Social Animal

***

Soon someone knocked on the door. Kyrie’s eyes grew bigger, allowing them to enter without expectation. It was Maria and Laura who came in.

“You girls..!”

“Kyrie, how are you?”

“Kyrie!”

As soon as Laura in front of her saw Kyrie, she ran and hugged her.

“Oh, my God! I heard the story! Is everything okay? Look at this! You lost some cheek fat! I sent you expensive food to feed you, you didn’t get it?”

“Was it you, Laura, who sent the truffles from Mount Luthier?”

“She did! I thought someone ate them all, but I’m glad they didn’t! But why are you so skinny, my cutie!”

“Laura was very worried. Of course I did.”

Laura was on the verge of crying, and Maria, who didn’t express her emotions well, also looked deep. Kyrie lightly hugged their two shoulders.

“I thought I’d never see you again..Thank you for coming. Are you girls all right?”

“You don’t have anything to worry about us.”

“That’s right! That bastard! Everything’s fine except for ....!”

Laura shouted loudly and looked around. Although MarryAnne was waiting far away from the audience, she folded her ears and pretended not to hear when she received attention.

Kyrie smiled bitterly and led her friends to the table.

“Let’s sit down. There’s a lot to talk about.”

As soon as Laura got her seat, she hit the table only enough to look cute.

“Kyrie, I heard you! It’s ridiculous that you’ve been kidnapped, but he swept the soldiers away to find you, stripped the Crown Prince and made him roll like a dog!”

She talked to that point and tapped Kyrie on the shoulder.

“I heard it’s a cute size, is it true?” (T/N: she is talking about CP d*ck)

Kyrie let out a smile.

“I don’t know because I haven’t seen it.”

“That’s what I should have seen! There’s a lot of satire going around the city right now, and I wonder if it’s real!”

“....Did you have any interest in that?”

“Since the day you broke up, I’ve become very interested in the figures of Orewinbridge!.... But it’s soundproof here, isn’t it?”

Laura rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, flapping her fingers near her ears. Kyrie burst into laughter. After seeing her smile, Laura smiled with a relieved look.

“Yeah, it’s good to see you smile! I’ll import good cosmetics from the North Continent and put them in. Why is your face so damaged, I’m worried.....”

Kyrie also knew that she intentionally raised the mood by telling ridiculous stories. Kyrie’s smile softened.

“Don’t worry too much. Can you tell me about the outside world? MarryAnne, get me some refreshments.”

MarryAnne approached Kyrie’s call and set up refreshments. It was the moment when MarryAnne turned her back to the door to receive new hot water. Maria, who had not said much so far, whispered only in the shape of her mouth.

‘Your maid, does she know the high and low signs?’

Kyrie immediately rolled her purple eyes from side to side. Maria nodded her head.

‘I think so.’

(T/N: from here the convo will be confusing because they are exchanging information by signals and at the same time they are talking fake convo with loud noise so that Anne doesn’t has any doubts, so the convo in “..” Are just fake you can ignore it but the convo in 「.. 」are done by signals and are important)

Three people’s eyes met. As if she had waited, Laura threw off her fur, broke and grumbled loudly.

“So, what does the Legendary Lord want from you? Does he like you? Is it because you like him?? Or why is he trying to ruin your life?”

“It’s not because I like him.”

“Our cutie was in danger, but it’s not right to lock people up like this! Kyrie, did you commit anything?”

Maria began to tap her finger in time for Laura’s fuss.

「Are they watching the conversation?」

“Not really, but I can’t tell you the details, I’m sorry.”

「Maybe. How’s it going out there?」

Kyrie quietly tapped her finger and said calmly.

“Does this make sense!? How do you keep a person in this place? Because it’s so quiet outside, I’m more annoyed!

「The confrontation between the Emperor and the legend is getting worse. The Emperor is on her knees now, but she must be sharpening her sword behind him.」

“Other than that, what else? Nothing else has changed?”

「Is she expanding her army?」

“A ball will be held here soon, so they told me to attend! I heard that first of all, the finest items that go into the Royal Family are falling for you.”

「No. Rather, they are gathering wizards.」

Kyrie furrowed her eyebrows. They seemed to be looking for the hidden lab of Vallabriga Orwenbridge. After all, the Orwenbridge’s magic was probably the only thing that could kill Nathaniel in this situation.

She shifted her hand position, taking a meaningless time of silence, and then flicked her fingers again.

“Is there no conflict among the nobles? I heard that Buchanan was going to be a duke.”

「Can you keep an eye on the magicians under the Emperor?」

“Who would agree with Vermont when they saw him do that!”

「You know they’re looking for something, Kyrie.」

Kyrie moved her eyes up and down instead of her head. Maria squinted her eyes and tapped her finger on the handle of the teacup.

「They’re already watching. The movement of the wizards is mainly focused on the Imperial Palace.」

Whether the Emperor would be able to find Vallabriga’s lab was a question in this power game. They suddenly felt something strange about Kyrie, who thought that far.

