Hello everyone sorry for the very long wait. And huge thanks if you actually even still reading. You're awesome. Started a new job. It is actually the job I've been waiting for so apologies for irregular updates as I'm going to be super busy.
Chouyuuki: Bless you. I'd love to see those pictures. You can make an account so we can talk without the pressure of posting a new chapter between messages lol. I'm really exciting to see what my Lavi would look like. I can't really draw so can't do it myself. Thank you so much, it really does mean alot to me!
Enjoy the chapter minna~
Red sparks danced in the dark smoke gently rising from the grate and the curling squares of paper that the flames consumed. The letter had been waiting for Lavi when she arrived, addressed to the Lady Bookman. Sheril presented her with the small envelope, opened and clearly read even before she had time to empty her single small trunk into the vast wardrobe, something the lord was quick to comment on. By evening the wardrobe was fit to burst with useless articles Lavi gave away to the serving girls who delivered the items.
But that was three days ago, now Lavi stood at the fire feeding the scraps of unread letter to the fire, the orange glow dancing her eyes. There was only one person who could have written the letter, who knew where she would be, where to send the letter. With the way things had been left, Lavi could not bring herself to open the envelope, not when her lasts words had been –
The door into her sitting room was flung open, a small man of slight build stormed in making a direct line towards Lavi. Running after him was Melia; Lavi had decided to bring the girl with her, looking incredibly distressed.
"I'm so sorry miss. I couldn't stop him." Melia wrung her hands, nervously eying the man as he looked disdainfully down on Lavi.
Lavi smiled warmly at Melia, it was not her fault that men of a certain station felt they had the right to do as they please, when they please. "Thank you Melia, I can take care of this."
Throwing the last pieces into the grate Lavi rose to her feet to look the newcomer in the eyes, entirely unapologetic for her dishevelled appearance. She had not been expecting visitors after all.
"Where is Bookman?" The man demanded. He stared imperiously at her, sharp eyes that were like daggers. Lavi studied him a moment, committing his face to memory. Angular facial features gave him a fierce aura, as did his rigid body language, Long, luscious hair was pulled backwards into a severe pony tail and he stood taut. Like a spring ready for action. A small man yes, by the standards of the men she normally saw, Tyki would tower over him, but up close he did not appear as slight of figure as she had originally thought. The fit of his shirt belied the shoulders hidden underneath.
"Where is Bookman? I was told he could be found in this chamber." A cold dark eyed sweep on the room revealed that she was the only occupant.
"My, my Mr Kanda you kept this little talent well hidden. I thought I was here to be your translator. If I knew you could speak to the officials yourself I need not have bothered coming out here." Lavi kept her tone light and playful, though she did wish she could have stayed at the Manor. There would have been more time to settle things.
"Choosing not to speak to and not knowing how to speak are two very different things." Kanda's eyes flicked down and then up to her face again. Lavi felt him take in everything about her appearance, from the loose evening gown to the unbound hair and the mess of a right eye. "Where is Bookman?"
"You are looking at her." She said with a flourish. "Lavi Bookman, at your service." Lavi held back from laughing out loud at the incredulous double take. This one was far too serious to take it any way other than offence.
"You are not the one we were expecting. Goodnight." Kanda said curtly.
Lavi followed him across the room, cutting off his exit. "Be sensible Yuu, my grandfather is an old man. He was already old when you first met him. You can't possibly expect him to have made the journey here. And I assure you I can speak as well he," Lavi expertly slipped into the Japanese man's native tongue. "I am Lavi Bookman, not Kamelot. Trust in me to look after your interests will not be misplaced."
It pleased her to see Kanda's eyes widen in shock at her skill in his language, pride stoked she continued, "Sit please, I'm sure we have much to discuss Yuu-san."
The Japanese bristled, standing up straighter and looking past her rather than at her. "If you had any sense of cultural learning you would know not to call me that." He stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him and leaving a thoroughly bewildered Lavi who sighed turning back to watch the blackened remains of the fire.
