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Coddiwomple Trivia #6 : Delphia once saved Leopold from being thrown off a cliff by Mereoleona.
They were children when they first met. It had hardly been a year since William was taken in by his biological father to take his place as his heir. However, life in the noble realm wasn't all it was made up to be with his illegitimate status and cursed state. With a heavy sigh, William once again made his escape to spend the day outside in hopes to avoid the whispers and stares of the house servants along with his stepmother.
Moving into the woodlands by the estate, he followed his usual path to his personal clearing by a stream. Stepping into the clearing, he froze in his tracks, blinking when he caught sight of a flash of violet that was out of place in the greenery. Maneuvering himself closer, he tilted his head curiously at the child sleeping beneath the shade of one of the large trees.
She was probably only a few years younger than himself. She wore a simple white summer dress and golden sandals, her hair splayed around her in loose curls. She slept soundly on her back, unbothered by the speckles of light filtering through the leaves onto her.
Decisive, William left the girl alone, moving to work on his magic while remaining close by but far enough from the girl to avoid awakening her. It wouldn't do to leave such a child alone and defenceless.
It wasn't until a few hours into his training that he was started by the same girl he was guarding.
"Your magic..."
William flinched, snapping his head towards the soft voice. His wide eyes met with sleepy cyan before he grimaced, remembering the scar on his face. He held his breath, waiting for the cries of terror.
"... it's beautiful."
William blinked, taking a few moments to register what the girl just said.
"Huh?"
Though her expression remained unchanged, her eyes held a spark of amusement at his confusion.
"Your magic," She nodded towards the tree sprouting from the opposite side of the riverbed, "It's beautiful."
"A-ah, thank you?"
The two stood in rather awkward silence. At least uncomfortable on his side. The violet haired girl didn't seem all that bothered in his opinion.
"You're not afraid?"
The girl hummed at the question, tilting her head.
"Of what?"
"My face," William murmured hesitantly, "Most children tend to cry when they see it. Calling me a monster."
His last words were but a murmur, but with his head bowed he didn't see the flash of annoyance on the girl's face before she sighed loudly.
"It's just a face," She deadpanned, "Are you a murderer?"
William's eyes widened, "N-no! Of course not!"
"A criminal of some sort?"
"No!"
"A demon?"
"No! Why are you asking that?" William huffed, feeling slightly insulted.
The girl shrugged, "Then why should I be scared of you?"
William didn't know how to respond to that. This child was but a few years younger than him. They hardly know each other, yet here she was, saying things that went against everything he's been told.
"Can I watch?"
William frowned in confusion before realizing she was asking to watch him practice his magic. He was hesitant, but this girl was the first person to actually speak to him without disgust or fear. So despite his reluctance, he nodded, and later when he saw the awe in the girl's eyes, he was glad he made the right choice.
"William."
The girl blinked from her crouched position beside him.
"M-my name," William blushed as he avoided making eye contact, "William Vangeance."
A small, nearly unnoticeable smile was sent his way.
"Delphia Rotta. Your magic is beautiful, William."
William's blush deepened at the compliment.
It wasn't until William was escorting Delphia home that he asked what's been on his mind since he saw her in the clearing.
"Why were you sleeping out there?"
"Hiding from my father's latest acquisition."
Although that brought more questions than answers, William chuckled. This would be the start of a beautiful friendship.
[TAROT*CARDS]
"William?"
The masked man blinked as he found himself staring into concerned cyan eyes.
"Are you alright?" Delphia wondered.
"Just reminiscing," He chuckled, "Have you found anything?"
Delphia frowned, "No more than we have in the last few hours." Staring at her friend, she sighed. Stretching out her limbs, she stood, closing her chosen journal and notes, much to William's confusion. "Come on, let's take a break for lunch. We can visit the aviary after as well."
Seeing the way William's eyes brightened, she smirked. "Lead the way, Captain."
William chuckled, holding an arm out for her to take. "At your command, my lady."
Taking his offered arm, the two shared a good-natured glance before making their way.
[TAROT*CARDS]
Delphia was lost in her research, only the muted noise of the Golden Dawn knights going about their own duties, piercing the otherwise silent library. William was unfortunately kidnapped by one of his underlings to resolve an issue, but if her brief glimpse of the man's character was anything to go by, it seemed to be more of a personal offence than anything.
"Well, look what we have here," A voice drawled, "Burying yourself in more papers? One would think you'd have enough with the forms and reports you write."
Delphia mentally rolled her eyes, glancing over her shoulder at the young man casually lounging on the sill of one of the large windows, a portal blinking out of existence beside him.
"Langris." She greeted almost solemnly with a nod before moving towards the bookcases to find any books on magical tools in hopes of cross-referencing the images within the journals.
