Warnings: Self-indulgent mess. Lots of waffling.

Shoutout to Smile, Laryna6, Delighted Laughter, and Mugiwara Otome for leaving reviews! Also thanks to everyone who's added this to their follow/favourite list.

I've decided to answer anonymous reviews in-chapter and logged in reviews through PM.

Smile: I've cut off canon at #395. Anything after will not be alluded to or referenced because I have not read anything past #395. Rael's not avoiding a certain future per say; merely avoiding certain unsavoury outcomes the best he can. Thanks for your interest! Events change a whole lot more later, so I hope you keep reading. :D And I've become so used to the Rael in Ten Years that I forget how different he is from canon.

Lukedonia arc in general is kicking my ass. I don't want to keep things the same, but it's very difficult because the canon arc itself progresses quite naturally. There'll be another chapter (maybe two) before we hit Arc 2. Some of you may have noticed, but I've already been editing previous chapters. If there are major edits, I'll make a note.

Reviews are greatly appreciated! I've never written anything as long as this, so the feedback is a wonderful boost!

"Talking"

'Thoughts'

Sound effects/memories

(memory/thought fragments)


ARC 1: BACK AGAIN, LUKEDONIA

3: Something Amiss

"Rael, enter."

Lazark's voice echoed from within the Lord's chamber, muffled by the thick doors.

Sparing only a glance back at her, Rael met Seira's eyes for an instant before he turned to push open one of the doors. The journey back had been immediate. Neither he nor Seira were particularly inclined to keep the Lord waiting, and had left once he'd revealed the summons. She must have noticed something amiss with him because Rael hadn't spoken a word to her the entire way to Lukedonia. Even if Seira didn't reply, Rael was usually more than happy to talk at her. His subdued behaviour at the house must have thrown her too. Like the first time he'd parted ways with her at the Lord's castle, Seira had entered the chamber, and he'd returned home until he was summoned today.

It was difficult pretending to be a Rael he no longer was. Forty years weren't so long to a noble, but he'd had many opportunities to grow up during that time. No matter. He simply needed to make sure his abnormalities didn't tip anyone off to his plans.

Stump. Stump. Stump.

Rael walked in with Seira trailing just behind. The two treaded down the plush red carpet, footsteps dampened by the soft material. The Lord's chamber spread out before them, grand in size. In his periphery, Rael noted the conflicted expressions on the gathered Leaders. He was the first non-Leader in their memory to enter this chamber. That rule had largely been relaxed and forgotten in the future, starting after this moment actually. Frankenstein's group had messed up a lot of the politics and niceties that had taken hold of Lukedonia in the years following the current Lord's ascension.

"Rael Kertia at your service," he greeted upon reaching the foot of the throne, sinking to kneel on one knee. Seira echoed him to his right.

The Lord's cool eyes glanced to Seira before shifting to rest on Rael. She asked, "Was there any trouble during your mission?"

'No. None at all. No trouble except for the stinking carcass I had to dispose of.'

Aloud, Rael answered, "No, Lord. The mission went smoothly with little deviation. Thank you for this chance."

She hardly batted an eye at his reply, her aloof shell ever firm. "Did you catch wind of anything involving the human organization?"

"Perhaps." He hated to do this to Seira, but to push events in motion, he'd have to. He tried to inject some disgust into his tone, but wasn't sure how successful he was. Rael could be a good actor when required, but the Lord had a sharp perception for false covers. "There were three modified humans."

At this, everyone else perked up in interest.

"Seira and Regis were housing with them."

At that, even the gathered family leaders could not remain quiet. He practically heard them exchanging confused glances.

"Modified humans?" Ludis repeated under his breath.

Rozaria joined much the same with, "What were you doing with them?"

Karius shook his head, and Rael could see Lazark and Gejutel glancing in concern at Seira.

"Seira, is this true?" The Lord turned to the silver haired leader. When Seira remained tight lipped, she let loose a wave of power that shook the castle. "Answer me, Seira J. Loyard!"

Rael held back his wince. An angry Lord was not usually pleasant to see. This put Seira in a difficult position as well as cast Sir Gejutel further into the proverbial flames. Like the first time around, it wasn't the most elegant of methods (nor even the safest), but it did get the job done. The resulting conflict would eventually lead everyone into meeting at the resting place of the previous Lord, which would at once clear the air for nearly all involved.

