After offering this plea, Ben ducked his head as Railin kicked him to shut him up. It had been a fine performance, but he couldnāt deceive Railinās sharp instincts.
āDid you get everything you wanted?ā Railin asked Annette, glaring at Ben.
āI think so. Heās spent a lot of time in hiding, so he couldnāt know for certain what happened next. It seems a waste of time to continue any further.ā
āThen what would you like to do with him now?ā
āHmmm.ā Annette considered, and Railin watched her expectantly, wondering what choice she would make.
āPlease! I beg you, please spare me,ā Ben pleaded again, judging his moment. He was making a great effort to win Annetteās sympathy. He was afraid of Railin, who hadnāt hesitated to force him through the confession, but Railin was under Annetteās command. If she decided to take pity on Ben and release him, Railin could not do anything about it.
Ben had already forgotten all the decisions that had brought him to this point. When he had become involved in gambling. When he had chosen to get his sister addicted to drugs. When he had later gone to the King, hoping for compensation for her death. None of them were good decisions, and all of them had led here.
āā¦His Majesty distrusts the Bavaria family. They say we have lost some of the nobility of our blood, but who knows when we might rise againā¦ā
Annette spoke slowly, thoughtfully. The King had done all of this to restrain her family. Arjen had nearly lost the position he had earned in the Empire. She had been falsely accused to remove her from contention for Crown Princess. And though her father had said nothing, perhaps he too had suffered something similar.
I should visit my father soon.
She needed to talk to him, though Allamand was not an easy man to speak with. He believed that a man in his position should speak seldom, to make it more difficult for others to draw him out. It won him respect, and not a little fear.
But this had also applied to his daughter, and Annetteās hands used to freeze with fear at the bare thought of trying to talk to her father alone. But she couldnāt let that stop her anymore.
Lost in thought, Annette bit her lower lip anxiously, and was startled at the sudden touch of a cool white finger that brushed her lip away from her teeth. Railin smiled.
āMy client is very intelligent, but sometimes she forgets the presence of others when she is deep in thought. I donāt like it. It makes me feel lonely.ā
Railin lowered his eyes, his face filled with sadness. His blue hair gave him an air of innocence. If he had looked like a magnificent purple peony before, now he was a dewy chrysanthemum. Annette apologized automatically.
āI beg your pardon. Honestly, I am a little bewildered. I canāt seem to take it all in.ā
āCan I guess what youāre thinking?ā
āAh?ā Annetteās eyes went curiously to his face, from which the sadness had vanished all at once.
āTell me if this is not what causes your doubts,ā he said cheerfully. āHis Majesty has killed everyone else involved in this affair, yet he leaves the chief figure alive, and even provides him with maintenance. Though that seems to have been a waste, since our Ben couldnāt stay away from the tables.ā
Railin paused to look at the pathetic man, turning the meat hammer in his hand as if he were contemplating whether to hit him again. But it wasnāt the moment for that.
āThus, it seems likely that His Majesty has some use planned for him. That is why he allowed him to live. Perhaps to continue the previous work, or perhaps for some new task. We cannot know which. But if I can offer my personal opinionā¦it will mean nothing good for my beloved client.ā
His red lips drew back in a smile. And yes, those words matched Annetteās thoughts perfectly. Her fingers lifted to her temples.
āWe will restrain him here,ā she decided, after careful consideration. āIt may be that I can use him as a witness later.ā
Honestly, it would be easier to kill him now. But Annette had a vague sense that she should not, a premonition that one day he might be useful. And she trusted her instincts.