"We are leaving today. Bring Lenalee. The deal is off."
Kanda Yuu, the man charged with the duty of ensuring his cousin was married off and financial ties were secured, was currently pacing up and down the room he had been given for the duration of the stay. A stay that had been far too long for his liking; a problem regarding the cargo of The Ark had meant that the journey was greatly delayed and he and his people had to wait for the arrival of their soon to be family and business partners.
The sojourn had been pleasant enough, the company decent, but he was being to feel like a caged bird. Trapped behind bars and wires, while the cat lingered outside holding the key.
"You're overreacting. Again." Alma Karma stood straight backed and up right, and yet still managed to appear insolent. Alma's uniform was too baggy and he was rolling his eyes at his direct superior. Kanda took in his appearance angrily, as he did most things. He was not sure why he allowed Alma to get away with such lax presentation.
"I am not overreacting. These Kamelots cannot be trusted. How do we even know that that woman is who she says she is?"
"You could try to just trust her? Maybe?" Kanda silenced him with a look.
"What are you waiting for, go find Lenalee and tell her to begin packing."
Alma shifted his weight from foot to foot, suddenly his usual cocksure attitude nowhere to be found. "Actually, that's what I came to talk to you about."
Kanda narrowed his eyes, waiting.
"We can't find her." Alma cringed away from the death aura coming from Kanda. "The maid knocked to bring her breakfast and she just wasn't there."
Incompetence. Surrounded by sheer incompetence, how was anything ever supposed to get done. He grabbed his jacket and Alma fell into step behind him.
"You're not wearing a neck tie. It's not appropriate."
Kanda could have hit the man right now. It was bad enough he had given in to wearing the outlandish clothing, he did not have to wear the damn hangman's noose too. "Shut up Alma."
"Yes sir."
The halls were empty, with hardly any impediment on their way out. Alma called a carriage for them and the two were quickly on their way to the market town. Kanda knew his cousin well enough to know that, like him she too was also bored and most likely had escaped to the bustling market to find her own fun. The carriage trundled down the path, once they were clear of the consulate grounds the carriage joined the traffic towards town. The footfall about them became heavier and more crowded the closer they got.
"How is it that Wisely has not bothered me this morning? It's been a few days since I last saw him. Not that I'm not happy he's keeping away; him and that useless translator of his." Kanda peered out of the small window, trying to spot Lenalee.
Alma checked the opening on his side. "The Kamelot who arrived is his father. I think they're waiting to see of you will go to them or waiting for a summons."
"If he thinks I will run around looking for him." Kanda sneered.
"You did run around looking for the Bookman." Alma yelped as Kanda really did smack him behind the head.
Kanda instructed the driver to stop the carriage and gracefully stepped out and into the milling crowd. Thankfully, Alma observed that the crowd by some subconscious sense of self-preservation kept a distance from Kanda avoiding any contact. He himself was not so fortunate, eager market customers pushed and shoved him without a care.
The aromatic fragrance of herbs and spices filled the air, the foreign scents tickled Kanda's nose especially as he passed a vendor roasting a particular pungent spice to attract women to his wares. Lenalee would have passed through here without a doubt; she enjoyed exploring other cultures and had stopped at every market place at each port.
Several twists and turns later lead to a lane of curiosity shops and stalls. Tables were laden with randomly assorted bits and pieces, stop watches, trinket boxes and other useless nonsense. One stall sported delicate articles of iron jewellery, Kanda stopped to admire the quality of the workmanship and otherwise ignored the beaming young woman behind the table before moving.
He did however linger at a peculiar stand displaying glass sculptures, intricate figurines of people and animals sat among carefully crafted flowers all of vibrant hues. Kanda stooped low to examine a single white star-pointed autumn clematis sitting conspicuously in a woodland scene. Another hand swooped and plucked the flower from under his nose.
"An appreciation of clever art and nature; there is hope for you."