Gejutel cut in. "Lord, Seira did not know. She must have believed I'd already reported to you."

The Lord's reply shot back with little nicety. "You knew and gave a false report?"

Having already heard the resulting tension, Rael drifted off, continuing to partly focus on the conversation but mostly going over events in his mind quickly.

Sir Raizel needed to come back to Lukedonia, even if he wasn't ready to return. The misunderstandings of the nobles here would absolutely be hindrances come later, and it sat bitterly with Rael if he let them believe someone as elegant as the Noblesse had staged a betrayal against the Lord. The second Ragnarok needed to be found as well, for Sir Raizel's sake, and the Lord needed his guidance and reassurance to truly become the pillar of authority that she was to Lukedonia.

Rael had missed seeing the explanations in person, but had been informed of it by his brother after returning to Seoul from his trip. Had the whole debacle been necessary? The Merdas Central Order had been in chaos, and Sir Raizel had lost both a seal and a portion of his life training the Lord in the use of blood fields.

"Gejutel K. Landegre, are you betraying me?"

Even expecting them, the word's still sent a chill down Rael's back. Betraying the Lord was not a light thing.

Frankenstein had never forgiven Gejutel for using his Master's lifespan to fix Lukedonia's issues, but surprisingly Sir Raizel had seen the necessity - agreed with it even. The Noblesse had become far more loose lipped in the days after Frankenstein's death, and Rael remembered with stark clarity his words from that future.

("I do not begrudge Gejutel for that incident. Raskreia and Lukedonia needed the guidance." He said it matter of fact. Neither resigned nor firm. As if it were to be expected.)

How things had become so polluted and misinformed in five hundred years, he couldn't say, but looking now at the hesitance of the Lord and the naivety of the clan leaders, he agreed with what Gejutel had orchestrated. In the end, Rael had his own plots. He could hardly begrudge an old man for his.

Perhaps there was a better method for it, but Rael was anxious to leave the island but loathe to do so before the relationship between Sir Raizel and Lukedonia was repaired. Doing it this way was simply the easiest way to bring the Noblesse out without (too much) conflict. It had worked once for Gejutel. He saw no reason to change it when there were bigger fish to fry as the saying went.

"...took advantage of the previous Lord's absence and the confusion to betray us. Gejutel, like them, also didn't enter Eternal Asleep."

The Lord's implications lay heavy, but Gejutel and Seira said nary a word.


They were all in the living room. Once Rael left, Rai and Frankenstein had eventually made an appearance again. The noblesse, ever elegant, took up his usual perch on the couch; Frankenstein already had a teapot, cups, and biscuits ready. Regis helped him lay everything out as Seira was gone.

"What's eating you?" M-21 inquired. After the Kertia noble left, Regis had taken up a seat, concentrated thoughtfulness pinching his face, and hadn't really moved since except to help Frankenstein. The modified human wasn't usually so forward, but even he had sensed something was amiss when both Seira and Regis stiffened at the paper Kertia had pulled out of his pocket.

After the D-5 incidence, they'd all slowly warmed up to each other, but the young noble seemed hesitant to speak up about this. He'd have let it go if Regis weren't acting so strangely. Regis didn't reply, and M-21 had to ask him again more pointedly.

'Lukedonian politics?' The part werewolf wondered.

"Something doesn't seem right about Rael." Regis finally admitted after some more needling, eyebrows pinching further as he helped himself to a cup.

M-21 hadn't been expecting that. He thought the runt had been worried about Seira's sudden call back.

"Really?" Tao asked, echoing M-21's thoughts. The bowl haired man grabbed a tea biscuit from the table. "He seemed pretty okay. Polite enough."

Takeo gave a subtle nod in agreement, and M-21's silence spoke of his opinion.

The young noble scowled. "That's the strangeness. He didn't do anything particularly rude. Rael's infuriating and hot tempered."

The trio soaked in this tidbit, trying to reconcile it with the well-mannered noble that had shown up earlier. Rai sipped his tea, and with everything in order, Frankenstein finally took a seat beside Regis with his own cup.

Tao hummed around his snack and took a sip of tea. Takeo, who'd been rather silent, suggested, "Perhaps his probation period has changed him?"

Regis looked incredulous at that. "Maybe...but it was only ten years."

"Ten years can change a person." M-21 offered.

