Hello everyone, here dakan69.
Today's chapter is going, by now, be the longest I've ever released, so please enjoy it. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not even the soundtracks. Danmachi belongs to Fujino Ōmori, Final Fantasy XV belongs to Square Enix.
Is it wrong to seek answers?
Chapter 36: royal arguing
BACK IN THE MAIN HALL – IVY MANSION – ORARIO – EVENING
Noct then saw Eina and a purple-haired woman with brown eyes and a beautiful dress, coming towards them both.
"Oh, good evening Eina" he greeted towards Eina, who wears a beautiful dress similar to Riveria, "Misha already told me you'll be here, and who's this ?" Noct asked while now looking towards the purple-haired young woman.
"oh right, this is … " Eina was about to introduce until the purple-haired women decided to it for herself instead.
"good evening, my name is Estelle Ward, I'm part of the Ward Family and it's current representant." Estelle introduced herself towards Noct.
"Oh I've heard about you, " Noct said, "If I remember correctly, both you and Dia are the owners of the Conglomerate, right? "
"Huh, didn't expect you to know about me already, " Estelle said with a slightly surprised expression.
"Well, I would say It's more of a coincidence that I heard about you when I asked the Guild about the Dia Familia today, especially since my advisor Ms. Flott, explained it to me." Noct said.
"Eina also told me quite a bit about you, like that you negotiated a very generous price with Royman about some item." Estelle remarked.
"Did they ?" Noct wondered while looking towards Eina.
Noct and Estelle continued small talking with each other, like about Ravus and the other Executives from the Dia familia and their both relationship with them and that Noct came from the same home, which surprised Eina, who only could listen.
(OPENING: Sawano Hiroyuki nZK: Mizuki – e of s)
As Noct and Estelle continued talking to each other, Bell and Eina noticed the way they talked and behaved was like between two nobles. What's more, it was understandable for Bell, knowing that both were born into high society.
At this point, Bell and Eina somehow felt like they were out of place as peasants, especially when they saw a certain green-haired high-elf coming towards them.
"Riveria" Eina called towards her.
"I see, so you're also here Eina, did you just arrived recently ?" Riveria wondered.
"yes, I had difficulties to decide which dress was the best choice hehehe, " Eina said with a nervous expression.
"you or Aina ?" Riveria wondered if maybe Eina's mother has chosen the dress for her.
"Actually, you're right, it was my mother's choice, since my Family visited me today and when she heard I'm going to this party, she desperately wanted me to put on a dress of hers instead of a suit like I'm used to in the Guild." Eina explained.
"it happily surprises me seeing that her dress fits you very well, it really suits you Eina." Riveria said.
"thank you very much, Riveria, uhm … if I may ask, why did you come from the upper stairs" Eina wondered.
At this point, Noct became rather nervous since he clearly remembered what the high elf was doing in the room back then.
Riveria, on the other hand, seemed rather embarrassed, proven by her beet-red face, "I was a little bit exhausted since our last mission wasn't so long ago, that's why Goddess Dia provided me a private room so that I can calm down a bit, she also gave a special potion."
Eina noticed the beet red and embarrassed expression on Riveria's face. While she hadn't seen Riveria smiling often, Eina never expected seeing 'that kind of face' towards her relative, which made Eina very curious, since it was the same 'kind of face' Eina has when she thought about Bell, as Misha said to her once. Eina then looked towards Noct, since he also came from the same direction as Riveria, wondering if he might have to do about what made Riveria happy.
Noct, who then looked away, deeply hoped that Eina wasn't jumping into conclusions.
Riveria, who didn't want to elaborate any further on that matter, then looked towards Estelle, "good evening, Estelle, it's been a while, how are you ?" the high elf greeted, which made Noct and Eina looking towards them, changing the subject successfully.
"Yeah I'm alright since there haven't been any issues with the business, I decided to come tonight here, but unfortunately my family was too tired, what about yours ?" Estelle asked.
"Well … " Riveria was about to say more until she heard two familiar voices.