"Cousin Delphia," The arrogant boy returned with a mocking smile.
Langris' smile stretched into a grin when he caught the grimace threatening to overcome his dear cousin's face. It was always the sadistic boy's pleasure to annoy the usually expressionless tarot user.
"Mother sends her regards," He mused, tossing up a random piece of decor he could grab, eyes lazily tracking the movement, "She's wondering when you'll be giving her another reading. It has been a few months since your last visit."
Delphia's lips pursed, easily comprehending the underlying meaning of his words. Sooner or later, she'll have to visit and give in to his mother's demands, less she finds herself having to host the woman in her own home, or worse the hideout. Delphia grimaced at the thought. Undoubtedly, that would lead to hours of subtle insults about her squad and lack of spouse and hidden manipulations underneath pretty words and light conversation.
At least by visiting the Vaude house, she'd be able to come up with some excuse to leave. Maybe cash in a few favours people owe to give her some good alibis.
Delphia's eye twitched in annoyance at the plans she'll have to make. She still can't believe that her father is related to that shrew of a woman, much less her own relation to the woman's pretentious son. Then again, many think the same for her when they meet her father.
"I have my own obligations," Delphia murmured, fingers running over the various books in the Golden Dawn's library, "How is lovely Aunt Liliane?"
Langris shrugged, resting his chin on his knee as he watched his cousin work.
"Oh yes, your secretarial duties," he rolled his eyes, "Why you joined that dump of a squad is beyond me."
With her back to the spacial user, Delphia allowed a knowing wistful smile dance upon her lips. The potential she found within the Black Bulls - she felt nearly giddy at the thought alone. Her magic hummed in anticipation of what was to come.
Shaking herself from her stupor, she twisted on her heal and arched a brow at her fellow vice-captain.
"Tell me, is there a reason you've stopped by besides to be a nuisance?" The words slipped off her tongue in their usual monotonous drawl, "Intelligence aside, we both know the library isn't your preferred location to spend your free time."
Langris' glared, hurling the decor in his hand at Delphia, who easily caught it before it could strike its target. Delphia quirked a brow. Langris aim truly was quite impeccable. Had she been anyone else, they most certainly would be sporting a black eye at this point.
"Let's play."
Delphia's eyes trailed to the end of the library, where a chessboard was set. From the smirked lips and the glint of his eye, she had no doubt this was what Langris was hinting to. It became some sort of tradition between them, to play a game of chess. Of course, she wasn't allowed to use her magic to read the game. That would be a blatant way of cheating and would result in her loss.
But Delphia and Langris weren't the closest of cousins. Their games as children always came with repercussions for the loser. When they grew older, it became an unspoken rule that the loser would do the winner one favour.
Cyan eyes clashed with aquamarine, both gleaming with a competitive fire.
"Game on, Langris."
[TAROT*CARDS]
Langris clicked his tongue, biting irritably on his thumb as he surveyed the board. After the damn woman sacrificed her own queen, he had lost his second bishop as she took out one of the crucial pieces of his strategy.
"Tell me, are your new recruits of any interest?"
Langris rolled his eyes. "They're adequate."
Delphia quirked a brow, "Really? What about the four-leaf grimoire holder? I only caught a glimpse of his magical prowess during the exams."
Langris snorted, "He may have been honoured with a four-leaf grimoire, but he's still a lousy peasant. He'll learn his place soon enough," He drawled, twirling the chess piece he had in hand.
Delphia hummed, shifting her knight forward to check his king. "And where would that be,"
"Isn't it obvious, Cousin?" Narrowing his eyes, Langris shifted his king into a safe zone, destroying the pawn in his hand with his magic, "Below me."
"I see you haven't learned, Langris," Delphia gazed at her cousin with lidded eyes, lifting a piece to her lips. She tilted her head as he glowered, seeing the contempt in her eyes. His eyes widened as she placed the pawn at the end of the board, replacing it with a rook.
Her eyes were narrowed behind her violet bangs as she leant back in her seat. Langris gritted his teeth glaring.
"Checkmate."
Even a pawn can gain the power to take down a king.
This chapter is dedicated to The_Red_Shadow (wattpad) for the idea of making Langris Delphia's cousin! So we meet a cousin and we see how William and Delphia first met. Originally I was gonna make the cousins' relationship a lot more tolerant, but I really like this dynamic cuz I feel it fits more for Langris character.
No Yuno sorry. But when I asked, a few readers did say they'd like to see them meet later on in the story. Please leave reviews. I do take all your suggestions for the story to heart, so don't be scared to say something. You may even find it added into the story later. ;)
Thanks for reading!
UPDATED: 19/05/20