"But for a noble? Whose lifespan is many times that?"

The young Landegre easily recalled a blond known more for his hair trigger temper than for his polite tone. For pity's sake, he'd thrown a fit large enough to warrant a ten year probation when Seira rejected his proposal. For all that Rael was twice his and Seira's age, the blond acted far more like a child. At least, he had until tonight.

Frankenstein, who had seemed uninterested until now, threw in a quick word. "You'd be surprised what ten years can do." There was something in his smile then, and something in his eyes, but Regis couldn't quite pin what.

Less willing to brush off the words of the house owner, Regis' face crumpled in consternation as he focused on the encounter. Rael had been unusually subdued. Creepily so. 'How much can a noble change in ten years?' They were creatures notorious for their ability to remain steady and unchanging despite the shifting landscape. As if suddenly realizing something, Regis' eyes widened and he somehow sat up even straighter than he had before (which was quite a feat as, common to a noble, he sat rather straight anyway). "He...he didn't even say anything about you three!" His red eyes darted to look across the table at Tao, Takeo, and M-21.

The trio exchanged puzzled glances.

"Would he?" Tao asked for them.

"Before he would have." Restless now, Regis stood up and began pacing the living room, turning before the windows, and turning again before making it to the kitchen. The flurry of movement gave M-21 whiplash considering the shrimp had been a living statue until now. "You couldn't imagine half the drivel Rael used to spout."

Humans. Pathetic, dirty things. Why must we cater to them so much? They betrayed us first.

"He used to talk about how weak humans were…" Regis explained. 'And that's putting it mildly.' "I can only imagine the tripe he would have dished out about modified humans."

"Maybe he couldn't tell?" Tao asked, but his expression didn't quite believe that either.

"He definitely would have; Kertia's have a keen sense of smell. Even then, he'd have commented about us staying with three humans." Regis paced some more, looking increasingly frustrated before he gave a heavy sigh and voiced the other matter which had been weighing on his mind. "To use the Lord's seal...the situation must be dire. I don't understand why the Lord only called for Seira to return."

A beat in which everyone had their own thoughts about the situation. The Noblesse took a sip of tea. Then Rai's eyes opened and he spoke. "It may be time to make an appearance again."

The non sequitur threw everyone for a loop and they looked to Frankenstein for explanation.

Frankenstein's face darkened. He appeared conflicted, but neither the trio nor Regis had an inkling why. The four young ones glanced anxiously between the blond and brunet.

Finally, Frankenstein heaved a sigh. "I shall prepare it. Regis, if this bothers you so much, why not return to Lukedonia?"

"Huh?" A response echoed three times.

"But the Lord asked only for Seira to return." Regis squawked.

"And that request had been filled," Frankenstein countered evenly. "There is nothing preventing you from returning separately."

Regis fell silent. He seemed thunderstruck by the idea, having not thought of the situation that way.

"We'll escort you. It is our responsibility as adults in this house." Frankenstein smiled. "I'll be leaving you in charge, Tao."


The Kertias were visiting Gejutel again. Lazark, tall and black, ghosted down the stone halls, Rael tottering after.

The holding cells were dark and hardly ever used but mercifully dry. Sconces lit the way every few feet and Merdas Central Knights roamed everywhere. Unlike the distasteful movies Tao had dragged the household into watching before, Lukedonia's dungeons were pristine, if a tad drafty. None of the mold and mildew, crusting blood on the walls crap that always excited Tao so.

With Gejutel under suspicion and arrest, Lazark had picked up the brunt of his responsibilities. Partly because of the Kertia's role as 'assassins' and partly because of Lazark's naturally steady, level-headed personality, his older brother had become the de facto left hand of their Lord. She trusted him with a great many things which Rael knew from watching how often his brother was away on behalf of the Lord. Gejutel, until his imprisonment, was the unofficial right hand; both mentor and servant as he handed out advice.

"Back again?" Gejutel's timber rumbled amicably from behind the bars of his cell. He stood erect with all the dignity of a noble of his experience, but Rael could read a challenging glint in his eyes. 'Definitely hereditary,' thought Rael, recalling the same expression on Regis' face.

Lazark had always been firm and fair, but he was kind as well. It was the only reason he had come to visit Gejutel again after the Lord's dismissal.

You are dead to me.