" "Lady Riveria" " her two elven companions, Lefiya and Alicia, called her while walking rather fast, followed by the other members of the Loki Familia who walked much slower.
"Are you alright, Lady Riveria? " Lefiya asked worryingly.
"were you able to rest a bit, my lady? " Alicia also asked rather worryingly.
"I am fine, thank you, you two" Riveria asked.
Meanwhile, Hestia and Lily returned towards Bell and Noct, showing them the large baskets full of fresh food they've collected.
After the other members of the Loki Familia joined, many other guests, the majority of them being Elves, gathered towards the entrance.
As Noct, Bell, Eina, Estelle, and the present Loki Familia members looked towards that direction, they noticed how the elves suddenly bowed towards the entrance.
Noct saw two adult elves, one white elf, and one dark Elf, who just appeared. They also appear to be very powerful adventurers.
The white Elf has long golden hair, red eyes, and round glasses while wearing strange dark golden clothes, to which Noct suggested is an 'Elvish style suit'.
The Dark Elf on the other hand has silver (or pale purple, Noct wasn't sure about that) hair, yellow eyes, also wearing an "Elvish style suit" as well, but mostly in black color.
Then, Noct saw how Nick, Pelna and Crowe, came towards, greeting them, along with Emma, Lowe, and an orange-haired girl, whom Noct suggested to be Oriana. The three girls bowed in front of the two elves.
At this moment, Noct remembered about the representants of the Freya Familia Prima was talking about.
"Seems we have plenty of interesting guests tonight " Estelle commented.
While Emma and other Dia Familia members were apparently sent somewhere away, the two male elves meanwhile were greeted with other guests, particularly other white elves and dark elves.
"Are that Hedin Selland and Hogni Ragnar from the Freya Familia? " Lefiya wondered why those two of all people were suddenly here.
"The previous King of our kind ... " Alicia remarked while looking towards Hedin, whom she also seemed to have respect.
After a while, the two Elves and the three Dia Familia Executives came towards Noct and the others near them.
"How long until Ravus and Lady Dia are coming? " The golden blond-haired elf asked, who seemed slightly upset and ruffled.
"Not too long I think. I hope you two understand since we had a lot to do today as you can see." Nick answered to him in a calm voice.
The blond male elf still looked upset, until he looked towards the Loki Familia.
"good evening, Hedin and Hogni, didn't expect you both to be here." Finn greeted them.
"good evening to you too, Finn" Hogni, the dark elf greeted to him politely. Hedin, the white elf only briefly looked towards Finn before going towards Noct's direction.
Nick, Crowe, Pelna, Finn, as well as Hogni, saw how Hedin went away, "Is he about to … " Nick wondered, "I think he is." Hogni answered while making a boring expression since he can't believe that Hedin behaves unfaithful, even though their ladyship Goddess Freya didn't mind that much.
The blond Elf came closer and closer until he stood in front of a beautiful green-haired high-elf.
"Good Evening, Riveria, it pleases me very much for at least you to be here"
Hedin greeted her happily but still politely.
He stretched his left hand towards her right hand, which she then also stretched.
Suddenly, loud and surprised cheers could be heard across the mansion's main hall. Noct saw that Lefiya and Alicia were part of it, obviously since it's really not something you see happen every day that the previous white Elven king touches the royal high-Elf princess.
Riveria, on the other hand, wasn't feeling pleased. Not only because of Hedin but also because of the loud crowd but despite all that, she knew she needs to pull herself together.
"Good Evening to you too Hedin, I didn't expect you to come here." Riveria calmly said, despite being very nervous.
"me neither since our ladyship told us both to go at the last second, I'm sorry if you feel disappointed with my last second choice of clothes for tonight " Hedin explained with a confident voice, making even more guests looking towards him and Riveria.
Then, out of nowhere, the attention Hedin received from the people, disappeared while everyone looked behind him, even Riveria, who also was for some reason shocked seeing what's happening behind Hedin.
As Hedin turned his head, he finally saw Goddess Dia and the Dia Familia's Captain coming towards him and Riveria. What's more, Ravus' heterochromia eyes were now gazing towards Hedin's own red eyes.
