[S1] 009 Transfiguration

Orville looked like he was thinking. After a few moments he finally gave in:"All right, Your Majesty, we'll spare her the hanging. How about we just reduce her to a commoner, deport her and forbid her from ever returning to the Imperial City?"　　

The young king thought that Orville had made such a great concession, so he did not disagree.　　

The young king nodded, but couldn't help but feel worried for Orville: "How will you explain this change of sentence to the Marquis of Clare?"　　

"They have always called me a violent and rebellious man," Orville said with disinterest, "It's just a new charge of adding a sentence on me. One more charge is not more, one less is not less, don't care for that."　　

The young king felt even more guilty, didn't dare to behave himself any more, so drank his medicine and fell asleep in a few moments.　　

When the king had fallen asleep. Orville went to the table with the letters with the various family patterns on it and went through them one by one.　　

When only the last few letters remained, Orville saw an acquaintance. The letter was in proper handwriting, but it mentioned him out by name. Not only did he scold him for kicking the horseman a few days before. It was a rehash of an old complaint, a quotation from the scriptures.　　

Orville smiled brightly, took the little king's quill, dipped it in ink, and replied on the paper with two words, "With good reason."　　

He then placed the letter at the top of the page and stretching out, he left the palace in the snow and wind.　　

In the carriage back to the territory, there was the usual snack and fruit with a pot of black tea with buttermilk.Orville took a sip, found it cold and not sufficiently sweetened, and spat it out again, then opened the small glazed window of the carriage poured the pot of tea over Ray's head, giving him an inexplicable bath of black tea.　　

Ray didn't know what to make of it, but he didn't dare say anything back, not even a breath, and had to smile and thank the Duke for his reward.　　

"How is Chad recovering from his injuries?" Orville, who was in the carriage, suddenly asked.　　Ray agreed immediately, "I think he's almost done. I heard he had a fever for a few days, but he got over it, while haven't heard anything about it in the last few days."　　

Orville sneered: "Only fifty lashes, and he can't stand it? Is me treating him too well, making him so delicate?"　　

Ray wiped the buttermilk tea off his face with his sleeve surreptitiously, remembering how Chad had been treated that day, looked like a bloody man when he was carried out.　　

And he couldn't speak, he couldn't scream in pain, he could only gasp in agony.　　

He was so wounded that he was able to look after himself, which is very strong.How could he be described as 'delicate'?　　

But their Duke had always been unreasonable. Ray could only think about it in his mind, but he would never dare to contradict the Duke.　　

Orville reached out and grabbed a snow-covered pine branch, the snow melted into water in his palm, revealing the dark green pine branch inside.　　

"Go to the Marquis of Clare's house later and send a message, 'it's done'. And don't forget to tell the Marquis of Clare to remember that he owes me a favour."　　

Ray: "Yes."　　

The snow was falling heavily and the day was getting colder.　　

Orville closed the small window and looked down to see the box of treats again.It looked like it had been bought at dusk at the earliest. Now that it was nightfall, it was hard and cold.　　

The snacks that Chad used to bring to him when he was being served, were always fresh and beautiful, Napoleon biscuits, muffins, raspberry scones and a steaming cup of black tea. It's usually a comforting way to spend a dreamless night. And even in the dead of winter, Chad serves up freshly baked treats.　　

There really was no one better to use than Chad at home, he once thought that was the best dog I had ever trained. 　　

The man was always careful and cautious. He'd always solved everything he'd given him, no matter what the task, no matter what the task was. But last time, he almost got himself into trouble because of Chad.　　

He knew Chad was a simple man, but he never thought he would trust a little girl so easily. 　　

Although Orville had acquiesced to the girl's approach, Chad's performance also had been too disappointing for him. His mistake not only caused him to lose his dog, which had taken ten years to develop, but also hurt his own pride so badly that the best knight in his house, his sharpest dagger, was so soft and deceptive on the inside.　　

[ I had to admit to myself that I had failed in the training of my knights. I'll have to be more strict... ...　　

Fifty lashes, a good punishment, but not enough. ]　　

Orville clenched the back of his gums at the thought. His palms squeezed tightly and the pine branch was crushed by his unintentional action.It was late at night when Orville returned to the estate.

The lights and candles were almost extinguished inside and outside the castle, only the doorway and the street lamps were lit. He walked alone in the corridor.The night sky seemed to be rendered in ink, and the moonlight was sometimes visible. The night breeze swirled particles of snow, occasionally brushing Orville's magnificent purple robe and thinly wetting the corners of his coat.　　

He didn't avoid the snow, but sniffed the winter snow as he strode towards the main castle. But just as he was passing the small courtyard next to the main castle.Three whistles stopped Orville in his tracks, and he knew that his dark guards had returned.

"Come out, 18."

"Your Highness," a soft-bodied, hooded figure in black leapt down from the trees like a black cat and knelt before Orville and presented him with a letter on paper in both hands.

[ Duke Ackerman has an appointment tomorrow with Admiral JEFF-Daniel at a Clubhouse on the outskirts].

He's finally making a move. Orville smiled a little. "Pass the message to the Marquis of Clare as well," Orville's mouth turned up at the corners, "And I will see an old acquaintance tomorrow."

*

Early the next morning, Orville declared to the public that he was ill and he did not allow his servants to come near his bedchamber today.　　

In front of the large mirror in the lavatory, he carefully applied a "false face" made of high quality silicone to his face.　　

He was going to see a 'friend' today, but not as "Orville", as Hans.　　

In a few moments, the handsome young man with the long silvery white hair of a woman disappears in front of the mirror, in his place was a stout man of ordinary appearance.　　

He looked to be in his thirties, a greenish-black stubble on his chin and is curly brown hair is a little unkempt, was clear that he does not usually take care of his appearance.　　

Orville rubs his chin with satisfaction, was always proud of his disguise.