"Do you understand, Aunt? I am asking you a question."
Lina raised her eyebrows and repeated herself with a smile.
"I understand, Your Majesty! I won't say a word!"
Despite Lina's amiable attitude and the complete lack of menace in her voice, the Duchess of Tulian shuddered as though someone had stepped on her tail and let out a terrified cry. Without daring to look back, she half dragged and half carried Charledris out of the room, stumbling all the way to the door.
Now, only the Duke of Flanders, the Count of Foyle, Karl, and the Duke of Champagne remained. The Duke of Flanders sighed wearily and rubbed his face with one hand before speaking earnestly to Lina. "You are being too impatient, Your Majesty."
"I wonder whether you have ever heard the saying that one cannot sleep peacefully while there is a threat lying beside one's bed. If you were in my position, would you simply sit back and do nothing?"