At first, Hedin's anger seemed to rise, because, for him, Ravus ruined his moment with Riveria right now.
It was no secret that Ravus thought poorly of the Freya Familia, except for Ottar, Mia Grand, and even Hogni.
Hedin knew that Ravus saw most of his comrades as blind followers who only joined because they all fell for the beauty of their dear ladyship.
And while Hedin also supposes that Ravus also didn't think highly of Lady Freya herself, she never bore any grudge against Ravus, since Freya considered Ravus to be a responsible 'older brother' as to how Ravus is usually addressed by the Dia Familia members.
But that still didn't change the fact that Hedin himself doesn't think highly of Ravus as well, which is also a particular reason his anger is rising right now.
This fact is also known by other first-class-adventurers, like the nearby staying Riveria, who remembered how Hedin and Ravus had many 'disagreements', as Riveria would describe it. And now that she thinks about it, Hedin's opinion of Ravus is somehow similar to Lefiya's opinion of Bell Cranel.
Meanwhile, Hedin saw that the crowd around him suddenly started to whisper at first and then started to chuckle. When Hedin realized why and after briefly looking towards Goddess Dia, his anger also immediately decreased and he also starting to chuckle a little bit himself.
Hogni, as well as the members of the Dia Familia, Loki Familia, Ganesha Familia, and Hephaestus Familia, also started to chuckle, but more loudly.
Ravus at first wondered why the crowd in the main hall started chuckling towards him. He then looked towards his Goddess, if she may know what's going on, but she also slightly laughed as Ravus realized. Why was everyone laughing?
But then it hit him.
After the small 'fiasco' from just a while ago, he remembered how his Goddess gave a Riveria a potion for some reason before she left the room.
Ravus then himself got slightly red, but also slightly angry when he faced his Goddess again.
"I already said that there will be punishment, " Dia said quite happily while thinking what has happened to Prima because of Ravus' actions.
Usually, Ravus would get much angrier for such comments, no matter who makes them, but this time he realized that it was obviously his fault, so while he had a rather calm countenance, Ravus still remain slightly red.
Noct, as well as Bell, Eina and Estelle, Hestia and Lily also didn't understand at first why everyone started to chuckle since there didn't seem to be anything unusual about them both, the only difference was a sheet of paper on Ravus left Hand, but this still is no clear reason to laugh.
But when Noct looked towards Ravus closer, he also couldn't stop but started laughing as well.
The girls around Noct were still clueless what's going on, "Uhm, why's everyone laughing." Bell wondered.
Noct then took Bell, "look towards his neck, " Noct told him, which he and the others did.
Bell, as well as the girls, then saw that Ravus, for some reason, had bruises around his neck. This shocked every one of them, but while Bell wondered how Ravus suddenly got those red spots, Hestia, Lily, Eina, and Estelle suddenly turned red.
Bell then looked towards Noct, rather upset, "Did he got injured? I don't see why everyone's laughing, and I don't see any reason to be laughed for being injured."
Noct then stopped laughing for a moment before looking towards Bell, putting Bell's ear near his mouth.
Noct then quietly explained in a nutshell what those red spots actually meant, to which Bell also finally turned read.
"s-seriously, but how … " Bell wondered again at first, but then saw Goddes Dia beside Ravus, which made everything clear what's going on.
Hestia also looked towards Dia, wondering since when she and Ravus had a physical relationship.
While nearly everyone in the near field of view had the same thoughts as Bell and Hestia, Noct thought otherwise, since he had a very good idea, from where, or rather from whom, Ravus really got those hickeys.
Meanwhile, the other Dia Familia members were also shocked by what they saw on Ravus' neck. While the 3 executives laughed, knowing by whom Ravus got those hickeys, the other Dia Familia members were quite shocked by that 'unexpected revelation'. What's more, Karen started to go away, which was seen by the other Dia Familia members. Crowe, who somehow knew why Karen was going away, then ordered Iris to follow her.
