Disclaimer: Berusaiyu no Bara & all characters © ® All Rights Reserved Ikeda
Productions 1972-1973, Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co. 1979-1980.
Part 5: Personal Agendas
by Aria (crune@coqui.net)
Few people truly knew the beauty of mornings. The Duke of Orleans
thought of himself as one of the lucky few. Indeed, he prided himself on
waking up a bit before dawn and sitting on a chair in his balcony in his
study to observe the slow awakening of his surroundings while he drank his
coffee. It was the most peaceful part--
"You have a visitor, Monsieur," a servant meekly told the Duke as she
gave him his cup, interrupting his current line of thought.
The Duke looked at the young woman with irritation; "Did I not give
orders not to disturb me at this hour of the morning?"
"I know, Monsieur, but the lady was quite persistent. She says that
it is in your best interest to attend her."
"Did she say her name?" the Duke asked in a monotone voice.
"Actually..." the servant looked uncomfortable, "she told me to give
you this."
"Well," the Duke asked sharply, "what was it?"
"This, Monsieur," the woman timidly handed him a lock of blonde hair.
The Duke frowned and said coldly, "Let her in."
The servant appeared a few minutes later with a tall blonde woman in
a simple dress. She left immediately, knowing that his master forbade the
presence of any of the help while he entertained guests in his study.
The blonde woman sat down gracefully in front of the Duke and smiled.
"I take it you don't know that many blonde women?"
"Not many that introduce themselves in such an original manner," he
said in a dry tone, "I'm very glad you decided to drop by, Lis. I might have
had to trace you down."
She arched an eyebrow. "Really, and why?"
"Because you have yet to honor your contract."
"My contract?"
"Yes, I won't pay unless I have results."
Lis frowned, "I did comply with half of the deal--Oscar is gone."
"That was not it," he replied sharply, "I said to humiliate her, to
stain her honor--not to dispose of her."
"Do you mind that I did?"
The Duke smiled faintly, "Actually I don't. I just regret the
rashness of your actions. You should have consulted me first. However, no
sense in dwelling on the past--you have yet to fulfill the most important
part of the contract."
"I will, why are you so impatient?" Lis' voice was tinged with
irritation.
"I am impatient, because I see no logic in your actions. Why did you
steal the Princess' ring and scare her? Why have you taken Oscar Jarjayes'
identity? It makes no sense all the deal asked for was the elimination of
the heir to the throne the humiliation of the Commander of the Royal Guard.
I made arrangements so that you could wander freely around the palace and
honor the deal and instead I find you creating scandal."
"The court could always use more scandal," Lis pointed out tartly.
The Duke glared at her murderously. "It doesn't. However, your
actions prove one thing: that I can't trust you. Let me tell you something
Lis-- if I can't trust you, expect no compensation from me."
Lis smiled. "I do everything my own way--this is how I chose to
comply with the deal. Don't worry, you'll have your high-scale assassination
soon enough."
"You are reckless. I'll say it once more--I don't trust you."
Lis stood up, within seconds a sharp dagger was pointed at his throat.
"I'm afraid," she said calmly, "you don't have the option of not
trusting me. I've invested too much of my time with your deal and I expect to
get the money you promised."
Beads of sweat formed in the Duke's forehead. "And if you don't get
it?"
"You die"; she said cheerily, "So is the deal still on?"
The Duke nodded and the dagger vanished into her sleeve.
"Don't worry about it, I assure you that as long as you are
cooperative, you won't be disappointed," she paused, "I suppose it's getting
late. I'd better go."
"Lis?"
"Yes?"
"Why did you come dressed that way?"
"I thought it'd be too suspicious for the Commander to visit a
person she obviously has a distaste of and vise versa. Besides, I have to
grudgingly admit that a dress is more comfortable than the clothing she
wears."
"Is that so? May I ask why?"
She smiled. "I'd rather you didn't since it's rather personal."
"You have just doubled my curiosity, Mademoiselle."
"I must have if you are calling me 'Mademoiselle' instead of just
Lis."
She motioned to leave.
"Lis?"
"Yes?" She replied, expecting him to press the previous question.
"You don't look like Oscar at all when you wear a dress."
Lis shrugged, "I bet she doesn't either."
***
The Duke stayed in his study long after Lis left, contemplating his
next move. The person that had told him about Lis had warned him about her
recklessness, however until now, he was not completely aware on the extent.