"Finally Lena-" The words stopped short as he realised who he was talking to. The mass of red and that disfigurement certainly did not belong to his cousin. The sudden use of his native tongue had tricked him into false sense of security. Feeling foolish Kanda reprimanded himself, he should not so easily lose awareness of his surroundings.
The woman claiming to be Bookman smiled openly at him and quickly completed her transaction, fluidly slipping from Japanese to Italian. Raised an eyebrow, Bookman had been very good with languages too. Maybe…
The benefit of the doubt quickly left him when the red head took him by the arm and marched him off. "Come with me, I have need of your purse Yuu-chan."
Kanda stiffened, dragging his arm loose, but still he followed her as she flitted to and fro. The woman did not seem to mind as she easily set her pace to his. "You still don't believe I'm a Bookman, do you?" Her tone did not give anything away. No offended pride or slight at being disregarded. Just a question.
"How can I convince you, I wonder. I could lay out all my qualifications, but I don't really have any. Home-schooled you see, nothing official. But everything my old granddad saw fit to teach me is stored neatly up here." She tapped her temple conspiratorially. "And that includes the knowledge that you need this union more than the Kamelots. A little fact, they are not quite aware off."
"How long can you afford their ignorance?" Kanda asked shrewdly.
"My grandfather has clocked thirteen years so far. Me? I don't actually care if they know or not. Kamelot values are not mine."
"Why not?"
"Because Yuu-chan, I'm only a translator." The giggle sounded foolish and genuine, had it not been for the cold gleam of green behind her eyes Kanda may have been duped.
"Stop calling me that!" He snapped. The disfigured eye drew his attention once more, what life did a translator lead to earn that kind of scar. If the so-called Bookman had noticed she did not show any signs of discomfort. She would not give out any unnecessary details about herself that Kanda did not need to know.
"Why won't your master meet me?"
The redhead stilled in her bouncing from stall to stall. The coldness flashed for just a moment, a single crack in her carefully constructed merriness. "He's waiting for desperation. Also they are observing how well you take to me. They expected me to seduce you into trusting me, how imaginative." She said with a roll of her eyes.
Kanda raised an eyebrow comically causing the woman to laugh loudly, even harder when the raised brow turned into a poisonous scowl. "That face must scare quite a few of your sub-ordinates. You can be quite handsome, in a delicate way. The ladies will love you. But that method will be most disagreeable to the both of us."
Damn woman was infuriating, how dare she talk to him so carelessly. No sense of decorum whatsoever. She was not making much of a case for him to hand over his trust. "So how do you intend to gain my trust?"
"Not yours." Bookman sighed, "The trouble with men is that they overthink their place. I'm going to win Lenalee. Oh don't look at me like that, she's perfectly safe. Lenalee!"
The mad woman waved excitedly across at a clothing store. At the entrance stood a beaming Lenalee, returning the crazy wave across the street and beside her was Alma looking sheepish as ever, determinedly studying the display window.
"I saw you coming and sent your guard off before fetching you." Damn woman looked so smug. "Now there's a pretty dress your lovely cousin would like to buy."
The small white rectangle stared up at Lavi. The brilliance of the paper stark against the maroon of the table cloth. Seal broken. That was not unexpected.
Sheril had slid the envelope across the table without a word. The weight of his stare, searching for a reaction burned into her skin. Much like the little envelope would burn later, the same fate as its predecessor.
The clink of cutlery was the only response Lavi could give him. Every night of the past week, Lavi had refused Sheril's invitation of dinner, tonight he had prepared a veritable ambush. An hour ago a single knock on the door had led to a stream of servants bringing the furniture necessary for Sheril to play host in Lavi's own room.
"I would have thought Tyki would have had more than sufficient experience to write a love letter. I don't mean to hurt you, only remind you that there have been a good deal many who have come before you." Lavi raised the cup hot tea to her lips, hardly even tasting the brew. Sheril was goading, she would not give him the satisfaction. "An interesting read nonetheless, a man of few words my little brother has become it seems. I suppose he thinks he is being dreadfully romantic."