Riveria, on the other hand, meanwhile turned slightly red, since she now remembered how Ravus got them and also why Goddess Dia gave her the potion because otherwise, she would also have bruises around her own neck, which made her now look at the floor, still with her expression of shame as if she never used the potion.
"So you finally came Ravus, Goddess Dia" Hedin called.
"Good evening Hedin and Hogni" Dia greeted back while looking towards Hedin and briefly towards Hogni before looking towards Hedin again.
"I'm deeply sorry for the delay, I was … occupied" Ravus said calmly.
Now, instead of a chuckle, loud laughter could be heard around the main hall. Nearly everyone, even Hedin himself, couldn't stop laughing. The only one who didn't laugh was Riveria, who still looked at the floor for obvious reasons.
After the crowd stopped laughing, Hedin then decided to continue "you know, I can understand that, after a long expedition, some men need … 'occupation', so I won't ask how much you paid … , or if there are still debts needed to be collected … " Hedin said while looking again towards Ravus's with hickeys filled neck, which also made the crowd inside the hall laugh again louder than the first time.
Even though Hedin doubts that Ravus wenches around with many different women, what's more Hedin didn't even really care where Ravus got those hickeys on his neck in the first place, Hedin felt very proud that he succeeded in exposing the Captain of the Dia Familia for their delay, proved by the laughter he heard.
" … but that's still no reason for you to let important guests wait, you should be thankful that our dear Lady Freya hasn't come tonight because compare to me and Hogni, her ladyship isn't really patient. " Hedin claimed in a concerted manner so that he could expose him a little more, to which Hedin thought, seemed to success. And since this event is rather important for the Dia Familia, Hedin knew that Ravus couldn't allow himself to make a scene, especially this time, which made Hedin feel even more successful.
Ravus was indeed feeling provoked but not because of what Hedin said or thought, as what most guests who are witnessing them thought right now.
Noct for instance could understand why Ravus was really getting provoked while Noct is looking towards the beautiful High-Elf.
Dia, who realized that tension was rising from her Familia's captain, needed somehow to calm him down. She then looked towards Hogni, "so Freya really didn't have time to visit us ?" she asked loudly so that everyone can hear her, and therefore remind Ravus, that everyone is also looking towards them.
"Unfortunately no, because she's very busy right now, but she told me to give you her regards and apologies" Hogni explained, "not only because of her absence but also because of Allen, both towards you and the others who witnessed his improper behavior today." Hogni finished.
Finn then took a step forward, "we also want to apologize for Bete's behavior as well, since he also mentioned this particular mistake towards us."
"well thank you very much for your patience, Hogni, and Hedin, and again, I'm sorry for the delay, " Ravus said suddenly started to calm down after Hogni's explanation. Then Ravus looked again towards Hedin, smiling again.
" … but now that I look towards you, I think that maybe I also could've been 'occupied' a little bit more, couldn't I ?" Ravus said while now looking slightly down, towards Hedin's left hand as the latter realized.
As Hedin then turned his head towards his left hand as well, not only he himself had a shock, but also there were again whispers across the main hall.
Unbeknownst to Hedin until now, he was still holding Riveria's right hand with his left hand.
At this point, while Hedin's face became slightly red, Riveria's face became completely beet red out of embarrassment while the whispers got louder. The reason for that was that among Elves, no matter which one of the three sub-races, it is considered inappropriate to touch each other for that long, especially by strangers. The only exception where that isn't the case is if you're a couple.
As to no surprise, Lefiya and Alicia became reddish on their faces as well while witnessing their dear Riveria holding hands with Hedin. Usually, both, Lefiya and Alicia would get really mad if someone has the guts to touch their High-Elf leader, but since it was their race's previous King who held it, they didn't oppose the idea despite Hedin's inappropriate behavior right now.
If a male elf was holding another female Elf's hand, it means eighter that he's harassing her or he 'desperately' wants to court with her. And while most people in the Hall guessed that with Hedin the latter was the case (especially since Hogni knows how much 'desperately'), it was undeniable that Hedin's behavior at this moment was considered inappropriate.