He was puzzled by her actions and more than a bit disturbed.
Her earlier threat had convinced him she was dangerous, too dangerous. It seemed that there were some people even money couldn't make sensible.
The Duke sighed. It was always unfortunate to turn against one of
your own, but a person always had to erase everything before starting over.
***
Lis arrived at the Jarjayes mansion with time to spare. Her immediate
concern was that anyone could see her and wonder about her attire.
She smiled, after all, Oscar herself would have rather died than wear
a dress.
As she changed in the stable to Oscar's usual clothes, she thought
about the Duke. People like him existed everywhere, she thought thinking of
her last employer. She was used to those that required her services for
mindless greed, but the Duke had surprised her. It wasn't really greed what
he was after, but rather power. That did not sit well with Lis, if he was the
person she judged him to be he wouldn't forgive her for threatening him.
He would try to dispose of her and get someone else to kill the heir.
Lis certainly wasn't going to make it easy for him to get rid of her.
Never for that bastard.
She scoffed, thinking about the Duke's plans and his attempt to hire
her to kill the future King. She wasn't going to worry about that job in
particular--she had a more personal one to consider.
***
Sometime later in the evening while she was getting ready to take a
bath, she heard a soft knock on her door. Lis opened it and smiled when she
saw the Nana. Nana in turn did not smile.
"What's wrong Nana?" Lis had been fond of Nana since her first
encounter with her a week ago. She respected the way the old woman cared for
the household, never relaxing her iron grip on every aspect of daily life of
the Jarjayes household despite her fondness for spirits.
"Lady Oscar, I'm going to ask you to talk to Andre."
Lis willed herself to remain impassive.
"I don't think he's well at all."
"Oh Nana, don't worry, I'm sure he's all right, I mean he was fine
yesterday."
The Nana gave her an odd look. "Lady Oscar, Andre has been depressed
since that incident in the trial--oh my God do you think...he thinks...that
you...?"
Lis didn't like the direction of the conversation. "Oh Nana of course
not!" She laughed, "I like to think my best friend knows who the real me is".
Lis shook her head, "The truth is, Nana, I said...something that day that
was", she made herself wince, "...not nice."
Nana sighed. "I think I know, Lady Oscar."
Real surprise flickered from Lis. "You do?"
"I know my grandson and I have a good ear for things around here. He
was following you wasn't he?"
"Yes, I'm afraid I was too hard on him when I found out. I never
thought it would bother him so much though."
"Lady Oscar, you should have known better!" Nana's voice was stern
enough to startle Lis. "My grandson cares a great deal for your safety, he
only tries to protect you."
Lis sighed. "Yes, I suppose there really was no malice in him."
Mentally, she rolled her eyes, predicting what was to come.
"I know it isn't in my place to tell you what to do Lady Oscar, but
I'd recommend you apologize."
She almost groaned in frustration. She didn't need this now!
A little voice whispered, that's what you get for being sadistic.
I wasn't being sadistic, she replied mentally.
You weren't enjoying toying with the boy?
Well, yes.
That's sadistic, the voice said
"Lady Oscar?"
Lis snapped back to attention. "Yes, Nana," she said automatically.
"So you'll apologize?"
"Fine", she said in a defeated tone, "but can I bathe first?"
The Nana nodded and left.
After she did Lis leaned back against the door, smiling. That was a
lucky break if there was one! She really had no desire to confront Andre.
You're feeling guilty, the annoying voice said.
I'm not, she shot back.
"Ugh, I bet the bath is so cold by now," she said out loud dismissing
as she her previous thoughts as she made her way to the bathroom.
She began to take off her clothes including the impossibly tight
cloth she wore from around her breasts to make her figure more like Oscar's.
Lis winced seeing the red lines it left as she took it off.
Even corsettes aren't this uncomfortable, she thought.
She rubbed the crescent-shaped scar over her alabaster skin that ran
from her right shoulder to her collarbone absentmindedly. Once in the
bathroom, she dipped her hand in the tub and smiled. "Well, what do you
know..." She removed her pants and undergarments and then entered the tub.
Lis closed her eyes, letting herself relax. Maybe I shouldn't have
played with Andre like that, she thought, he seemed like he was falling apart
...the girl pushed the thought away. I didn't start anything *he* kissed
me--
Her thought was interrupted when a breeze made it's way into the
bathroom. Lis shivered and opened her eyes.