‘Nataniel said he was immortal, but how could he be killed by Vallabriga?’

Her thoughts became complicated. The more she knew about him, the more blurry everything was.

Kyrie tried hard to smile.

“First of all.... I hope you don’t stand out as much as possible in front of him.”

「Let me know when they find something.」

“Does it matter now? You’re locked up!?”

「I will. What are you going to do?」

「Me?」

「I’m working with Laura to help you escape. You’re gonna get out of here, right?」

Kyrie stopped the finger that was giving the sign. Hesitation flashed through her big purple eyes.

「Can I do that?」

「What do you mean?」

Kyrie recalled the dying soldiers. It was an innocent sacrifice. Even after a few days, a pile of dead bodies in the snow field came up clearly. All of it was done because of herself.

「A sacrifice of a cattle for the great. It’s true that nobody gets hurt when I’m the only one who stays still.」

“Ky!”

Laura, who showed tears, woke up with a strong punch on the table.

“rie...never, ever...!”

[We have a visitor.]

Laura’s next words were easily cut off like a piece of paper.

There was no sign of movement at all. Even the sound of the opening door of the drawing room. Only after hearing a low voice, Kyrie saw the black shoes that invaded from the outside of the field of view to the center, that caught her eyes.

When she looked up, Nathaniel was smiling.

He drove a subdued atmosphere like a sick man’s bedroom. He himself was as rich and beautiful as a basket of flowers for a powerful man, but all the shades of his body were filled with ominousness.

[Oh, they’re your friends.]

Nathaniel came into the room. Seeing him face-to-face, Laura breathed in the difference between what she saw and felt, and Maria clenched her fist so hard that she stabbed her palm with her fingernails.

Only Kyrie, who was now used to it, got up from her seat with anxiety and covered the two.

“Nathaniel...., what brings you here?”

Nathaniel smiled. He stared at Laura and Maria in turn with icy blue eyes.

[You’re good at listening. You’re kind, too]

Nathaniel said with no sign of praise. He looked at Kyrie after a cold-hearted censorship stare.

[Do you like it?]

“What?”

[Your friends.]

Social animal. Nathaniel said in his mouth. Kyrie bit her lips.

“Is that why you called them?”

[Of course. I didn’t realize that locking people up would make them stupid.]

Kyrie looked around Laura and Maria. The two were unable to breathe at the end of their encounter. She was used to it. But Nathaniel was taking care of her and not the two people. Kyrie hid her mixed feelings and blocked his way.

“They’re going back now.”

[You can’t kick out a guest who hasn’t been here long, Kyrie.]

“They are the successors of their families. I can’t hold them because they are busy.”

[Really? I don’t think so.]

Nathaniel approached Maria. He reached out gracefully, and Maria held her hand creakingly and reflexively.

Nathaniel bent down slowly as if to kiss the back of her hand, then stopped moving. Then he smiled strangely close to contempt and let go of Maria’s hand as if he had thrown it away.

[I’m sure this is a little disgusting.]

He took off his gloves and looked down at Maria.

[You guys tell me. You’re going now?]

His clear blue eyes, which were neither funny nor joking, were different from those of his when he looked at Kyrie. It was just a dry look, as if he was thinking about whether to kill or shake off a stray ant that climbed on top of his shoes.

Maria held the tip of her skirt and lifted it up like a squeaky orgel doll.

“....No, Sir. Thank you for the invitation.”

Nathaniel looked back at Laura, and Laura also leaned her back with her hand on her chest.

“O, of course I can stay any longer if you invite me!”

[As you should.]

Nathaniel smiled again and turned to Kyrie. Then he laughed slowly.

[You’re gonna kill people with your eyes.]

“If you touch them, I will.”

[You mean me?] (T/N: he means ‘kill me?’)

“That’s impossible.”

[Right. Then?]

Kyrie added in a tired voice.

“I will.” (T/N: she means she will ‘kill herself’)

As soon as Kyrie finished speaking, Nathaniel’s thumb came into her mouth and pressed Kyrie’s tongue.

“Uh..!”

[You speak very well, My Lady. I mean, it’s a problem because you’re good at hate speech.]

He grabbed her chin with the remaining finger and lifted Kyrie’s head. She put her nails up and grabbed his wrist, but Nathaniel wasn’t even moving.

[You are....]

Nathaniel whispered, looking into Kyrie’s eyes.

[That’s so easy to say. You don’t want to die, you throw away your life very lightly.]

Kyrie laughed self-help. It seemed easy. She just had her own body. Instead of answering, she bit Nathaniel’s finger in her mouth.

[.....]

At that moment, Kyrie doesn’t know what emotions came to mind as if they were lighting up Nathaniel’s face.

However, Kyrie now realized that Nathaniel became the fiercest and most satisfied when she threatened him with her own body. He seemed to hate Kyrie’s extreme choices, but he did not hesitate to take her to a dead end.

‘Look now. The cruelty of those eyes.’