As if it wasn't worse enough for Riveria, she also didn't realize that Hedin was still holding her right hand because she was already too embarrassed by the love bites she left on Ravus's neck.
Hedin and Rivera then immediately let go of each other.
Right after that, many laughter could be heard again which were much louder than before, what's more Hedin, as well as Noct could see that the present dark Elves were apparently dying of laughter, even their previous King Hogni, who also couldn't hold back.
The reason why Hogni and probably many of his fellow race members died of laughing was not just because of Hedin holding hands with Riveria, but also that it was Ravus who pointed it out.
To them, this implied that Ravus, who had love bites all around his neck, was mocking Hedin because Hedin still wasn't ' successful for getting love bites on his own by the woman he desperately tries to court with'.
Hogni then looked towards Pelna, also still laughing "it seems Ravus has surpassed you for being the best entertainer of your Familia."
After laughing himself, Pelna then answered: "well he always was the best, did you forgot 'Don Nocks'? , but I can still change that, right dear ?" Pelna said while looking towards the blue-haired captain of the Ganesha Familia, who also laughed, but not as much as the dark elves. Hogni on the other hand seemed to laugh even louder by remembering 'Don Nocks'.
Shakti then looked towards Pelna, who was about to kiss her, but she then held her left hand in front of his head, " maybe you could've if you didn't arrive too late for Anila and Menali to pick them up from school last time. "
"Oh come on, you know I had to prepare for the expedition, Anila and Menali understood me." Pelna pouted towards Shakti.
"even if that's the case, you should know such petty excuses don't work on me, " Shakti remarked.
"I'm sorry, dear." Pelna apologized. Despite being still angry, Shakti then held hands with Pelna as a sign that she accepted his apology.
Alicia and Lefiya, who were still beet red instead of laughing, came immediately closer towards their high-elf superior to comfort her.
' ' stupid men ' ' both girls thought even more disappointment, Alicia more then Lefiya obviously.
While the laughter slowly began to decrease, Hogni also decided to come towards the still embarrassed Hedin.
"Hedin, you're alright ?" the previous dark elven king asked.
"what does it look like." the previous white elven king answered while still being embarrassed and slight anger.
"come on, it's not like that you didn't laugh when I embarrassed myself, like back then when … " Hogni said until Hedin interrupted him.
"yeah I get it, but I didn't laugh with that sound intensity as you did right now, and besides … " Hedin, as well as Hogni then looked towards the still embarrassed Riveria.
Hogni signed since Hedin was right.
Then the previous two elven kings turned directly towards the now less embarrassed high-elf princess, who was staying behind her two fellow female elven comrades.
Hogni and Hedin then bowed in front of her, " "we're deeply sorry for our inappropriate behavior just now." " both said.
This surprised and relieved both Alicia and Lefiya since they never expected two members of the Freya Familia showing respect towards someone else than their Goddess, let alone, two previous elven Kings.
Ravus and Goddess Dia then also came closer to Riveria. This time Alicia and Lefiya looked angrier, especially Alicia, since not only she knew that Ravus started this mess, but also because Ravus completely disappointed her.
First, he somehow breaks her heart by showing those hickeys and now he behaves like a spoiled brat. Because of the obvious disrespect towards Lady Riveria, Alicia was also about to verbally confront Ravus herself, but skipped it 'no, I might embarrass Lady Riveria even more',
so she kept her angry expression towards the 'wannabe Silverlight', as she thought of him right now, 'seems he isn't different than most men after all'.
And while Lefiya was also angry towards the Dia Familia's Captain, she was for some reason more focused on his hickeys, wondering how someone like him lost his shame, especially during tonight's party,
'couldn't he at least heal himself before he came, is he in real as shameful and disrespectful as Bell Cranel and Noct Gar ?'
Lefiya wondered angrily, while also blushing since she also guessed that Ravus was making out with Goddess Dia.
Ravus noticed the two angry-looking elves in front of him but ignored them only to look towards Riveria again.