A breeze meant an open window, an open window meant...
She hadn't opened any window...
She stood up from the porcelain bathtub, water dripping from her body.
Grabbing a towel, she dried herself quickly and wrapped it around herself
before entering her room. Once there, her fears were confirmed as four
figures dressed entirely in black awaited her in front of the open window.
I should have locked the damn thing, she thought.
Lis suppressed her panic, trying to sort out the situation. Probably
she had about five seconds before they went to her throat. All four figures
were larger than she was and she knew than logically they were armed. She
quickly surveyed the room for anything she might use as a weapon.
To her far right, in a corner was Oscar's sword. Not right for this
kind of fight, but it'll do she thought. Then something else caught her eye.
The two lighted candles on either side of her and the moonless sky outside
the open window.
Two seconds passed while she improvised a plan. She used the third
second to flash her opponents a taunting smile and the fourth and fifth to
blow out the candles.
The room was submerged in darkness. It was still an uneven fight, but
now at least she had one advantage--the fact that she knew the room better
than her opponents. Before throwing herself to the ground she reached for the
vase that was on top of the table directly beside the bed and launched it as
far away as she could from her.
Lis heard it shatter as did her opponents. She heard them scuffle
towards the broken vase thinking that she had tripped while she reached for
Oscar's sword.
I could just leave, she thought, and effectively reached the door,
but not before a hand grabbed her ankle. It took all her will power not to
scream from the shock. She identified the figure's face by touch as she tried
to keep it from grabbing her arms.
"I have--" its masculine voice was cut when Lis slammed the underside
of her palm hard upward against his nose causing him an instantaneous death.
The others had heard their comrade, Lis had little time. She searched the
assassin's fallen body for a comfortable weapon. She had limited experience
with long swords and didn't want to use Oscar's now that she had another
option.
Lis had just found a rapier when she felt a 'whoosh' of air
near her stomach and rolled out of the way, extending her hand with the
rapier. She felt it connect it with something. Her attacker gasped and Lis
tried to push her weapon farther until she had to pull away when she felt a
sharp pain in her side.
The rapier fell out of her hands and she moved back only to collide
something.
She found herself with her hands held behind her back and thrashed
frantically, kicking furiously.
Then, getting a better idea, she slammed her head back against her
attacker as hard as she could ignoring the pain, taking her assailant by
surprise. He made a grunt of pain and let go of her. She dived to the floor
and once again felt a hand grasp her ankle. She made no effort to pull it
back, but instead pushed it forwards kicking one of her assailants.
Now free, she searched blindly for the rapier. She found it just as
someone grabbed her by her hair. Another of her assailants grabbed her elbow.
Lis brought the dagger up and to the side forcefully; she heard a sickening
wet sound and felt a small splash of something thick and warm. She could tell
the one that was pulling painfully on her hair felt it too, since it froze
with shock. Lis used his hesitation to her favor, stabbing him repeated
times until she felt a sharp pain on her left shoulder. Out of instinct she
reached to touch it, biting her lips as she felt the sting and the wetness of
her own blood.
Lis suddenly groaned and fell to her knees after feeling something
solid slam against her stomach. She threw herself forwards and used the
rapier, slashing inelegantly at anything that might have been in her path.
She then felt another sharp kick to the stomach that knocked the wind
out of her and felt herself flying back against the wall. Lis landed on her
back, immediately she got on all fours trying to breathe.
She coughed forcefully, tasting the metallic sweetness of her blood.
She didn't know where her rapier was now, but felt something sharp
near her as big as her palm.
The pieces of the vase! Lis smiled, clutching one of the bigger
pieces in her hand. She stayed on the ground where she was, until she sensed
one of the figures in front of her. Then she slashed upwards with the piece
of glass, feeling it cut through skin and break.
The figure screamed and dove for her. She used the same technique she
had with her first assailant, feeling the crunch of its bone as it was
smashed against his skull.
The figure twitched and fell.
That's when the door flew open. Using the light from the doorway,
Lis took her downed figure's weapon and threw it to the one figure that
remained standing a few feet away from her at the foot of her bed. The
rapier imbedded itself in the figure's throat. It crumbled to the ground.
Lis sighed with relief and let herself fall on the floor. She lay
there a few minutes panting and then looked through the open doorway to see
an utterly astonished Andre.
"Can you pass me the towel?" she asked.
to be continued...
END part 5
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