Making Sense of it All

By Apple-chan

Disclaimer: IT WOULD NOT HAVE ENDED LIKE IT DID IF I OWNED IT.T_T

Warnings: G/K

Spoilers: Chapter 300

Pairings: RenxJeanne. xLyserg


Exhibit A: Ren

Evidence 2: Courtship Means Persuasion

This was a bad idea. A stupid idea. A ridiculous idea.

Ren berated himself mentally for the umpteenth time that day. He was a smart young man in most situations, but in matters like…this, he was completely flabbergasted.

Even though his mother and sister were both women, he was utterly, completely clueless in dealing with girls. At the moment he was only starting to become aware of this fact. Theoretically of course, he knew the basics—but in practice…

Girls are strange creatures. He frowned at the heavy iron doors in front of him. He was Tao Ren, the heir to royalty; any girl would be honored if he was bestowing his attention upon her. Any girl would fall down on her knees in gratitude if someone as high as himself takes her away on a white horse, and carries her off into his castle. Any girl would absolutely swoon with happiness once she hears his intentions straight from his lips. What is wrong with this one?

She's not just any other girl, Ren admitted to himself grudgingly. She's special. That's why I want to marry her.

"And why you kidnapped her," Lyserg was in front of him, coming out of the iron doors. He had spoken that last thought unconsciously.

Ren chose to ignore that remark for the sake of his dignity. "Has she calmed down?" He said instead.

"You should let her out of there," his friend chose to ignore him as well. "Potential brides shouldn't be taken….captive like this. It's just"

"Did you tell her I want to marry her?" Ren interrupted.

"—wrong," Lyserg finished with a pointed look. "I was trying to explain to her why you abducted her."

"Because I'm marrying her," Ren answered matter-of-factly.

"You abducted her," Lyserg repeated impatiently. "Ren-kun, if you intend to marry a girl, you never take her forcefully from her home. It doesn't work that way."

"Why not? It's just a simple matter." He said impatiently. A few simple steps: get the girl, take her home, have the ceremonies over and done with, put the ring on her finger. Finished.

"It is not simple. Far from it." Lyserg observed him through narrowed eyes. "Ren-kun…have you ever heard of courtship?"

"Courtship?" He frowned at this. Vaguely familiar. He'd probably encountered the term in one of his books. Nothing too important perhaps, else he'd remember. His mother and sister probably knew though, if it had something to do with girls and their weird behavior. He'll have to ask them later on.

He paused at that thought. Maybe not ask them, he decided. Asking would be too…awkward. Look it up—yes, that's what I'll do. Look it up.

Lyserg sighed, loudly enough to catch his attention. "Courtship, Ren-kun, is, to be concise, trying to persuade a girl to like you enough so that she'll marry you."

Ren stared. No need to look it up, then. "…It's that simple?"

"By definition, yes." His friend replied. "In practice…no."

"No?"

"No. Absolutely not."

"So what does this have to do with her?" Ren pointed with distaste at the iron doors, referring quite obviously to his hostage inside. Iron Maiden Jeanne, his future bride.

"Ren-kun!" Lyserg looked up at the ceiling and exhaled loudly, then gazed at Ren like he thought his friend was the thickest person in the entire planet. Which Ren definitely wasn't.

He was just a little bit slow when it came to these things. It was quite understandable. He was a warrior, for crying out loud. Warriors think about the important stuff—like war, and fighting, and making one's self stronger. Courtship didn't fall under important.

But…if it was necessary, it was necessary.

"I get it. I get it," he raised a hand to shut Lyserg up and prevent him from doing other things. Like shake him into admitting his cluelessness on women. "Courtship. I have to do this courtship thing so I can get her to like me. Right?" Easy.

"Yes," Lyserg agreed, "but it's not that simple."

"You mentioned that." Ren said impatiently. "So, what do I have to do?"

TBC


Notes:

I've completely given up on trying to edit this and there is no point in making it longer. Next chapter will come out whenever, as it is as of the moment written in my head but not on a word document.

Reviews are great! Thanks! Most appreciated!:D