The ceramic clinked gently as Lavi set down her cup. "Yuu Kanda would like to know why you haven't summoned him yet? This evening may have been better spent building the bridge between your families."
A decisive change in subject, Sheril looked thoroughly disappointed at the change. He shifted in his seat. "So you have been doing more than buying expensive gifts for the girl. Does it feel odd to be walking in the shadow of Tyki's bride?"
"As I recall your money was not spent, expense should not be your concern." Lavi retorted tartly. "Think why else would she have left her safety zone and come away with me with little reason or explanation. She is a much better route for access. Lenalee is starved for female companionship."
"As are you, I see." Sheril said condescendingly. Lavi looked at him sharply, and laid one had over the letter.
"Do you really mean to alienate me further Sheril? Kanda had made it clear he will work with none other than a Bookman. By all means please give me more reasons to block your efforts."
Lavi forced herself to remember her grandfather lying in a bed in Kamelot Manor, waiting for her. Waiting to die. You're throwing your life away to save a dead man. The voice whispered at the back of her head. It had been growing ever more incessant and louder with every passing day. She squeezed her eyes tight to shut out the voice.
A warm hand rested over hers, fingertips danced lightly over skin. Black anger rose in the pit of her stomach like a hissing snake. Too late, Sheril had her trapped. He swung his chair to be closer, taking his hand in both of his.
"This is not allowed." Lavi struggled to keep her voice even, the overwhelming urge to pull back screaming weighed against her promise to never lose composure before Sheril Kamelot ever again.
"No need for that, I'm merely reminiscing." Sheril pressed a kiss onto her fingertips. "Being away from the Manor does it not remind you of how it was at the beginning, so fresh and so warm?"
"That was before I knew you were a liar. Before you blackmailed me with my grandfather's life and raised your hand to me. Romance is not a strong trait in your family apparently. Nothing you say or do will be enough to erase the things you've done. Stop this or –"
"Or what?" The pressure on her wrist increased.
This was not the way to fight Sheril, too long she had been the victim scurrying from his shadow. Lavi surprised Sheril by leaning into him stopping barely an inch from his ear. With an effort she supressed the disgust at the shudder that passed through him as her breath ghosted over his ear.
"If you really want to stay tonight I won't deny you Lord Kamelot. I won't even fight you. You can have everything. Or you can leave right now and I will pretend we never had this conversation. What do you choose?"
"Everything?" Lavi placed a slender finger over his lips.
"Everything," she confirmed with a nod. "But at a price. Stay and by morning you will have lost your translator, your last connection to a Bookman. Kanda Yuu will not work with you and I do believe the Earl will be gravely disappointed in you."
Darkly glinting eyes regarded her, almost impressed. He smiled wryly, "You wouldn't dare walk out. The old man is relying on you."
Lavi would not be cowed, she would not look away. He released her and Lavi did not give him the pleasure of seeing her sooth the sore skin. Instead she took the envelope in hand and tossed it into the fire.
"Find a new weapon. That knife is dull."
Lavi retreated to the safety of the halls knowing that Sheril could not be easily ejected, even if those were rooms assigned to her. Aimlessly she wondered the hallways of the consulate. At this time of night there were hardly people about, ideal conditions for one to be left to the mercy of one's own thoughts.
The threat of leaving would keep Sheril at bay for now; he would have to be made to see that she could not be controlled as she had been before. In all her time at the Manor she had done nothing to help herself, she played along with his farce. Yes she won some small freedoms, but she had done not a thing at all with that freedom. Instead foolishly she had pined for a relationship that was impossible.
You're throwing your life away to save a dead man.
The faster this job was over the quicker she could return to the Manor. Maybe she would even be able to return before…
It was not too late in the night to retire to bed so Lavi stopped a maid and asked for two things, tea and directions. Following the answer to the latter Lavi wound her way through the halls stopping at a polished door, with a deep steadying breath she knocked and waited.
Sorry for all the typos. I didn't proof-read sorry!
Until next time.