Chapter 51
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Lady Zilke's maid, Margot, started the rumor with some pretty clever tricks, but Olivia caught on fairly early on.
"So, he said that I was handing out business cards with the actor's names and the amount of the bid?" (Olivia)
"That's right."
Marel replied politely.
"I have a friend whom I hired temporarily to do odd jobs around the office, and he asked if he could have the business card. He says his master is very fond of you, but since he's not a noble, he hasn't had the opportunity to meet you, Laila."
"Hmm. I guess I didn't know that Mr. Marel himself would listen to stories of temporary employment. What did you say to him?"
"I denied it, but he didn't seem to believe me. Do you want me to do something about it?"
Olivia thought for a moment.
This was the kind of attack she'd expected. The easiest way to get Laila out of social circle was to spread scandal. It was more indirect than she'd expected.
“On the contrary,” Olivia said thoughtfully, “I’ll never have a chance to explain. Denying it would only bring the rumor to the surface. Who is it, anyway?”
It was most likely someone from Princess’s Loella's entourage, but that was far from certain. With Laila’s sudden rise to fame, it was hard to imagine that there wasn’t someone who didn’t like her.
It was unlikely that many would be radical enough to take direct action, though, and there was only one person for whom taking her down would be of any real benefit.
She tapped her fine lips with the tip of her fountain pen and spoke.
"I'll have to investigate the source, but let the rumor stand on its own."
"Are you sure you're okay with that?"
"Just because it's a rumor doesn't mean it's going to be stopped. Besides, I think it's best to let the word get out that Zion already has a master."
Olivia glanced toward Zion on the sofa for agreement.
"You're sure that's okay?"
"You're not wrong, but I already have an owner, don't I?"
Zion Miller blinked his eyes and gave her a seductive smile. Olivia pretended not to notice and turned to Marel.
"He says it's okay."
"Okay, that shouldn't be too hard, the rumors are already in full force, can we just get that one out of the way?"
"And this is a separate story, but Philip's been making a lot of acquaintances lately, hasn't he?"
Philip Morrow was the director and screenwriter of The Curtain Rises.
Olivia wrote the story and some of the lyrics, and she was involved in directing some of the scenes, but she couldn't write and direct an entire opera. Olivia discovered him as an unknown playwright and entrusted him with the job, and he became an instant success with The Curtain Rises.
He was sincerely grateful to Olivia for entrusting him with such a large-scale opera. From Olivia's point of view, she felt sorry for him. He was a writer and director destined to succeed, even without The Curtain Rises, and she was risking the life of a master who had succeeded in Raniere and would go on to make a name for himself in Sirah.
In any case, Philip had only made one successful movie, but he had successfully entered the literary circles of Sirah.
So there were rumors spreading through him. Olivia spoke calmly and coldly.
"Tell Philip that Lady Zilke is Schwaben’s mistress."
"What?"
Marel blinked in surprise. Olivia continued calmly.
"It's true. The last Duke of Schwaben used Lady Zilke to create a salon to manage radical thinkers. It's easier to keep track of them if you keep them together."
It was easier to keep discontent from exploding by giving the appearance of a free forum than by shutting it down altogether. Because Zilke's salons were attended not only by literary figures with anti-government leanings, but also by those patronized by Schwaben, the discussions were often heated but usually civilized, creating the illusion that they were having a fight.
And when truly radical ideas showed signs of spreading outside, they were nipped in the bud, either by assassination from the outside or by destroying them in private.
Marel was wise enough to understand the process from Olivia's brief explanation. He was terribly surprised.
"How did you know that?"
"Just."
Olivia answered as she always did when she found something difficult to answer. She must have other sources, Marel could only guess.
"A casual mention by Philip would be enough to get the word out, and that would be the end of Lady Zilke's salon. The attendees won't tolerate it."
"I see."
Zilke was one of the people who had the most to gain by bringing Laila down, and Olivia knew that Zilke and Laila couldn't coexist.
So there was no need to check who was actually spreading the rumors. Just attack all the possible suspects and that would solve it.
Destroying Zilke's salon was in line with Olivia's desire to increase unrest in the capital. The literati and intellectuals would be furious to learn that they'd been playing to the Duke of Schwaben’s wishes all this time.
If she was lucky, something would be uncovered during the assassination.
"Is there anything else you would like me to do?"
"I think we're done here. I know you have a lot of work to do, but please do your best."
"I'll do my best."
Marel replied politely and walked away.
The door to the office closed. Olivia put down her fountain pen and looked back at Zion. Zion, who had been watching her with a smirk, asked.
"So, is it okay for you to share something so important in front of me?"
"You've already risked your life, Zion. I'm the one who put the noose around your neck."
"Hmm. Are you? I thought I was the one who put the noose around my neck."
"Are you sure about this? You can go back to Raniere right now. There's enough evidence already."
Olivia pointed to the gold bracelet Zion was wearing.
"Just give me that. I'll pay you well enough."
Zion twirled the bracelet around in his wrist. Intricately worked and studded with several large sapphires, it had been one of Empress Lillian's wedding gifts.
Olivia hadn't expected him to accept such a thing, and if Zion had done it on purpose to keep her safe, it was a very fine piece of workmanship.
But he didn't answer. His smiling face didn't change, but he also looked troubled.
"Zion."
"Oh, I'm not thinking about how much you have to pay."
Zion replied in a cheerful tone.
"As I've said before, I'm a high risk, high reward kind of guy, so I'm staying."
"I think you've already succeeded in reaping the high rewards, and you'll still get your share if you leave now. Of course, it would be helpful if you stayed, but I can't promise to protect you, and I might even cut your tail off."
Olivia said solemnly. She meant it. Zion muttered darkly.
"Oh no, my master doesn't care for me one bit."
"Don't kid yourself."
It was hard to tell if he was joking, or if he was acting to appear sincere, as he could have both showed tears and truthfully spoken in jest.
Olivia sighed. She had warned him of the danger in the abstract from the beginning, but she hadn't told him what she intended to do. But she hadn't deliberately planned to sacrifice him. Rumors, bracelets, and intimidation were enough to accomplish her goal, and now she'd better leave him out of it.
But Zion shook his head.
"I'm willing to be the bomb."
"Now you know what I'm going to do. That's what I called you to the office for."
"I guessed it from the beginning."
Zion said with a smile. The smile fell from his face, and a darkness grew in the corners of his eyes.
"I'm not doing this for you, Laila. Have you forgotten that I first asked you to join the Marel troupe?"
"You said you had someone to find in Sirah, and the Empress was that someone?"
"I had no idea she was actually the Empress, but it's just as well, Laila, don't you think we were meant to be?"
Olivia fell silent, unable to answer, for once, she couldn't fathom the truth.
When she fell silent, Zion smirked.
"I'd like to see that woman die, and her benefactor, too."
"......."
"You're suspicious of me, I can't help it, so I’m giving it to you."
Zion stood up and stepped in front of Olivia, unclasping the bracelet and setting it down in front of her.
"Why?"
"You didn't tell me why, Laila, and it's a private matter."
She couldn't imagine what private matter could possibly be between the Empress and him, but she couldn't read beyond his livid face.
Olivia picked up the bracelet. What had been done was done, and there was nothing she could do to undo it, even if Zion had betrayed her. But her heart ached for him.
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