Her words echoed chillingly in Rael's mind. Lazark stared long and hard at Sir Gejutel, eyes willing the older noble to speak. He would not go against the word of the Lord, but Gejutel was dear to all the leaders of this generation. If only Gejutel would speak, the mess would perhaps be cleared up. Rael knew it would take more than that to clear the situation though. The Lord needed to see the Noblesse, and everyone would need to hear the previous Lord's message before this would be over.

True to a Landegre, Gejutel said not a word under his brother's intense gaze. After a few moments, he cracked a smile and said, "Lazark, it is a relief you are by the Lord's side."

'Sentimental old man,' Rael couldn't help thinking.

Lazark did not react, though Rael knew him well enough to know his brother took the compliment to heavy heart: with acceptance but also with sadness that Gejutel would not budge.

Then Gejutel turned his eyes to Rael. "I have a question for you, Rael."

He perked up, wondering what Gejutel could possibly ask him this time.

"Did you meet a certain man?"

Ahh. So he was asking after them. He knew exactly what man Gejutel referred tk, but this timeline he hadn't run into them. 'I'll have to watch what I say.'

"I have no idea whom you speak of," Rael answered smoothly. "When I found Seira, there were only three modified humans and Regis."

The old man was contemplative before giving a hum. "Is that so?"


A pleasant breeze ghosted through the courtyard, its gentle caress accentuated by the warmth of the afternoon sun. Incredulous and suspicious glares followed Rael as he treaded down the path toward his target, a pleasant smile pasted upon his face.

"Good afternoon, Lady Claudia," the blond greeted. "Did you like the flowers?"

Said lady stared back, confusion evident in her body language. She returned his greeting with a curt "Rael Kertia" and a nod of her head, but ignored his question altogether.

"I hope you like chrysanthemums." He continued amicably, ignoring the pointed stares of Claudia's ladies in waiting. From behind his back, he produced an enormous gathering of the flowers as large as his head and which completely blocked his vision. Several white petals fluttered down from the bundle.

Rael had been visiting the Tradio compound for several days now. After a somewhat disastrous first visit, he'd decided to bring flowers his second time over. Yesterday's bouquet was a jaunty round thing: bright pink flowers which ran dark at their petal edges before fading to white in their centers, and the whole thing outlined by cattails he'd picked from nearby. He'd wrapped it with a white ribbon to make them more pleasant, but Claudia hardly looked at it, instead placing it gently into the hands of a waiting footman.

He'd wondered if she found the bouquet distasteful, but it might have been the flowers, so this time he'd gone out and picked chrysanthemums. There were other, prettier flowers blooming on Lukedonia, but Kertia house had these. He could have potentially taken some from the Loyard gardens, but he couldn't bring himself to. Only roses grew there and he would never give roses because they were Seira's flowers. How could he hand them to any other women?

He'd wrapped this bouquet with a pink ribbon, but like last time, Claudia simply passed it to one of her ladies in waiting before turning to lead him into the mansion behind.

They were in the tea room today, big bay windows letting in yellow sun which lit the space up cheerily. A small table was placed right in front of said windows with two cushioned chairs. Yesterday, they'd sat in the library, surrounded by shelves and shelves of volumes.

"I see you kept the lilies," Rael commented.

His first bouquet sat, tall and perky, in a simple glass vase by the entrance; a speck of exuberance in the mild room.

'So she didn't throw them away.'

After a quick survey (one entrance, large windows, open space with little room for hiding), he moved towards the table, taking a seat only after Claudia herself had sat down.

Sir Raizel and Frankenstein were likely to be on the way with Regis in tow by now. 'And the trio.'

A servant entered with a tray. As his teacup was set down in front of him, Rael had a sense of deja vu.

(Tuesday. Ochre tea. The chipped sunflower cup.)

The memory overlaid his vision, like a ghost, and he was thankful his hand remained steady as he picked up the cup. Why was he remembering this now? He brought it to his lips and - (Tasteless. It's tasteless when the tea is meant only for one.) - chamomile. It left a pleasant taste on his tongue as it slipped down his throat.

Setting the cup back on the table, he was glad to no longer see the double vision.

"Thank you for having me. I apologize for the sudden notice."

Claudia hummed, her posture indicating she held no irritation with him.

"I like this room better than the library. It's a great deal brighter."

She nodded, long hair shifting with the motion.