" I'm also deeply sorry for my behavior as well, Lady Riveria? " Ravus apologized while also still bowing in front of the /(his dear) beautiful high-elf, as well as that many others, especially other elves, who also laughed, started to bow as well as apologizing.
After Ravus bowed, Riveria, as well as Lefiya and Alicia noticed that Ravus started sweating on his face. This surprised the two elven girls since that implied that Ravus was really sorry, and also worried how Lady Riveria will now judge towards him. But sill, even if Lady Riveria were about to forgive him, they two wouldn't, no matter who.
Riveria on the other hand knew, that Ravus was deeply afraid that their relationship might get fraught thanks to his behavior.
There was now silence in the whole main hall since everyone waited for Lady Riveria's answer.
Riveria looked first towards Hedin, " I believe that what you did, wasn't on purpose, so I'm willing to overlook that mishap." she told him.
Hedin, as well as Hogni, felt a large relief brought upon them.
Riveria then looked towards Ravus. She briefly looked towards the hickeys, which she left on him, before looking towards Ravus' blue and purple eyes, which implied to her that he was deeply sorry.
Riveria already guessed that Ravus probably got angry seeing Hedin holding her hand, but still, she couldn't accept how he behaved.
"as for you Ravus, I would like to know why a Familia's Captain as yourself allows behaving less appropriate than you're supposed to do on such an important event like tonight, and don't tell me it's because …. " she didn't want to pronounce it directly, " … of what Mr. Hedin claimes. " she finished her sentence. At this, the audience chuckled again, but not as much as before, because the situation still seemed tense.
"well, of course, I know that I can't justify my behavior, but there is indeed another reason." Ravus said while now moving his left hand with the paper.
"and with that, I want to make a big announcement." Ravus said loudly so that he had everyone's attention inside the hall.
While everyone was watching him again, he stretched his left hand with the sheet of the letter towards above himself,
"I have leveled up, now I'm Level 7." Ravus proudly announced. Now, loud ' ooohhh's ' could be heard across the main hall, but also many whispers again.
Ravus then looked towards Riveria again, " and I want you to be the first witness of my Level up, Lady Riveria" Ravus said while giving her the letter.
As Riveria realized, it was a status update, which Dia performed on Ravus after she left the room upstairs. And when she looked at the Level readout, there really is it written, 'Level 7'.
"my congratulations, Ravus." Riveria said while about to give the sheet back to Ravus.
When Ravus was about to take it again, he noticed that Riveria still hasn't let go of the paper.
Ravus then looked again towards her eyes, "we still need to talk later" Riveria added before letting go of the letter.
Ravus then gave the letter to Hedin, who briefly looked at it, he also saw the number '7'.
"It seems Ottar will be pleased to hear that he isn't lonely anymore with that number." Hedin said before giving it back to Ravus, who just fake smiled before giving it to Hogni.
"I hope that our Goddess will also reward me with 'relaxation' as soon as I Level up, "Hogni said after he also gave the letter back while small laughter could be heard from nearby.
At this moment, Ravus saw Noct again, along with his Familia. Ravus came closer to them.
"Here before I forget you, " Ravus said while grinning.
"not bad, I somehow knew that you will come that far." Noct said while also grinning.
"And how long until you will 'come along' ?" Ravus asked while smirking
" I wonder that myself you know, Goddess here mentioned it shouldn't take that long, right? " Noct answered while also smirking before looking towards Hestia, who just laughed nervously since she still couldn't believe that Dia's Captain Leveled up, which made Dia's familia officially equal to Freya's.
Before Ravus showed the other guests his update, he introduced Hedin and Hogni to the Hestia Familia. While they were finally able to meet Noct, they were more focused on Bell for some reason as Noct and Hestia noticed.
After the introduction, Noct asked his Goddess if there's still left-over after her and Lily's food-collecting, to which they both pouted that there still is of course.
Noct then decided to go grab something to eat since he felt his stomach growling a bit.
(ENDING: FM-84 - Running In The Night (feat. Ollie Wride))