Having lowered herself so far that her head was brushing against the floor, she apologized repeatedly. The royal guards standing above her looked highly uncomfortable. I could see why; even if she was behind all this, she was a trembling young woman apologizing fervently. They probably felt a bit like they were picking on her. Watching her tearfully say sorry over and over, even Lord Simeon was struck silent.

Or so I thought.

“Explanations can come before apologies, please,” he said in a level voice that harbored no sign of being the least bit perturbed. “Besides, it’s not us you need to apologize to, but the people of this castle.”

So much for being struck silent! Yes, that’s the Demon Vice Captain I know.

Though familiarity made me aware that he wasn’t especially angry in this situation, Lise shrank back even more.

“Why have you been doing this?” he asked.

This insistence at last made her muster an answer, though she didn’t raise her head.

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