Around him Lady Claudia hardly spoke a word. Wariness? A defense mechanism? He could only hypothesize. In the future, after Ragus' death, the Lord had grudgingly sentenced Claudia to Eternal Sleep. Ragus' crimes had run deep, and the Tradio family had willingly gone along with them. In retribution, Claudia had offered her life in exchange for the remainder of her clan's against their protests. It'd been rather obvious that she was contrite and not completely in line with her father's plans, but the Lord, as a symbol of authority, needed to dole out punishment of her own. The Noblesse had already given his. Claudia had accepted her sentence straight backed and unflinching. Once she was put to Eternal Sleep, Tradio House had essentially dissolved, absorbing itself into the Landegre household over time.

He'd hardly interacted with her, barely even knew her, but she was connected to Ragus. Now that he was back here, he might as well try an avenue that had escaped attention last time.

"Have you tried any East Asian teas? There are some surprising flavours there…"


Word spread fast on Lukedonia. The day after, on his way to the Lord's castle, Rael already heard whispers of intruders in the Forbidden Lands and how the three humans Merdas Central had captured were on the loose. They couldn't have been on Lukedonia for more than a few hours.

Today had been good. He'd visited the Tradio mansion yet again, bringing a mixed bouquet of hyacinths and gladioli. Claudia had given it to another foot man and brought him to their inner gardens for tea. 'I wonder where she's placed the other flowers?' She still refused to answer him properly, but Rael was experienced in the art of talking at women and took it in stride. Time passed quickly, until he'd bid Claudia farewell early evening after sensing things would happen soon. The blond then headed back to his mansion to set up a few things, and now he was on his way to the holding cells.

By this time, the sun was already gone, and it was twilight. The sky was a mix of yellow, green, turquoise...soon it would be dusk. Stars dotted the edges of his vision. Rael breathed, the crisp air filling him as he settled on a plan of action.

'Perhaps early interception would be better? I might be able to keep Sir Karius and brother from a confrontation with the others.'

He continued on his path, gait steady and quick.


The dungeons were still dark and drafty. Seira was housed in a separate area from Sir Gejutel so they wouldn't 'conspire together'. Not that anyone really believed that.

Rael hadn't seen her since the day in the Lord's chamber.

Neither spoke a word, crimson gaze boring into crimson gaze. With her long silver hair, she cut a stark contrast to the dark cell, almost glowing. She was beautiful, but the shadows of the bars drew long lines across her face in an ugly way. His stomach twisted unpleasantly.

The silence stretched until he finally blurted, "Sir Gejutel has been sentenced to Eternal Sleep. Regis broke into the Forbidden Land and is in trouble."

He watched Seira stiffen behind the bars, eyes dilating and shoulders pinching in tight. She took a breath, but otherwise made no sound.

Technically neither incident had been reported quite yet. This was an allowable slip though because who would even bother asking Seira when exactly she'd heard the information? Besides, it was a necessary evil for Rael wouldn't have time after this to see her again.

With great regret, he turned and left Seira in her cell. The whole exchange was uncharacteristic of him (he hadn't even greeted her), but he didn't know what to say otherwise. He didn't know what to say to any of the dead in his memory.


Extra:

"Rael…"

Lazark's tone was noticeably alarmed (as was the look on Sir Gejutel's face). Perhaps they hadn't expected his company, but Rael was inclined to believe the blood dripping from his lips was the real cause of shock.

"Sorry to intrude, brother," he spluttered. 'And sorry for spraying blood in the holding cells.'

"Rael, have you noticed…?" Sir Gejutel trailed off weakly.

Wondering if he'd spent too much time with Frankenstein and Tao in the future, Rael feigned ignorance, beaming red lips and red teeth at the two. "Noticed what?"

He coughed again, leaving a ball of congealed blood on the floor.

"You're bleeding," Lazark replied.

"Oh! Yes."

Some stilted silence before Lazark asked him to elaborate.

'No wonder the homeowner's such an ass in battle. This is fun even off the field!'

"Lady Claudia Tradio surprised me."

Rael knew most nobles no longer visited the Tradios (not after Ragus' defection, and nobles weren't known to be social), but he hadn't expected her to poison him in suspicion though. 'Perhaps I should have brought flowers?'

Lost in his speculations, Rael completely missed the awkward quiet that had descended.