The strength of Nathaniel’s fingers holding her cheeks grew stronger. Kyrie’s suffocation was choked by the gaze that seemed to wander beyond her eyes and into the brain beyond.

“Ugh...”

Finally, when Kyrie couldn’t hold back her spirits, she gave a shallow groan with a heated face, and Nathaniel’s hand fell off.

[That should be the only blackmail you can do.]

He muttered. She realized that something wasn’t in her mind. (T/N: he manipulated her mind, I mean removed the idea of suicide)

After being silent for a while, Nathaniel turned. Then, he made an elegant scorn toward MarryAnne, who was in an attack posture from behind.

[Forest beast. Get ready for the ball. Your master is so bored that she will soon commit suicide.]

***

It was that night. Someone knocked on the door where Laura Fort Ducane stayed. Laura’s maid opened the door instead of her owner.

“What about you?”

“Hello, Miss FortDucane.”

It was MarryAnne who knocked on the door. It wasn’t in Kyrie who was next to her. Laura quickly ordered the maids.

“Let her in, and you’re out.”

The little girl hesitantly entered, but unlike her actions, there was neither fear nor terror in her eyes. Laura’s eyes turned fiercely to MarryAnne.

“What’s going on?”

“I have a question.....”

MarryAnne wiggled her finger and looked up.

“Does Lady FortDucane like our Miss?”

Laura’s eyebrows wriggled.

“Kid? Kyrie seems to be generous and looks after you, but I don’t speak with the maid.

“But...., But you didn’t come to save our Miss?”

She seemed to be hoping for something. Laura frowned at her.

“I don’t have anything to tell you who is cooperating with the Legendary Lord. Go back.”

“MarryAnne just wanted her to be safe!”

MarryAnne answered urgently and closed her eyes.

“By the way.....”

“By the way?”

“It can’t be like this.....”

“No?”

“Miss is.... she said she wasn’t happy because she was locked up.”

“Isn’t it natural?”

Laura laughed and raised her chin.

“You want her to live under someone else’s feet, acting cute? She can’t live like that. You’re not a son of a bitch. No one can treat Kyrie like that! She’s been protecting her pride!”

MarryAnne opened her eyes to Laura’s words, grinding her teeth and shouting. The dark eyes were filled with feelings of regret and longing.

“Yes.....? MarryAnne also lived that way. Long ago.”

“You said that? No, don’t say anything! I’m not curious about that! I thought I was going to talk about the matters regarding Kyrie and so I heard you, so tell me the truth!”

MarryAnne nodded up and down.

“Isn’t FortDucane the one who moves the big ships? It’s like a trade.” (T/N: Their family handles the ships, it was mentioned in chp 32)

Laura looked surprised. She never thought she’d bring this up. Did she know how ships float, let alone trade? Kyrie always cared about MarryAnne and said she was competent, but in Laura’s eyes, she was only a child.

‘That child, Kyrie, the Legend, trade?’ (T/N: Laura is joining the dots and these are the key points)

But Laura’s feeling was signaling, that this kid was here to make a proper deal.

“Wait a minute, kid.”

Laura immediately opened the glass in the room. Then she took out a bottle of whiskey and two crystal glasses shaped like a turtle’s back shell(T/N: images are provided below) and put them on the table with a bang. Her eyes flashed curiously.

“Let’s talk about the right thing. You’re good at drinking, right? You look good.”

MarryAnne just muzzled her lips and didn’t answer. Laura shrugged and began to open the bottle. Her senses had never been wrong.

“Okay, so what’s the story?”

MarryAnne, sitting between two glasses of whiskey, opened her mouth carefully.

“Are you going to get Miss out of here?”

Laura drank whiskey without ice instead of answering.

“Whoa, you’re strong, aren’t you?”

“.....”

“It’s my turn. You came to me, not Maria, because when it comes to domestic affairs, Old Ciudad would be much better, but now that you came to me and asked me about my ships, it sounds like I need to load something.”

“You have to bring it.”

“Why?”

“If Lord Nathaniel doesn’t keep his promise.. It’ll be late to get ready then.”

MarryAnne’s black eyes sank. Laura decided to focus on the point instead of the unknown.

“Kid, you don’t know what, Old Ciudad and FortDucane aren’t killing, saving and hiding a person!”

“You can’t hide from Nathaniel by human power.”

“Why?”

Instead of answering, MarryAnne grabbed the glass in front of her. Laura laughed a little. The young girl had a keen understanding of what this game was.

“I kind of know why Kyrie likes you.”

“Thank you. “

“So you want to get Kyrie out?”

“Not now. “

“What? What are you doing with her then?”

“But MarryAnne needs to be prepared for everything, and MarryAnne felt, If we go like this, maybe ..”

MarryAnne’s words died down.

“I thought Nataniel might break Miss down..”

It was an empty echo. Laura remained silent for a long time, then poured whiskey into the glass at once. And then she put the glass down loudly, folded her arms and leaned deep into the sofa.

“Okay. What do you need?”

***

T/N:

She poured whiskey in this