Chapter 51: A Risky Alliance and a Maid’s Choice

After Rodd had laid out the advantages and disadvantages to Aisha, he left me to persuade her.

Of course, I didn’t want Aisha to die in vain for Cassina, so I quickly recounted some of the events from the previous night.

“I happened to overhear a conversation between Cassina and another woman last night, and that’s when I learned her earlier claim about exposing you and Rodd was just an excuse.”

My voice was low, carrying the weight of a secret.

“In fact, she was concerned about her reputation and dared not be intimate with him before marriage. But to secure Rodd’s heart, she thought of having you pretend to be her and sleep with Rodd!”

As for how the drug was administered, after careful consideration, I decided to tell her that Cassina had bribed Mankha.

After all, if Rodd were truly informed of a spy on Moon Island, the marriage alliance between the Coldwind Territory and Moon Island would likely fall apart.

That simply wouldn’t do; my mission was far from complete.

Upon hearing my intelligence, Aisha was astonished, repeatedly asking how I knew so much and if the information could possibly be false.

However, after my repeated assurances, she eventually decided to trust me and would reveal everything she knew according to this narrative.

Inside the Lord’s bedroom, Allen relayed the information he had just obtained from Aisha to Rodd. I stood behind Rodd, filled with tension.

“So that’s how it is? It’s a little different from what I expected…”

Rodd’s voice was deep. He rested his hands on the table, supporting his chin as he pondered.

“But looking at it this way, the Coldwind Territory sending Cassina for a marriage alliance becomes even more suspicious.”

“Brother, who cares what schemes they’re plotting? What’s wrong with accepting a beautiful young lady for no reason?” Allen said indifferently. “Anyway, once she officially marries you a month from now, won’t all the wealth she brings become yours?”

“Allen, don’t let temporary gains blind you. Our purpose in coming to Moon Island isn’t just a mere Cassina.”

Rodd said meaningfully.

As if something had occurred to him, Allen nodded thoughtfully.

“Alright, Brother. Since we’ve already extracted useful information from that maid, how should we deal with her? How about we follow our old rules…”

A mature ruthlessness flickered across Allen’s youthful face, sending a chill down my spine.

‘What ‘old rules’?

‘Killing to silence her?’

“Cough, cough—”

Rodd suddenly coughed, pulling me back from Allen’s grim suggestion.

“Reign in that impulsiveness of yours. Can’t you be a little more civilized? Is that how nobles handle things?” His tone carried unmistakable reproach.

“Then what do you suggest we do?” Allen spread his hands.

“Hmm… that is a problem.”

Rodd seemed troubled. He waved his hand forward.

“Allen, you may withdraw for now. I need some time to think this through properly.”

Allen nodded, politely excusing himself at the door.

Seeing that the matter was mostly handled, and feeling the profound weariness of a sleepless night, I secretly yawned and seized the opportunity to speak to Rodd.

“Then, Master, if there’s nothing else, I’ll…”

Rodd suddenly cast a serious gaze my way, startling away much of my sleepiness.

“Lilian, how is your relationship with Aisha? What kind of person do you think she is?”

“Relationship? Uh… it’s alright, quite familiar.”

Unsure of Rodd’s reason for asking, I stammered my reply.

“I think she’s a very good person. Although she looks a bit flirtatious on the outside, she has a kind heart. She helped me a lot during our journey to Moon Island.”

“Is that so? She doesn’t sound like a malicious woman…”

“Why are you asking this question, Master?”

“I’m considering how to deal with her. According to noble custom, I should return this maid to Cassina promptly, along with a list of her transgressions, allowing her original mistress to decide her fate and, incidentally, making Cassina owe me a favor.”

Rodd’s tone was somewhat playful.

“However, I promised her that if she confessed everything truthfully, I wouldn’t do that. Going back on my word isn’t impossible, but it’s not my usual style.

“Besides, I’ve also inquired about Cassina’s character; she is a young lady who places great importance on her reputation. Her maid didn’t return for an entire night, so she must have realized something was amiss and probably guessed Aisha would reveal some information to me. It’s quite possible that even if Aisha were released unharmed, she would still suffer at Cassina’s hands.”

Rodd’s words were like a stone dropped into a calm pool, stirring up a thousand ripples and replacing my somewhat settled emotions with renewed anxiety.

“Then… then what should we do?”

“At this point, there are probably only two ways.”

Rodd explained patiently.

“The first way is to give her some travel money and let her leave Listening Wind Town on her own, finding a place where she’s unknown to start a new life. This method carries risks; the Moen family’s rule over Moon Island has only lasted a few decades, so apart from Listening Wind Town and Clear Water Port, the remaining areas aren’t safe. Moreover, if she travels by sea, she might encounter pirates.

“The second way is for her to stay here. Although Listening Wind Town has barren land, it wouldn’t be difficult for me, as the Lord, to find her a job. Under our supervision, she could slowly reform herself through her own labor and earn our recognition.”

Rodd’s gaze swept over the humble castle, and he sighed.

“But as you’ve seen, even the Lord’s castle is so shabby; even if she finds work, she won’t lead a very comfortable life. You can convey these two options to Aisha and see what she intends to do.”

And so, I returned to the dungeon with Rodd’s words, explaining his proposed solutions to Aisha.

To be honest, I truly hoped she would choose the first option. Although it sounded risky, Moon Island’s current situation was not optimistic; it was merely the calm before the storm.

Once Cassina and Rodd were married and had an heir, Lord Axas would make his next ruthless move.

I knew that man too well; he would exhaust every means to fulfill his ambitions.

While Moon Island was a power in itself, how could it possibly contend with such a venomous snake?

Therefore, when I described the second option to Aisha, I exaggerated the barrenness of Listening Wind Town as much as possible, belittling its people as utterly worthless.

Yet, for some unknown reason, throughout the entire process, Aisha looked at me with an incredibly gentle gaze. In the end, she stated her answer with firm resolve:

“The second.”

“Why?!”

I found it truly difficult to accept, and for a moment, I spoke without thinking.

“Haven’t you already tried? If Rodd were interested in you, he would have made a move long ago. What’s the point of staying now? Are you still hoping to seduce him? To climb to the top, step by step? Oh, really… stop dreaming, Sister!”

Suddenly, I felt her flick my forehead, and I yelped.

“Hehe, that’s a nice way to address me. You should just call me that from now on.”

Aisha didn’t seem sad at all. A carefree smile played on her lips.

“It’s alright if I don’t climb to the top for now, because I feel that Rodd isn’t a bad person. If he were, he wouldn’t have given me a choice.”

“Then why do you want to stay here?”

I clutched my slightly swollen and aching forehead, looking at her in confusion, desperately wanting an answer.

“Hmm…”

Aisha gave me a playful glance, then slowly averted her gaze, pouting.

“Who knows~”